Yokote
From Akita Wiki
Yokote (横手市; -shi) is the second-largest city in Akita. It was formed in October of 2005 by merging with 7 smaller towns, Hiraka (平鹿), Jumonji (十文字), Masuda (増田), Omonogawa (雄物川), Omori (大森), Sannai (山内), Taiyu (大雄), and Yokote Proper (旧横手).
Yokote is located in the Southeast of Akita prefecture. The area of Yokote is roughly 693.59 km². The population was estimated in 2005 to be 106,540, giving the city a population density of 153.61 persons per km².
Its most famous event is the annual Kamakura Festival, held every February 14-16th. (And also famous for having the greatest ALT's in all of Akita prefecture.)
The wondrous thing about Yokote is that everyday, there are new surprises and adventures to be had. Unfortunately, they do not just willingly appear on your door step. I mean sometimes you’ll get stuff on your doorstep, but usually those are just things like packages from your motherland or flyers about some local politician perpetually running for office (seriously, they have been campaigning for months and I have not heard one thing about an election).
Like gnomes (specifically David the Gnome), adventures in Yokote “are there to see, if you believe.” Yokote is home to many fascinating and unique things. First, Yokote (specifically, Masuda) is the birthplace to Akita’s most famous comic book character, Tsurikichi Sanpei. Who is Sanpei you ask? Sanpei is just about the coolest, Tohoku accented, happy-go-lucky fisherman in the world. Even if you don’t read manga, you'll see Sanpei; he is the kid on your busses and fruit. Don’t get him confused with that one guy from “One Piece”, Sanpei is way cooler and existed at least 20 years before “One Piece”. Every Japanese person in Akita knows who Sanpei is. If you want to score bonus points with any local person (kids not as much; adults, yes) mention something about Sanpei and they will freak out, give you a hug, and take you to a nomihodai.
Yokote is also home to the “were-deer”. I know what you are probably thinking. You are probably saying to yourself, “Sweet Sassy Molassy, why did I get placed in a city with a were-deer/why would I ever visit a place with a were-deer?” First, of all, Sanpei lives here, which hands down is a good enough reason to come. Second, the were-deer is not actually the demonic consequence of some sort of drunken vampire camping bender. The were-deer is actually the Japanese serow. Technically, this is a goat and not a deer, but not only do they look cool, they are also very rare. If you see one, considered yourself blessed! (Note: were-deer actually live throughout Japan).
So if things like cartoon fisherman and goats don’t tickle your fancy, there are more traditional activities and things to do in Yokote (see any of the sections below). One final tip that doesn’t fit anywhere else on this page: Yokote literally translates to “sideways hand”. However, some internet translators will translate Yokote to “Applause City”. No one really knows why that happens, it just is. Truly, this is just another wonderful and beautiful mystery waiting to be solved in the most happening city in Southern Akita.
Contents |
Transportation
Roads and Highways
Yokote is connected to the Akita Toll Expressway (north towards Akita City and east to Iwate prefecture) and the Yuzawa Toll Expressway (south to Yuzawa City) with interchanges in Yokote City and Jumonji.
There are several main arteries in Yokote. Route 13 runs north to south. Note that there is also a ROAD 13 that runs north to south. Routes are marked by blue triangles, whereas roads are marked by hexagons.
Route 107 cuts east to west through Akita. It can take you from one side of Japan to the other. But, in the winter, it's probably safer to take the expressway to Iwate, as the road goes through the mountains.
The Green Road (グリーンロード)is an alternative to Akita City from Yokote. It runs from Yuzawa to Akita City. This is a back country route with little traffic and few traffic lights. There are small rectangular signs that point the way (they say Green Road in katakana), or following the signs to the airport will also work (if you get to the airport though, you've gone too far...). Keep in mind, that it is not a straight route, and it can be difficult to navigate. It is best to have someone show you the way first. It is also poorly lit at night, has more wildlife and should be avoided in the winter.
Inaka Road is a slightly bumpy, narrow road that will transport you to/from Yokote City to/from Omonogawa in approx 15 min (wintertime requires 30min). It is also known as "Book Off Road" and "Happy Town Road" as these are the major landmarks on the start of this road in the City. In Omonogawa, this road's base is at the row of four vending machines (a cigarette, beer, and 2 non-alcoholic machines) and at the house where the garage door is always open (except in winter). This road has an official number assignment, but that takes all the fun out of it, doesn't it?
Trains
Yokote is located on the JR Ou line which runs north to south through Yokote. There is a station in Jumonji and Yokote City, with smaller stations in between. From Yokote, it costs about 1300 yen to get to Akita City.
A second train line also runs out of Yokote Station. The Kitakami line runs east to Iwate prefecture through the stations in Sannai.
Only local trains run through Yokote. To catch the shinkansen, you will have to connect at Omagari Station to the north.
Don't fear the train. If you don't speak Japanese, the train system can be a little confusing. However, there are several ways to overcome this. First, be able to read English. Many times, the times and train destinations will be in English. If you know where you live or where you want to go, in Romaji, you can most likely get on the correct train. Head's up though. At the station, the train line might not exactly say the specific town you are going to. For example, if you are heading from Akita City to Yokote, the platform you want to get on may say Omagari or Yuzawa; it will stop in Yokote! To ride in comfort, know the names of towns along the line you are traveling (note: some smaller stations may not have romaji to help you out).
