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  • [Hokkaido ]12 recommended spots & eateries in Kushiro area

[Hokkaido ]12 recommended spots & eateries in Kushiro area

[Hokkaido ]12 recommended spots & eateries in Kushiro area
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Popular Tourist Spots Popular Cuisine

2024-07-09

Kushiro is the center of the eastern area of Hokkaido (Doto). With direct flights from Haneda Airport and Kansai Airport, Kushiro attracts many tourists from Honshu. The charm of Kushiro area is its natural beauty and gourmet food, which are different from those of other Hokkaido areas. In this issue, the author, who has lived in Kushiro for some time, recommends some spots and gourmet foods!

Author of this article

Table of Contents

  1. 1.
    Kushiro City
    1. 1-1.
      Kushiro Shizuhara National Park
      1. 1-2.
        Nusamai Bridge
        1. 1-3.
          Azumaya
          1. 1-4.
            Tamagawa-an
          3. 1-5.
            Fukutsukashi Sake Brewery
          5. 1-6.
            patisserie cornet
        3. 2.
          Kushiro Town
          1. 2-1.
            Nanban酊 (Namban in Japanese)
        5. 3.
          Akkeshi Town
          1. 3-1.
            Roadside Station Atsugishi Gourmet Park Conchiglie
        7. 4.
          Teshikaga Town
          1. 4-1.
            Kawayu Onsen
            1. 4-2.
              Lake Mashu
              1. 4-3.
                Lake Kussharo
            3. 5.
              Bihoro Town
              1. 5-1.
                Bihoro Pass
            5. 6.
              summary

            Kushiro City

            Kushiro Shizuhara National Park

            It is the largest marshland in Japan and spans four municipalities: Kushiro City, Kushiro Town, Shibecha Town, and Tsurui Village. The area is so large that the 23 wards of Tokyo could easily fit in it! The vast green and earth-toned landscape resembles a savanna.

            Kushiro Marsh is home to a wide variety of life, including 39 species of mammals, 5 species of reptiles, 4 species of amphibians, 38 species of fish, 200 species of birds, and 1,100 species of insects. The area is also home to rare species such as the white-tailed eagle, Japan's largest freshwater fish, the Itou, and the endangered northern salamander, as well as species that are found throughout Hokkaido, such as the Ezo sika deer and the red fox.



            And the creature you want to see the most in Kushiro Marsh is the special natural treasure ", the red-crowned crane ". Various websites list "as the best time to see them from November to March ". This is because they are fed at many viewing spots during the winter, which attracts a large number of red-crowned cranes.

            In fact, however, red-crowned cranes can be seen throughout the year in Kushiro Marsh and the grasslands east of the marshlands. You can often find them in pairs or as parents and offspring in short grass, so be sure to keep an eye out for them!

            "representative location information "
            Name: Hosooka Observatory
            Address: 22-9, Tatsukotake, Kushiro-cho, Kushiro-gun, Hokkaido 088-2141, Japan
            Phone number: 0154-40-4455 (Hosooka Visitors' Lounge)
            Hours of operation: 24 hours
            Closed: No holidays
            Parking: Yes

            Nusamai Bridge

            "Many people think of "Shidemai Bridge "as the scenery of Kushiro ". Located in the center of Kushiro City, this bridge spans where the Kushiro River flows out of the city and into Kushiro Port, making it a landmark of the port city.

            The charm of the Maimai Bridge is the spectacular view that changes with the time of day. The scenery of the bridge at sunset with the setting sun in the background is so beautiful that it is counted as one of the three most beautiful sunsets in the world "" .

            The night view is also exceptionally beautiful. The twinkling reflections of the streetlights along the river on the surface of the river are fantastic and romantic.

            "Facility Information "
            Name: Nusamai Bridge
            Address：〒085-0015 Hokkaido Kushiro-shi Kita Odori

            Azumaya

            Many people think of seafood when they think of Kushiro's gourmet food, but in fact, Kushiro is also a town of many soba restaurants "and soba noodles ". Among them, there are about 25 main and brick-and-mortar soba restaurants in Kushiro area. "Higashiya "is one of the most representative soba restaurants in Kushiro.

            Its head office is "Chikuroen Toke Sohonten ". Founded in 1874, it is said to be the oldest buckwheat noodle restaurant in Hokkaido.



