The appeal of roadside stations is that you can learn about the local delicacies, try them, and buy them as souvenirs. Minatomarre Suttsu in Suttsu Town is also full of gourmet food that you can only find there! Come try the different foods while taking in the scenery.

Minatomarre Suttsu is a place where you can find a lot of useful information for sightseeing in Suttsu. Since it opened in 2008, it has been visited by many people every year.

It is adjacent to Suttsu Fishing Port, so if you walk around to the back of the building you can see the many fishing boats moored there.

The building is spacious with large windows, so you can enjoy the port scenery while you dine. Just this setting is enough to get you in the travel mood!

In the meantime, we were told about Minatomarre Suttsu's most recommended gourmet food. What was brought to our table was a pitch black bento!

If you see it for the first time, you can't help but be amazed by its visual impact! This is the famous "Funamaki Bento" (800 yen including tax). It is covered with natural rock seaweed from Shimamaki, Suttsu, and underneath it is hidden raw cooked whitebait tsukudani, a specialty of Suttsu. It is a simple and straightforward bento with nothing extra added. The flavor of the seashore is incredibly delicious.

For those who want to feel the ocean even more, we recommend the "Nishin Soba" (700 yen including tax). It is a luxurious dish of a whole sweet-simmered herring wrapped in kelp. The light soy sauce-based broth, which is rare in Hokkaido, is an exquisite match and you'll eat it all in one go.

After enjoying a meal, you'll probably want some sweets, right? Our recommendation is the "Coffee Jelly Float" (500 yen including tax). This soft serve ice cream made with Shimakura milk from Iwanai Town has a refreshing taste. The bitterness of the coffee jelly adds a perfect balance!

After enjoying the gourmet food at the eat-in restaurant, don't forget to pick up some souvenirs! Check out the shops that are lined with many Suttsu specialties.

The raw boiled whitebait tsukudani (220 yen including tax for a 30g pack) that was included in the Funamachi bento can also be purchased here. What's more, tsukudani from various vendors is on sale, so it might be fun to buy a few that interest you and compare the taste! It's perfect as a side dish for rice or as a snack with alcohol.

If you like alcohol, you should definitely try "Kotohogi" (300ml/858 yen including tax, 720ml/1,628 yen including tax). This is a rare basil shochu made using "Kaze no basil", a specialty of Suttsu, and is rare nationwide. It has a subtle basil scent and a refined, sophisticated taste. You might get addicted to it!

There are many other interesting items, such as kelp and honey from Suttsu. Minatomarre Suttsu is full of fun things to do at a roadside station. If you're in the area, be sure to stop by.

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