Speaking of hot spring facilities, one of the pleasures is relaxing at the restaurant. However, at Nanporo Onsen Heart & Heart (hereinafter Nanporo Onsen) in Nanporo Town, they have a specialty menu that is so popular that some customers come to enjoy the food as their main attraction. I immediately ordered this menu item, which is said to be the "absolute ace." Nanporo Onsen is located about 45 minutes by car from the center of Sapporo. It is a fairly large facility with a hotel attached. The parking lot is also spacious! Of course, the hot springs are a big interest, but first we headed to the restaurant in the facility to try their specialty dishes. If you're just going to use the restaurant, there's no entrance fee, which is very reasonable. The name of the restaurant is "Restaurant Ajishin." When I entered the restaurant and looked at the menu, it was immediately clear which dish was the specialty. At the very top it said "The most popular, absolute ace." I ordered and waited excitedly for it to arrive. A few minutes later, this was what appeared! This is the specialty, "Cabbage Tendon" (1,000 yen including tax). It has three giant tempura pieces of cabbage in the shape of kakiage, towering over you. Just having it brought to you is quite an impressive sight. The cabbage tempura bowl comes with sauce already on it, but it also comes with tempura sauce, so you can enjoy it in two different ways. The way experts eat it is to transfer the tempura to the small plate next to it so that it is easier to eat. It has a crisp texture and is surprisingly not heavy, and you can taste the slight sweetness of the cabbage. Apparently cabbage is a specialty of Minamihoro Town, so you'll probably finish the first slice in no time. However, the three extra-large tempura pieces, which are the size of an adult's palm, are quite filling. If you can't finish it, you can ask the staff for a takeaway pack, so don't worry. By the way, there is also a hidden shrimp tempura, so try to find it while you eat. And of course, if you've come all this way, you can't miss the hot springs. Relax and soak in the large public bath in the main building, which was renovated and reopened in 2018. Nanporo Onsen is a natural chloride spring, and the water flows directly from the source. It will warm you to the core. The indoor baths also include a radon bath, which is rare even in Hokkaido, and an oxygen bath with microbubbles that improve blood circulation. If you also enjoy the sauna, there's nothing else to say. Delicious specialty dishes and comfortable hot springs. Being able to experience heaven while driving from Sapporo is a must-see! *There is also a video that shows how the cabbage tempura bowl is made. Please take a look at it and see how it is actually eaten! *If you would like to know more about the atmosphere of Nanporo Onsen Heart & Heart, please check out our YouTube channel "A Relaxing Tour of Hokkaido's Hot Springs"! <Nanporo Onsen Heart & Heart> Address: 15 Minami 9-sen Nishi, Nanporo-cho, Sorachi-gun, Hokkaido Phone: 011-378-1126 Official site: https://nanporo-onsen.ambix.biz