Next, use hyperdia. [1] This can help plan any train trip on the public train lines. One should note, that this search engine is case sensitive and...Word sensitive. For example, if i want to go from Yokote to Akita City, Yokote must be in lowercase "yokote" and Akita City must be "akita". Some cities which are made up of several small town, will not go by the small town name. Example, if you want to go to Yurihonjo, you have to search "ugohonjo". Don't let these little things fool you, that friend you met at new year conference really does exist; they didn't just make up a Japanese sounding town to throw you off their trail.
If you don't know how much your ticket costs, do this. Buy the cheapest ticket. Then when you depart the train, the station master and/or robot turnstile, will make you pay the difference. If you don't know Japanese numbers, just hand them like a 5000 yen bill, which will cover basically any local fare.
Night Buses
Probably the cheapest way to Tokyo is by night bus. There are three companies that have night bus services.
- Ugokotsu (羽後交通観光)(Ugokotsu site)- The most expensive option. This bus offers single reclining seats and on-board washroom facilities on their regular buses. During peak seasons, you might get an add-on bus with no regular seats and no washrooms (they will make service station stops). They will tell you if your bus has no washroom during booking. Reservations can be made at JTB or at the Ugokotsu office (behind the convenience store about a block from the Yokote Station). The bus leaves at 2230 from the Yokote Bus Terminal and ends at Hamamatsuchou Station in Tokyo or Yokohama Station.
- Orion Buses (オリオン) and Kira Kira Hot Dog Buses （キラキラホットドッグ） (Orion site)(Hot Dog site)
These two companies are cheaper options and seem to have a partnership. Orion and the Sparkling Hot Dog buses are regular double seater coaches with no on-board washroom. They stop about 3 times during the trip at service stations, and they turn on all the lights at these stops. The buses board on the street in front of Yokote Station, next to the bus terminal. They usually leave early, so arrive before the given boarding time. They will call you if they think you're late. These buses leave later than the Ugokotsu buses but arrive at about the same time. It should be noted that while Orion has an English website, it isn't always updated, and they never check their emails. It is best to call them. Hot Dog bookings can be done over their internet site and they also have ticket packs which lets you buy 6 tickets for a discounted price. The pack is a good option as these companies change their prices during peak seasons. These buses stop at Tokyo Station bus terminal area and near Yokohama Station.
Festivals
Yokote
Following the Kamakura Festival each year is the Bonden Festival. In the morning on February 16th, a parade is held in the downtown area where each neighborhood shows off its bonden, a long pole with a sculpture at the top, usually depicting some scene in Japanese mythology. On the 17th, the neighborhoods carry their bonden to a shrine at the top of the Asahiyama. Each neighborhood tries to force its bonden through the torii, while being pushed back by members of other neighborhoods. The first bonden team to break through the torii is said to have the blessing of a good harvest for the coming year.
In summer, the Yokote Bon Dance is held along the main street in front of the city hall. Participants perform a repetoire of between 2 and 3 dances over the course of 2 hours. The dances are repetetive, so anyone can join. ALTs in Yokote practice and perform with the staff of Vivid Hair, a local salon.
The Okuribon Festival is held on the day following the Yokote Bon Dance. Neighborhoods construct large Yagatabune, house-shaped boats, from wood and straw. The boats are carried on the shoulders of neighborhood men and crashed against each other repeatedly on a bridge over the Yokote River.
Omonogawa
On August 8th, is the annual HaHaHa Festival (ははは祭), named not only for the sound of laughter, but also for the date of the festival. While it may not be a major festival, it is a very popular event for the neighbour hood. It offers the usual festival food, game stalls and live performances, including the inevitable "Tribute to Michael Jackson" dance routine performed by Omonogawa students.
In October, there is the annual Matsutake Festival (松茸祭), which is actually a marathon event. It honors the matsutake mushroom. There are 3 distances, 5km, 20km and 27km offered and it starts in front of Omonogawa Junior High School. The winners are presented with a matsutake in a box and everyone celebrates by eating matsutake rice afterwards.
Since the city merger, Omonogawa has introduced its own small version of the Kamakura festival. Running concurrently with Yokote's festival, it is a more traditional, less tourist orientated festival and perfect for pictures. The kamakuras are located between the community center and Central Park. It is best to go in the evening when they've lit the candles. Just follow the path of small kamakuras from the parking lot.
Hiraka
The Ayame Matsuri (あやめ祭り) takes place at Asamai Park (location) every year and spans from the last weekend in June to the first weekend in July. "Ayame" means iris in Japanese, and some 50,000 irises are in bloom in the park during this time. Various events take place on both weekends, including a school band concert, a goldfish catching competition, pony rides, and a Neigar Show. The festival culminates in a marathon on the final Sunday.
Sightseeing Destinations
Yokote's Furusato Mura (location)or Kamakuland, has many spectacles to behold.
- Art Museum - showcases both its own collection and traveling exhibits. The art museum is free of charge and appears to contain an escalator to "no where". Don't worry though, the escalator actually takes you to sweet, sweet art.
