Yoichi, which suddenly gained attention thanks to a morning drama series, is home to tourist attractions such as the Nikka Whisky Hokkaido Factory and the Yoichi Space Museum.

When you think about wanting to go to Yoichi, don't you wonder things like, "What kind of shops are there?", "Where should I eat lunch?", or "Where are some shops that aren't geared towards tourists?"

So, this time, we'll introduce restaurants recommended by locals where you can enjoy lunch, categorized by cuisine type: Japanese, Western, and Chinese.
With this, you too might become a Yoichi master!

~Table of Contents~
1. Enjoy more than just sushi! 'Sushi Buffet Dining Fuji'
2. Using ingredients from Yoichi! 'Farm Restaurant Italian Yoicchini'
3. Enjoy Chinese food in a cozy atmosphere! 'Saika'
4. 'Kunkoro', where you can enjoy homemade smoked dishes.
5. A uniquely named Italian restaurant: 'Jijiya Babaya'

This restaurant, "Sushi Dining Buffet Fuji," is run by "Fuji Sushi," whose main branch is located in Shakotan Town.
It's a buffet-style restaurant where you can choose and eat anything you like, so it's been incredibly popular since it first opened!

What's more, they offer not only sushi, but also a wide variety of side dishes such as tempura, pasta, and chawanmushi (steamed egg custard). So, you can enjoy lunch with your children without worry!

These sushi pieces are, of course, made by a professional sushi chef!
A variety of fresh sushi toppings, including salmon roe, shrimp, tuna, and salmon, served with flavorful vinegared rice...it's wonderful that this is all-you-can-eat!

And here is a part of the prepared food section.
Homemade kamaboko (fish cake), chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), karaage (fried chicken), and more...

The wide variety of menu options is definitely one of the secrets to its popularity!
Everyone, please try the lunch at "Sushi Buffet Dining Fuji," run by a sushi specialty restaurant!

鮨ブッフェダイニングふじ
Address: 8-29-1 Okawa-cho, Yoichi-cho, Hokkaido
TEL: 0135-22-2228
Opening hours: Lunch 11:20 AM - 15:00 PM (Last order 14:30 PM)
Dinner: 17:00 - 21:00 (Last order 20:30)
Closed: Thursday

In Japan, a country that prides itself on food safety, Hokkaido, in particular, stands out for the excellence of its ingredients.
Next, I'd like to introduce "Farmhouse Restaurant Italian Yoicchini".

Furthermore, this restaurant uses plenty of ingredients from Yoichi in its dishes, so you can feel even closer to the safety of your food!

This is "Yoichi-produced furagari crab tomato sauce pasta," made with furagari crabs.
The tomato-based sauce coats the thin pasta perfectly.

Unlike rich, creamy pasta dishes like carbonara, this pasta is lighter, so you can enjoy the flavor without getting tired of it until the very last bite!

Do you know what this is?
Actually, this is a type of meat dish called "porchetta."

It's about the size of an adult man's palm, making it a very filling dish. If it's a bit too much for one person, you could share it with family, your partner, or someone you're with!

Farm Restaurant Italian Yoicchini
Address: 8-32 Okawa-cho, Yoichi-cho, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido
TEL: 0135-48-7700
Opening hours: Lunch 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM (Last order 2:00 PM)
Dinner: 17:00 - 22:00 (Last Order 21:00)
Closed: Monday

This restaurant, with its distinctive yellow curtain, is "Saika," a popular Chinese restaurant that enjoys strong support from locals.
During lunchtime, both the counter seats and booth seats fill up very quickly, so if possible, you might be able to get a seat more easily if you go at a different time.

This restaurant's specialty is "Ankake Yakisoba" (stir-fried noodles with thick sauce). It's a popular dish that originated in Otaru.
The thick, savory sauce coats the slightly firm noodles perfectly. Enjoy it while it's piping hot!

Apparently, there's another menu item that regulars often order, nicknamed "Set Meal No. 4." It turns out that this is actually the "Twice-Cooked Pork Set Meal." If you want to know why it's called "No. 4," you'll just have to go there often and become a regular!

Ayaka
Address: 8-17 Kurokawa-cho, Yoichi-cho, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido
TEL: 0135-23-6085
Opening hours: Lunch 11:30 - 15:00
Dinner 17:00 - 19:00
Closed: Monday

Located on Prefectural Road 387 in Yoichi, "Kemukaro," a restaurant housed in a traditional Japanese house, offers a variety of homemade smoked dishes.
This house is a renovated old house from the early Showa period, and as soon as you step inside, you're greeted by a spacious, open-plan interior that gives you a very open and airy feeling.

The one dish you absolutely must try at this restaurant is this "Smoked Beef Braised in Red Wine."
The smoked beef is simmered slowly in red wine, making it so tender you'll forget to chew, and you'll experience the sensation of the beef melting in your mouth.

The carrots and potatoes are soft and very sweet, making this a dish that even picky eaters will enjoy.
Enjoy it with the accompanying bucket!

And here's a rather unusual "smoked pumpkin cheesecake."
As the name suggests, it's a cheesecake made with smoked pumpkin, but it doesn't taste drastically different from the typical cheesecakes we're familiar with, so you can eat it without any problems.

Since the base is pumpkin, even though it's called a cheesecake, it feels healthier because it's made with vegetables.
Since you can eat it without worrying about calories or sugar, it's a great option for women on a diet!

Kemukaro
Address: 88 Minatomachi, Yoichi-cho, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido
TEL: 0135-22-2744
Opening hours: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Last order 2:00 PM)
Closed: Wednesday

This is a small, cozy restaurant called "Jijiya Babaya," with about 10 counter seats and around 4 tables.
One of the charms of this shop is that you can enjoy a close relationship with the staff, something you don't often experience in the city.

Now, can you guess what this dish in the image above is, with the huge crab taking up the entire surface of the plate?

This is the restaurant's most popular dish, "Crab and Tomato Cream Pasta," and it's a very popular item that's enjoyed by people of all ages, from young children to the elderly!

This is a classic pizza!
Margherita!

The pizza crust is thin, making it very easy to eat, and you can enjoy the rich cheese flavor of the pizza!
As you can see, it's a Margherita pizza, so there aren't any special toppings, making it a relatively simple pizza, but locals all agree that the taste is exceptional.

Wouldn't it taste even better if you ate it with wine?

Jijiya Babaya
Address: 15-1 Asahi-cho, Yoichi-cho, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido
TEL: 0135-22-7822
Opening hours: Lunch 11:30 - 14:30
Dinner 17:30 - 20:00
Closed: Tuesday

Afterword

Yoichi is a peaceful place where the whole town has a very homey feel to it.
The morning air is so clear and beautiful, and the starry night sky is so dazzling and beautiful that it feels like my soul is being cleansed.
It's also a town where you can heal your weary soul.

Eating delicious food, spending time with kind-hearted people, and getting a good night's sleep... If you can feel ready to tackle tomorrow, your mind and body will be refreshed!

If you ever come to Hokkaido, be sure to visit Yoichi!

Article written by: Hozuki Amane

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