At Tabelog, it says "permanently closed" but... when I checked this site, the restaurant has indeed closed down... however, you can still enjoy soft serve ice cream and standing soba there? The official website of Kita no Mori Garden is: http://kitanomori.taisetsu-g.com/restaurant/ The "Restaurant" at Kita no Mori Garden was confirmed to be closed recently, but the soft serve ice cream shop and soba restaurant listed on the official website are still operating. It seems like they have been left out of Tabelog's information as being closed... However, the wooden sign at the shop says "Restaurant Garden House"... Maybe there has been a change in ownership? What should I do about this? Should I report it to Tabelog... or should I report it somewhere else? I'm too lazy, can someone help me out? Anyway, it's been about 20 years since I last visited this place... I had a craving for their melon soft serve, so I decided to go there again! But! Σ(ﾟДﾟ) Are they not serving it anymore? The melon soft serve... it was so delicious... Maybe it's been more than 20 years, so it's understandable? Or is it a seasonal thing? Anyway, on that day, they only had vanilla available, so I'll take two! Heavy... Alright then, let's dig in! Puckeroooolenroooolenjuuuuruuruuru~ (Please stop that...) Mmm! It's not too sweet but the flavor is rich... I can't really taste the vanilla-vanilla flavor, it's more like soft-serve ice cream but very creamy and delicious! And it's quite dense with a good amount, so it feels like a good deal. Personally, this is the epitome of soft serve ice cream. While I was there, I saw a biker who seemed to be touring around Hokkaido enjoying the soba here... it looked so delicious! Σ(ﾟДﾟ) Imagining eating soba surrounded by nature on such a beautiful day... Although I was already full from the soft serve, I definitely want to try the soba next time I visit! Thank you for the meal!

Using the GOTO Travel tour, I landed in Hokkaido for the first time in my life, and by chance, I chose to visit the eastern part of the island. We skipped Sapporo and headed east on the highway after arriving at Chitose Airport. After a 1.5-hour bus ride, we made our second stop. The local specialty here was supposed to be "Kita-dora" but it was sold out. In Upkawa, there are many ramen shops and noodle factories, claiming to have the best ramen in Japan. The variety of local bagged ramen was impressive, and I ended up buying the unique green-colored Bear Zombie Ramen and miso ramen. The green ramen had green noodles and a refreshing, salty flavor, while the miso ramen had low-temperature dried noodles aged in two stages. The Hokkaido-made miso soup with thin noodles was of high quality and did not taste like instant ramen at all. I also purchased some snacks that can only be found here. "Minus 41°" is a snack named after the lowest temperature recorded in Japan, -41°C, and it has a sparkling diamond dust-like appearance with a crispy almond flavor. "Kibana" is a blend of several high-quality cacaos, with a crispy outer layer and a couverture chocolate center. I was reminded once again of the abundance of confectionery manufacturers in Hokkaido. On a side note, Upkawa is known for producing famous skiers and ski jumpers like Masahiko Harada and Sara Takanashi.

I went to the Ice Pavilion and fed the bears. The bears seemed to be less motivated compared to last year... I had lunch at the restaurant here. The prices were a bit high as expected. I ordered a set of salt ramen and pork bowl, as well as tempura soba. The tempura soba was decent, nothing special. I feel like soba at these places is always the safest choice. I added a lot of shichimi spice halfway through. The salt ramen had a really tasty soup. The noodles were thin, which is not my favorite, but the soup was delicious. It was like a clear broth. The chashu was okay, and the mini pork bowl had a sweet sauce that I liked. The meat was a bit tough. There was a salad corner where you could eat as much as you wanted for free. They had shredded cabbage, potato salad, corn, and some pickles. The pickles were delicious. On the way out, I had soft serve ice cream. I couldn't take a good picture of it. It was a not too sweet chocolate soft serve. I just wanted a bite, so I took one and passed it to my eldest son. I'm curious about the soba you can eat outside!

I don't remember exactly when this story took place, but it seems like it has turned into the Northern Forest Garden. It means I haven't been here for a while. I went to Up Kitagawa Station to eat ramen, and I regret not extending my stay. There used to be an Ice Pavilion where they collaborated with "Frozen." I didn't go inside, but there was a bear ranch behind it that was free to enter. I had to pay for the bear's food, but I was lucky to see the bears' antics. After looking for souvenirs, I went to a silo-style outdoor shop and found that they were selling Shiroi Koibito soft serve ice cream from Ishiya Seika. It's not exclusive to this place, but I tried it anyway. It's expensive, but it tastes like Shiroi Koibito. It would have been nice if the cone was made of Shiroi Koibito cookies, but maybe that's not possible?

Welcome.---------- 2018.02 ----------Some people may have high expectations for the name |o| °д°)ﾉHelloIt may not feel like a garden in winter, but it will have a different atmosphere in summerInside, it operates as a souvenir shop~It's only open during this time of year, so it's a unique environmentThe building next door is a soba noodle shop, but it's closed in winterPerfect for a lunchtime snack with Hokkaido wine(= ´∀´)ﾉ凵゛The bus is convenient, you can drink anytimeOhotsk salted caramel bussedaThat's right, that's a Snow Crane-like snackwSalted caramel cream in a fluffy dough with powdered sugarI like this combinationThank you for being part of the journey, it was delicious.

