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So Black You Won't Believe Your Eyes! The Famous Bento at Michi-no-Eki "Minatomare Suttsu"
The charm of a Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) is discovering delicious local food, trying it on the spot, and buying some as souvenirs, right? "Minatomare Suttsu" in Suttsu Town is also packed with gourmet treats you can only find there! Let's savor the various flavors along with the scenery.
[Note added May 23, 2023]
The "Funama Bento" from Michi-no-Eki "Minatomare Suttsu," introduced in this article, is currently suspended from sale due to poor fish catches. Let's look forward to its return!
Minatomare Suttsu is a place full of useful information for sightseeing in Suttsu. Since its opening in 2008, it has welcomed many visitors every year.

Since it's adjacent to the Suttsu Fishing Port, you can go around to the back of the building and see many fishing boats at anchor.

The interior of the building is spacious with large windows, allowing you to enjoy the port-like scenery while you eat. This setting alone enhances the travel mood!

Amidst this atmosphere, I was immediately introduced to Minatomare Suttsu's top gourmet recommendation. What was brought to the table was an incredibly black bento box!?

Seeing it for the first time, you can't help but be amazed by its visual impact! This is the famous "Funama Bento" (800 yen, tax included). It's covered with a layer of natural iwa-nori (rock seaweed) from Suttsu and Shimamaki, and underneath hides Suttsu's specialty, nama-daki shirasu tsukudani (slow-cooked whitebait). It's a simple and clean bento with no unnecessary additions. The flavor of the sea is simply delicious.

For those who want to feel the sea even more, we recommend the "Nishin Soba" (herring soba) (700 yen, tax included). A whole, luxurious piece of kanroni (sweet-simmered herring) wrapped in kelp sits right on top. The broth, based on light soy sauce which is rare in Hokkaido, is a perfect match, and you'll slurp it down in no time.

After enjoying a meal, you'll naturally crave some dessert, right? We recommend the "Coffee Jelly Float" (500 yen, tax included). The soft-serve ice cream, made with Shimakura Milk from the town of Iwanai, has a refreshing taste. The bitterness of the coffee jelly adds to it, creating a perfect balance!

After indulging in the gourmet food at the eat-in corner, don't forget the souvenirs! Let's check out the shop lined with many of Suttsu's specialties.

The nama-daki shirasu tsukudani that was in the Funama Bento (220 yen per 30g pack, tax included) can also be purchased here. What's more, they sell tsukudani from various producers, so it might be fun to buy a few different ones and compare the tastes! It's perfect as a side for rice or as a snack with drinks.

If you like alcoholic beverages, be sure to try "Kotohogi" (858 yen for 300ml / 1,628 yen for 720ml, tax included). It's a basil shochu, which is rare nationwide, made using Suttsu's specialty product, "Kaze no Basil" (Wind's Basil). It features a refined, elegant taste with a faint aroma of basil. You might just get hooked!

There are many other interesting items, such as kelp and honey from Suttsu. Minatomare Suttsu is packed with the kind of fun you'd expect from a roadside station.
Be sure to stop by when you're in the area.
Michi-no-Eki Minatomare Suttsu
■Address: 29-1 Oiso-cho, Suttsu-cho, Suttsu-gun, Hokkaido
■Hours
・Summer (Apr-Sep) 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
・Winter (Oct-Mar) 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
■Closed
・Summer (Apr-Sep) Open daily
・Winter (Oct-Mar) 1st & 3rd Monday of each month *If Monday is a public holiday, closed the next day. Year-end and New Year holidays.
■Phone: 0136-62-2550
See details for "Michi-no-Eki Minatomare Suttsu" on Domingo
■Website: https://suttufan.com/roadside/
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Hokkaido Tourism Camera Writer
Team Buchineko
We are "Team Buchineko," with many connections to tourist spots and facilities in Hokkaido. Even things that seem ordinary to us living in Hokkaido are wonderful resources. We will share the charm of such a wonderful Hokkaido.