In June 2019, I took a leisurely drive from Sapporo to Obihiro via the Pacific side. On this day, I had plans to meet up with the George Clooney of Tokachi, "Toriko" at Obihiro. I thought it would be rude to not bring any souvenirs, so I decided to buy some. Since Toriko doesn't strike me as someone who enjoys sweets, I thought maybe he would appreciate sausages instead. Therefore, I visited a shop called "Mike Sausage," located near the now defunct Obifushi Station on the Hidaka Main Line. It's a bit of a hassle to get there, but for the sake of Toriko, I was willing to make the effort. The shop is located near A-Coop, but the entrance is a bit hidden. When you enter the office, a staff member will come out to assist you. The products are not displayed on the shelves, but they will bring them out for you. I bought souvenirs for Toriko and some for myself as well. The sausages were tasty, but the wieners were a bit tough and the bacon was very smoky. Overall, it was a delicious experience.

After enjoying delicious curry in Obihiro City, I decided to take a different route back instead of retracing my steps. I chose to go south because I wanted to visit a place that a famous TV personality had been to. I couldn't find the address on my bike's navigation system, so I used Obifuseki Station as a landmark and headed towards it. As I rode along Tenma Highway and passed through Toyoni Tunnel into Urakawa, I felt the heat of Tokachi disappear and the coolness of the seaside. The Pacific side is definitely cooler in the summer. I had a rough idea of where the place was, so when Obifuseki Station came into view, I immediately recognized it by the banners. There was also a sign on the wall that read "Mike Sausage." However, two trucks were blocking the entrance with their backs, so I couldn't see it. I walked past the trucks and found a side entrance, which seemed to be the main entrance. The driver of the truck called out to me, "Are you a customer?" Inside the store, a female employee brought me two containers of goods. I told her how delicious the bread made with products from "Panpakapan" was, and she was very happy to hear that. I purchased some coarsely ground sausages, bacon, and salami. There were two types of bacon, loin and belly, and the belly is said to be tastier when cooked. Back home, I grilled the sausages and bacon using a Ziegler grill. While waiting for them to cook, I snacked on the salami, which had a spicy kick from black pepper and was much tastier than commercially produced ones. I focused on grilling the sausages just right to avoid bursting the skin and losing the flavor. When I finally took a bite, I was delighted by the perfect balance of crunch from the skin and the savory goodness of the sausage. The bacon had just the right amount of fat, ensuring it wasn't greasy when cooked and allowing the meat's flavor to shine through. Despite not purchasing a large quantity of items, I quickly finished them all as the delicious flavors were satisfying. Thank you for the meal.

On the way back home, I wanted to buy some sausages so I checked the reviews and decided to stop by Mike Sausage. It seemed like a factory and a store combined. I told a woman there that I wanted to buy some sausages, and she brought out the products for me. I bought the following items: - Dry Salami 250 yen + tax - Bologna 500 yen - Smoked Chicken 414 yen (100g for 180 yen) - Chili Wiener 390 yen - Bacon by weight 770 yen (100g for 350 yen) They had a simple cooling bag, but no ice pack, so I asked them to split the items for me over a few days. The Chili Wiener was a coarsely ground sausage with a kimchi flavor added. They boiled it first, then lightly grilled it. It was juicy and had a nice kick, although the spiciness was not overpowering. I enjoyed it with some grainy mustard as a snack with beer. The Bologna sausage was soft and had a mild flavor. I removed the casing and cut it into small pieces for my bento box. It tasted even better with a drizzle of soy sauce. The Smoked Chicken was my favorite among the items I tried. It was made with chicken breast seasoned only with salt and smoked to perfection. It was moist and had just the right amount of smokiness. I added it to a spicy green vegetable salad, and it elevated the dish to a whole new level. My companion even said, "You should have bought more!" The Dry Salami was thinly sliced, so it was convenient to use without dirtying a knife. It had a peppery kick and a rich flavor from the dry aging process. The Bacon by weight was surprisingly lean and didn't release much grease when cooked. It felt healthier than regular bacon. I personally prefer a bit more smokiness, but it was still a good value for everyday use. I would definitely buy it again if I have the chance. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I visited this place during a business trip in March 2016. I knew about the existence of the store, but I wasn't sure if it was actually open until I came here. It is located in Ogifushi, Urakawa Town, about 1 km from the national highway towards the mountains, near JR Ogifushi Station. The entrance to the store and factory is on the back side, so it could be easy to miss. They sell products through online shopping and at several locations in Urakawa Town, including the nearby A-COOP. I bought some items like liver paste, various types of sausages, and bacon. The liver paste tasted surprisingly good, with no overpowering flavors, making it enjoyable even for those who don't like liver. The sausages were made without additives, with a simple and natural flavor that highlighted the quality of the ingredients. The bacon, made from "healthy fermented pork" from Mitsuishi, Shin-Hidaka Town, had a pleasant texture and wasn't too fatty. The owner, Mike, who trained in Tokyo for 8 years before returning to his hometown of Urakawa, is a Japanese person despite his nickname. Even though I didn't see him at the store, I could sense his shy and reserved personality reflected in the taste of the products. I enjoyed the food here and especially liked the bacon, so I would definitely like to visit again.

