The 13th instalment of Rui Yoshida's tour of Hokkaido's port towns takes you to Iwanai, a town facing the Sea of Japan, where you can enjoy the season in the harsh winter! Iwanai Town faces the Sea of Japan. With the wind and snow blowing in from the sea, the cold becomes even harsher, and bar poet Rui Yoshida wanders around in search of delicious sake and snacks. Accompanying him is HBC announcer Kanako Muroya. The town was filled with seasonal delicacies and people's love. When we looked up Iwanai's specialities, we found a lot of delicious-looking foods such as "Tempura Ramen," "Tachikama," and " Codfish roasted whole". The two went to the harbor in search of these specialities. They meet "Taramaru," a mascot character based on the motif of a walleye pollock, and smile at his charming appearance. The first dish they found was not Taramaru but "cod belly rolls". We were both surprised at the size of it. They also enjoy 12 kinds of sushi using freshly caught seasonal ingredients. Other winter delicacies such as "soy sauce simmered cod" and "tachipon" (cod milt) are also excellent. In Iwanai Town, visitors can taste "deep water" collected from deep within the sea. It is used for cooking and seafood processing and is also used in the famous "cod whole roast". There are two flavors: sweet bean paste and cream. The crust, to which deep water is added, is crispy when freshly made and becomes firmer when slightly cooled. When the neon lights come on in the downtown area, you will miss drinking. The restaurant I visited had handmade "tachikama," a delicacy only available during this season. Its thick texture and umami taste will make you want to drink more sake. The "Western-style back menu" served on Japanese plates is also worth mentioning. We had the customary toast with regular customers in the small dining room! We share delicious drinks while talking about the charms of Iwanai. (Source: Japanese = hbc.co.jp || Translation = iniquitous at MyDramaList)