Tokoro Town is located in the eastern part of Lake Saroma, the largest lake in Hokkaido.
In March 2016, Kitami City merged with Tanno Town and Rubeshibe Town to become "Tokoro-cho, Kitami City."

It's a small fishing town about 45 minutes by car from Memanbetsu Airport, but it's blessed with nature, including Wakka Primeval Flower Garden, the largest coastal grassland in Japan, and Lake Saroma, the largest lake in Hokkaido, and it's also the sacred ground of curling, a sport that everyone knows.

In this article, we'll introduce you to the delicious treats you can enjoy in Tokoro Town, including scallops from Lake Saroma, seafood from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, and sweets made from agricultural products grown in the fertile land.

Table of contents
1. What kind of town is Tokoro-cho?
2. Restaurant Blé, where you can enjoy authentic French cuisine.
3. A small local confectionery shop, "Sweets Saison"
4. Enjoy fresh seafood grilled over charcoal! "Tokoro Roadside Market"
5. A cafe where you want to take a little detour and chat.
6. Take a break by the lake♪ Saroma Lake Tsuruga Resort "Soleil"
Final thoughts

Tokoro Town is a small fishing town located in eastern Hokkaido, blessed with abundant seafood from the brackish lake Lake Saroma and agricultural products from the Okhotsk Sea, making it a town full of delicious flavors.

In Tokoro Town, approximately 40,000 tons of scallops are harvested annually from Lake Saroma, and the town boasts a wealth of high-quality ingredients, including rich and firm oysters and Hokkaido striped shrimp, which are only available for a mere two months each year during the summer and autumn fishing seasons.

Tokoro Town is the birthplace of scallop farming, the location of Japan's first indoor curling hall, and many athletes from Tokoro Town have achieved success at the Olympics.

Blé is a hidden gem of a restaurant in a small town. Its name means "wheat" in French, and the sign features a charming illustration of wheat.

Despite being a fishing town with the scent of the sea, this place has a distinctly French countryside feel, making you excited even before you enter.

Since opening, word of mouth has spread, and now people come from far away just to enjoy the atmosphere and delicious food.

The lunch menu includes a weekly changing lunch set (with a main dish of meat or fish, served with rice, salad, soup, and coffee), as well as set menus such as beef stroganoff and hamburger steak, and various cakes.

The beautifully presented, generously portioned salad that arrived earlier really heightened my anticipation for the main course that was yet to come!

This is the weekly fish set, featuring "Skate Meunière with Herb Olive Sauce." Skate is a very Hokkaido-specific ingredient and is rich in collagen.

The food is delicious and beautifully presented, and the lunch set starts at a reasonable ¥1000 (tax included). But I'd also love to splurge a little and enjoy a full-course French meal in the evening.

Ble
Address: 323-11 Tokoro-cho, Kitami City, Hokkaido 093-0210
TEL：0152-54-2234
Opening hours: 11:30 AM - 20:30 PM (Lunchtime: 11:30 AM - 14:00 PM)
Closed on: Tuesdays, the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays
Parking: No dedicated parking available (please inquire with the store).

"Sweets Saison" has the appearance of a stylish cafe, and the phrase "a small neighborhood confectionery shop" attached to its shop card fits it perfectly.

Looking at the tempting array of sweets, I feel like I'm in a stylish cake shop in a summer resort.

The owner-patissier continues to create sweets using an abundance of locally sourced ingredients. For their cheesecakes, they use cheese from Hokkaido, and for their "White Tiramisu," they use mascarpone cheese from "Adonai," a cheese factory in Okoppe town that is highly regarded by French and Italian chefs.

Popular items include the "Special Pudding" made with fresh local milk delivered every morning, baked goods using fermented butter from Hokkaido, and "Tokoro Wheat Sticks" containing vegetables from Tokoro.

A sweet treat typical of Tokoro is "Curling Yaki," a dessert with a dough shaped like a curling stone, filled with rich butter cream accented with Okhotsk salt.

In addition to cakes and baked goods, they also offer Japanese-style sweets such as "yomogi-mushi dorayaki" and "monaka," making them the perfect souvenirs packed with the delicious flavors of Hokkaido.

Sweets Sezon
Address: 573 Tokoro, Tokoro-cho, Kitami City, Hokkaido 093-0210
TEL：0152-63-2222
Opening hours: 9: 30 to 19: 30
Closed holiday: irregular holiday
Parking lot: Yes

When you think of Hokkaido... you can't miss out on seafood! And what's more, at Tokoro Michi-no-Ichi, you can eat the fresh seafood sold at the stalls right away at the charcoal grill corner.