- Wonder Castle - Advertisements might try to pass this off as an amusement park, but personally, i don't consider anything without a roller coaster an amusement park. This is better described as a children's museum. However, this place is fun for adults, too! The main attraction, if you are not five years old, is the optical illusions exhibit on the 3rd and 4th floors (great place for photo ops). If you are five years old, then you may be more interested in the ball pits on the first floor (or puppies, but they don't have puppies). All ages may ride the "Namahage Power Slide". Basically, it is a two story slide at about an 88 degree angle; you go down it sitting in a burlap sack. Don't worry, while the slide looks like a death trap, most people ride unscathed. Be prepared to be laughed at by small children if you hesitate at the top! The slide is not staffed, so make sure to press the button by the mouth of the slide on the second floor for assistance (don't worry, if you don't speak Japanese, they know enough English to tell you how to ride; it is only a slide). Admission to the Wonder Castle is 500 yen (slide is free with admission).
Teach the youngin's the truth about foreigners: ALTs truly come in all shapes and sizes.
- theater - The theater hosts a variety of events such as talent shows, Chojin Neigar Show, Hello Kitty shows, or talent shows hosted by Chojin Neigar villains. Kamakuland doesn't advertise very well, so make sure to really keep a look out for cool events that may be stopping here.
- Planetarium(?) - There is a kamakura shaped building with a bunch of space memorabilia inside it. There is a good chance it is a little planetarium.
- local craft promenade - features opportunities to learn about and try making Akita's local crafts.
- Akita Museum - A permanent exhibit with a variety of artifacts of Akita. One will find many traditional items such as cherry wood crafts and silver jewelry. This exhibit also has a lot of buckets on display. I guess Akita was (is?) really good at making buckets.
- Gift Shop Mall - Great for holiday shopping. Basically, Kamakuland has a gift shop from every town in Akita Centered within a small area. If you are unable to find a particular gift here, there is a 85% chance it doesn't exist. Insider's Tip: As of October 31st, 2008, Kamakuland does not sell any Komachi Hats. To get those, you must have them custom made.
Yokote Castle is located in Yokote Park(location). It is a reconstruction of a castle which stood from the 17th to 19th century. The park also contains a pond and rose garden, and a playground for children. Insider's Tip: If this is your first time in Japan, go to Yokote Castle before visiting Kyoto or someplace like Yama-Dera. Yokote Castle is tiny, so embrace what grandeur it has before your heart becomes jaded by large castles or shrines.
And if you're looking for a great overlook of Yokote City, this is the place to go. Some would even call it a make out spot. Rumor has it that if you go there at night a put a light/candle on your dashboard, that is the signal that you are looking for a hook-up. Personally, I am not desperate like that, but hey, i guess winters in Akita can get pretty lonely. Maybe for your own good, you should give taiko or snowboarding a chance first.
Yokote Ski Area (location) is located near the park.
Sports and Recreation
Yokote
Green Stadium Yokote(グリーンスタジアムよこて） The largest baseball stadium grounds in the city also has a skate park (skateboard), 2 outdoor basketball half courts, baseball diamond and washroom facilities.
Yokote Gym (横手市立体育館） A sports NGO runs different sports programmes at this gym, such as badminton and tennis. There are pamphlets available there with details on programmes and times. There is an annual membership fee of 3000 yen, and a separate fee (300 yen for badminton and tennis) for each time you go. Some programmes are led by instructors, while others provide just the facilities and equipment.
Yokote Batting Center (横手バッティングセンタ) On route 13, but tucked away (look for the yellow sign), the batting center has coin operated batting cages as well as a table tennis table.
Karaoke Aside from karaoke found at bars, there are 3 large karaoke only establishments.
- Southern (サザンー)- located just east of route 13, near the Gaia, the large obnoxiousness looking orange Pachinko Parlor. Charges per person depending on room size. On weekdays from 1100 to 1800, they offer "all you can sing" (i.e. "song viking") with drink bar for around 1000 yen. Southern contains a variety of themed rooms such as a jail, and American dorm room, and mirrored 80's dance hall. In the Greek/Roman room, there is a stage perfect for that rock ballad you've been practicing. Be warned, the disco ball in the Greek/Roman room is broken and will probably stay broken indefinitely. Still go to the Greek/Roman Room; you will not be disappointed. Interesting new development. Some if not all rooms at Southern may now contain the song "Love Shack".
- A.Q.A.- on route 107 on your way to Sannai. This place charges a flat fee per room, so you can divide that by the amount of people you have and it works out to be a pretty good deal. Rooms vary in sizes from small group (4-6) to a gigantic party room (easily 15, 20+ if people don't mind standing) Rooms by comparison are pretty bland though seating is comfortable. No themes or stages, BUT this is the only place that features Love Shack by the B52's, so we love this place most! Insider's Tip: A.Q.A has a point card reward system. The card costs about 300 Yen. If you use the point card, you can get the 3 hours for the price of two; well worth the deal (even if you theoretically bought a new card each time). Also, with 2,000 A.Q.A. karaoke points you can get some stylish Sailor Moon wannabe cups.
