Let me write about the snacks and cafes that I always look forward to during my stay in Ura-Bandai.
Sasakitei bakery
Sasakitei, located on Sohara-dori, is a bakery that you should visit at least once if you are staying here.
The bakery has not only sweet breads, but also breads for meals such as croque-monsieur. The store is always crowded with visitors, including local residents, business purchasers from pensions and guest houses, tourists like myself passing by, and visitors to the nearby campgrounds.
The bread baked that morning is so popular that it is sold out as early as 10:00 a.m. after the store opens at 8:00 a.m. I visited the store after 9:00 a.m. this time. This time, I went to take a peek at the store after 9:00 a.m. and was a bit nervous because there were already very few items on the shelves.
The Corona Disaster had for a while left the store only for merchandising, but I heard that the eat-in shop has come back. Let’s get up early and go.
[Beko-milk]
Beko means cow in local Japanese here. Aizu Chuo Dairy, a local milk manufacturer, is known for its unforgettable brand name “Beko-milk. The entire Aizu area, including Urabandai, seems to be their sales area.
There are many local milk producers in Japan, but this one is different from the rest. The first time I tasted “Beko-milk” was when I bought a drink at the eat-in restaurant “Sasakitei” mentioned above. What is this? The lead copy on the package is tasteful and interesting!
“Beko-milk”, which seems to be characterized by its pasteurization method, has a unique taste is good, but personally I would strongly recommend “Beko-milk Coffee Express” and the sweetened yogurt “Beko-milk Aizu snow”.
[Hiro’s Sweets Shop]
A café attached to a pension in Lakewood Pension Village. As far as I know, they have been operating a store here for more than 10 years. It has been featured in various media and has become so well known over the years that I think there are few people who travel around this area who have not heard of it or have never heard of it.
Pasta, curry, and other light meals are delicious, but it seems that many customers come for the sweets, and cakes that make use of local ingredients, such as “Hanamame Mont Blanc” and “Gateau Shiokkora” are very popular. This time I had a hot sandwich and a rum raisin cheesecake, which were of course very delicious.
As one would expect from a cafe on the plateau, the hydrangeas were in full bloom in the garden even though it was August.
It was a hot day with strong sunshine, but with the help of a natural breeze across the woods and a fan, we were able to spend the day in the restaurant in first-rate comfort.
Nevertheless, if such hot summers become the norm, I wonder if the day will come when this summer resort cafe will have difficulty operating without air conditioning… I don’t like to think about it too much, but….
Come to think of it, the “dream catcher” decoration in the store was impressive.
Dreamcatchers are Native American talismans that protect souls on their journey while they sleep. It is said to capture bad dreams without letting them pass and to invite in only good dreams.
This is the first time I have seen one of these, so I was very impressed. Apparently there is an artist in the area who makes dreamcatchers, and he sells miniatures in his store.
May your souls meet with good dreams tonight.
