Hokkaido is gradually warming up, with cycles of three cold days and four warm days. We can finally feel the late spring arriving. The snow on the roads has completely melted, and the perfect season for driving is finally here! This time, our souvenir hunt takes us to the Higashi-Iburi region, which is relatively warm within Hokkaido. Let's get some meat and fish at the many factory direct sales stores in this area and have a yakiniku party that the kids will love tonight!

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This time, I'm participating with my first-year junior high daughter. From a mother's perspective with growing children, I'll introduce Hokkaido-style souvenirs. My daughter will mainly be in charge of tasting. We'll enjoy shopping together to find souvenirs that will also delight the boys' team (Dad & son) waiting at home!

Perfect for a Girls' Trip! Off we go in a Nissan Dayz! On the day of the shoot, a certain day in March. With eager anticipation, I woke up early and opened the curtains... and there was a pure white snowy landscape! What a disappointment. Snow fell for the first time in a while, and of all days, it had to be on the day of the shoot... The driving course I had been planning, wondering whether to go to Lake Shikotsu or see horses, literally turned completely white in an instant. This might be what Hokkaido's spring is all about. Even if the snow disappears from the roads and temperatures stay above freezing, depending on the weather, snow can still fall in Hokkaido until close to Golden Week. Even if the snow doesn't accumulate on the roads, there are risks like black ice in the evening and poor visibility, so spring driving requires constant vigilance. That's where compensation comes in. Please consider the optional compensation service "Complete Peace of Mind Package" offered by Sapporo Rent-a-Car. Well then, let's cheer up. If it's snow, why don't we suggest ways to enjoy the snow? The car we rented today is a Nissan Dayz. It's a cute Kei car, perfect for a girls' trip for two. The bench seats will surely make conversation lively! It seems to bring parents and children closer. Its fuel efficiency is excellent at 21.8-25.8 km/liter (under test conditions). With its eco-system, it's easy on the wallet, which means more budget for souvenirs! Furthermore, it was equipped with an Around View Monitor, a welcome feature for those who struggle with parking, which displays the car's position on the rearview mirror. Not only can you check the front, rear, left, and right, but you can also view it from a bird's-eye perspective, allowing you to easily park within the white lines of a parking space! SAPPORO RENTA LEASE boasts a 95% new car introduction rate. The car we rented this time was also new! So, let's go forth with our shiny companion! （※New cars are not always guaranteed depending on stock availability. Please inquire by phone for details.） First, Get Sausages & Ham at a Great Price in Chitose!

We've decided on "yakiniku" for this trip's memorable dish. But since this is Hokkaido, let's introduce "Genghis Khan" (Jingisukan). Chitose City and Tomakomai City have New Chitose Airport and a ferry terminal, making them distribution hubs, which is probably why there are surprisingly many food factories located there. At the direct sales stores of such food factories, you can surely buy ingredients perfect for souvenirs at a low price, right!? Let's go right away!

We're heading to "Hokkaido Chitose Ham Factory Direct Sales Store." When I entered it into the navigation, it showed using the expressway from Kariki IC to Eniwa IC. Unfortunately, this information is incorrect. Kariki IC only has an entrance and exit for the Otaru direction, so there's no entry point when heading towards Chitose/Tomakomai. The closest IC is Sapporo Minami. Please be aware that some ICs in central Sapporo may not have an entrance when heading towards Otaru or Chitose/Tomakomai. Even using the expressway from Dō-Ō Expressway Sapporo Minami IC to Eniwa IC (Kei car toll 550 yen), it's about a 45-minute drive. As I was driving, oh? It cleared up! The morning's snowy landscape was gone, the temperature rose, and the snow accumulated on the road had completely melted. Yay! I witnessed the legendary "fair-weather photographer" I'd heard about. Arrived! The direct sales store is located within the Hokkaido Chitose Ham factory premises. It has an ivory-colored exterior and the interior is very clean! It's such a charming direct sales store. Most of what this factory produces is for commercial use. The factory direct sales store sells these outlet products at great prices. Indeed, looking at the products lined up in the store, everything was cheaper than market price. Even though they are outlet items, there's no change in taste or quality, so it's a blessing for families with growing children. There are always 30 types of processed products, 10 types of frozen products, and other dairy products available. My daughter's eyes were serious as she chose products! After much deliberation, we purchased the "Original Set," which includes the number one popular item, "Chitose Pork Sausage." The Original Set is a better value than buying items individually, and it's said to be further discounted during sale periods (please inquire about sale dates). The set contents reportedly change each time, so it's a pleasant surprise to see what's available when you visit. They also offer daily samples, so you can taste before buying, which is reassuring. The only problem is that they're so delicious, you might eat too much... Hokkaido Chitose Ham Factory Direct Sales Store

