THE FOOD TRAIL

Lamb barbeque, known as Jingisukan or Genghis Khan, is a must-try in Hokkaido and a local favourite. Vegetables stewed in the juices of the meat and sauce surrounding the pot are also extremely tasty. As a souvenir of a delectable meal, one can purchase pre-packaged products which can only be shopped locally.

Soup curry is a traditional Japanese spicy soup with rice in a nutshell that is a famous local gourmet in Hokkaido. It often contains chopped vegetables and large pieces of meat. Even if the ingredients are too big to eat in one bite, they are often easy to eat because they are soft enough to be cut with a fork or spoon.

✤ MOUNT MOIWA

Mount Moiwa in Sapporo city rises up about 531 metres. The view from the top affords excellent views of not only Sapporo but also a spectacular view of Ishikari Bay and the plain in the distance. The glittering lights of Sapporo at night are recognized as one of Japan’s new major three-night views. Mount Moiwa's superb scenery together with gourmet dishes and nature strolls makes it one of Sapporo's main points of interest. One can get to the top via the ropeway or take the Morris car to the summit and enjoy the majestic views from the Observatory.

✤ SHIME PARFAIT

In Japan, parfait is a dessert made with fresh fruits and whipped cream. Shime means conclusion and while most Japanese locals eat ramen as a shime after a night of drinking, people in Sapporo finish it with a cold and sweet parfait instead. Sapporo’s parfait is often made of rich soft serve ice cream and fresh cream because more than a third of dairy farms in Japan are located in Hokkaido. Open late at night to catch the shime parfait crowd, many ice cream parlours pride themselves on making parfaits that not only taste amazing, but also look delicious.