            The characteristic of Azumaya's soba noodles is that they are green in color. The green color is added with chlorella to the usual Sarashina Soba ingredients.

            Kushiro's buckwheat noodles with chicken meat is a must-try dish at soba restaurants in Kushiro. Usually, young, tender chicken is used for Kashiwa in Soba, but the Kashiwa in Kushiro Soba is made from the parent chicken, which is hard but has a strong flavor. The rich broth from the chicken is superb, so please try Kashiwa-infused Soba noodles when you eat Soba in Kushiro!

            "Representative Store Information "
            Name: Chikuroen Azumaya So Honten
            Address: 3-19 Kashiwagi-cho, Kushiro, Hokkaido 085-0824, Japan
            Phone number: 0154-41-6291
            Office hours: 11:00-16:00 (L.O. 15:30)
            Closed: Tuesday
            Parking lot: Yes (50 units)
            URL：https://chikurouen.com/

            Tamagawa-an

            Kushiro is famous for Sarashina soba (buckwheat noodles) such as "Azumaya ", but "Tamagawaan "is famous for its rustic soba. The appearance of the store has an air of a banya in a fisherman's town.



            "Tamagawa-an "'s specialty is "Oyster Soba ", which is topped with oysters from the neighboring town of Akkeshi-cho, which is famous for its oysters. You can taste the difference in texture between the thick, chewy buckwheat noodles and the large, plump oysters filled with the rich flavor of the sea.

            It is also a famous restaurant that has received one star in the Michelin Guide, and is popular with fans who visit from all over Japan.

            "Store Information "
            Name: Tamagawa-an
            Address: 5-17-17 Tottori-Odori, Kushiro, Hokkaido 084-0906, Japan
            Phone number: 0154-51-4628
            Business hours: 11:00-19:00
            Closed: 2nd and 4th Monday
            Parking lot: Yes (12 units)

            Fukutsukashi Sake Brewery



            Founded in 1919, it is the only sake brewery in Kushiro. The brewery produces sake that makes the most of local ingredients, mainly using rice grown in Hokkaido and brewing water from underground water filtered by the nature of the East Hokkaido.

            At the direct sales counter, you will find standard products sold throughout the region, limited edition sake available only here, and original goods such as tenugui hand towels and T-shirts.

            One of the most popular Kushiro souvenirs is "Jishu Cake Fukuji ". It is a sponge cake with a moist texture like a cheesecake. The aroma of sake is not too strong, but has a nice accent. It tastes even better when cooled.



            Also recommended for those who don't like sake is the yogurt sake "Minakikori ". It is made with an abundance of yogurt made from 100% Hokkaido milk. While the sake is thick and thick, it has a refreshing taste with a hint of sourness from the yogurt, and as the name of the product suggests, it tastes so good that you can't help but smile. When I drank it for the first time, it was so delicious that I drank it in gulps!

            "Store Information "
            Store name: Fukutsukashi Sake Brewery
            Address：2-13-23 Sumiyoshi, Kushiro-shi, Hokkaido, 085-0831, Japan
            Phone number: 0154-41-3100
            Hours: Weekdays 11:00-16:00 / Sat 10:00-14:00
            Closed: Sundays, national holidays, year-end and New Year's holidays *Check official Twitter for exceptions.
            Parking: Yes
            Site URL: https://www.fukutsukasa.jp/

            patisserie cornet

            This patisserie sells Kushiro's hidden and exquisite confections "such as whale soup "and sake lees cake in collaboration with Fukushi Sake Brewery "and Kirishu (Monsieur) ", which are full of Kushiro's unique western sweets.

            "Kujira Suku "is a stained chocolate rusk named after Kushiro, which used to be the largest whaling base in Japan. There are many similar rusks in Japan, but this "whale rusk "is soaked in bitter chocolate that is not too sweet, and is very impressive and delicious!　It is a great souvenir to bring back to Kushiro.

            Kushiro Airport and Fisherman's Wharf MOO carry them, but be sure to stop by "Patisserie Cornet "to see "Whale Suku "and "Fog Sake "as well as many other original western sweets.