The main attractions are the price and freshness; the seafood offered at local prices is exceptional in both freshness and taste! However, items that wouldn't be sold in supermarkets due to irregular sizes or slight blemishes are sold cheaply in the "imperfect items corner."

Located along National Route 238 leading to Lake Saroma, this shop is constantly visited by locals and people from neighboring towns seeking seafood from Lake Saroma, as well as those specifically looking for charcoal-grilled dishes.

And here, the "charcoal grill corner" is popular, where you can enjoy the bounty of Lake Saroma and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, including fresh scallops and oysters sold in the store, as well as dried fish and processed products.

The system is very simple: you buy the ingredients you want to grill in the store, pay the charcoal fee of ¥400 (excluding tax) per table at checkout, and then grill and eat them to your heart's content at the charcoal grilling area next door!

Scallops from the birthplace of scallop farming start at ¥100 (excluding tax) per piece. Simply place them on a grill and cook them, and the natural saltiness will further enhance the flavor of the scallops.

The charcoal fee includes chopsticks for everyone, but if you need extra plates or are bringing children, we recommend bringing your own.

Tokoro Roadside Market
Address: 10-3 Gifu, Tokoro-cho, Kitami City, Hokkaido 093-0215
TEL：0152-54-1717
Opening hours: 9: 30 to 17: 00
Closed days: Open every day (irregular closures from January to March)
Parking lot: Yes

"Cafe Shaberitai" has an inviting atmosphere that makes you want to take a little detour. It's a small seaside cafe located very close to "Tokoro Jonan Beach."

The area also appeared in the curling movie "Simsons," in which actor Yo Oizumi, who hails from Hokkaido, played the role of a coach. People who saw the movie were drawn to the atmosphere and came from far away to visit.

This cafe, which has been in business since 55, is a favorite among locals, and on weekends and holidays, families and tourists from far away also visit.

They mainly offer a variety of curry dishes using fresh seafood, and their "Scallop Fry Curry," made with scallops from Tokoro, is particularly popular.

The "Drift Ice Soda," inspired by the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and drift ice, which was also featured in the movie "Simsons," is a popular staple menu item that many people say they must order when they come here.

Cafe I want to chat
Address: 204 Tokoro, Tokoro-cho, Kitakitami City, Hokkaido 093-0210
TEL：0152-54-3942
Business hours: 11:30-18:00 (last order 17:00)
Closed: Monday
Parking lot: Yes

Located about 15 minutes by car from the town of Tokoro, on the shores of Lake Saroma, Hokkaido's largest lake, is the Saroma Lake Tsuruga Resort. This is the place where the current Emperor stayed when he was Crown Prince, during the time it was known as the Saroma Lake Tokyu Resort. All rooms in this hotel offer lake views, with beautiful views of Lake Saroma from both the restaurant and the bar.

In the hotel's lounge, "Soleil," you can enjoy light lunches and coffee, admire Lake Saroma from the large windows, and step out onto the lakeshore from the entrance next to the lounge. During seasons when the sun sets early, you can enjoy the beautiful sight of the sunset over Lake Saroma.

They offer light meals such as crab pilaf, spaghetti with meat sauce, and scallop curry rice, as well as drinks like soft drinks and coffee, and sweets like cakes and parfaits, making it a great place for lunch or a light snack.

The hotel's gift shop sells original hotel sweets and local processed goods that make perfect souvenirs, some of which are not available at the airport, so why not stop by for a break during your drive?

Saroma Lake Tsuruga Resort "Soleil"
Address: 306-1 Sakaeura, Tokoro-cho, Kitami City, Hokkaido 093-0216
TEL：0152-54-2000
Opening hours: 11:30 AM - 18:00 PM (Last order: light meals 16:00 PM, drinks 17:30 PM)
*On days when the lunch buffet is held at Restaurant "La Mer", it starts at 14:00 PM.
Regular holiday: No holidays
Parking lot: Yes

Final thoughts

Tokoro Town, once known for its sunsets over Lake Saroma and scallops, has now firmly established itself as a town where curling is popular.

The town boasts delicious food, fun activities, and beautiful nature, and even has the "Advics Tokoro Curling Hall," where you can enjoy curling for as little as an hour, complete with equipment and warm clothing rentals.

Why not add Tokoro Town to your Hokkaido travel plans?

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