Spring has finally arrived in the Okhotsk region, and it's now driving season!
Among them, Lake Saroma, the largest brackish lake in Hokkaido, is a popular tourist spot that you absolutely must visit.

Around Lake Saroma, there are many spots to stop by during your drive, including Wakka Wildflower Garden, one of the largest in Japan, as well as amusement parks and spectacular flower fields.
Of course, you can also enjoy an abundance of seafood caught in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and Lake Saroma.

Under the clear blue skies of Okhotsk, feel the pleasant breeze, and we'll introduce you to some fun and delicious spots to stop along our Okhotsk driving course!

<Table of Contents>
1. What is Lake Saroma?
2. Sightseeing and attractions around Lake Saroma
2-1 Wakka Wildflower Garden [Mid-May to September]
2-2 Family Ailand YOU (Roadside Station "Ailand Yubetsu")
2-3 Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park [May to early June]
3. Gourmet spots around Lake Saroma / Places where you can eat oysters and scallops
3-1 Rest House Tokoro
3-2 The Captain's House
3-3 Hokushō Suisan Direct Sales Store
Final thoughts

Photo by Wikipedia:tdk

Lake Saroma is a lake that spans three towns in the Okhotsk region: Kitami City, Saroma Town, and Yubetsu Town. With an area of ​​approximately 152 square kilometers and a circumference of 91 kilometers, it is the third largest lake in Japan and the largest in Hokkaido.

The sandbar, approximately 25 km long and 200-700 m wide, separating the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, features a natural flower garden and a forest park, where visitors can enjoy its beauty throughout the seasons.

Lake Saroma is a brackish lake connected to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Its beautiful and unique blue color is known as "Saroman Blue," and it delights the eyes of visitors every time they come.

I especially recommend going at sunset.

Lake Saroma is a popular spot for watching sunsets, and there are many scenic spots scattered around it. The beauty of the sunset sinking into the lake is a breathtaking sight that leaves you speechless!

The scenery, which captivates so many people, makes you want to gaze at it forever, forgetting the passage of time.

Furthermore, Lake Saroma is also the birthplace of scallop farming. It was once one of Japan's leading scallop producing areas, boasting the largest catch volume in Japan.
The grains are large and sweet, and the firm texture is exquisite.

In the surrounding area, you can enjoy scallops in a variety of dishes, including sashimi.

The area around Lake Saroma offers a variety of tourist attractions, from scenic spots where you can enjoy nature in every season to places that families can enjoy.
Here are some recommended spots to stop by along your drive while enjoying the view of Lake Saroma.

2-1 Wakka Wildflower Garden [Mid-May to September]

Wakka Primeval Flower Garden is a long, narrow sandbar, 200 to 700 meters wide and approximately 20 kilometers long, located between the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and Lake Saroma.
Designated as part of Abashiri Quasi-National Park, this park boasts one of the largest areas in Japan and is a popular tourist spot where visitors can enjoy approximately 300 species of flowers and plants from May to September.

There are various courses to choose from, so you can enjoy a leisurely stroll while admiring the flowers and plants, or enjoy cycling while feeling the refreshing breeze of the Okhotsk Sea, or even take a relaxing ride in the "Dream Wakka" horse-drawn carriage and take in the scenery from above. You can enjoy it in a way that suits you at any given time.

This precious Okhotsk landscape was designated a Hokkaido Heritage site in 2001.
This place, also known as "Ryugu Kaido" (Dragon Palace Road), is famous as the place where marathon runner Toshihiko Seko ran his heart out on his way to the Olympics.

Experience the breathtaking scenery unique to the naturally rich Okhotsk region at the Wakka Primeval Flower Garden.

【Related article】
・Japan's largest coastal grassland! What is Wakka Primeval Flower Garden, a paradise of flowers in eastern Hokkaido?

2-2 Family Ailand YOU (Roadside Station "Ailand Yubetsu")

Family Ailand YOU is an amusement park located on a small hill on the western shore of Lake Saroma.
Located along National Route 238 and adjacent to the roadside station "Ai Land Yubetsu," it's a popular stop for drivers on road trips.

There are 20 different types of playground equipment that can be enjoyed by both adults and children, including a cycle monorail and an 800-meter-long go-kart track.
Among the attractions, the Ferris wheel that stands tall in the center of the park is highly recommended.

This is Japan's only Ferris wheel that offers a panoramic view of Lake Saroma.
The view of Lake Saroma from the summit is spectacular!
You won't find another place where you can enjoy such a spectacular view all to yourself from a prime seat.

Next to the amusement park is "Ikoi no Mori," a park with a walking path that leads down to the lake.
The 2.4km path, offering stunning views of Lake Saroma and a refreshing forest bath, is simply wonderful.
This is a hidden gem that's surprisingly little known. Be sure to take a stroll around and explore!

2-3 Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park [May to early June]

Spring. With Golden Week marking the beginning of the flowering season in the Okhotsk region.
Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park, located about 20 minutes by car from Ai Land YOU, features a magnificent tulip field every year from mid-May to early June.

The sight of approximately 1.2 million tulips of about 200 varieties blooming in a dazzling array of colors across a vast 70,000 square meter field is truly breathtaking!
There's even a large Dutch-style windmill, making you almost forget you're in Japan.

