Hokkaido Tokachi Cuisine Makes Free Debut at Taipei Railway Station This Saturday

Located in Japan’s northernmost region, Hokkaido is home to ever-changing beautiful landscapes such as lavender fields, Biei’s rolling hills, and the Sapporo Snow Festival, making it a dream travel destination that many visit more than once. Within Hokkaido’s central region—less frequented by tourists—lies an area called “Tokachi.” Neighboring Hokkaido’s rooftop, the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range, and the Hidaka Mountain Range, Tokachi features vast and fertile plains, and is also the birthplace of Hokkaido’s iconic confectionery, “Rokkatei.”

Thanks to its natural environment, Tokachi is well known for its dairy farming, agricultural products, and cuisine. Japanese confectioneries often use Tokachi-grown red beans (azuki), artisanal bakeries proudly highlight Tokachi wheat, and the area’s most famous dish is the national favorite “Pork N<.” The Pork N< is essentially pork rice bowl, but what makes Tokachi’s version unique is the use of local sweet and flavorful pork, grilled over charcoal to develop a rich aroma, paired with each restaurant's secret barbecue sauce, gleaming white rice, and a few small green peas as garnish—making it quite different from the typical Japanese-style sauce-flavored pork rice bowls. It’s a must-try when visiting the region. Additionally, Tokachi is one of the few areas in Japan that produces its own wine. The grapes, grown under abundant sunshine and sharp temperature differences, are plump and sweet, yielding wines that have earned numerous international awards.

Even if you can’t make it all the way to the northern region, you’ll still have the chance to taste Tokachi’s local delicacies this weekend. To promote tourism and cuisine in Tokachi, the Tokachi Branch of the Japan Junior Chamber, Inc. is holding a promotional event on Saturday, July 30, 2011, from 11:00 to 14:00, at Taipei Railway Station’s main hall and plaza. The event will offer 3,000 servings of locally sourced pork, chilled Tokachi wine, fresh yam, and popular products from Rokkatei such as “Cappuccino Biscuits” for free tasting, along with information on sightseeing in Tokachi. Whether you are interested in Tokachi’s food or travel, you can visit during the holiday to enjoy the local flavors and experience the charm of the region.