            "Store Information "
            Name: Patisserie Cornet
            Address：44-7, 3-chome, Showa-chuo, Kushiro-shi, Hokkaido, 084-0910, Japan
            Phone number: 0154-51-8040
            Business hours: 10:00-19:00
            Closed: Wednesday
            Parking: Yes

            Kushiro Town

            Nanban酊 (Namban in Japanese)



            Located about 20 minutes by car from JR Kushiro Station and about 20 minutes by car from Kushiro Marshland Hosooka Observation Deck, this teishoku-ya is the origin of "Zantare ", a popular Kushiro B-class gourmet.

            "Zantare "is the soul food of the people of Hokkaido "Zangi (a kind of fried chicken) ", topped with a generous amount of sauce mixed with soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar, a dish that is sure to be enjoyed with rice.

            What is surprising is the volume!　The zangi is heaped up like a mountain. It is difficult to eat it all by yourself, so we recommend that you share it or order a half-size portion if you want to eat it alone. If you can't finish it, you can take it home with you, so it would be a good snack in your hotel room.

            The zantare is a hearty dish, but the vinegar sauce makes it easy to eat.

            "Store Information "
            Name of restaurant: Namban Intoxication
            Address: 1-39-39, Enya, Kushiro-cho, Kushiro-gun, Hokkaido, 088-2145, Japan
            Phone number: 0154-40-3117
            Hours: Wed-Fri 11:00-19:00 / Sat & Sun 11:00-20:00
            Closed: Monday and Tuesday
            Parking lot: Yes (7 units)

            Akkeshi Town

            Roadside Station Atsugishi Gourmet Park Conchiglie

            Atsugishi-cho is the only oyster producing area in Japan where oysters can be shipped all year round. Ruins have been found where oysters were eaten since ancient times, and the name of the town, "Atsugishi ", is said to be derived from the Ainu word "akkekeshi ", which means "where oysters are caught ".

            You can enjoy such oysters from Atsugishi casually and in various ways at "Roadside Station Atsugishi Gourmet Park Conchiglie ", located about 50 minutes by car from JR Kushiro Station.



            The facilities include "Restaurant Escal ", which offers a full menu of meals such as fried oysters, oyster milk pasta, and oyster rice; "Charcoal Grill Aburiya ", where you can grill oysters, samma, shishamo, and other seafood from Atsukishi over a charcoal fire on your own; and Oyster Bar Pitoresque , where you can enjoy oyster menu and rare Atsukishi brand whiskey while overlooking Atsukishi. " Oyster Bar Pitoresque "where you can enjoy oyster menus and rare Atsukishi brand whiskey while overlooking Atsukishi.

            Visitors can also purchase a wide variety of oyster souvenirs, including oyster seasonings, processed oyster products, oyster beer, and oyster maka.

            "Store Information "
            Name: Michi no Eki: Atsugishi Gourmet Park Konkirie (Michinoeki: Akkeshi Gourmet Park Konkirie)
            Address: 2-2 Suminoe, Atsugishi-cho, Atsugishi-gun, 088-1119
            Phone number: 0153-52-4139
            Hours: April - October 9:00 - 20:00 / November and December 10:00 - 19:00 / January - March 10:00 - 18:00
            Closed: Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday) *Open all year round in July and August
            Parking: Yes
            Site URL: https://www.conchiglie.net/

            Teshikaga Town

            Kawayu Onsen

            This hot spring resort is located about an hour and a half drive from JR Kushiro Station.

            Kawayu Onsen's spring water is characterized by being one of the most highly acidic in the country. When you lick the water, you will be surprised to find that it is more acidic than lemon and tastes like iron. The acidity is so strong that if you put a nail in the hot spring, it is said to dissolve within a week!

            Kawayu Onsen is 100% free-flowing from the source, so you can enjoy the high quality of the hot spring water. After soaking in Kawayu Onsen, you will feel your skin smooth and smooth as the wastes of the skin dissolve away.

            A must visit along with Kawayu Onsen is "Io-zan (Mt. Io-zan) ", located about 5 minutes by car from the hot spring resort area. The rugged mountain surface is yellow with sulfur in places. You can feel the energy of the earth as the volcanic fumes rise with a constant "roar ".

            Both the quality of Kawayu Onsen's springs and the power of Mount Io-zan are unique spots in Japan, and should be visited even by those who do not love hot springs.