- Music Stadium - This place is called Music Stadium, but most ALTs call it "Space Whale". While their choice of marketing is questionable and/or awesome (there are many picture of whales and dolphins flying through outer space), Space Whale is by far the worst of the Yokote's Karaoke options. Not only does it have small cramped rooms, but music selection is poor, many songs have wrong lyrics (e.g. Beach Boy's Kokomo), and a large portion of their karaoke machines run on DVDs instead of a hard drive. The best thing about this karaoke establishment is its location. Located in the heart of Yokote City, Space Whale is within walking distance of a plethora of bars, eating establishments, or even city hall and is easy to get to. Also, in the same building as Space Whale is a number of hostess bars, one with women in prom dresses.
- Watermelon- Sit down. I have some unfortunate news. At the end of January 2009, Watermelon, the most happening place in Omonogawa, will be closing its doors forever. Chances are that it will reopen as a pachinko parlor called "Grapefruit Plaza" at some point in time, but we may never hear the lyrical delight from within its walls ever again. May the memories of its pool tables and dart boards linger on in our hearts forever.
Let's all pour out a Dr. Pepper for our lost homie, Watermelon.
R.I.P
in Omonogawa, apparently you can bring your own food. At first glance you might think that this is a renovated Denny's. If so, it is the best damn Denny's you have ever been visited! Watermelon offers a wide selection of songs and many rooms have a little stage (the stage is no Greek/Roman room stage (see "Southern") but it serves its function well). The karaoke system uses an intelligible rating system based on an exponential curve with angels (or cherubs if you wish to be specific). If this distresses you, just remember that the other karaoke places base your performance on the number of calories you burned, so get over it; Water melon is awesome. Insider's Tip: Watermelon is the only karaoke place that has a vending machine with Mountain Dew in it. If it ever has Dr. Pepper, i know someone may never leave Omonogawa again. Insider's Tip Dos: Watermelon has two pool tables and two dart tables. Also, this place has the highest percentage of people between 19-40/sq meter in all of Omonogawa!! woo!'
DVD Rentals
There are 3 major DVD rental stores in Yokote; Tsutaya, GEO and Yamasa
- Tsutaya is the largest brand of the three stores. It has a decent selection of movies and rental CDs. You will need to purchase a membership annually, but this card is probably what gives Tsutaya an edge over its competitors. The point card can be used at various stores (Family Mart, Gusto, Eneos, Kitamura, Gyu-gaku etc.). Tsutaya aside from the usually random half price sale days, has also started other promotion days (subject to change, of course). Tuesday is children's films, Wednesdays is ladies' night.
- GEO (katakana pronunciation)has a smaller selection but it's still decent. It also has special sales days where prices can drop to 80 yen per rental. It is located on route 107 near Yokote Minami Junior High School.
- Yamase probably has the smallest selection of the three. It does have a larger music section. It also has a large book section with the only English selection in the city. It's located in the back of the store.
Pachinko Yokote is home to several pachinko places where you can enjoy amusement and relaxation. Winning means getting to trade your bucket of metal balls in for such prizes as laundry soap, a Dirt Devil, or a hair dryer with the ionizing feature. Although these prizes are by all means worthy, it is customary to go to the secret shed in back and sell your prize for cold, hard yen. Beware: Unlike the capsule machines at Heaven, you aren't guaranteed to always be a winner.
- GAIA, which opened in December 2008, is the newest and greatest pachinko parlor in town. For weeks, there were 2 men stationed outside waving giant flags to lure customers from their usual pachinko hang-outs to this new, unfamiliar terrain. Their hard work's paid off and the GAIA parking lot's filling up. Now this may be secret strategy of new pachinko parlors to excite and enthuse the public, but it's been reported that a teacher recently won 20 man yen at GAIA! If you can get over the fact that the GAIA building once was the home of our only bowling alley within a 100 kilometer radius, we invite you to try your luck.
- New York x 2 looks like a strip club straight out of Vegas, but don't be fooled. There's no fancy dancing going on in this place.
- P-Zone stands for Pachinko Zone. Korean drama themed machines rule at P-Zone. When you win a round, pictures of your favorite cast members scroll by. So, not only do you get the glory of winning, you get the added joy of reliving some of your favorite K-drama memories... times before she lost her memory in that horrible car crash, before he went blind, before he switched his identity to hide that he really is the long lost brother of his true love.
Omori
Sakura-so (さくら荘）and Omori Resort Village (大森リソート村） This area has many different options. Sakura-so offers onsens and outdoor barbecue/yakiniku (you have to make a reservations for the lather). The resort village has many different sports facilities and programmes. There is also a golf club nearby.
Omonogawa
Riverside Park (河川公園） A large park next to the Omonogawa river. It has outdoor barbecue pits, children's play areas, and a large asphalt track for jogging, in-line skating, or skateboarding.
Omonogawa Central Park (雄物川中公園) This park has a jogging path, a pavilion, a few old samurai houses, and a shrine. It also is lit up a little in the evening so if you want to go play kick a ball around after work you can do that there. At the playground, there is a 50 foot tall rope jungle gym perfect for watching the sun rise or set. There is also a homeless cat that lives there so please pet him if you see him.
