Let's do something this Sunday!
Our writer has three children, so she is always under attack on Sundays like: "Mum, Take me somewhere!" or "I wanna go out and play!"
This is how our reporter came up with the "morning driving course" and the "goldfish scooping afternoon" plan.
The children were excited and the family left the house at 9 am.
The first stop is the blue pond in Biei.
The Blue Pond
Source: Goldfish Club Director
When the weather is nice, the colors of the pond are really beautiful.
Unlike today, in the past the parking lots didn’t cost any money.
Our writer stayed here for about 30 minutes.
The children ate soft serves at the blue pond shop and when they were full they head to the next destination...
Fukiage Onsen
Source: Goldfish Club Director
The next stop was Fukiage Onsen.
It is about 20 minutes by car from the blue pond.
The hot spring here is famous because the actress Rie Miyazawa from the drama “Kita no Kuni kara” bathed here.
The family enjoyed the footbath and went to the next place...
Biei Shrine
Source: Goldfish Club Director
The last place is the Biei Shrine, it is also famous for its power spots (spiritual spots).
Water is coming out of the dragon in the Chozuya here, and the children were impressed by how cool this was!
A Chōzuya is a Shinto water ablution pavilion for a ceremonial purification rite. The pavillion contains a large water-filled basin called a chōzubachi (手水鉢, lit. 'hand water basin').
At shrines, these chōzubachi, are used by worshippers for washing their left hands, right hands, mouth and finally the handle of the water ladle to purify themselves before approaching the main Shinto shrine.
Source: Goldfish Club Director
After paying their respect for the god of the shrine, the family looked for hearts!
It is said that if you manage to find a lot of hearts here, your luck in love will improve.
Our reporter is married so the love luck thing doesn’t interest her but decided to look for the hearts nonetheless.
They were hidden in various places and the children enjoyed their hunt.
Source: Goldfish Club Director
Source: Goldfish Club Director
Source: Goldfish Club Director
The family went back to Asahikawa to eat their lunch and headed to the Goldfish house.
The Goldfish House
Source: Goldfish Club Director
This is the Goldfish House, the home of the Goldfish Club, which our writer supervise.
Hokkaido's first facility where you can enjoy goldfish scooping all year round.
It is not an exaggeration to say that this is the world's first goldfish scooping house in a snowy, cold region.
The author is also involved in the revitalisation of the town through goldfish scooping, hoping to become a part of children's emotional education and to connect with people.
Source: Goldfish Club Director
In the goldfish scooping here you can enjoy the same game as you do during festivals.
But there is also an additional rule to create some competition: compete with 1 paper scoop for 3 minutes and see how many goldfish you saved.
Of course, the person who saved the most goldfish win.
Source: Goldfish Club Director
Some people say that from a scientific viewpoint, goldfish scooping is good for the development of children's brains and the activation of elderly people's brains.
Since you are actually scooping goldfish that swim freely in water, you will naturally acquire knowledge about fluid mechanics, structural mechanics, animal ecology, etc., and even increase your dynamic visual acuity.
There is also a time limit, so a strategy may also become necessary.
It's like a sport.
But the fun part of goldfish scooping is that everyone can enjoy it regardless of their age.
The more you practice, the better you will get. This makes a lot of people engrossed in the game.
How about trying the traditional goldfish scooping out when you come by ?
■Informations
Name: Goldfish House
Address: Hokkaidō Asahikawa-shi, suehiro higashi, 1-jō 4-chōme
Phone: 090-9757-3107
Business hours: 10: 00 ~ 18: 00
Regular holiday: Irregular holiday
Parking: Yes
Hello there!
I am in charge of translating in english some of asatan's articles.
I'm from France and I have been living in Hokkaido for 6 years.
Things I like : drawing, pokemon, online games,
Things I don't like : melon, lags, waking up in the morning