1. What is "Yo-i Gohan"?

The Hokkaido mail-order gourmet we're introducing today is "Yo-i Gohan," a mixed rice base from Hamada Ryokan in Rikubetsu, Hokkaido.

Here's Rikubetsu Town! In winter, temperatures can drop below -40°C...

This product, which allows you to easily enjoy the ryokan's popular "maze gohan" at home in a canned format, uses ingredients from Eastern Hokkaido as much as possible. It's an excellent item that lets you create a seriously delicious meal just by mixing it in.

Six flavor variations! The packaging is so cute, you'll want to collect them all.

The flavor variations include:
・Ezo Deer & Hokkaido Fuki (Butterbur)
・Hokkaido Salmon & Rausu Kombu (Kelp)
・Shiretoko Chicken & Rausu Kombu (Kelp)
・Butadon-style (using Tokachi Moor Pork)
・Tokachi Corn, Hokkaido Scallop & Butter
・Kitami "Onion Pork" with Ginger
All six varieties!

With a focus on Hokkaido-sourced ingredients, these canned goods let you easily enjoy the authentic flavors of Hokkaido. Plus, the packaging is absolutely adorable, so the excitement begins the moment the package arrives.

It feels as if the warm and passionate desire of this long-beloved local ryokan—"we want you to enjoy the deliciousness of Eastern Hokkaido at home"—is sealed inside each can.


This time, I ordered the "Ezo Deer & Hokkaido Fuki" Yo-i Gohan, which comes in a light blue package.
I chose this one because I was drawn to the idea of enjoying Ezo deer meat at home and the unexpected combination with fuki!

The Ezo Deer & Fuki illustration is adorable too!

This dish uses Hamada Ryokan's pride, their homemade bonito dashi, to simmer natural Ezo deer meat and the wild vegetable "fuki" into a slightly sweet delicacy. Because they use high-quality deer meat, it has none of the gamey taste one might expect.
It contains no preservatives or chemical seasonings. With a shelf life of 3 years from the manufacturing date and storable at room temperature, it's also recommended for emergency food supplies. It's ready in a flash, making it perfect for outdoor activities as well.

2. Tasting Time! "Yo-i Gohan" Ezo Deer & Hokkaido Fuki

First, let's open up the "Yo-i Gohan" Ezo Deer & Hokkaido Fuki.

Generous chunks of Ezo deer meat and fuki!

The can is packed with chunks of Ezo deer meat and fuki. As soon as you open it, the aroma of the ingredients and the sweet and savory scent of the sauce wafts out. It's making me hungry.

This time, I'll use half for "maze gohan" and the other half for "yaki udon" to try it out!

2-1. Enjoying it as "Maze Gohan"

First, the classic "maze gohan." Just mix half a can of "Yo-i Gohan" with one go (about 150g) of freshly cooked rice!

Just pour it over cooked rice and mix! The aroma gets even better as you stir...

A luxurious maze gohan, made so easily.

The sweet and savory flavor and the varied textures of the ingredients match the rice perfectly, making it incredibly moreish! The texture of the Ezo deer meat, the soft simmered vegetables like burdock root and carrots, and the chewy rice are irresistible.
It's a gently sweet rice dish; I could eat endless bowls of this.

2-2. Enjoying it as "Yaki Udon"

The "Yo-i Gohan" online shop page features arranged recipes for each product.

For the Ezo Deer & Hokkaido Fuki, it suggests "Ezo Deer & Hokkaido Fuki Yaki Udon" and "Cheesy Deer and Fuki Risotto"! This time, I decided to try the yaki udon!

I made it with half the recipe's quantities.

The generous chunks of Ezo deer meat are a perfect match for yaki udon too. It's so versatile.

When I took a bite of the chunky Ezo deer meat, it was tender, flavorful, and fell apart beautifully! It's so soft you can easily break it apart with chopsticks. Flaking it and eating it with the udon makes for an incredibly luxurious yaki udon.

The fuki, while holding its shape, is very tender and has absorbed the flavors well. With plenty of other vegetables like burdock root and carrots, this was a yaki udon I couldn't stop eating!

3. Conclusion

This time, I ordered and tried "Yo-i Gohan" Ezo Deer & Hokkaido Fuki from Hamada Ryokan in Rikubetsu, Japan's coldest town!

Just by mixing it into freshly cooked warm rice, you can create a high-quality mixed rice dish packed with flavorful, chunky Hokkaido ingredients. The "Ezo Deer & Hokkaido Fuki" has a gentle, sweet and savory taste that made me want to have seconds (and thirds!) of rice. I definitely want to try the other flavors now!

"Yo-i Gohan" is the perfect companion for your meals at home. Be sure to check it out and try the flavors that catch your eye.