I received a souvenir from Chappy-san. I didn't know there was a sausage specialty shop in Urakawa. "Mike Sausage" - is Mike a person's name? A foreigner? No, it seems like it was a nickname for a Japanese person in the past. I will let it sit in the refrigerator for a week before trying it, as Chappy-san said it will taste better that way (laughs). Let's eat. It tastes delicious! When cooked, it becomes thicker. It has a texture reminiscent of the crunchiness of Schüblig. The taste is right up my alley - very salty with a punch. No need for salt or pepper. I ate it while drinking beer, and it was irresistible. If I ever go to Urakawa, I would like to buy various things. Thank you, Takenouchi-san!

It's fun to encounter delicious things in various places when transferring to different locations. No matter how small the town is, there is always something to discover. In Urakawa, I found a sausage shop. I tried their liver paste first, which was delicious, and then I bought some Frankfurters, smoked chicken, and salami. The Frankfurters were big and satisfying, bursting with flavor when grilled. The smoked chicken was generous in portion, enough for two servings in a salad or sandwich. I think it's affordable and tasty sausage.

Mike Sausage, I received it. Yes, I received it (sweat) I didn't give it to you. The other person got boneless ham. Boneless ham with sausages and bacon, they said. Boneless ham... just saying that might make some people think "me???" but it's better to think that way. It's a set of sausages and bacon, so I'm really happy. It's recommended to "definitely grill it instead of boiling it," they said. Not me, it's what the speaker said, I mean Mike said. It's a small ham and sausage shop that opened in Urakawa Town. They trained for 8 years at "Essen" in Setagaya, which is the shop recommended by my wife, and then opened in Urakawa Town in 2014. They use "Kenkou Buta" produced by Tetsuji Kano in Mitsushi, the neighboring town of Urakawa. Mike Sausage Urakawa Town, Ogifu-cho 499-2, 0146-25-2181 "Cheese Wiener," "Coarse Ground Wiener," "Bacon Belly." First, let's try the "Coarse Ground" one. It's coarse ground. Since it said to grill it this time, I grilled all of it. It's not very crispy. It's a bit salty. The meat is delicious. It's a little, just a little, gamey maybe? I might be too sensitive. Kami-san says it's "salty." She says, "I didn't put salt or pepper on it." Next is the "Cheese" one. To be honest, I was cautious about cheese in sausages. But there is no smell or anything, it's actually tastier than the other one. If I got it from Boneless, it's a 4.0. If I bought it from Boneless, maybe a 3.7? Today is "Lemon Basil." To be honest, I don't like unusual things, so I'm not looking forward to it. I never squeeze lemon on anything. I drink lemon juice, but I'll try it. Hmm, it's tasty, but at first, you get basil, which is nice, but then lemon comes in. Acidity... it's not bad. Why is that? This sausage is delicious. There's no crispy part on the skin. It's meat with basil and lemon, so there's no smell. But it's a close call, isn't it? The smell is just right. As for the smell, it was a delicious sausage. The bacon turned into pasta sauce. It's very delicious, but it's a cream pasta, so the taste doesn't come through directly. There should still be some left, so I'll try grilling it. It was a really delicious sausage. Thank you very much!