            "representative location information "
            Name：Iouzan Rest House
            Address: 1, Kawayuonsen, Teshikaga-cho, Kawakami-gun, Hokkaido 088-3461, Japan
            Phone number: 015-483-3511
            Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
            Regular holiday: no holiday
            Parking: Yes (May-Oct: 200 yen for motorcycles, 500 yen for passenger cars, one time use of Lake Mashu First Observatory and Io-zan parking lots for the fee listed on the left, November-April: free)

            Lake Mashu

            Lake Mashu is the second clearest lake in the world and the clearest in Japan "Lake Mashu ". Lake Mashu Observation Deck No. 1, from which you can best see Lake Mashu, is about an hour and a half drive from JR Kushiro Station, or about a 25-minute drive from Kawayu Onsen and Io-zan.

            The caldera lake was formed by a massive eruption about 7,000 years ago, and features a fantastic "Mashu Blue "that reflects the blue of the sky on the lake's surface. When the weather is clear, you can see the beautiful scenery of "Mashu Blue ", but the lake is also prone to fog, as it is also known as "Lake Mashu in the Fog ". The fog is especially heavy in June and July, and it is said that there is a 50-50 chance of seeing the surface of the lake.

            In the summer of 2022, "Lake Mashu Kamui Terrace "opened on the roof of Lake Mashu Observation Deck No. 1. This is a spectacular spot where visitors can sit on comfortable sofas and enjoy the view of Lake Mashu along with the greenery in summer, the ice trees in winter, and the star-filled sky at night.

            "representative location information "
            Name: Lake Mashu First Observatory
            Address:〒088-3200 Hokkaido Kawakami-gun, Tizuki-cho, Lake Mashu First Observatory
            Phone number: 015-482-1530
            Opening hours: 8:30-17:00 * "Lake Mashu Kamui Terrace "is open 24 hours
            Regular holiday: no holiday
            Parking: Yes (May-Oct: 200 yen for motorcycles, 500 yen for passenger cars, one time use of Lake Mashu First Observatory and Io-zan parking lots for the fee listed on the left, November-April: free)

            Lake Kussharo

            Lake Kussharo, the largest caldera lake in Japan, is located approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes by car from JR Kushiro Station and approximately 30 minutes by car from Lake Mashu Observatory No. 1.

            One of the specialties of Lake Kussharo is the "sand bath "where hot spring water comes out when you dig in the sandy beach. Just dig 10 cm by hand and hot spring water will seep out!　If you bring a shovel and dig, you can enjoy a handmade footbath, which will be a good memory if you visit with your children.

            Although the surface of Lake Kussharo freezes in winter, the edges of the lake do not freeze because of the warm sandy water that gushes out from the sandy beach along the lake. The warm water is also a favorite stopover for swans from November to April, who come to the lake to rest their wings.

            "representative location information "
            Name: Sunayu Rest House Retara Chip
            Address:〒088-3331 Hokkaido Kawakami-gun, Tizuki-cho, Miyuwa 1-570
            Phone number: 015-484-2106
            Hours: 8:00 - 17:00 *July and August: 8:00 - 18:00
            Closed: Open every day
            Parking: Yes

            Bihoro Town

            Bihoro Pass

            Located about two hours by car from JR Kushiro Station, this mountain pass offers a spectacular view. You can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of Lake Kussharo below and Mount Io-zan and the Shiretoko mountain range beyond.



            The view from the pass is spectacular, but the road leading to the pass is the best driving road, a winding road overlooking Lake Kussharo. It is visited not only by tourists but also by motorcycle tourists from all over Japan.

            "The view from the mountain pass and the exhilarating drive are both a must-see! "You can enjoy the magnificent nature of Hokkaido, so please visit!

            "representative location information "
            Store name: Michinoeki Gurutto Panorama Bihoro Toge (Michinoeki Gurutto Panorama Bihoro Toge)
            Address: Koume, Bihoro-cho, Abashiri, Hokkaido, 092-0022, Japan
            Phone number: 0152-77-6001
            Hours: Late April - October 9:00 - 18:00 / November - mid-April 9:00 - 17:00
            Closed: 12/26 - 1/3
            Parking: Yes

            summary

            What do you think of Kushiro area's recommended spots and gourmet food? Kushiro area has a different atmosphere from the rest of Hokkaido, and is especially recommended for repeat visitors to Hokkaido!　Please rent a car and enjoy the scenic spots and gourmet food unique to the Kushiro area.

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