【Hot Spring Diner】"Meat Spaghetti" made with local wheat at Hot Park Hokota in Hokota City, Ibaraki Prefecture

After finishing a drive along the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture, I headed to a local day-use hot spring. In the diner of the casually visited hot spring, there were local gourmet dishes that I had yet to discover.

At the Hot Park Hokota located in Hokota City, Ibaraki Prefecture

the dining hall adjacent to the hot spring is rarely crowded, and you can enjoy local gourmet dishes and simple-tasting cuisine unique to the area. The author, who is not good at eating in crowded places, came to Hot Park Hokota in Hokota City, Ibaraki Prefecture, after finishing a drive interview this time.

The hot spring here features a rich brown alkaline spring quality, with a slippery texture that is great for beautiful skin. In addition to the hot springs, there are facilities for maintaining health, such as a swimming pool and a training room, and even on a weekday, it was bustling with older customers who seemed to be locals.

Enjoying hot spring gourmet after the bath

There was a kamaage shirasu don as a menu item using local ingredients, but I was intrigued by the pasta made from locally grown wheat "Yume Shihou," so I ordered meat spaghetti.

The meat spaghetti arrived in a few minutes. It looked like simple spaghetti topped with meat sauce.

Just like its appearance, the sauce had a basic taste, but the pasta was chewy like fresh noodles, with a pleasant wheat flavor, making it delicious. The texture gave off an impression similar to the soft noodles served in school lunches, yet it had the feel of being homemade and authentic. I'm satisfied to be able to taste the wheat from Ibaraki, where agriculture is thriving.

There are vehicles from the decommissioned Kashima Railway line on the premises.

In the view from the window of the onsen dining hall, I noticed an old train on the property, which piqued my curiosity, so I went to take a look.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a vehicle from the Kashima Railway line that was decommissioned in 2007, and it was relocated here following its closure. The Kashima Railway line connected Ishioka Station and Hokota Station and served as a means of transportation for the local residents. Thanks to the volunteer preservation efforts, the vehicles are now accessible for anyone to visit.

Finishing the trip at the roadside station Tamatsukuri with soft serve ice cream

Today, I will wrap things up with a pear soft serve ice cream I found at the roadside station Tamatsukuri on my way back. The refreshing pear flavor paired with the light vanilla soft serve created a taste I hadn't experienced before.

Day-use hot springs are easily accessible and provide a wonderful spot to experience local culture. If you're planning a drive trip to Hokota City in Ibaraki Prefecture, why not stop by?<

Research and text by Kazuma Tanaka

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