EDITORIALS
So pitch black you won't believe your eyes! Specialty boxed lunch at Minatomare Sutto, a roadside station
One of the attractions of a roadside station is to learn about its local delicacies and actually try them or buy them as souvenirs. Minatomare Sutto in the town of Sutsu is also full of gourmet foods that can only be found there! Let's taste a variety of them along with the scenery.
May 23, 2023 Postscript
The "Funama bento" at the "Minatomare Sutto" roadside station mentioned in this article is currently "on hiatus due to poor fishing conditions. Let's wait for the resumption of sales..!
Located next to the Sutto fishing port, you can see many fishing boats anchored behind the building.
The building is spacious and has large windows, so you can enjoy the harbor view while eating your meal. This situation alone will make you feel like you are on a trip!
I was immediately asked to try some of Minatomare Sutto's best gourmet recommendations. What was brought to the table was a black bento box!
When you see it for the first time, you cannot help but be surprised at the visual impact! This is the specialty "Funama bento" (800 yen including tax). Natural iwanami seaweed from Shimamaki in Sutsu is laid out on a bed of rice, with freshly cooked shirasu tsukudani, a specialty of Sutsu, hidden underneath. The bento is simple and clean, with nothing extra added. The flavor of the sea is absolutely delicious.
For those who want to feel more of the sea, we recommend the Nishin-soba (700 yen including tax). It is a sumptuous bowl of kombu-covered herring in sweetened soy sauce. The light soy sauce-based sauce, which is rare in Hokkaido, is a perfect match and can be eaten in small portions.
After enjoying your meal, you may want a sweet treat. We recommend the "Coffee Jelly Float" (500 yen including tax). The soft-serve ice cream made with Shimakura milk from Iwanai-machi has a refreshing taste. The bitter taste of the coffee jelly adds the perfect balance!
Don't forget to pick up some souvenirs after enjoying the gourmet food at the eat-in restaurant! Check out the store where you will find a variety of specialties of Sutou.
The fresh-cooked baby sardine tsukudani (30 grams per pack, 220 yen including tax) that was included in the Funakoma bento is also available here. Moreover, tsukudani from a variety of vendors are sold here, so it would be interesting to buy a few to compare! It is perfect as an accompaniment to rice or as a snack for alcoholic beverages.
If you like sake, try the Kotohogi (300 ml/858 yen including tax, 720 ml/1,628 yen including tax). This basil shochu is made from Kaze no Basil, a specialty of Kotohogi, and is rare in Japan. It has a refined and sophisticated taste with a hint of basil. You may become addicted to it!
Other items of interest include kelp and honey from Sutsu. Minatomare Sutsu is filled with many fun things typical of a roadside station.
If you happen to be in the area, be sure to stop by.
Roadside Station Minatomare Sutsu
Address: 29-1, Aza-Oiso-machi, Suto-cho, Suto-gun, Hokkaido
Hours of Operation
Summer (April-September) 9:00-18:00
Winter (October-March) 9:00-17:00
Closed
Summer (April-September): No holidays
Winter (Oct.-Mar.): 1st and 3rd Monday of each month *If the Monday falls on a national holiday, the following day is closed.
Telephone number: 0136-62-2550
Check it out as well!
Writer Profile
Hokkaido Sightseeing Turtle Writer Bubu-Neko
I'm "Bubaneko," a writer with many connections to Hokkaido's sights and tourist facilities. There are many wonderful resources, even the ones we take for granted when we live in Hokkaido. I will be sharing these wonderful attractions of Hokkaido with you.