Watermelon (###メロン) The local karaoke store. They don't seem to mind if you bring in your own food. They also don't seem to mind that you can't break in after midnight anymore or at any hour for that matter... (please sit down before reading) The gem of Omonogawa is now only a distant, yet painfully vivid memory with rock ballad lyrics still hanging in the air, the tracers of poorly aimed darts not yet faded, and echos of jeers sputtered around the pool table still bouncing off the realistic stone wall facade. Oh, Watermelon... May our memories of you be like the seeds of a true watermelon deliberately swallowed in hopes that more of you will grow in our stomachs.
Onsens
Hiraka
Yupple (ゆっぷる) (location) is easily recognized by the enormous red-painted concrete apple in front of it. It has a few different baths, a sauna, and access to the outside, but no rotenburo.
Hours:
Jan-Feb 7:00-21:00
Mar-Dec 6:00-21:00
Closed Wednesdays
Price:
3 hours or less: ￥400
All day pass: ￥600
Masuda
Sawarabi (さわらび) (site)and Yuraku (ゆーらく) are close to each other, but little else (location). They both draw from the same hot spring, but Sawarabi is larger and had a rotenburo.
Sawarabi:
Hours: 10:00-15:00
Price: ￥500
Yuraku:
Hours: 10:00-20:00
Price: ￥200
Omonogawa
Egao no Oka (えがおの丘), Yusenso (雄川荘) and San Kichi San So (三吉山荘) line the same street of Omonogawa but draw from different hot springs (location). All three offer a similar beautiful view of the surrounding area. San Kichi San So is the oldest and smallest, containing only one bath, but the local people rave about the quality of its water. Yusenso is next up in size and facilities. It also has hotel rooms if you wish to stay overnight. Egao no Oka is the largest and most modern. In addition to the onsen, it has a gym and pool and a few restaurants. To use the facilities at Egao no Oka, check in at the front desk. You will receive a barcoded bracelet for the gym, or a locker key for the pool. These tell the staff how much to charge you at the end. Return them when you are finished.
Egao no Oka:
Hours: 10:00-21:00
Closed Mondays and Holidays
Price:
Onsen/Pool: ￥420
Gym: ￥315
Yusenso:
Hours: 9:00-21:00
Price: ￥420
San Kichi San So:
Hours: 8:30-20:00
Closed Tuesdays
Price: ￥210
Omori
Sakuraso (さくら荘) (site)(location) sits on top of a hill and offers a lovely view of rural Omori.
Price: ￥300
Omori Kenko Onsen (大森健康温泉) (site)(location) is more modest in size with only one bath and no sauna.
Hours:
Mar-Nov: 6:00-20:00
Dec-Feb: 6:30-19:30
Closed Mondays, Obon, and New Year's
Price:
Up to 2 hours: ￥300
Over 2 hours: ￥600
Sannai
Tsuru ga Ike So(鶴ヶ池荘) (site) (location) has a number of different types of baths, indoor and outdoor. The men's and women's sides are very different and alternate daily.
Hours: 6:00-21:00
Price: ￥500
Kyorinso (共林荘) (location) is located far off the beaten track and has some of the best water in Yokote. Its facilities may leave something to be desired, but the water does not disappoint. It has a rotenburo and an outdoor utaseyu.
Hours:
Mar-Nov: 6:00-20:00
Dec-Feb: 6:30-19:30
Closed Mondays, Obon, and New Year's
Price:
Up to 2 hours: ￥300
Over 2 hours: ￥600
Taiyu
Yutorion Taiyu (ゆとりおん大雄) (site) (location) claims its radioactively charged water will help prevent cancer. It also has a ganbayoku, for an additional cost, where you are encouraged to sweat on a heated rock bed as a means of purification.
Hours: 9:00-21:00
Closed the first and third Thursdays of every month.
Price:
Onsen:
Less than 2 hours: ￥450
2-4 hours: ￥650
Day pass: ￥850
Ganbayoku:
30 minutes: ￥500
45 minutes: ￥750
1 hour: ￥1,000
Yokote
Yuyu Plaza (ゆうゆうプラザ) (site) (location) is recently renovated and conveniently located near Yokote station.
Hours: 8:30-22:00
Price:
Before 17:00: ￥900
After 17:00 ￥700
Wholesome Inn (ホールサムイン) (location) is near Furusato Mura. It offers a wide variety of baths both indoor and out.
Kanpo no Yado (かんぽの宿) (site) is part of an onsen hotel chain. Its Yokote branch offers saunas and various baths, including a rotenburo with a view of Yokote.
Restaurants
Chains
Daifuku (カルビ屋大福) (ocation) (chain site) Yakiniku restaurant that can be pretty pricey EXCEPT for Friday's when BiBimBap is half price! woo! and you might even get a coupon for a Diafuku Rubic's cube.
