Winters in Hokkaido are harsh, but the last week of January has been especially tough. In light of the snowfalls, temperatures had been hovering below zero, and the main roads had been blanketed in snow and ice. Among the many stores closing early, a ramen shop known as Ramen Ando remained open, ...

[In Japan, there is a deep-rooted culture, which comes from sado (tea ceremony), called omotenashi, meaning to wholeheartedly look after guests. The term is a microcosm of the country itself, representing the Japanese mindset of hospitality centring around care rather than expectation.] When y...