Long drive from Sapporo! Arrival at Tsurui Village

This time, we were joined by Mr. and Mrs. Niioka, a family living in Sapporo. They consisted of a mother, Yui, a father, Yukio, and a child, Kanata (4 years old).
We arrived at Tsurui Village after a 5-hour drive from Sapporo!

Mr. and Mrs. Niioka's family

We recommend that you use your time freely by car, so you can stop by stores you like in towns along the way to enjoy local delicacies and buy souvenirs.

However, the distance from Sapporo to Tsurui Village is a long one, about 330 km. If you are worried about driving for long hours, don't worry, public transportation is also available.

First, parents and children experience fishing! Let's catch and eat a pike at "Otsu Fishing Park"!

Breathing in the delicious air of Tsurui Village, parents and children can try their hand at fishing!

Otsu Fishing Park

Otsu Fishing Park is a fishing pond made of underground water from Mashu, where you can casually enjoy fishing mainly for yamame (mountain lionfish).
All the necessary equipment for fishing can be rented, and fishing rods for elementary school students as well as adults are available. Fishing instruction is provided, so even first-time anglers can enjoy fishing without anxiety.
First, put a bait paste on the end of the fishing rod and drop it into the pond. You will feel a popping response and immediately pull the fishing rod...you have caught a magnificent yamame (Japanese pond smelt)!

Our family of three caught more than 20 fish that day! At Otsu Fishing Park, you can not only enjoy fishing, but also have your catch cooked into crispy tempura (20 yen per fish), so you can enjoy the delicious taste on the spot.

Freshly caught and deep fried fried fried Japanese land-locked salmon tempura!

If you are worried that you might not catch any fish, don't worry! Even if you don't catch any fish, you will be presented with a yama-mame or yama-mame tempura as a gift.
Even if you don't catch any fish, you will be given a free sea bean or a sea bean tempura.

Play hard at the Tsurui Athletic Plaza & do a little work

After enjoying fishing and filling your stomach with fried bean tempura, head to "Tsurui Undo Hiroba" (Tsurui Sports Square)!

Tsurui Sports Plaza

This vast 12-hectare playground is suitable for both children and adults, and offers a variety of activities such as swan boats, go-carts and other attractions, a barbecue corner, a putt-putt golf course, etc. There are also cafes and shops. There is also a café and a store, so you can enjoy the whole day even if you come empty-handed.

Attractions in Tsurui Sports Plaza

While Kanata-kun and his father are enjoying the park's attractions, his mother is working at Hiroba no Cafe Huckleberry, a cafe inside the plaza. Enjoy drinks, snacks, and sweets, so you can concentrate on your work while taking a breather.

Working at Huckleberry

Huckleberry also has a kids' space and nursing area, so you can visit with your little ones without worries.

After all, the end of the day is a hot spring! Let's get healed in the natural hot springs of Tsurui Village!

Enjoy the day and relax after a long day at a natural hot spring.

Hotel Green Park Tsurui Open-air bath

Hotel Green Park Tsurui and HOTEL TAITO are two facilities where you can enjoy natural hot spring baths not only for overnight stays but also for day trips. Although the quality of the spring water is similar, the temperature and moistness are slightly different, and the atmosphere of the baths is also different, so we recommend soaking in both hot springs to fully enjoy the benefits of each.
As for lodging, you may choose to stay at a hotel such as "Hotel Green Park Tsurui" or "HOTEL TAITO" and spend a perfect time, or you may choose to stay at a guesthouse or pension and talk with local people, or you may choose to rent a private house and spend a relaxing family time. Please choose according to your mood and plans.

The monitoring tour will continue on Day 2 and Day 3! Please also read this article.