Hokkaido Limited ● Kameda Seika Persimmon Seeds 864 yen ◾ Caramel Flavor 8 bags ◾ Cheese Flavor 8 bags Caramel flavor is influenced by Hanabatake Farm, well-known for it. Personally, I find caramel on senbei a bit... strange. It adds caramel flavor to soy sauce-flavored persimmon seeds. The cheese flavor surprisingly goes well as a beer snack. I thought it would have a stronger cheese smell. It's a flavorful persimmon seed with cheese added to the salty flavor. The price is including tax.

I tried the White Lover soft serve ice cream! It was prepared slightly smaller for tour group customers at 300 yen. But it was delicious, and I should have ordered the regular size. It was only a 50 yen difference. I imagined the White Lover white chocolate to be very sweet, but it was surprisingly refreshing. It had a rich soft serve ice cream taste. You wouldn't notice unless someone told you. But it was delicious! It's mostly self-service, but the spacious interior allowed for a relaxed atmosphere. It felt like a cross between a family restaurant and a cafeteria. Thank you for the meal!

I left Sapporo early, so I'm driving on local roads. I usually take the high-standard roads because they're free, but I decided to take the local roads slowly on my way back, passing through Kamikawa. I came all the way from Sapporo without stopping, so it's a nice break. It's starting to get a little colorful around here, and in another half month, it will probably be the peak of autumn leaves. The Sounkyo Gorge is also very beautiful, so I recommend everyone to go there. I stopped by the Kitano Mori Garden. There were quite a few tourists even early in the morning. At the checkout, a guy was saying, "They don't sell this in Sapporo or Asahikawa!" I really dislike this kind of tourist talk. If someone says that to me, I definitely won't buy it. "If you don't buy it, you'll regret it," kind of feeling? "It's okay to regret it." I looked around for soft-serve ice cream inside, but couldn't find it. It seems to be sold in a different building. Outside the shop, an old man and an old lady were holding cones in their hands. I lined up after the old lady to buy, but she took out her wallet only after ordering, spreading out a lot of coins. Then she picked out each coin one by one. The lady at the counter and I just had to wait. Finally, it was my turn. "Soft-serve ice cream." She said something like '∂＊♪∽※◎▲☆〆∵★≒・・' but I didn't understand. I didn't feel like asking again. "White one," I said. "White Lover soft-serve, right?" "Yes." It felt a bit awkward. She didn't smile, and I wondered why ice cream sellers don't smile much. Maybe I should joke with her or smile? I'll probably get punched before I can laugh... The soft-serve was expensive, small, but considering the size, it was 250 yen. I tried it, and it was really smooth with a mild sweetness, very delicious soft-serve. It was frustrating but delicious soft-serve. Soft-serve: 3.7 Service: 2.0 Value for money: 1.0

On September 10, 2015, I went on a two-day bus tour of Shiretoko and Shiretoko sightseeing boats. Today's itinerary started at 8:00 am from Sapporo North exit and ended at 5:00 pm at Utoro Onsen, covering a distance of 500 km. Our second rest stop (toilet break) was reached at 10:30 am, where we stayed for about 20 minutes. The flower season had ended, but we could look forward to the autumn leaves. Here, I tried the "Hokudora" dorayaki for 110 yen. The tour guide also recommended a special product, the award-winning "ika konbu" furikake, which I tried and bought for 540 yen. It was delicious and I thought it would be great with ochazuke. This rest stop also had a souvenir shop run by the actor who played the Ainu elder in the Japanese movie "Unforgiven." I personally enjoyed the movie and was impressed by the use of Ainu language in the dialogue. I bought a wooden carving of "Kotankorokamui" (Ainu deity) here.

In the midst of a snowy winter forest in the north, I tried the "Shiroi Koibito Soft Cream" which is a collaboration unique to Hokkaido. I was initially skeptical if it was just a gimmick, but it turned out to be delicious! Priced at 350 yen, it was worth every penny. The rich and creamy soft serve made with Hokkaido milk and blended with White Lover's white chocolate was truly exceptional. Despite its richness, it had a refreshing aftertaste. The setting of the store with a view of the snow-covered landscape and the warm sunlight streaming in added to the experience. The service was average, but considering it's a tourist spot, it was acceptable. If you ever pass by, I recommend stopping by to try it out!

During the trip back home to my parents' house, I stopped at a rest area located halfway between my parents' house and my own. Due to the extended highway, the traffic has decreased significantly, creating a somewhat lonely atmosphere compared to its former lively state. - Visit Date: August 14, 2014 (Thursday) / 2:00 PM - Purpose: Lunch with my aunt - Order: Moon-viewing soba (550 yen) - Order to Service Time: Slightly over 5 minutes - Review: The menu mentioned that they use soba flour from Kamikawa Town, but I couldn't really taste the aroma or flavor, perhaps due to it being served warm. The soba was soft and had an ordinary taste. The portion was on the smaller side. Eating soba here brought back many childhood memories for me. Recommended Points: There is also a restaurant inside the building. This outdoor facility is closed during winter. Although it's just ordinary soba, it is a much-appreciated food as a resting point. Now, I'll give it my all for the remaining half of the drive.

