The day before, we offered flowers to the late Kunie Tanaka in Fumoto, stayed at a cottage in Nakafurano, then returned to Furano and went to this place where Kunie Tanaka had also visited. I ordered a Vienna coffee and my wife ordered a blended coffee and curry spaghetti. The coffee was easy to drink for both of us, and the curry spaghetti was mild in spiciness and easy to eat. As we were leaving, the owner shared some memories of Kunie Tanaka with us. It's a must-visit café for fans of "Kita no Kuni Kara"!

This is a delicious coffee! It has a strong punch without any acidity or bitterness, just a perfect bitter aroma... and it's served piping hot at around 84-85°C. The fragrance is really standing out. "Master, this coffee has a strong punch and tastes delicious. Do you roast the beans yourself?" "Yes, I do. Ken Watanabe used to buy 10 cups worth for the Fuji TV staff every time during the filming, saying he couldn't drink coffee from other shops." "It's really delicious. The aroma of the beans is great, and you've been doing this for a long time, it's wonderful!" "I've been here for 31 years already," he said happily. Wait, a Chinese article mentioned it opened in 1985... was that a mistake in the interview? If so, it must have been since before the filming of the '87 special drama "From the North Country" in March, or maybe since Watanabe's return in '89? "By the way, are these plates and ashtrays made by the same potter? Local kiln?" "They're not from here, but I've been using them for about 10 years now." "You seem to be doing well, Master. It's a great place." I ordered the Sausage Spaghetti set with blended coffee for 1000 yen. It says "handmade sausages" on the menu. The sausages are fresh and tasty. The pasta is al dente, cooked to perfection... a standard 1.7mm diameter. The Curry Spaghetti and Seafood Spaghetti for 600 yen also look delicious. The soft drink options include cola, Calpis, Calpis mixed with milk, cola float, coffee float, and a wide range of coffees like Mocha Matari, Hawaiian Kona, and Toraja. By the way, I really liked the classic greeting "Welcome, coffee?" as soon as I walked in. I'm sure Ken Watanabe was asked the same way. Today, I gave a lecture at the Hidaka Youth Nature House for an outdoor forum and my friends kindly drove me to Furano Station. Now I'm taking the bus back to Asahikawa Medical University for a meeting at 5 pm. I was treated to hot coffee and delicious handmade sausage spaghetti at this wonderful restaurant! Thank you. I will definitely visit again!

There was a comment saying that smoking is allowed, but in general, smoking is not allowed now. I think this is mainly a coffee shop.

This is a cafe in front of Furano Station where you can smoke. The owner is a fun person, and they serve delicious deep roasted coffee and famous sandwiches. It's a place you want to stop by when you want to chat with the owner.

Goro also ate.

Visited for the first time in July 2018. This cafe is located on the second floor of a souvenir shop near JR Furano Station. I had some time before catching the train to Asahikawa, so I decided to have something cold. As I climbed the steep stairs, I was greeted by a small door that led to a slightly different space. The interior was filled with a lot of wood, giving it a log cabin-like feel, but personally, I found it more cluttered than stylish. There were random photos stuck all over the place and various items scattered around, creating an atmosphere that could be loved or hated by different people. I personally leaned more towards the latter. I ordered an iced coffee and was asked if I wanted some gum syrup, which turned out to be already in the drink. I quickly finished my coffee, paid, and was about to leave when I was told enthusiastically about how the cast of "Kita no Kuni Kara" had visited multiple times during filming. Although I wasn't particularly interested, I politely responded and left. I don't plan on returning, but if you're curious, feel free to check it out!

Located along the Furano Station rotary, this café is on the second floor of a souvenir shop. I have been coming to this café since I became a new working adult. It is famous as the café where the cast and crew of "Kita no Kuni kara" used to frequent during filming. The café is open every day of the year, unless there is a snowstorm blocking access to Furano or for special events like weddings and funerals. During the summer tourist season, the café gets crowded with foreign visitors, but it is relatively quiet in the winter. The owner, who loves Eric Clapton, always plays his music in the café. Today, I came to pick up the Furano Ice Wine that I had reserved. The menu is not always displayed because the owner knows my usual order – a deep-roasted coffee with a slightly bitter taste and hints of black chocolate flavor. I enjoy chatting with the owner about current events while sipping on my coffee. The café does not offer takeout, but they will pour your coffee into your own tumbler if you bring one. Sometimes I enjoy my coffee on the way home in my car. While the café usually only serves rice dishes to regular customers, they offer sandwiches to all. The sandwiches here are thick and filling, perfect with the coffee. If you can't finish it, they allow takeout. The warm atmosphere and the owner's friendly personality always make me feel relaxed and refreshed. It's the perfect spot for a break after a tiring day of sightseeing.

Returning from Biei to Furano is a dream come true aboard the "Norokko" train. This diesel train slowly travels between Asahikawa and Biei, pushing and pulling a trolley-like vehicle. I had seen photos of the train running through flower fields multiple times and had always wanted to ride it. This time, I booked a tour with JR Hokkaido, which included a round trip on the Lavender Express, a Twinkle Bus, and the Norokko train for 6400 yen. The journey lasted about 12 hours. The Norokko train has unreserved seating. Unfortunately, it started raining just before boarding at the Biei station. People were taking shelter under the small station roof and ended up boarding the front carriages, so we walked a bit on the platform and boarded the last of the 4 carriages. Inside the train, there was a coal stove, and there were vinyl curtains bundled at the ends of the acrylic windows that could be raised or lowered like blinds. It seems they run even in cold weather. During this season, the windows were wide open as the rain quickly stopped, so we could open them as much as we liked. There was a designated seating area right behind the locomotive with a cute girl acting as a salesperson and tour guide, and the rest of the carriages were unreserved. The middle carriage had large tables resembling dining tables, labeled as the "Barbecue" carriage. We thought we were boarding the last carriage, but since the train runs in the opposite direction from Biei, we were actually at the front! The narrow, winding tracks, the surrounding greenery, and the skilled hands of the driver were visible. After an hour, we arrived at Furano station, with an hour to spare before the Lavender Express departure time. I wanted to have some tea, so we looked around the station and found a coffee shop with a sign that read "Gamushara," a clever play on words. We went up the stairs to find a lively interior, covered with countless photos taken with customers and letters sent by them. There were also several autographs from famous people, including one from actor Kunie Tanaka brought by actor Kunihiro Murai from the drama "From the North Country." The owner had been running the shop for 26 years without ever closing a day. But why was there a small wooden sign hanging that read "Closed today due to a hangover"? The coffee was freshly ground upon order and meticulously brewed through a drip process, resulting in a strong flavor. When I ordered an iced coffee, I was asked how sweet I wanted it. Each coffee cost 400 yen. At the counter, two women quietly finished their drinks and said goodbye to the owner. The station square in Furano, viewed from the open windows and the fan, was quiet.

★ Tanaka Kunie's favorite spot ★