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The only LGBT -friendly snack in Eastern Hokkaido!

Kushiro is a port town in eastern Hokkaido. It is a city that represents Eastern Hokkaido, where various industries have gathered since ancient times. In recent years, many tourists have come to enjoy the majestic nature of Eastern Hokkaido, such as Kushiro Marsh, one of the world's most famous wetlands, and Shiretoko, which is registered as a World Natural Heritage site.

In the evening, the city is shrouded in mist, creating a magical atmosphere. In the red-light district, the signs of many restaurants and snack bars are lit up. Many people are having a good time with alcohol in their hands.

"Ponkotan" in Kushiro. The owner of Tanabe is from Chiba prefecture. Until 2019 , I was enrolled in Recruit, serving as editor-in-chief of the nationwide free papers SUUMO Magazine and Building a Home Locally, as well as deputy editor-in-chief of SUUMO , disseminating information about housing through television and newspapers. . Since I was working in Tokyo, I have come out as gay at work and have been active in LGBT diversity and inclusion both inside and outside the company. In 2019 , I moved to Kushiro and now work to support local SMEs.

Since there are no gay bars or LGBT -friendly drinking establishments in Kushiro where you can casually drop by, I opened an LGBT -friendly snack bar with a local LGBT friend.

At the shop, we recommend whiskey, which the owner Tanabe loves (he even went to the island of Islay in Scotland, the holy land of whiskey, to visit distilleries!)! We serve single malts with strong peat and rare whiskeys bought on Islay to our customers little by little.

In addition, standard beers, sours, cocktails, shochu split, highballs, etc. are also available, and cloudy IPA beer is brewed with an original recipe and served as the original beer of "Ponkotan". For soft drinks, you can also enjoy specialty coffee from Kushiro's popular "Funaki Coffee" and delicious milk from Hokkaido.

Leisurely owner and unique staff!

As an LGBT person, the image of being gay might be a lively and fun character, but he said, "I'm rather a quiet and laid-back type. I think it's perfect for this," says Tanabe owner. He also has a qualification for real estate, and his special skill is searching for properties. He has helped many friends find homes.

 The staff who run the shop together are all unique! Pandaya is transgender and a fortune teller. He is a warm character who is loved by many people in his hometown and is good at cooking. Lime is a cheerful character who can get along with anyone immediately. He loves the "werewolf game" and is the leader of the local werewolf club.

At the shop, if you are an LGBT person, they will listen to your story, which is something that you cannot usually talk about outside. Not only LGBT people, but also people who want to talk with LGBT people are welcome. You can also tell me about delicious shops and sightseeing spots in Kushiro.

<To customers>

It's the furthest LGBT-friendly snack. I would like to make it a place where people who are a little tired of everyday life and LGBT people who usually find it difficult to open up about themselves can stop by. Please come and visit us with your favorite sake. We'll be expecting you.

【store information】

Address: KUSHIRO SUEHIRO BASE 204, 2-3 Sakaemachi, Kushiro City, Hokkaido
Phone: 080-3700-0946
Business hours: 20:00-24:00

*This information may differ from the latest information. Please note.