Why not visit Hokkaido, full of charm even in winter? Local gourmet food is fantastic, and souvenirs to share with family and friends back home are just as good. Delicious food makes for great stories! This series usually features "Memories to take home from your trip" that pair with rice, but this time, we'll focus on "bread" and report on delicious foods to enjoy with it. 【Souvenir Search Team - Mama Member】 I'm a native Hokkaido resident who loves Hokkaido. I'm usually busy with work and childcare, but I'd like to use this opportunity to find delicious and nutritious foods that are good for the body. Hokkaido is a treasure trove of safe ingredients. Of course, they're perfect as travel souvenirs too!

Excitement MAX for Today's Car: The New Serena!

On a certain day in February, I rented a car from Sapporo Rent-a-Car and set off on a journey to find delicious souvenirs! Wait a minute! Isn't this a new car?! It's sparkling and shiny, a genuine new car. Yes, today's companion is the new Nissan Serena. What do you think? It's so cool! It's such a luxury to be able to drive a new car when renting. As expected from Sapporo Rent-a-Car, boasting a 95% new car introduction rate. So, first, a commemorative photo! There's that unique new car smell, isn't there? The black-themed interior is also stylish. With three rows of seats, the cabin is spacious. Even on a rental car trip that tends to get filled with luggage, with this much space, you can buy as many souvenirs as you like! In addition, there were many comfortable features for moms, such as "roll sunshades" for women concerned about sunburn and babies, "auto-sliding doors" that can be opened and closed with just a foot, and "USB power sockets" essential in the smartphone era. With a car this large, fuel efficiency might be a concern, but since it's a hybrid car, it's also wallet-friendly (Vehicle equipment may vary depending on availability. Please check with your rental store for details). "I'm happy about the new car, but what if I scratch it...?" "In case of an accident, wouldn't the compensation be higher for a new car...?" Such worries might be heard, but Sapporo Rent-a-Car also offers an optional compensation service called the "Complete Peace of Mind Package." If you have any concerns, please consult them.

A House? A Bakery? Let's Go to the Rumored Delicious Bakery!

Well, this time we're looking for delicious foods that go well with bread, but first, we want to get the bread itself. A bakery... a bakery... Oh! My accompanying photographer knows a delicious bakery. Apparently, it's a house-turned-bakery where customers constantly come and go. The location is Tobetsu Town. The navigation screen showed it's about 22km and 46 minutes from Sapporo. It looks like it will be a nice short drive for the morning. Let's go right away! We head straight north on National Route 275 towards Tsukigata and Tobetsu. On this day, there was no snow, the temperature was above freezing, and it was fine weather with occasional sunshine. The road surface was dry, making for a comfortable drive. After entering Tobetsu Town and turning right at the large sign for Hokkaido Medical University, there it was... On a regular house, the words "Bakery Kimikage" appeared! Around it, only snowfields. If I hadn't seen these words, I might not have realized it was a bakery. It's in such a rustic setting that delicious things are found! My gourmet sensor is reacting!! From the front, it looks even more like an ordinary house. But I didn't miss the firewood piled up on the right side of the house. Apparently, all the bread here is baked in a wood-fired oven. There's also a cute sign at the front. Filled with anticipation, I stepped inside. There, my favorite hard-crust breads were lined up, filling every space. The style is to arrange them on one large platform as they are baked. "Kimikage" is run by a husband and wife. They offered breads that seemed to reflect their simple, honest, and deeply flavorful personalities—the more you chew, the richer the taste. Everything looked so delicious that after much deliberation, I purchased several types of bread, including a mountain loaf made with 100% Hokkaido wheat! By the way, at "Bakery Kimikage," customers were constantly coming and going even while we were filming. There was no break! Looking at the car license plates, it seemed many were coming from quite far away. The owner's wife was also happily chatting with customers. They must have many regulars. Of course, I couldn't wait until I got home! I sampled the chestnut bread (518 yen) and the semi-dried tomato bread (669 yen) in the car. Delicious! So delicious! I found myself muttering it repeatedly. The bread had a rich wheat flavor, and the natural tastes of chestnut and tomato were intensely felt. I became even more excited for dinner that night.

Discover Cheese That Cheese Lovers Will Adore!

Cheese is a must-have with bread. So, our next mission was to find some cheese. We heard there was delicious cheese in Ebetsu City, right next to Sapporo and close to Tobetsu Town, so we headed there. It's about 20km from "Kimikage" to "Yonemura Farm Cheese Studio Platz." This area is home to many farms. Hay bales are starting to appear here and there. Of course, it's currently a snow-covered field, but in spring, the snow will melt, revealing a landscape typical of Hokkaido. Even locals might be surprised to find so many farms so close to Sapporo. There it is! The cute silo-style building is Yonemura Farm's "Cheese Studio Platz." With the farm right next door, the cows gave us a warm welcome.

No Effort Spared! The Owner's Passion and His Wife's Hospitality are Wonderful

Here, they primarily make aged cheeses. While tasting, we heard about the owner's passion and efforts in cheesemaking. The numbers on the packages indicate the aging period. While most commercial cheeses are aged for about 3 months, Yonemura Farm ages theirs for 6 to 36 months before selling them. This is all based on their belief that cheese is a health food, and by extending the aging period, they increase amino acids, aiming to provide something beneficial for the body. How does the taste change with different aging periods? We tasted 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month aged cheeses. Wow! The flavor became progressively richer. The 12-month and 24-month cheeses tasted like completely different products. Not just the taste, but the texture and mouthfeel also change. Here, you can sample any product you're interested in, allowing you to buy cheese that suits your preference. Besides aged cheeses, they also sell raclette (to be melted and enjoyed), and cheeses with basil or chili. Be sure to find your favorite! They also offer a raclette lunch (2,500 yen per person) by reservation only. It seems they can accommodate on weekdays depending on the situation, so if you're interested, please inquire by phone. After taking a commemorative photo with the Yonemura couple, who shared their valuable insights, we drove to Kitahiroshima City. To be continued in the second part!