Located in the eastern part of Hokkaido, Kushiro is a core city of the Doto region with a population of 160,000, yet it is surrounded by beautiful national parks and wetlands. With an average summer temperature of around 21°C, it's a comfortable place to live, making it the number one city in Hokkaido for trial-stay residents for nine consecutive years. Graphic designer Chiho Onodera was drawn to this city for its unique food culture, the friendly nature of its people, and its deep, unfolding charm.

This time, Ms. Onodera will share some of Kushiro City's hidden gems with us.
What are the special things about Kushiro that she finds so captivating?

Experience this drinking style and you'll be a Kushiro connoisseur
A special way to drink sake: "Darakan"

Kushiro's robata (fireside cooking) restaurants have a culture called "darakan." Near the hearth, you'll find a pot filled with Kushiro's local sake, "Fukutsukasa." If you say, "Darakan kudasai!" (Darakan, please!), they will pour the sake from the pot into your cup. The sake, warmed slowly to about body temperature by the hearth, is so delicious you could drink it leisurely all night. Be sure to experience Kushiro's culture with "darakan."

"Muryoju," "Tanekomi," "Nuki"—what are they?
A special way to eat soba: Kushiro Soba

Home to Chikurouen, the main branch of the Azumaya soba restaurant chain, Kushiro is also a town of soba. What's particularly interesting are the unique menu items like "Muryoju," "Tanekomi," and "Nuki," which are mainly served at Azumaya-affiliated restaurants and are rarely seen outside of Kushiro. "Muryoju" is a dish where soba noodles are mixed with sesame oil. So, what kind of soba is "Tanekomi"? You'll have to order it at a restaurant to find out!

You'll be amazed by the variety of seafood
A special place for seafood shopping: Local Supermarkets

In 2023, Kushiro Port's annual catch volume ranked number one in Japan for the first time in 32 years. While the Kushiro Washo Market is a famous place to buy fresh seafood in this port town, there are also several unique local supermarkets where you can purchase delicious fish. You're sure to be surprised by the abundance of seafood unique to Kushiro.

Chiho Onodera

Born in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Graphic Designer. After graduating from a design college in Sapporo, she worked as a designer at a production company in Tokyo. The Great East Japan Earthquake prompted her to return to Hokkaido, where she was once again impressed by the richness of the region. She left her company to start her own business and continues to create designs that highlight Hokkaido's local resources and people. After marrying her husband, who is from Kushiro, she became captivated by the city's charm and now enjoys her Kushiro life to the fullest.

See Ms. Onodera's work and portfolio here.

Domingo presents: A Local's Special Guide

"A Local's Special Guide" can also be found in "HAC MAGAZINE," the bimonthly in-flight magazine published by Hokkaido Air System (HAC), the "Wings of the People of Hokkaido." We introduce the "special something"—be it local food, places, or souvenirs—recommended by wonderful people from all over Hokkaido.

Hokkaido Air System Official Website