Hokkaido is a gourmet treasure trove where you can get fresh ingredients.

Obihiro City, located in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido, has a local B-class gourmet dish called "Chinese Chirashi."

Chinese chirashi is a hidden B-class gourmet food in Hokkaido, and gained popularity after being featured on the Secret Kenmin Show.

Today, I will explain about "Chinese Chirashi," a local B-class gourmet dish from Obihiro City, Hokkaido.

What is Hokkaido's local B-class gourmet food "Chinese Chirashi"?

"Chinese Chirashi," a local B-class gourmet dish from Obihiro City, Hokkaido, is, simply put, a dish of various ingredients fried and seasoned and served on top of rice.

It is stir-fried in oil, seasoned with sweet soy sauce, and served topped with pickled ginger and Japanese mustard.

Although the name includes the word "chirashi," it has nothing to do with chirashi sushi, and of course it does not use vinegared rice.

People in Obihiro sometimes call Chinese chirashi "chirashi" for short, and since it has the word "Chinese" in the name, it has a Chinese feel to it.

It is a gourmet dish similar to bukkake rice, and some people say it is similar to Okinawa's champon.

The ingredients, including the sweet soy sauce-flavored vegetables, go perfectly with the rice, and the dish is quite filling, making it a very satisfying dish.

Chinese chirashi is sold at Chinese restaurants in Obihiro City, and is currently served in about 30 restaurants.

The history of Hokkaido's local B-class gourmet food "Chinese Chirashi"

Chinese chirashi was originally created in 1967 as a staff meal.

The idea was conceived by Naohito Ikeda, who had transferred from a Chinese restaurant in Tomakomai City, where he had been working in the Chinese food department, creating dishes that made the most of leftover ingredients.

This was apparently very well received by employees.

The word "chirashi" was included in "Chinese Chirashi" because the colors of the ingredients were as beautiful as chirashi sushi.

To this day, Chinese chirashi is a popular gourmet dish that is eaten daily not only by the people of Obihiro, but also by people in Hokkaido and all over the country.

The difference between Hokkaido's local B-class gourmet "Chinese Chirashi" and Chinese rice bowl

There are some similarities between Chinese chirashi and Chinese rice bowls.
It is generally said that Chinese chirashi is Chinese rice bowl without the sauce, and I think that's correct.

However, Chinese chirashi actually comes in a variety of flavors depending on the restaurant that serves it, and there are no strict rules regarding the ingredients or seasonings used.

Standard ingredients include those commonly used in Chinese cuisine such as Chinese cabbage, wood ear mushrooms, pork, and eggs, but what else is added varies depending on the restaurant.

The seasonings also vary depending on the store, with some offering typical Chinese seasonings and others offering spicier flavors.

Another attraction of Chinese chirashi is the wide variety of foods available.

About Obihiro City and access

Next, we will introduce the characteristics, access, and tourist attractions of Obihiro city.

Obihiro City is located in the Tokachi region in eastern Hokkaido and has a population of approximately 170,000.
It is the city with the largest population in eastern Hokkaido, and with agriculture as its core industry, it is an agricultural product hub for Tokachi.

The city name Obihiro originally comes from the Ainu language, and is said to have been derived from the upper sounds of the Ainu name for the Obihiro River, "o-pere-perke-p," with the "hiro" (wide) part added in reference to the vastness of the Tokachi Plain.

Half of Obihiro City's flat land is farmland, consisting of large-scale field crop areas.

Another feature of Obihiro city is the many mountains and rivers it has, with the Tokachi River being the sixth largest in Japan in terms of drainage area.

Obihiro city is easily accessible, about 2.5 hours from Sapporo by train, about 1.5 hours from Kushiro, about 3.5 hours by bus from Sapporo, about 4 hours from Asahikawa, and about 2.5 hours from New Chitose Airport.

By car, it is about three hours from Sapporo and two hours from Kushiro, and by plane to Obihiro Airport, which is one and a half hours from Tokyo's Haneda Airport, two hours from Kansai International Airport in Osaka, and three hours from Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya.

A direct bus takes you from the airport to the city center, taking about 40 minutes.

Tourist attractions in Obihiro City

Finally, let's take a look at the tourist attractions in Obihiro City, Hokkaido.

Obihiro and the Tokachi region are places where you can enjoy scenery that is truly Hokkaido, and are highly recommended as a tourist destination.

First of all, Obihiro Zoo is a must-visit for families with children.
The zoo is located within Midorigaoka Park and also has an amusement park on the premises.

This is a rare place where you can see around 70 species of Hokkaido animals, including polar bears, elephants, red foxes, and Hokkaido raccoon dogs.
There is also an indoor facility where you can interact with the animals.

Next up we cannot miss Tokachi Ranch, which was founded in 1910 (Meiji 43).

The vast grounds, covering a total area of 4,100 hectares, include two first-class rivers, and many livestock animals, including Hokkaido horses, sheep, and cows, are raised here.
The birch tree-lined street, which has been used as a filming location for movies and TV dramas, is truly a spectacular sight.

There is also "Koufuku Station," a popular tourist spot among women.

This is a former Hiroo Line station that gained attention after being featured on a television program in 1973 with its catchphrase "From the land of love to happiness," and was reopened in 2013 after renovation.

It is also a very popular spot for taking photos.

Location of Obihiro City, Hokkaido

summary

Today, we explained about "Chinese Chirashi," a local B-class gourmet dish from Obihiro City, Hokkaido.

It's filling and contains a variety of ingredients, including vegetables, so it's well-balanced nutritionally.

Obihiro City has many famous tourist attractions, so why not visit them all?

\ We are looking for Tempo Star affiliates! /