The temperatures have dropped in Hokkaido, and autumn has fully arrived. Speaking of the season for hearty appetites and outdoor sports, we'd like to introduce "Memuro Sanso," a cycling tour where you can enjoy the charms of Memuro Town while riding through it.

What is 'Memuro Sanso,' a Way to Experience Memuro with All Five Senses?

Memuro Town plays a vital role in Japan's food production. The "food" born from its agriculture is a given, but there's also the "rural landscape" woven by generations of meticulous work, and the "people" who create it.

"Memuro Sanso" is a way to experience these charms of Memuro with all five senses while cycling through the town.

Local guides and supporters, full of love for their town, will show you the best course for the season and time of day.
They provide rentals for electric-assist bicycles, helmets, and gloves, so you can participate worry-free.
The tour starts with a lesson on how to ride the bike and proceeds at a leisurely pace with stops along the way, making it an easy and enjoyable experience even for those who don't usually ride bicycles. You can just show up empty-handed.

The uphill climb to the Shin-Arashiyama Sky Park Observatory is a breeze with an electric-assist bicycle.

A refreshing ride through the vast fields.

Enjoying the Town from Various Angles with 'Memuro Sanso'

There are currently six tours available for 'Memuro Sanso.'
You can enjoy Memuro Town from various perspectives, with tours like the "Artisan Bakery Sanso" which visits local bakeries, the "Moo-Moo Sanso" where you can experience feeding milk to a calf, and the "Quick Shin-Arashiyama Area Sanso" to enjoy the spectacular views of Memuro.

The Domingo editorial team participated in August, so it's not on this list, but we joined the Mini Tomato & Corn Picking Sanso.

A Harvest Tour to Experience Gratitude for Vegetables and the Joy of Picking

The tour we joined started at JR Memuro Station and included a corn and mini tomato harvesting experience.
Our guide for the day was Mr. Oikawa from the NPO Qucurcus.

After borrowing our electric-assist bikes, helmets, and gloves, we set off immediately.
A short ride took us out of the urban area and into the vast fields.

We cycled for about 15 minutes, stopping to learn about the difference between sweet corn and feed corn, and asking questions like, "What's planted here?"
We soon arrived at the cornfield of Mr. Takano, a young farmer who farms with pride and dedication.

To prevent diseases from affecting the crops, we put on shoe covers before entering the field, and then it was finally time for the corn harvesting experience!

We put on covers to prevent crop diseases before entering the field.

We harvested some magnificent corn!

Freshly picked "Gold Rush" corn.

The variety we harvested this time was called "Gold Rush." We were told to try the freshly picked corn raw, and when we took a bite, it was incredibly sweet and juicy!
This special corn, grown in Memuro, a major producer of sweet corn, was impressively delicious.

After enjoying the corn, we visited the greenhouse for mini tomatoes, also grown by Mr. Takano, for a mini tomato picking experience.

Farmer Mr. Takano

Freshly picked 'Carol' mini tomatoes.

Mr. Takano told us that this variety of mini tomato is called "Carol."
They were glossy, very sweet, and so delicious that we couldn't stop eating them!

Mr. Takano and his beloved dog, Aki-chan.

If you're lucky, you might even get to meet Mr. Takano's dog or cat.

Enjoying the vast landscapes of Memuro, feeling the air while cycling, and being moved by the taste of freshly picked vegetables. It was a truly fulfilling time where we could enjoy the charms of Memuro Town with all five senses.

We Want People to Enjoy Memuro with All Five Senses and Become Fans!

We spoke with Mr. Oikawa from the NPO Qucurcus, which operates 'Memuro Sanso'.

"At 'Memuro Sanso,' we want participants to do more than just see the scenery of Memuro Town; we want them to have a deeper experience. Through interactions with people and hands-on activities, we hope to increase the number of fans who want to come back to this town again."

Mr. Oikawa himself has learned from his own travel experiences that the most important factor in creating fans is a 'connection with people.'

They place great importance on fostering connections by valuing communication with the people at the places they visit during the tour and with the tour guides themselves.

People who have experienced 'Memuro Sanso' have said things like,
"Listening to stories about vegetables and actually harvesting them changed the way I look at them!"
"I was surprised to see how vegetables I'd only ever seen in supermarkets grow in the fields!"
"Learning about the effort and dedication that goes into growing vegetables changed my perspective on food and life afterward!"

After participating in the tour myself, learning about vegetables from our guide Mr. Oikawa and the farmer Mr. Takano, and getting to harvest them, I became a fan of Mr. Oikawa, Mr. Takano, and Memuro Town. If you experience 'Memuro Sanso,' you're sure to become a huge fan too!

'Memuro Sanso' Tours You Can Experience Now

As mentioned earlier, there are currently six types of 'Memuro Sanso' tours available.
The vegetables available for harvest vary by season, so it might be a good idea to join a tour based on your favorite vegetable.

This weekend, there's an event in Shihoro to harvest "sea buckthorn"! Be sure to check it out.
■ Shihoro Sanso Sea Buckthorn Edition

You can sign up for 'Memuro Sanso' using the application form on their website or Facebook page!
Please check the calendar on the website for tour dates and sign up!