Searching for cute retro aesthetics in Nemuro

These red brick silos feature round roofs that look like acorns. The three silos in the Silo Square of the Meiji Park were built in 1932 and 1936, and they were once in use.

Meiji Park used to be a pasture of Japan’s second national cattle farm, founded in 1875. These silos stand as a vestige of that farm. The first of the three silos is the biggest in Japan, standing 15 m tall with a diameter of 6 m. It’s recognized for its historical value as a Heritage of Industrial Modernization.
This large, historically significant park is full of lush greenery. On a sunny day, it’s a great place to take a stroll or have a picnic. Here you can reflect on Nemuro’s history as you enjoy a pleasant breeze.

You’ll want to prepare some snacks for your Meiji Park picnic. A seven-minute walk from the park is Hatakeyama Kashiten. Founded in 1970, this is a favorite sweet shop among Nemuro’s locals. The large cake display inside the shop is packed with various sweets including western sweets like Swiss rolls, Japanese sweets and famous Nemuro sweets.

The Kanimonaka (large: 280 yen), stuffed with soft red bean paste, is a Nemuro specialty. They’ve paid close attention to detail when creating the shape of this sweet, from the crab shell right down to the legs and claws. With a size that’s roughly as big as your hand, it’s a satisfying snack. It’s believed that Hatakeyama Kashiten is the only place that makes such large Kanimonaka. Their Lemon Cake (140 yen) has an enjoyable texture with moist dough filled with pastry. The refreshing lemon flavor is great for enjoying outdoors.
You’ll feel like you’re going on a school excursion while you enjoy sweets unique to Nemuro.

Kotohira Shrine is located at an elevated point, surrounded by greenery. The temizuya, the place where you purify your hands and mouth before visiting the shrine, is decorated with paper cutouts, flowers and glass balls. The cutouts feature various motifs that suit Nemuro, such as the sea and fish. This in itself is fun to look at. The pale colors of the decorations, colorful yet calming, are a perfect match for the shrine’s atmosphere. This display adds a splash of color to this tranquil space.

Located by the big road that runs in front of Nemuro Station is New Mont Blanc, a café that opened in 1963. The shop interior has a brown color scheme and a chic atmosphere. Most notable are the large, round lights on the walls and a big bouquet of flowers placed in the middle of the shop.

Their Oriental Rice (1,250 yen) rivals Esukaroppu as one of Nemuro’s local specialties. It features curried rice pilaf and sautéed beef served on a retro, stainless steel silver platter. The beef is coated in a sauce that they’ve been replenishing since the opening of the restaurant. It’s a slightly richer version of their special demi-glace sauce. With its generous serving size and rich yet slightly tart sauce, this dish is sure to go down a treat.

Restaurant and Coffee Shop Bara opened in 1970. The café has a peaceful atmosphere with dignified sofas and speakers installed above bar seating. The various small things you’ll find around the windows, like plush toys and paper napkins with the store’s name printed on them, will make you feel warm and fuzzy.

The drink and dessert menu is so chock full of delicious items that it’ll be hard to pick what you want. Deliberating over the menu is part of the fun. Bara Ice Cream (550 yen) is an ice cream that’s as satisfying as a parfait. It’s topped with many seasonal fruits. The thick cut of the fruit makes it all the nicer.