Asahikawa. Today I didn't have much time, so I decided on a ramen shop and headed there using the navigation system. It was located in a residential area, and I was surprised to see a sign saying "No entry for non-locals." Isn't this discrimination? I didn't have time to look for another place, so I found a small shop called Daiichi nearby. It turned out to be a bakery. I bought two bean daifuku and tried them. They were delicious, with plenty of beans inside. I shared one with my sister and the rest with my wife when she came home. They enjoyed it too. The bean daifuku had a great texture and a good balance of sweetness. Overall, it was a tasty treat.

I rarely go beyond the loop line when looking from the street side towards the Susukino area, so visiting this supermarket was quite refreshing for me. I also bought some bread for lunch at "Viva Lova Sueshiro Store", which offers sweets and cakes. It is located on the 1st floor of Shopping Plaza Daiichi Sueshiro, 1-7-cho, Sueshiro, Asahikawa City. The store is open from 10:00 to 21:00, with parking available and no scheduled holidays. The writer also mentioned visiting Daiichi for the first time in about 20 years. The writer was impressed by the selection of bread at Viva Lova, with a small but attractive variety of bread. The writer bought a red bean bun, a Basque cheesecake-style bread, and a corn bread, all of which were delicious and left a lasting impression.

After having lunch at the store, I found a refreshing dessert that looked perfect for after the meal. I needed to buy some gifts as well, so I decided to get some for home too. They even offered to wrap it with a decorative ribbon. While they were doing that, I took a quick photo (lol). The jelly made from sweet summer oranges was surprisingly delicious. It was soft enough to be sucked up through a straw. The texture was fluffy and the refreshing taste of the sweet oranges came through nicely. As for the peach, I realized it was gone before I knew it... This is so tasty. I'll definitely go back to buy more.

I received 6 types of cakes from a cake shop in Asahikawa called Wiba Roba. The cakes looked cute with nice colors. They were regular size, not the small ones that are becoming more popular lately. I tried the marble cake with chocolate and white layers, and the strawberry shortcake. The marble cake had nuts on top and the combination of sponge, cream, and chocolate was delicious. The cream was not too sweet. The strawberry shortcake had big strawberries and tasty cream. I really enjoyed these classic cakes. I wonder if this shop is only in Asahikawa. I would like to try their cheesecake and other cakes as well.

Souvenir alert! From Asahikawa, we have "Azuchan" and "Kabochan" from Viva Loba. In my mind, Viva Loba is more like "Roba Kashi-shi." Back in the day, there was a shop in Kaimono Park where I used to buy these snacks often. Now they have fancy shops like "The Sun Kurabito" and "L'HOTEL de KITAKURABU." The memory of "Roba Kashi-shi" has faded away. The company name is still "Roba Kashi-shi." Azuchan and Kabochan have been around since Showa 52, and they are beloved snacks. Azuchan is butter castella with red bean paste, while Kabochan is pumpkin. They use Hokkaido-grown red beans and pumpkin. The packaging is retro and cute. It was delicious! Souvenirs are currently being accepted!