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Fun for Beginners! Go Ice Fishing for Smelt Just 30 Minutes from Sapporo Station—No Gear Needed!
When you think of ice fishing for wakasagi (Japanese smelt), you probably picture drilling a hole through dozens of centimeters of ice on a frozen lake, braving the bitter cold in the great outdoors. But did you know there's a spot near Sapporo where you can enjoy this very experience? And the best part is, you don't need any special equipment! I went to try it myself, so come along and see what it's like!
The place to go for smelt fishing is the Barato River. Specifically, the "Toreta Koya Fujii Farm Smelt Fishing" spot, about a 30-minute drive from Sapporo Station. There's also a bus from the Sapporo Terminal, so it's easily accessible for tourists visiting from outside Hokkaido!
In the deep cold of January, the ice on the Barato River can reach a thickness of about 50 cm. On top of this ice, they've set up modified vinyl greenhouses, typically used for farming, as rest houses. This means we can enjoy smelt fishing in a comfortable environment.
Furthermore, you can rent all the necessary equipment right here. For safety, it's essential to wear warm clothes and winter boots, but other than that, you can show up empty-handed. There are also restrooms at the reception area, which is a relief.
After renting a fishing rod and other necessary gear, it's time to head into the rest house!
Several holes have already been drilled, and this is where you drop your fishing line. If you're a first-timer, you can also hire a guide.
Drop the line and wait for a little while...
The rod twitched, so I pulled it up at just the right moment. And there it was, a cute little smelt!
You collect the smelt you catch in a bucket. This is so much fun!
For an extra fee, there's a corner where they'll turn your catch into tempura. The freshly fried smelt, combined with the sense of accomplishment from catching it yourself, tastes absolutely delicious.
At the nearby Farm Restaurant "Vegetabale", you can savor dishes made with smelt. Stopping by on your way back to explore even more delicious ways to enjoy smelt is highly recommended.
Toreta Koya Fujii Farm also has a corner for snow activities like banana boat rides! Whether you're with family or friends, you can easily spend the whole day playing here.
It's fantastic that an activity like smelt fishing, often seen on travel shows, can be experienced so easily. You're sure to make some wonderful memories.
※I tried smelt fishing for the first time to see if a beginner could really catch anything! Check out the video.
＜Toreta Koya Fujii Farm Smelt Fishing＞
Address: 243-2 Shinorocho Takuho, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Phone: 011-788-7475
Official Website: http://toreta-fujii.com/fishing/
(Model: Yui Fukuhira)
The place to go for smelt fishing is the Barato River. Specifically, the "Toreta Koya Fujii Farm Smelt Fishing" spot, about a 30-minute drive from Sapporo Station. There's also a bus from the Sapporo Terminal, so it's easily accessible for tourists visiting from outside Hokkaido!
In the deep cold of January, the ice on the Barato River can reach a thickness of about 50 cm. On top of this ice, they've set up modified vinyl greenhouses, typically used for farming, as rest houses. This means we can enjoy smelt fishing in a comfortable environment.
Furthermore, you can rent all the necessary equipment right here. For safety, it's essential to wear warm clothes and winter boots, but other than that, you can show up empty-handed. There are also restrooms at the reception area, which is a relief.
After renting a fishing rod and other necessary gear, it's time to head into the rest house!
Several holes have already been drilled, and this is where you drop your fishing line. If you're a first-timer, you can also hire a guide.
Drop the line and wait for a little while...
The rod twitched, so I pulled it up at just the right moment. And there it was, a cute little smelt!
You collect the smelt you catch in a bucket. This is so much fun!
For an extra fee, there's a corner where they'll turn your catch into tempura. The freshly fried smelt, combined with the sense of accomplishment from catching it yourself, tastes absolutely delicious.
Photo courtesy of Toreta Koya Fujii Farm Smelt Fishing
At the nearby Farm Restaurant "Vegetabale", you can savor dishes made with smelt. Stopping by on your way back to explore even more delicious ways to enjoy smelt is highly recommended.
Photo courtesy of Toreta Koya Fujii Farm Smelt Fishing
Toreta Koya Fujii Farm also has a corner for snow activities like banana boat rides! Whether you're with family or friends, you can easily spend the whole day playing here.
It's fantastic that an activity like smelt fishing, often seen on travel shows, can be experienced so easily. You're sure to make some wonderful memories.
※I tried smelt fishing for the first time to see if a beginner could really catch anything! Check out the video.
＜Toreta Koya Fujii Farm Smelt Fishing＞
Address: 243-2 Shinorocho Takuho, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Phone: 011-788-7475
Official Website: http://toreta-fujii.com/fishing/
(Model: Yui Fukuhira)
Writer Profile
Hokkaido Tourism Camera-Writer
Team Buchineko
We are "Team Buchineko," a group with many connections to tourist spots and facilities in Hokkaido. Even things that seem ordinary to us living in Hokkaido are wonderful resources. We aim to share the charm of this amazing prefecture.
