"Ainu Home Cooking Ponchise," which graduated from Obihiro's Kita no Yatai in October 2025, relocated and reopened in November of the same year at the former site of "Gyoza no Shofuku." This new location, a step up from the food stall, has become a place where time flows more freely and openly, connecting a diverse range of people. In this article, we'll introduce not only the restaurant's menu but also its backstory and its appeal as a gathering place for the community.

Ponchise is a street-level shop located on an alley amidst office buildings, a 5-minute walk from Obihiro Station.

"Ponchise" began its journey at Obihiro's Kita no Yatai, but its origins lie in a major turning point in the life of its owner, Junko-san. Originally, Junko-san was a customer at Kita no Yatai. As she frequented the stalls, she began to think, "I'd like to open my own place here someday." However, with her children still young, she initially gave up on the idea, thinking, "Now is not the right time." But just one week later, she was diagnosed with cancer. At that very moment, she received a call from the Kita no Yatai management, asking if she'd like to try being a trainee.

Owner Junko-san. Ponchise literally means "small house."

The fear of "I might die" removed her mental brakes, and Junko-san decided, "I'm going to do what I want to do." She joined the food stall as a trainee and continued to run her shop at Kita no Yatai for the next eight years. "If it weren't for my illness, my desire to open Ponchise might have just remained a dream," she reflects.

The logo features the same mark as owner Junko-san's tattoo.

As she continued her business at the stall, she gradually began to envision her next steps. One of the catalysts for wanting to relocate was a live concert she hosted in her stall, featuring a singer friend. While the concert in a space that could only hold about 10 people was enjoyable, it also felt cramped. "I want to create a place that can better showcase the charm of these people," she thought. This led her to imagine a space that could accommodate about 40 people, a place where people could gather and express themselves more freely.

The carefully designed interior is simple yet tasteful, with Ainu influences felt throughout.

She wanted to create a place that could shine a spotlight on her artist friends and support their activities. This desire led to the relocation. And so, she chose the current location.

It's a fun space just to be in, with items like CDs from the Sapporo-based Ainu music band "nincup," traditional coats, photos of bears, and books.

Tender and mild in flavor. The salad is also delicious. "Shiranuka Venison Genghis Khan (with salad)" for 1,320 yen.

If one were to perfectly replicate ancient Ainu cuisine, it would involve the entire lifestyle of the Ainu as a hunting people—hunting deer, gathering wild plants, and performing rituals. However, recreating that exactly in a restaurant is not realistic.

Alpine leek and leaf-wasabi that the owner forages herself.

On the other hand, Ainu people living today naturally carry on their culture in their daily lives. At Ponchise, they serve dishes while cherishing "the flavors that are still eaten today and the Ainu traditions they wish to pass on."

"Shikerebe-shu," a liqueur made by infusing Amur cork tree berries and bark, for 880 yen.

"As a child, I ate Ainu food without giving it much thought. But when I got a little older, I realized that the people around me weren't eating it, and there was a time when I distanced myself from it," says Junko-san.

"Muninimo-shito," fermented potato dumplings, for 770 yen. Served with butter, shio-kombu (salted kelp), and mefun (fermented salmon kidney).

"Pone-ohaw," a soup made with pork bones and vegetables, for 770 yen. Its gentle flavor warms the body.

Nevertheless, the flavors she grew up with were special. As she became an adult, she began to reconnect with Ainu cuisine. The taste of her mother's cooking, imbued with all these memories, is the root of Ponchise's dishes.

"Homemade Butterbur Miso & Cream Cheese with Nanbu Senbei" for 770 yen. A specialty incorporating Nanbu senbei (rice crackers), as her father's roots are in Hachinohe.

Ponchise is closed on Sundays and Mondays. However, these are not quiet days off. The space hosts a variety of events, such as curry and biryani pop-ups, fundraisers for Myanmar refugees, live music, and workshops. Some days, the pop-up curry shop "saam" serves food, while other nights it transforms into a tonkori workshop or a wine bar.

"Even for events I'm not hosting, I somehow end up showing up and drinking with everyone (laughs)." Perhaps it's Junko-san's personality that naturally draws people to this place. Ponchise can also be booked for private parties of 15 or more and is equipped with a screen and projector, making it a venue that accommodates many people's "I want to try" ideas.

After the relocation, a new lunch service was launched. This was something not offered during the Kita no Yatai days, allowing customers to enjoy the taste of Ponchise during the daytime.

The newly started lunch service. This is the "Shikerebe-Spiced Braised Pork Bowl" for 1,210 yen.

The menu features dishes like the "Shikerebe-Spiced Braised Pork Bowl" (1,210 yen) and "Pone-ohaw (with udon noodles)" (990 yen). The introduction of lunch service has led to an increase in female customers. Recently, due to the influence of the popular manga, anime, and movie "Golden Kamuy," the number of international visitors from places like South Korea and Taiwan has also been increasing.

The "Seimei Banzai Festival," organized by owner Junko-san.

Owner Junko-san also organizes the annual "Seimei Banzai Festival." This year will mark the fourth time the event is held, taking place in Tokachibuto, Urahoro Town, a location she fell in love with for its scenery.

The 2026 event is scheduled for August 22nd and 23rd. It will feature various attractions, including a live performance by Yoko Toyokawa (owner Junko-san's sister), the singer of the Sapporo-based, globally active Ainu music band "nincup," as well as karaoke facing the sea, dancing, and more. Ponchise is not just a restaurant; it has become a base for sharing Ainu culture.

*Lunch service will be suspended until after Golden Week for wild plant foraging and preparation for the Seimei Banzai Festival.
*All prices include tax.

Ainu Home Cooking Ponchise

■Address: 16-4 Nishi 3-jo Minami 10-chome, Obihiro-shi
■Hours:
・Lunch: Wed, Thu, Fri 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM (L.O. 1:30 PM)
・Dinner: Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM (L.O. 9:30 PM)
■Closed: Sundays & Mondays
*Events may be held on closed days.
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