Gyukaku (牛角) (Yokote Location) (chain site) Yakiniku restaurant
Gusto (ガスト) (Yokote Location) (chain site)
General family restaurant. If Gusto was a job class from Final Fantasy, it would be the Red Mage. Similar to how the red mage can use Black and White Magic and all weapons (except for axe; no one can use axes), Gusto offers basically a little of everything: Japanese foods, Chinese foods, and American foods. However, just like the red mage, Gusto really isn’t all that good at anything either, and after about level 35 both Gusto and the Red Mage are terrible at defeating bosses…or hunger. Gusto does have two special skills. First, for about 300 Yen, Gusto can cast “Juice Bar” on any member of your party; this spell can be cast on multiple members of your party simultaneously as well. “Juice Bar” allows a person to grab a cup and indulge in a wide variety of delicious, health restoring beverages. Need to increase your HP, drink some tea. Need to increase your MP, drink some Coke. Need to cast “Haste”, drink some coffee. Different combinations of drinks will yield different effects. Watch out for the melon soda, which will probably induce silence if you drink it straight. However, if you have juice bar make sure to drink your “40 dollars worth of vegetables” vegetable juice and bask in its elixir like properties.
Gusto’s second ability is to summon “happy gusto waitress” at any moment’s notice. To do this, at least one member of your party must be sitting at a table. Then, say “itadakimasu” three times. You will notice an orb or portable button device on the table. Press the button. You will hear a “pin pon” sound. Wait less than 30 seconds and the legendary “happy gusto waitress”. Remember, she (sometime a he) will come quickly, so be prepared to give her your request. If you can’t speak Japanese, don’t worry, “happy gusto waitress” can interpret body language very well. Use this summon ability any time you need food or assistance. Remember, casting cost varies by food purchased. Also, this is Japan so no need to tip (this goes for anywhere!). Author’s note: At one time, we were able to summon “legendary food angel”. She was beautiful and provided the quickest, happiest, and most cheerful service. Her power has been lost to us though. Like many great heroes, she has departed Gusto to venture off into a land that needs her more than we do.
Remember, while Gusto is great, multifunctional,open till 5 AM, don’t be afraid to leave its average menu and venture off into the culinary realm of the unknown.
Insider's Tip: The veggie juice is best mixed with Calpis soda or melon soda.
Coco's (ココス） (chain site) A more slightly more expensive version of Gusto, but with better division between the smoking and non-smoking sections. Located next to Tsutaya, in the same strip mall as Gusto. They have taco salad, quesadillas, and a club sandwich. Bad news: no gyoza. Even more bad news: the club sndwich is seasonal.
Trenta (トレンタ) (Yokote Location) (chain site) Italian pasta and pizza restaurant
Sukiya（すき家） (Yokote location) (chain site) A gyu-don (rice bowl with beef topping) restaurant. Fast and inexpensive. Open 24 hours.
Yoshinoya (吉野家） (Yokote location) (chain site) A gyu-don restaurant. Similar to Sukiya.
Kappa Sushi (located on Rt 13 across from GAIA) a kaiten (conveybelt) sushi place where most every plate is 105 yen. Exceptions to the 105 yen rule are clearly displayed and mostly include specialties like coffee jelly and karage chicken. Every now and then, the shinkansen will fly by. Resist the temptation to test your rapid-fire reflexes by grabbing at what the shink's transporting for, unless it stops in front of you, it's meant for another lucky customer. You, too, can get in on the shinkansen fun by ordering something from the computer stationed at your table. When you've reached your fill, just push the yellow/tan rectangle on the main screen of the computer and a friendly staff member will come survey the damage and give you your total.
Insider's tip: You may be hesitant to grab that plate with the "Hello Kitty Fiber Juice Box", but do it. First, it's delicous. Second, just think off all that fiber you are getting (i mean you aren't getting it from your "forty dollars worth of vegetables" juice. Remember while Kappa is delicous, it isn't Gusto.
Mos Burger is in the same shopping center as Culture Station (Rest In Peace, buddy) and Daifuku. Next time you're in the mood to ingest a day's worth of calories in one meal, screw Mac and think Mos. This upscale fast food joint offers all the temptations that ground beef/pork have to offer. The menu includes a satisfying chili burger, fried apple pie, and a side of french fries with one onion ring (expect one, be delighted with two). If you visit in the winter months, feel free to wear your favorite tube top and a pair of daisy dukes as Yokote's Mos is about as warm as a Honda Life with the heater on level 4.
- It is imperative to note that the coaster that your beverage is served on is not a souvenir.
Dohtonbori (道とん堀) An okonomiyaki restaurant with a extensive menu. Prices are very reasonable too. Located in Jumonji. Homepage
Local Restaurants
KuruKuru Sushi also known by another name, but I don't know what it is. This place is across from Gusto in the same parking lot as Mos.
If you like your 100yen sushi, you have to check out this laid-back, no frills (conveyor belt) kaiten sushi spot. There's no shinkansen and definitely no touch screen ordering system, but who needs all that technology when you can chat with humans? Not only is the food better than Kappa Sushi's, going to KuruKuru means you support our meager locally owned business community. Another added bonus: I'm pretty sure one of food angel's friends works there. They are open till 9:30.
Suisha (水車) also known by some as Waterwheel(location) is located on 13 near the Softbank store. This family owned venture offers traditional Japanese dishes, such as soba, udon, and various 'dons. A former ALT/legend of Yokote translated their menu into English, so an English menu's available upon request. You can also order "yasai tendon," a meatless version of the tendon dish there. It's not on the menu, but they will be happy to make it for you.
