Hokkaido Roadside Station Stamp Rally Day 3 (5/3)

Click here for Day 2

If there were no cherry blossoms in this world...

Perhaps we could spend spring in peace if there were no cherry blossoms.
But, for better or worse, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, making my heart restless.
So, I must go see the cherry blossoms to calm my heart.

With that said, this time I will head toward the Hidaka area while also collecting stamps for the rally.

1st Station: 'Maoi no Oka Park'

So, today's start is at Maoi no Oka Park in Naganuma Town.
It's a popular station with a well-stocked direct sales market.
I often pass by here when heading toward the Hidaka area, as well as when heading toward eastern Hokkaido.
I pass by it often, but I don't stop by very much... (outside of business hours)

2nd Station: 'Abira D51 Station'

I could just head toward the Hidaka area via the high-standard road, but
since I'm here, I'll stop by the roadside station in Abira Town along the way.
As the name suggests, a D51 steam locomotive is on display inside the station.
A Kiha 183 series Ozora train is also on display.
Photos, you ask?
I didn't take any lol
I'm sure I've taken them in the past, but it was too much trouble to look for them.

3rd Station: 'Mukawa Shiki no Yakata'

The next station is the roadside station in Mukawa Town.
Mukawa is famous for shishamo (smelt), but
it seems they are having a hard time lately due to low catches.
I also recommend the surf clams.

Nishino Flower is also at the nearby Poponta Market.

4th Station: 'Thoroughbred Road Niikappu'

Heading further south, the next stop is the roadside station in Niikappu Town.
The Hidaka Expressway is being built bit by bit, and it looks like it will reach here soon.

At this roadside station, you can eat the world's rare green pepper soft-serve ice cream.
I will refrain from commenting on whether it is delicious or not lol

I recommend the shop inside Niikappu Kitchen behind the Seicomart.
There is also a Record Hall.

5th Station: "Mitsuishi"

I head further south and enter Shizunai Town.
Shizunai has the famous cherry blossom spot, Nijukken Road.
Of course, I'm not stopping there! lol

I mean, it's crowded as hell there.
The return on investment for the traffic jam isn't worth it to me personally.
I'm aiming for the Mitsuishi Roadside Station.
It has an attached hot spring, Mitsuishi Onsen, where you can soak in kelp water.
It feels like you're being turned into soup stock, so I recommend it lol

The Roadside Station is the part that isn't the hot spring.

From here on, even if you go to Erimo, there are no Roadside Stations.
You can also go from Urakawa through the Temma Highway toward Obihiro, but
today's goal is cherry blossoms.

Yushun Sakura Road

So, my recommended cherry blossom spot is
Urakawa Town's Yushun Sakura Road.
There are retired racehorses here too,
and you can take photos of horses and cherry blossoms together.

In Shizunai, the cherry trees are far from the road, but
here they are relatively close, so you can feel like you're going through a cherry blossom tunnel.

If you come a little earlier, you can see the Ghost Cherry Tree, but
it's difficult because the timing is different from when this one is in full bloom.
Coming twice would solve that, though lol

Shoya Sakura Park

Since I've come this far, I might as well just go all the way to Erimo.
With that momentum, I head further south.

On the way, I stop by Sellers in Samani.

Octopus eggs, whelk rice, chicken legs, and more
There are so many delicious things here

And with my stomach full, I head for Shoya Sakura Park

From here, I'll head back the same way I came
If I go all the way to Tokachi, it's a pain to get back

5/3: 5 stations

So, that makes 5 stations for today's stamps
The Hidaka area is basically just one road, so it's not really suited for day trips...

Achievement status as of 5/3: [19/129], 110 stations remaining

Click here for Day 4