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A Local's Guide to Nakashibetsu, Eastern Hokkaido | Office Worker & DJ Kazutaka Shiozaki's Top 3 Recommendations
Kazutaka Shiozaki
Office Worker / DJ
Residing in Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido. While working as an office employee, he is also a DJ who continues to create music and express himself while engaging with the community. He appeared on NHK Sapporo's "Local Friends Taizaiki," where he shared the culture and daily life of his hometown Nakashibetsu in his own words, receiving a great response. As a DJ, he emphasizes not just song selection but "creating a space," developing his unique worldview at local events and small parties. His stance of expressing himself as an individual while being part of society transcends the boundaries between city and countryside, and work and expression.
■Click here for Kazutaka Shiozaki's Domingo Local Player page
So good it'll make you cry!
A Special Culinary Delight: Izakaya Ekubo
At "Ekubo," a dining spot nestled in the heart of Nakashibetsu, you can savor a dish called "Nakeru Buta Aburiyaki" (Grilled Pork So Good It Makes You Cry). Tenderly sautéed pork is topped with yama wasabi (horseradish), which grows abundantly in eastern Hokkaido, along with cabbage and a soft-boiled egg. Drizzled with sauce and mayonnaise, the sweetness of the meat and the kick of the yama wasabi create a perfect harmony, delivering a deliciousness that might just bring a tear to your eye. The restaurant is a local favorite, also praised by sake lovers for its extensive selection of Japanese rice wine.
Izakaya Ekubo
■Location: 1-25-1 Higashi 1-jo Kita, Nakashibetsu-cho, Shibetsu-gun, Hokkaido
■Hours: 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
*Food L.O. 8:30 PM, Drink L.O. 10:30 PM
■Closed: Sundays, national holidays (on weekdays)
■Phone: 0153-74-8522
Click here for more details and map information for "Izakaya Ekubo"
The sweetness of red bean paste, refreshingly crisp!
A Special Souvenir: Chilled Shiratama Zenzai & Chilled Shiratama Shiruko (from Kanmi Chaya u an cha)
"u an cha" is a sweet shop run by a long-established yokan (sweet bean jelly) store in Nakashibetsu with over 90 years of history. It's a place where you can relax and enjoy traditional yokan, Japanese sweets, and tea. A recommended souvenir from your trip is the "Chilled Shiratama Zenzai" and "Chilled Shiratama Shiruko," made with adzuki beans from Tokachi and the local Nakashibetsu area. Chilling them makes the sweetness more refined and refreshing. It's a perfect cool treat for the hot season.
Kanmi Chaya u an cha
■Location: 2-1-1 Higashi 1-jo Minami, Nakashibetsu-cho, Shibetsu-gun, Hokkaido
■Closed: Sundays & Mondays
*If Monday is a national holiday, the shop is open and closed the following day. 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM (L.O. 11:00 PM)
■Phone: 0153-72-5866
Click here for more details and map information for "Kanmi Chaya u an cha"
Fun for the whole family with a playground!
A Special Place: Nakashibetsu Midorigaoka Forest Park Campground
The walking and wooden paths connected to the forest park and campground are close to the town center and easily accessible, making it a great place for a casual stroll in the woods. You have a high chance of spotting our forest friends, the Ezo squirrels and wild birds, making it a recommended spot to feel a sense of coexistence with animals. By the way, despite being such a wonderful place, it's still an up-and-coming tourist spot and hasn't even been given a formal name yet, making it a true hidden gem.
Midorigaoka Forest Park Campground
■Location: 3016 Kitanaka, Nakashibetsu-cho, Shibetsu-gun, Hokkaido
■Open Season: May 1 - October 31
■Phone: 0153-73-2191
Click here for more details and map information for "Midorigaoka Forest Park Campground"
With Nakashibetsu Airport, access from Sapporo and Tokyo is excellent!
What makes Nakashibetsu so charming? An introduction by Kazutaka Shiozaki
Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido, is a town that boasts high convenience for both tourism and commerce in Eastern Hokkaido. With Nakashibetsu Airport, access from Sapporo and Tokyo is excellent. For tourism, it serves as an ideal base for major destinations in the Eastern Hokkaido area: about a 1.5-hour drive to the World Heritage site of Shiretoko, about 2 hours to Kushiro, famous for the Kushiro Wetland and red-crowned cranes, and about 1 hour and 40 minutes to Nemuro, the easternmost point of Japan. The town is well-equipped with large commercial facilities, restaurants, supermarkets, and drugstores, making it a comfortable place to live where you can enjoy urban convenience amidst nature.
Domingo presents: That Person's Special Recommendations
"That Person's Special Recommendations" can also be found in "HAC MAGAZINE," the in-flight magazine published bimonthly by Hokkaido Air System (HAC), the "Wings of the People of Hokkaido." It introduces the special recommendations of wonderful people in Hokkaido, from local food and places to souvenirs.
