Spring is in full bloom! A bento box featuring seasonal ingredients, evoking the image of cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Imagine cherry blossoms in full bloom while savoring the flavors of spring.

Spring in Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido, is short, but all the more dazzling. It's the season when the cherry blossoms in Konpira Park bloom all at once, and you can enjoy the "Springtime Cherry Blossom Viewing Bento" while picturing that magnificent sight in your mind.

This bento box, made from bentwood, is packed full of seasonal ingredients, overflowing with the bounty of spring in Hokkaido.

Side dishes that showcase the flavors of spring

Simmered bamboo shoots and butterbur

When it comes to ingredients that represent spring, bamboo shoots and butterbur immediately come to mind. The crisp texture of bamboo shoots and the slightly bitter taste of butterbur—this bitterness is a true symbol of spring.

The earth's energy, stored up during winter, is released with the sprouting of new growth, resulting in a rich and flavorful taste unique to spring.

Spanish mackerel grilled in Saikyo miso

The fish called sawara (鰆) is written with the kanji for "spring" and the fish radical.

Saikyo-yaki, marinated in white miso and slowly grilled, offers a delicate yet profound umami flavor that fills your mouth. A refined dish truly befitting the name of a spring fish.

Sweet potato salad and carrot salad

A slightly sweet sweet potato salad and French-style shredded carrot marinade, "carrot râpée." The pale yellow and orange colors bring a touch of spring sunshine to your bento box.

Simmered snap peas, bell peppers, and carrots

Green, red, orange...spring vegetables compete in a vibrant display of colors.

The vibrant green of the snap peas is reminiscent of a spring field bursting with life. The colorful simmered vegetables add a touch of vitality to the entire bento box.

Sakura Denbu

A soft, cherry blossom pink. The cherry blossom-colored fish flakes color the entire bento box with the hues of spring. It's a lovely presentation, like flowers in full bloom.

Springtime flavors packed into a "foldable onigirazu"

One of the main ingredients in this bento box is the "foldable onigirazu" (rice ball without wrapping).

We topped it with plenty of spring ingredients such as rolled omelet, carrot salad, grilled Spanish mackerel in Saikyo miso, and turnip leaves dressed with salted kelp and pickled plum paste, then folded it softly with seaweed.

With just one bite, the aromas and flavors of spring unfold in layers.

The rice is a thirteen-grain blend containing chewy sunflower rice from Hokuryu Town and black soybeans. The bounty of the earth brings even greater richness.

Served with miso soup made with spring vegetables.

For your bento box, try a miso soup packed with vegetables. A warm bowl of miso soup, filled with spring vegetables like fried tofu, carrots, daikon radish, and green onions, will soothe you from the inside out. It's a comforting bowl that pairs perfectly with your bento box.

While picturing the cherry blossoms of Konpira Park in my mind

The cherry blossoms at Konpira Park in Hokuryu Town bloom in full glory during the short spring in this northern region. This cherry blossom viewing bento box brings the sight of those blossoms to the table, bringing spring into the dining experience.

The crisp texture of bamboo shoots, the slight bitterness of butterbur, the delicate umami of Spanish mackerel...the rich harmony of these spring ingredients gently colors your body and soul, which have endured winter, with the colors of spring.

With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, we present the "Springtime Cherry Blossom Viewing Bento," a meal that cherishes seasonal ingredients and allows you to savor the changing seasons through food.

Other photos

See photos (486 in total) of enjoying the seasons in Hokuryu Town here >>

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🖋️ Content planning, article writing, photo selection, and video creation: Ikuko Terauchi Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi

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