September itinerary in Japan Day 7 (Hokkaido Day 2 Meal edition)
(Saturday, October 2)
Table of contents
Breakfast
As planned in the itinerary, I ate “Uni-Ikura-don (sea urchin salmon roe bowl)” at “Kikuyo Shokudo” in Hakodate Morning Market. It is Hokkaido’s “Local dishes loved by the nation” announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
https://edokagura.com/en/local-cuisine/327/
https://edokagura.com/en/local-cuisine/516/
Besides “Uni-Ikura-don (sea urchin salmon roe bowl)”, I also ate live Japanese flying squid sashimi. Squid is famous for Hakodate Morning Market. It was in season for Japanese flying squid, so I felt it was even more delicious. In particular, the liver of squid, which can only be eaten with live squid, is the most delicious, and I would like everyone to eat it.
In Hakodate, there was a cute squid on the mailbox.
https://www.maff.go.jp/j/nousin/kouryu/kyodo_ryouri/attach/pdf/190131-6.pdf
https://www.uu-hokkaido.com/corporate/hakodate-asaichi.shtml
Lunch
Umi-no-eki (Sea Station) Plat Minato Ichiba (Market)
(30 minutes walk from Tomakomai station, bicycle rental is recommended)
As planned, I had lunch at “Kaisen (Seafood) Minato Shokudo”. I entered the store after 11 o’clock, but it was already almost full with customers. When I finished eating after 11:30 and went out of the store, there was a big line. As I had checked in advance, “Minato Shokudo” was a very popular restaurant. “Minato Shokudo” is open from 9 am.
I was able to eat the long-desired “Tomakomai no Hokki (Sakhalin surf clam)” (seasonal July-November) at “Minato Shokudo”. It is a summer “PRIDE FISH” in Hokkaido selected by Japan Fisheries Cooperatives. The sashimi of Sakhalin surf clam was the most delicious shellfish that was thick and sweet when chewed. It may have been the most delicious shellfish I have ever eaten. The sashimi of Sakhalin surf clam was Yen 700. I can’t believe I can enjoy such happiness for only Yen 700.
I think it’s worth going to Tomakomai just to visit the space station “Mir” that I posted the day before and to eat sashimi of Sakhalin surf clams.
Sakhalin surf clam are most often landed at Tomakomai Port in Japan, and are designated as “Tomakomai City Shellfish”. Tomakomai City sells “hokki curry” as a local gourmet, but I can’t think of eating such delicious surf clams other than sashimi.
Besides Sakhalin surf clam, I ordered a seafood bowl (Minato bowl). The seafood bowl was Yen 1,400. It was a delicious seafood bowl with as many ingredients as the seafood bowl of “Izakaya Hakoya” in Hakodate.
Opposite Plat Minato Ichiba (Market), there is a popular restaurant called “Uokin Shokudo”. There was a long line like “Kaisen (Seafood) Minato Shokudo”. The next time I visit Tomakomai, I thought I should try it at “Uokin Shokudo”. In any case, Tomakomai was a city that I was happy to visit.
It was a pity that I couldn’t eat “Pacific Coastal Matsugawa-garei (flatfish)” which is selected as “PRIDE FISH” in autumn in Hokkaido in Hakodate and Tomakomai. I searched for it in various izakaya including Sapporo, but I couldn’t find it.
Dinner
I had dinner at the izakaya “Uodoraku” next to Nijo Market in Sapporo. I was able to eat delicious seafood such as sashimi platter including seasonal pacific saury and oyster from Akkeshi. It was a very clean and tidy shop and it was cozy. It is a recommended izakaya in Sapporo.
After having a light meal at the izakaya “Uodoraku”, I ate Jingisukan at “Itadakimasu.” in Susukino. Jingisukan is a local dish of Hokkaido listed in the “100 Best Local Cuisine” selected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
https://www.maff.go.jp/j/nousin/kouryu/kyodo_ryouri/attach/pdf/190131-1.pdf
“Itadakimasu.” is a restaurant directly managed by a ranch specializing in Hokkaido lamb, and is a popular restaurant with long lines of customers. Write your name on the paper at the entrance of the store, and the restaurant clerk will call your name when it’s your turn.
https://xn--u8jf3af20ad.net/kodawari/
First, I ordered loin meat (Yen 1,790) and Jingisukan (mutton meat set) (Yen 980). Loin meat is a part that is also served in high-end French restaurants. I thought Jingisukan (mutton meat set) had a very good cost performance. All of them had no mutton odor and were sweet and delicious.
In addition, I was able to eat the mutton guts (liver and rumen) that can be provided because it is a directly managed ranch store. They were Yen 980 and Yen 1,550, respectively.
I really like the night view of Susukino that I see after eating. Since the state of emergency was lifted, the number of people returned to Susukino.
Note: The departure / arrival times, fees, admission fees, etc. of transportation listed in the text are as of the time of writing the BLOG. They may change in the future, so please check for yourself when you go on a trip.