After purchasing ham and sausages, we're off to find today's special ingredient: "Genghis Khan" (grilled lamb). From Hokkaido Chitose Ham, it's about 44km, roughly a 50-minute drive, to "Hokkaido Tarumae Kobo Direct Sales Store." We've finally arrived in the Higashi-Iburi region. On the way to the store, if the weather had been clear, we might have seen Mt. Tarumae (Tarumae-zan), an active volcano straddling Tomakomai City and Chitose City. Unfortunately, when we visited, it was covered in snow clouds, so we couldn't see its majestic form. In spring, the pristine white snowcap near Mt. Tarumae's summit is magnificent. You can also see it from Lake Shikotsu, so please visit if you get the chance.

And so, we've arrived. The "Tarumae Kobo" sign, full of handmade charm. What kind of place is it? My chest swells with anticipation. Hmm? A delicious aroma is already wafting from outside the building. Like fried food, or yakiniku... Ugh, I'm hungry! Here, you'll find seasoned processed meat, all frozen. Its characteristic features are a rich, savory seasoning and aging after marinating to ensure a tender bite, even when thickly sliced. I tried a sample of the meat (I'm always eating, aren't I?!), and indeed, the seasoning is rich and slightly sweet, a flavor that makes you want more rice. As it's a factory direct sale, the prices are very reasonable. I thought, "Locals are so lucky to easily buy such affordable meat!" But it turns out customers come from all over Hokkaido. Right near "Tarumae Kobo" is "Auto Resort Tomakomai Arten," Hokkaido's largest auto campground, featuring natural hot springs, bungalows, and a canoe base. Ah, so when people barbecue or have Genghis Khan at this campground, they stock up on affordable, generous portions of meat here! Of course, it's not just the price; the meat's flavor itself is highly regarded. Since it's frozen, be careful of condensation if you take it as a carry-on. They also offer regional shipping, but since Hokkaido is entering cherry blossom season, please consider camping at "Auto Resort Tomakomai Arten"! Personally, it's a favorite facility. The strong saline hot spring water at Yunomi no Yu natural hot spring makes your skin smooth and warms you thoroughly. The rustic open-air bath overlooking Mt. Tarumae, with its golden-colored water, is especially my favorite! Oops, I got sidetracked. The goal is to buy delicious Genghis Khan meat. From over 80 types of seasoned processed meat, we decided to buy the most popular thick-cut Genghis Khan. Additionally, at the strong request of the cameraman and my daughter, we also bought one pack of young chicken thigh shoyu zangi for 500 yen. Not only do they offer tasting services every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and on holidays, but they also sell freshly made, piping hot young chicken karaage and zangi. For those who want to buy freshly fried items, phone reservations are recommended. We seemed to have coincidentally purchased freshly fried zangi, enjoying the supremely delicious moment of hot juices overflowing. The truth is, I didn't eat any. My daughter and the cameraman gobbled it all up... They finished it all themselves. Both of them exclaimed "Oh, this is good!" and "Wow, this is delicious!" the moment they tasted it, so I imagine it was incredibly tasty. The cameraman declared, "I'm buying this every time I pass by here from now on!" That's why you need a reservation for freshly made items! Anyway, I'm glad I could satisfy the two meat lovers. Just as I was thinking of heading to the next place, the store staff said, "Please take one." Huh? If your total purchase exceeds 2,000 yen, they let you draw a "lucky lottery" ticket. Let's trust my daughter's strong luck! What will she win? Ta-da! We won "Hokkaido-produced Delicious Pork Large Intestine Horumon with Spicy Miso" 500g (worth 500 yen)! My daughter, you did it!! For those thinking, "This is for an article, so you must have picked a winning ticket from the start, right?" No! My daughter won this on her own! And for those thinking, "Don't you always win some kind of meat?" I also suspected that, so I asked the staff, and they said you can sometimes win snacks. So, it seems we hit a pretty big jackpot! Yay! And with that, having gotten our desired Genghis Khan and even horumon, we left the store! Hokkaido Tarumae Kobo Direct Sales Store latter part!で！