Jozankei Onsen is a hot spring resort beloved as Sapporo's "inner parlor." Tucked away in a corner of this resort is a gelato and pizza shop with a rather interesting concept. The hint to this concept lies in its unique and impactful name: "Ame no Hi to Yuki no Hi," which means "On a Rainy Day and a Snowy Day."

"Ame no Hi to Yuki no Hi" opened in September 2018 and has since become a popular fixture in Jozankei. With a stylish atmosphere distinct from the hot spring town, you'll feel a sense of excitement even before stepping inside.

Photo courtesy of Ame no Hi to Yuki no Hi

The shop, which also sells merchandise, has table seating as well as counter seats facing a large window, allowing you to relax and enjoy the view outside. Many customers who come for the gelato seem to get it to go.

First, check out the gelato right by the entrance. You can choose two or three flavors from a rotating selection of 14. The "Futatsu" (two scoops) is 470 JPY (tax included), and the "Mittsu" (three scoops) is 570 JPY (tax included).

They all look so delicious it's hard to choose, but how about this combination? "Blueberry" and "Homegrown Pumpkin."

The refreshing tartness of blueberries from Toyotaki in the local Minami Ward pairs exquisitely with the rich flavor of pumpkin. Another recommended combination is "Salt Vanilla" and "Forest Raspberry."

The sweet and sour taste and seedy texture of the raspberry provide a wonderful accent to the highly popular salt vanilla. By the way, all the gelato is made with Jersey milk from Biei Town.

The gelato cups are adorned with cute stamps. There are 15 different stamps, and the one you get changes depending on the day's weather. It was cloudy during our visit, so we got a cloud stamp. Now, here's a question for you. There's one stamp that is only used once a year. Can you guess what it is?

The correct answer is the first snow of the year stamp. Why not try to get this rare stamp on its once-a-year appearance?

When you visit the shop, you must try the pizza too. The crust is thin yet surprisingly chewy, making it very satisfying. The "Ameyuki's Luxury Salad Pizza" (2,035 JPY, tax included) in the photo above is the most popular! The generous amount of vegetables and homemade prosciutto makes you feel truly indulgent.

Photo courtesy of Ame no Hi to Yuki no Hi

The "Ameyuki's Japanese-style Pizza" (1,815 JPY, tax included) is another intriguing option, featuring Japanese toppings like yama wasabi (horseradish), bonito flakes, and oboro kombu (shredded kelp) on a cream sauce base.

Now, at the beginning, I mentioned this shop has a "rather interesting concept." The concept of "Ame no Hi to Yuki no Hi" is to be "a place where you can feel cheerful and have fun even on a bad weather day."

That's why, when it's raining or snowing, you can enjoy wonderful perks like complimentary self-service coffee, upgrading your gelato from a "Futatsu" to a "Mittsu" (adding one flavor) for the same price, or getting extra cheese on your pizza.

In other words, it's a call to head out to Jozankei Onsen on a bad weather day to enjoy a fun and rewarding time. It's a lovely reminder that rainy days and snowy days aren't all bad, don't you think?