"It would be even more beautiful if the sky were blue, wouldn't it?"

"Canola flowers, wouldn't they be edible if made into tempura?"

We traveled about an hour south from Iwamizawa City to Abira Town. It's a town east of Chitose City. Abira Town has recently focused on promoting its canola fields and products as tourist resources. Peak viewing is usually mid-May to mid-June. This year, due to low temperatures in early spring, flowering was delayed, so you might be able to enjoy them later than usual.

Flowering information is constantly updated by "Kita no Nanohana-kai," so it's recommended to check before you go.

Canola flowers cannot be grown in the same field year after year, so the field locations change annually. The canola flower map for the current year is also available on "Kita no Nanohana-kai," so please check it out.

Combining large and small fields, over a dozen locations in town are dyed yellow, so you can spot them just by driving around. But if you follow the canola flower map, you'll find excellent photo spots! On the way from Iwamizawa, it poured. I was disappointed, thinking photos were impossible, but the rain stopped during lunch at a nearby restaurant, allowing for good shots. Could this be another update to the rumored "sunny man" legend of our photographer!? What do you think? Even with a cloudy sky, it's a magnificent canola flower field! Canola flowers, about waist-high, are densely blooming on gentle hills. These aren't just ornamental parks; seeing such vast flower fields naturally while driving truly shows Hokkaido's grand scale! Our accompanying photographer apparently has photos of the canola fields on a sunny day, so let's take a look at those too. The contrast with the blue sky is, of course, stunning! A breathtaking view. I hope to revisit these canola fields on a clear day. For souvenirs, during peak canola season, direct sales shops offer processed goods like honey and rapeseed oil. Cosmetics like serums, creams, and soaps are also available. All are high-quality, fragrance- and colorant-free. The prices are a bit high, but that's because they are "authentic" products. For example, 'Abira Canola Honey' uses only honey from Abira Town's canola flowers. No additives mean it may crystallize white in summer, a sign of authenticity. So, I got honey in Abira Town! If the canola flower season is over and the direct sales shops are closed, please visit the "Abira Town Product Center (199-1 Hayakita Omachi, Abira-cho, Yufutsu-gun, Hokkaido)" next to JR Hayakita Station. Here, processed canola products are sold year-round. Even after the canola flower season ends, there are many gardens, parks, and other spots near Sapporo where you can enjoy various flowers throughout the seasons!

"I want to eat something delicious one last time."

"Still eating? Aren't you overeating!?"

Time flies when you're having fun. This is our last stop for today. Our last stop is Abira Town's famous 'Restaurant Miyamoto.' The photographer, a regular, seemed to know the owner. There was a queue at lunchtime, so expectations are high! This restaurant serves dishes using cheese from 'Muminsha.' Their whey-fed pork, raised on cheese-making whey, is also very popular.

Besides the restaurant's popularity, many travel to this Muminsha direct shop to buy cheese and processed whey pork products.

Should I choose the famous Camembert? There's smoked Camembert, blue cheese, mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, Caciocavallo... I want them all! I can't decide! Oops, I got carried away.

All looked delicious. After much thought, I chose 'Cream Cheese' and 'Caciocavallo Piccolo,' thinking they'd pair well with the Melba toast and honey I'd bought.

The final treat. I discovered soft-serve ice cream and hot snacks being sold at the shop. The most popular item is apparently Camembert soft-serve, but since I wanted something warm, my husband bought Mumin Pork (whey pork) croquettes (150 yen), and I bought Camembert croquettes (150 yen). Freshly fried and piping hot! My husband exclaimed, 'So delicious!!' with his biggest smile. My Camembert croquette was also amazing! Hokkaido potatoes are truly great. Hot, fluffy, with melted cheese inside. Completely satisfied!

"We've arrived!"

"Good job driving! Help me with dinner when we get home!"

We're back! I was so impressed to experience Hokkaido's pastoral atmosphere even near Sapporo. With beautiful scenery, delicious food, and new discoveries, it was a truly happy trip. The rapeseed flowers shared by "Kita no Nanohana-kai" direct sales were lovely! The car ride was also very comfortable. Thank you, Sapporo Rent-a-Car! Here are the products we purchased this time.

【NORTH FARM STOCK】

(Left) Hokkaido Carrot Salad (Râpée) 210g 907 yen Hokkaido carrots were well-marinated in Italian white balsamic vinegar. The texture was uniquely carrot-like, neither soft nor crunchy, but pleasantly firm! It's also vibrantly colored and perfect for lunchboxes or sandwich fillings once drained. (Right) Mixed Vegetable Pickles 230g 702 yen I was happy to find many vegetables like daikon, cucumber, carrot, and paprika! Each vegetable retained its firm texture, which was enjoyable. The slightly spicy flavor was addictively delicious. It would also go well as a snack with drinks! Melba Toast (12 slices) 302 yen

This toast offers the simple flavor of Hokkaido-grown wheat and whole grain. Lighter than rusk, it enhanced the taste of toppings like cheese, honey, and dips. With its crispy, fragrant flavor, it was delicious even on its own.

Pasta Set (Spaghetti 250g, 2 types of pasta sauce) 1,188 yen A pasta set with two sauces: Americaine and Peperoncino. The spaghetti, made with Hokkaido wheat, was whiter than what I usually eat, and surprisingly chewy! Both pasta sauces were exquisite! Being able to enjoy restaurant-quality taste at home, and at this price, felt like amazing value for money. Definitely buying again! There was also a tomato sauce option.

【Housui Winery】

RICCA Glass 550 yen Pinot Noir Vinegar (Red) 200ml 1,260 yen Bacchus Vinegar (White) 200ml 1,260 yen I tried it in an original glass adorned with a Hokkaido-like snowflake logo! The fruit flavor was strong, and the acidity was mild, so I could drink it easily. My husband, who dislikes vinegar, was happy he could drink this. It's a taste I'd want to drink every day.

【Kita no Nanohana-kai】

Abira Rapeseed Honey 220g 1,620 yen 100% additive-free honey from Abira Town, Hokkaido. Its gentle sweetness and smooth melt-in-your-mouth texture had a nostalgic taste. The sweetness was subtle, but the aroma was rich. It paired perfectly with the Melba Toast purchased from "NORTH FARM STOCK"!

【Restaurant Miyamoto】

(Right) Cream Cheese 160g 864 yen (Left) Caciocavallo Piccolo 150g 680 yen These were also served on Melba Toast. Since the Caciocavallo is small, it's great that you can just place it on toast and lightly toast it without needing to cut it.

The cream cheese had a lighter, fresher taste than store-bought varieties, so I could eat as much as I wanted! It was also delicious when paired with honey.

Tonight's dinner! The rapeseed flowers given to us by "Kita no Nanohana-kai" added color to our table! Everything we bought this time was incredibly delicious, so I highly recommend all these items to everyone! Long live Hokkaido! Bravo Hokkaido! I'll keep searching for delicious things in various places! Total mileage today: 310.5km. Product purchase cost: 9,883 yen. Meal cost: 1,520 yen.