Actually, this windmill serves as an observation deck, offering a panoramic view of the vast tulip fields from above. Enjoy the breathtaking 360-degree vista.

Every year during the blooming season, a tulip fair is held, attracting many tourists.

The event will feature food stalls offering local cuisine, as well as various fun activities such as tulip digging experiences and a ride on the electric bus "Tulip-Pit" that tours the park.

On the Chubit train, you'll be accompanied by a tour guide who will explain the park's layout and point out photo opportunities.

This is a VR video filmed from the Chubit (filmed in Yubetsu Town).

The park also features "jumbo wooden clogs" made by a Dutch craftsman!
At 225 cm long and weighing 300 kg, it's large enough for a person to fit inside, making it a popular spot for commemorative photos.

This is a recommended spot, especially at this time of year, where you can enjoy both romantic scenery with an exotic atmosphere and the vast, natural landscapes unique to the Okhotsk region of eastern Hokkaido.

If you've come all the way to Lake Saroma, you'll definitely want to enjoy the fresh and delicious seafood from the lake, such as scallops. Here are some recommended gourmet spots around Lake Saroma.

3-1 Rest House Tokoro

Rest House Tokoro is located along National Route 238 (Okhotsk Line) in Tokoro-cho, Kitami City. It's a popular spot that attracts not only tourists but also many locals during lunchtime.

The restaurant has a sushi counter where fresh seafood is displayed.
The menu features around 100 different dishes, including seasonal seafood caught in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and Lake Saroma, as well as curry, ramen, and more.

As the banner proclaiming "Tokoro Port's scallops are the best in Japan!" suggests, scallop dishes are highly recommended here.

One of the popular menu items, the "Scallop Feast Set Meal," is a great value dish that allows you to enjoy scallops in various forms: sashimi, fried scallops, boiled scallops, simmered scallops in soy sauce, and salted scallops. The miso soup also contains baby scallops, making it an absolute must-try for anyone who wants to savor the taste of scallops.

The sashimi consisted solely of scallops, but the portion was generous, including everything from the adductor muscle to the mantle.
With its thick, sweet flesh and firm, bouncy texture, it's a delicious treat that everyone will love.

You can enjoy Kitami City's popular local specialty, "Okhotsk Kitami Salt Yakisoba."
This recommended dish features scallops and onions from Kitami, and is finished with a "magic water" (scallop extract) that adds plenty of umami flavor.
For an extra touch of freshness and to stimulate your appetite, you can add some lemon juice.

Rest House Tokoro offers a variety of dishes that allow you to savor the seasonal flavors of the Okhotsk Sea, including scallop rice bowls, sushi, and, during oyster season, an "oyster feast set meal."
Why not stop by for a meal during your drive?

3-2 The Captain's House

"The Fisherman's House," located across from the Saroma Lake Tsuruga Resort.
It's a popular spot as a guesthouse, but it also operates as a restaurant during the day.

The captain's house is just a stone's throw from Lake Saroma.
You're guaranteed to enjoy fresh seafood caught right off the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and Lake Saroma!

In particular, the period from late March to June is a precious time when you can eat seafood that has been caught after the drift ice has receded and the sea has opened up.
At the captain's house, a special menu featuring scallops and crabs, fresh from the open sea, will be available during this time of year.

We recommend the value set which includes two types of rice bowls, three small side dishes, and miso soup.
Another highlight is that you can enjoy a variety of rice bowls, such as the three-color and five-color rice bowls, in small portions.

In spring, we also recommend the set meal with sea urchin rice bowl.
The sweet and creamy sea urchin is absolutely delicious!
While sea urchin has an image of being expensive, it's also nice that it's reasonably priced.

In spring, you can enjoy hairy crabs and sea urchins; in summer, scallops and Hokkaido shrimp; and from autumn to winter, oysters. Throughout the season, you can fully savor the bounty of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and Lake Saroma.
The driving season has arrived in Okhotsk. This lunch spot is recommended for those who want to enjoy a variety of seafood at a great price.

3-3 Hokushō Suisan Direct Sales Store

This is also the "Hokushō Suisan Direct Sales Store" in Saroma Town, located along National Route 238 (Okhotsk Line).
Right next door is a seafood processing plant, which sells seasonal seafood and processed delicacies.
Lake Saroma is right across the road, guaranteeing the freshness of the seafood.

My recommendation here is the "Scallop Burger," a hidden gem known only to those in the know.
It's filled with scallop fritters made with large, locally sourced scallops.

The freshly fried, piping hot burger pairs perfectly with the fluffy bun, fresh lettuce and tomato, and tartar mayonnaise.

For your next road trip, be sure to try this unique dish that you can only find here!
Takeout is available, but we also recommend enjoying your meal in our eat-in space while overlooking Lake Saroma.

Final thoughts

The area around Lake Saroma is full of fun and delicious spots!
In particular, along the Okhotsk Line (National Route 238) that runs along the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, there are numerous places where you can enjoy the soothing natural scenery of eastern Hokkaido and the seasonal flavors of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and Lake Saroma.

As we head into summer, the Okhotsk Blue becomes even more vibrant, making it a wonderful time of year. It's the perfect season to enjoy a pleasant drive while feeling the refreshing breeze. Why not take your time exploring and discover the fun and delicious things that Okhotsk has to offer?

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