I wanted to try the famous "Miton" pork once, so I went to "Hokkaido Mori Garden" to have it. The restaurant is located on the same premises as the Ice Pavilion. Upon entering the restaurant, there is a ticket vending machine for self-service. I chose the Miton pork cutlet set meal from the menu on the machine and handed the ticket to the staff. They told me that I could help myself to the salad and pickles. While enjoying the salad and pickles, I waited for my number to be called. When they called out "Number 36," I went to the counter to pick up my order. They handed me a cup and told me that I could get a free drink at the drink corner with my set meal order. I enjoyed a foamy coffee at the drink corner. The Miton pork cutlet was a bit tough and fatty, but that's just how pork is sometimes. Overall, it was an okay experience.

When I traveled to Hokkaido, I stopped by for a break. I couldn't resist the white lover soft serve ice cream poster at the entrance and inside the store! So, I had to buy it. I paid at the ticket machine in the back food court area and took the ticket to the counter. They asked me if I wanted a cup or cone. I saw a poster of the soft serve ice cream in a cup with the white lover packaging, so I initially wanted a cup. However, they informed me that the cup does not come with a cone, so I chose a cone instead. The taste was richer than regular soft serve ice cream and I could taste the white chocolate flavor! It was delicious~ Hokkaido = white lover is a must-have!

At the "Northern Forest Garden", after attending a seminar at the Sounkyo Visitor Center, it was a tradition to eat ramen in the town of Kamikawa. However, on this day, we stopped by the "Northern Forest Garden" where the Ice Pavilion is located, so we decided to have standing udon. The weather was nice and warm, so eating outside seemed like a good idea. Standing soba or udon noodles are not surprisingly delicious, but they are also rarely surprisingly bad, and most importantly, they are cheap, so even if you're not very hungry, you end up eating them. I ordered the curry udon for 450 yen. It wasn't surprisingly bad, but I didn't really like the taste of the curry broth. Well, I guess things like this happen occasionally. To cleanse the palate, right next to it they were selling soft serve ice cream, so for dessert after the meal, I tried the White Lover soft serve ice cream for 350 yen. It's said to have white chocolate mixed in. When you eat it, you can definitely taste the white chocolate. It has a richness, depth of flavor, which some might like, but personally, I prefer the regular light and refreshing kind. Well, how about using this as a conversation starter?

Today, I am heading to the Rose Garden in Chichibu Betsu. Normally, I take the highway from Maruseppu, but this time I came up from Kitami through Sounkyo. I have arrived at the "Hokkaido Forest Garden" in Kamikawa Town. Until the highway connects to Maruseppu, people from eastern Hokkaido always have to pass through Route 39 in Kamikawa Town when going to Asahikawa or Sapporo, and the road is always very crowded. At times like that, a small rest area like the "Hokkaido Forest Garden" was also very busy. However, now that the highway is connected and you don't have to pass through Kamikawa Town, I haven't been to the "Hokkaido Forest Garden" for a while. Many cars were coming from the Sounkyo side, but most of them got on the highway at the Kamikawa Interchange, and the town was quiet. When I arrived at the Hokkaido Forest Garden, it felt surprisingly lonely compared to the previous bustling atmosphere. First, I checked out the souvenirs and looked for soft serve ice cream. I found an interesting ice cream. Charcoal Roasted Ice Cream? It's coffee ice cream with coffee jelly mixed in. This is delicious. By mixing roasted coffee jelly with regular coffee ice cream, it's refreshing and the aftertaste is not bad. The ice cream turns into milk and tastes like mocha. Overall, "Hokkaido Forest Garden" was quite lonely. It should be designated as a roadside station or a direct road should be built from the highway. It would be good to make it like the Highway Oasis in Sapporo.

We used a group tour in the middle of the trip. This time, it was an "imomochi" hot pot set. I forgot to take a picture of the main imomochi hot pot, but it was a carb overload. There were three types of waritsuke udon noodles with different fillings (natto, yam, nori), mountain vegetable rice. The taste was not bad, but I struggled to understand why they piled up so many carbohydrates. Soft drinks were all-you-can-drink and self-service, so you could pour them yourself.

This is a simple and traditional dorayaki. I had it the day after I bought it, and compared to the Western-style dorayaki with cream that are common these days, this one had a firmer skin. It's a classic dorayaki and quite delicious. The branding is the mark of the Hotel Taisetsu Group. While Higashikawa is known for the "Yomogi no Sato" from the bakery "Himeya Seipan Kashihonpo," it's a bit out of the way from the driving route, so it can be a bit of a hassle to get. If you're looking for a convenient souvenir that's different from the typical ones found at Sounkyo Onsen or souvenir shops in Hokkaido, then perhaps purchasing the "Kita-dora" at the Northern Forest Garden would be a good choice.