J-Pizza Carnival (J・ピザカーニバル) (location) The best pizza in southern Yokote. Wide selection of toppings and sizes. Delivery is available, but eating at the restaurant is recommended as prices are reduced by half (and why wouldn't you want to spend some time in their American themed dining room?!). New discovery: certain items on the menu are available for take-out at half price, too. A recent review by a native New Yorker has her quoted as saying, "J Pizza Carnival is some of the best pizza I have ever had...outside of America."
Big Daddy (ビック・ダディ) (location) Quiet restaurant/cafe with a mix of Japanese and Western dishes.
Bar PaSaPorte (バル・パサポルテ) (official website) (location) Classy restaurant/bar. Includes many variations on Italian food. Very pleasant staff and service. Prices are a bit on the steep side.
Everest formerly Peace Dining ([2]) Tasty Indian food. This place got renamed over the winter of 08-09 and the young, hip Nepalese are gone. Now, there is a man and a woman. Does anyone know their interests yet? Hopefully, it's Bollywood and whiskey again.
Kamikura is owned by the family of an Oomori JHS student. It is also one of the greatest ramen and gyoza shops in all of Japan. Like gyoza? They have in forms such as age gyoza, yaki gyoza, gyoza soup. Their ramen is also top notch and a guaranteed hangover cure. You get to create your own ramen by choosing a base and adding different ingredients that are about a 50-80yen addition each. Kamikura is located next to the Happy Town shopping center, a block or two to the West.
Cafe Maru (カフェマルウ) (location) is located near Big Frek off of a small road that runs parrallel to 13. It has a range of coffee, tea, and expresso drinks. The food menu includes Taco Rice, Thai Style Curry, and Rissotto, with a few other seasonal dishes. They also have a smattering of desserts, including tarts, pie, cheese cake and cinamon sugar toast. There's a 1000 yen lunch special that includes an entre, soup, salad, drink and dessert.
Stajoni (スタジョーニ), also known (for some reason) as "Pumpkin" (location). Pasta, gratin and pizza. Very wide variety of pasta dishes. For an extra 100 yen you can request "nama pasta" or freshly-made pasta (either fettuccine or linguine) for any item.
Oysteria – The Magnifico Italian Restaurant Oysteria is cool for a number of reasons. First, the restaurant is located in a bad part of town. Well, if anything was considered a bad part of town in Yokote, this is it. Oysteria is located by both a discount store that I would describe as “dirty as a Kmart” and by Yamaya, a store that claims to sell foreign food, but really only sells copious amounts of liquor and taco shells. Also, I am sure that somewhere close by there is a pachinko place. So basically, this is at the epicenter of three of the scummiest place in Yokote. I don’t know about you, but every time I go to this secret gem, I feel hip and a lot cooler than those chumps eating out at CoCo’s.
Second, the place serves Italian food and by Italian food, I mean actual good tasting Italian food. While I have not tasted a majority of the menu, I will tell you that the pizza is about the most real pizza you will find in Japan (Okay, this is a rather bold accusation. My travels in Japan are fairly limited, but this is some damn good pizza). The pizza I ordered had actual pepperoni on it. Where did the chef get the pepperoni from? Definitely not Yamaya since that place, as I mentioned earlier, only sells booze and taco shells. However, I won’t question the chef’s ability to conjure up sweet, spicy Italian sausage from an island devoid of smoked meats. Sure, it could be made of people (soylentoni?) but it tastes so good. In fact, the quality of all the ingredients is rather incredible. As a bonus, they serve you water with a slice of lemon in it. That may not seem like anything special, but the chef does leave the pitcher of water at your table and lemon water is delicious.
Third, the owner/chef is really cool. At first, I thought he was some kind of delinquent or yakuza. I mean, he has bleach blond hair, runs an Italian restaurant, and he is Japanese; to me that just sounds like trouble. I also thought, “Why doesn’t this man have a real job?” Maybe he does though. Maybe he is a salary man by day and living his dreams as an expert Italian Chef at night. I just don’t know. Whatever his back story is, he is a nice man and a great chef.
However, what makes the owner really cool is this: he’ll try to help you score with chicks. Sure, though he may not have known that me and the girl I was with happily partake in a platonic relationship, that didn’t stop him from nonchalantly putting in that CD of love ballads. While this could have been an accident, I really don’t think that this cool, cool man would have been listening to “Endless Love” if he wasn’t the best chef/wingman ever. If you are looking to impress that certain guy or a girl, go to Oysteria; Blonde has your back.
Finally, he can make basically anything Italian you want. He told me so. He said “do you lika calzone? I get ya a calzone. You lika a pesto? I get ya a pesto.” Okay, he didn’t quite say it like that. However, he probably can make a calzone, and I am going to call him on it soon. In short, go to Oysteria. For the love of all things that are good and holy, give this deserving man your business in these times of economic hardship. Don’t let this go the way of Culture Station and Watermelon. If you do, you will truly know the definition of regret.
For a list of Omonogawa local restaurants, look under Omonogawa.
Shopping
100 Yen Stores There are several options for this wonder of wonders. Selection varies slightly between stores.
- Daiso- One of the more popular 100 yen store brands. There is one in Yokote and one in Jumonji.
- 100 Yen Shop- Usually found in Aeon/ Jusco centers. There is a small one in the Yokote Aeon on the second floor.
