In spring when the snow has melted one thing that many people do is get out in the mountains and gather the regrowth of plants. A few that are fairly easy to find in Niseko are takenoco [bamboo shoots] udo,  fuki, and gyoja ninniku[Ainu garlic]. Below are a few pictures of the some zan sai as found in the mountains or just after they have been picked. Please note that of the time of this being written mountain vegetable are still being picked in the higher parts of the Niseko Mountain chain.

Fuki in the Wild

Udo in the mountain

Ainu Garlic and Udo ready to be prepped

The real trick to san sai is the preparation and or cooking so head across to our small section of  spring mountain flavour recipes that are unique to Japan, simple but simply delicious. Or in the mean time grab some takenoco and mix up some miso paste and mayonnaise to make a miso-mayo dip and eat while drinking beer in the comfortable spring climes. Got some recipes and want to contribute? add a comment and we can get back to you.

Miso Mayo and unprepped and lightly boiled Takenoko

150g of Ainu Ninniki [Garlic]
1 Tin of Tuna
Mayonaise
Black Pepper

Method

1. Cut Ninniku into 4-5cm piece, leaf and stalk
2. boil for 2 mins
3. cool down
4. drain tuna
5. add tuna to the ninniku
6. add mayonaise and pepper to your liking

Recipe Translated from Cookpad

Ingredients

• fuki (white and thin ones if you can get) : 10 pieces
• salt : little bit
• soy sauce : 2 spoon
• sake : 1 spoon
• sugar : 1 spoon

Method

1. Cut off leaves
2. boil the water ( put little salt)
3. put fiku in the boiled water and wait for 2-3 minutes
4. put fuki in the water.
5. peal fuki
6. drain the water
7. cut fuki in 3-4cm
8. stir-fry fuki with soy sauce, sugar and sake.

*This is pretty sweet. If you don’t like sweet, put less sugar.

Thanks to Hiromi from Ramat Niseko for this recipe

The Goko (5 lakes) is a place that everyone should visit when they visit the Shiketoko World Natural Heritage site.

Like any place in Hokkaido and most of Japan for that matter the 4 seasons are distinct and the weather is changeable. The day we went  was the first day of the spring season that the full 1 and 1/2 hour walk round the 5 lakes was open and the cloud was low making the experience a little different than potrayed in the guides. This time of the year also gave us the unique experience of seeing  Skunk lillies (Lysichiton camtschatcense).

The Goko lakes are surrounded by virgin forest and on a clear day you will see the Shiretoko ranges and forest reflected in the lakes making them one of the most interesting landscapes in Shiretoko.  As well as the 90 minute walk around the the 5 lakes there is a 40 minute walk that takes in the first two lakes and an elevated 15 minute board walk that takes you from the car park to a view point. Bears can sometime come to the area so make sure you have a bell to deter them or don’t be surprised if the walk is close.

When I went to the Museum of Natural History [Fudo Kan] I was I little hesitant and I had heard varying reports. However I really enjoyed the varying displays they had from the massive satellite picture on the floor, the displays on the Zero testing they did on the top of Annupuri, the mountain we all ski and board, weather and snow displays and a lot more. Go along and check it out!

The Fudo Kan is open all year around, it is in the North East part of Kutchan, you can get into the Shu Ogawara Museum of Art at the same time on the same ticket.

Fudo Kan Website

Roku San Tribute room, Roku San is the very famous Taiko Drummer. This room display is one of many from an old school room to a room on JR Trains.

Part of the massive satellite picture on the floor spanning from the mountains to the east of Yotei-zan to the coast of Iwanai.

Above 4.00am Shakotaan, Hokkaido

It’s been a long hot summer here in Hokkaido, recently we’ve had unseasonably hot temperatures and very little rain and no one’s been complaining. Usually by this time of the year its all long sleeve shirts and grey days. The only down side to these extra summer days has been that due to the lack of rain the rivers are running low and because of this the salmon have been reluctant to start running at least in the rivers around Sapporo and Shakotan.

Hokkaido is quite the Salmon fishing mecca with dozens of areas yielding the mighty silver fish. These fish are of the Pacific Salmon variety and include the darkly colored horizontally striped Cherry Salmon or Sakuramasu. Of course where ever salmon abound fisherman abound too and Japan is no exception. Last week there were more than 20 people lined up on each side of a river mouth near Shakotan. Not so unusual you say and you be quite right but it had just gone 4 am and the fish may have actually been weeks from making their first run!

The temperature is forecast to drop this week and we’ll look forward to rich colored maple leaves and the rich colors of fresh Salmon on the dinner table.

Check out Hokkaido Salmon Fishing at our sister site nisekosnow.net

In Japan the change of seasons are strongly marked both environmentally and socially. Summer brings warm weather, lush greenery, beer festivals, parasols and fresh corn. Autumn brings chestnuts, dragon flies, salmon and rich color to the forest. We invite you to join us as this blog journeys through seasonal Japan and more. We’ll take you to places to see, places to be, places to eat and places to ski. Right now its is Autumn the weather is beginning to cool and soon the air here in Hokkaido will become beautifully clear and speckled with dragon flies, the hills will change color and the Salmon have already begun to run. What more fitting way to celebrate the beginning of Autumn and a new blog than buy opening a crisp Autumn beer, here it is, 3 Cheers.