- The 100 Yen Store- There is a large one next to the on the north part of town next to Cosmo gas station and a small one inside Happy.
- Seria-Behind Saty
Yokote
Most of the major shops in Yokote City are located on or near route 13.
Aeon has a large supermarket section as well as clothing and household items on the first floor. There's also a separate bakery, a photo developer (Snaps!), KFC, Baskin Robbins, and McDonald's. You'll find a tailor/key cutter/ repair shop on the first floor near the rear entrance doors. Like Saty, Aeon's true magic is reserved only for those who venture beyond the familiarity of floor one. The second floor is like entering a whole new world within the Aeon universe. Suddenly have a craving for fresh popcorn? Wanna take a stab at winning that stuffed bean pod? Need to sit in a minibus? Even if you said no to all three questions, the second floor is your place. Beyond the game center, which we must mention has a pachinko corner, the second floor boasts a musical instrument store where you might see a concert if you're lucky, a book store, a 100 yen store, 2 Gusto-like restaurants, a food court, and a gift shop that should be avoided by anyone who has an affinity for cuteness.
If you shop at Aeon (the main area on the first floor), keep in mind that they have 2 point cards. One is for using your own shopping bag or basket. The second, the "mechatoku stamp card" (メチャ得スタンプカード）is for spending a certain amount on Saturday. These cards will eventually entitle you to a discount. The bag card gives 100 yen off a Top Value brand product. The mechatoku card gives 500 yen off any purchase.
There is a dry cleaners and ATMs outside. There is also an English option photo booth outside the entrance closest to Trenta.
Missed the all too frequent milk carton recycling day? Aeon houses receptacles for cans, glass, plastic bottles, and milk cartons where you can deposit your recyclable goods thereby saving them from moeru gomi bonfire fate.
Saty is affiliated with Aeon. There is even a shuttle bus that runs between the two stores. Saty is mostly clothing on the first floor and the second floor* is has hosiery, undies, children's goods, and fancy household items, like that plush blanket you cried over at the holiday gift exchange. There are some restaurants on the first floor (by the Mister Donuts entrance) and a hair salon on the first floor (by the sports section). The mechatoku card can also be used at Saty on Saturdays.
- *Heaven is what we call the second floor of Saty. It went long undiscovered until one magical day when, while still on a high from seeing Chojin Neigar's Xmas show, we parked on the rooftop lot know as Heaven's Parking Lot and ventured down to the 2nd floor. The wonder that we found cannot be described in mortal words. Check it out for yourself. Just make sure you bring lots of 100 yen pieces as you will not be able to resist the huge selection of capsule machines that await you. Remember the motto: When you play with capsule machines, you're always a winner!
Happy Town (ハッピタウンショッピングセンター）
A strip mall also located off of route 13. It has a variety of different stores:
- Shimamura (しまむら)（「chain site)- Clothing store. Similar to *TJ Maxx(US) or Winner's(Canada).
- Yoneya - A supermarket
- Happy (ハッピー）- A building supplies and household goods store. Has a 100 yen store section near the front
- Foot Town- Shoes
- Party Supplies store
- ATMs
Strip mall across the street from Saty
Mentioned in other sections.
- UniQlo(chain site)-Old Navy of Japan.
- Kitamura- photography store
- Daiso- 100 yen store
Yamaya The "World Liquor System" store, also has the best selection of international foods in the city. Unfortunately, they just decided to stop selling Dr. Pepper. That reduced their amount of cool points by about one million.
Insider's tip: Currently, there is a small stock of Dr. Pepper at the Village/Vangaurd store in the Aeon Omigari mall. If they continually restock their inventory is unknown at this time.
Xebio and Do Sports! These are two major sporting goods supplies stores in the city.
Omonogawa
Aside from the smaller shops, there are two major retailers in Omonogawa; MaxValue and Super Center Trust.
MaxValue Main supermarket in town. Has a small 100 yen section. Uses the same bring-your-own-bag point card as Aeon. But, it has a seperate "pink receipt day" (Tuesdays, which is also discount day on many products) point card that can only be used at MaxValue. You get a stamp for every 1000 yen, and a full card gives a 500 yen discount.
Super Center Trust (スーパーセンタートラスト）(location) A Super Walmart type store. A good one stop shopping place. Has a large supermarket section, dry cleaners, food court and pharmacy as well. Sometimes, has better prices than the 100 yen stores. Many people fall in love with the frozen meat section. Maybe you will, too.
Also has a self serve (with English option), 24 hours gas station in the parking lot. Just take the receipt inside the gas station, and scan the bar code to get your change.
Jumonji
Lucky is another Super Walmart type store. It has a particularly good sports and outdoor section (well, for this area anyways). Also has a Daiso and Shimamura in the same parking lot area.
Towns in Yokote
- Hiraka (平鹿)
- Jumonji (十文字)
- Masuda (増田)
- Omonogawa (雄物川)
- Omori (大森)
- Sannai (山内)
- Taiyu (大雄)
- Yokote Proper (横手)
External Links
- Yokote official website (English)
- Yokote official website (Japanese)
- Tourist Info (Japanese)
- Omori official website (Japanese)
- Yokote City Locations Map
- Omonogawa Locations Map
- Yokote Elementary Schools Map
