I have arrived at Lake Mashu. The view is amazing. I'm glad it's a sunny day. It was worth coming all the way here. So, I decided to try the Lake Mashu mist soft serve ice cream. It was delicious - that's my honest opinion. Actually, I heard from someone I talked to at the Kushiro Marsh Observatory on the way here that the ramen at Lake Mashu is delicious, so I was planning to have it for lunch here. However, it wasn't on the menu. They stopped serving it this year, I was told. So, I had to move on to the next place.

When I visited the first observation deck at Lake Mashu, I had some grilled corn. You can enjoy it on the rooftop terrace while taking in the amazing view. However, I felt like the bag containing the corn might fly away in the wind, so I ended up eating it indoors. The corn kernels were large and each cob was served whole, so I felt quite satisfied and full after eating it.

The shop below Lake Mashu's Kamui Terrace is quite spacious and offers a wide variety of souvenirs, including Ainu ethnic items and character goods. The entrance is decorated with a bright red canoe, and you can enjoy fishing and canoeing at Lake Kussharo and Lake Akan. Inside the shop, there are impressive wooden carvings of Ainu figures on the walls. I bought the Lake Mashu Cheese Waffle Cookies and the Lake Mashu Kamui Terrace Langue de Chat cookies. The cheese waffle cookies have a cute waffle-like appearance and are crispy and easy to eat. The Langue de Chat cookies have a sweet caramel flavor, perfect for enjoying with coffee. You can also buy limited edition soft-serve ice cream at the adjacent cafe space. Credit card payment is accepted.

I drove to Lake Mashu Observatory in April 2023 and found that the parking lot was free because it was still off-season. It started snowing, so it was cold. When I went inside the building to eat, I was surprised to see that the only food available was pork bowl, soft serve ice cream, and coffee. I thought they served Shikotsu Ramen here, but maybe it's only available for a limited time. I ended up getting a mix soft serve and hot coffee, which I enjoyed alternating between bites and sips. It was a bit chilly, especially with the blue soda-flavored part of the soft serve, but it tasted good when paired with the coffee. Most customers were inside the lounge area due to the cold weather, but there were some brave ones enjoying their soft serve outside in the snow. The observatory looked even more beautiful than before, so I plan to visit again. Thank you for the meal!

Head to Lake Mashu. Enjoy the limited edition "Mashu Blue Sweets" at the rest house. Try the "Mist Soft Serve" with a mix of ramune and vanilla. The ramune flavor is refreshing and complements the vanilla, making it quite delicious. #SoftServe #MashuLakeGourmet #MashuLake

The observation terrace was newly established, so my partner ordered me to come here. By the time we arrived, the fog had started to roll in, but we were able to catch a glimpse of the scenery just in time. Down below, there was a restaurant where you could eat fast food, and my partner decided to have lunch here. They ordered the "Teshikaga Miso Ramen" collaboration at the Teshikaga Ramen main store. As for me, I had already eaten a hamburger at the Masyu Michi no Eki, so I opted for a rice burger. My partner kindly offered to share their Teshikaga Miso Ramen with me, serving it in a separate bowl. By the way, there are self-service water, bowls, and ladles placed across the counter. The noodles were curly and medium-thick, and the soup was rich and delicious, blending well with the noodles. The toppings included corn and wood ear mushrooms (the only ones I got when sharing), although there were others available. It was a delicious ramen. The rice burger came wrapped in a paper that looked familiar, maybe something you would see at a convenience store with microwavable items? The taste was similar to those convenience store microwavable burgers. If I'm mistaken, I apologize. The ramen was delicious. Thank you, partner! Itadakimasu!

I stopped by here after seeing Lake Mashu! "Mashu Blue Soft Serve Ice Cream ¥300", "Fried Sweet Potato Dumplings ¥250", "Soft-Boiled Egg Curry Bread ¥300" The amazing view makes the food taste even better! This is also a recommended spot to visit! Now, I want to go back to my Okinawa report! (laughs)

After feeling the breath of the earth at Mount Io, we headed to the next tourist spot, Lake Mashu. Known as the "Lake of Mist" due to its foggy nature, it is the second clearest lake after Lake Baikal. From the observation deck, we enjoyed the stunning view of the Mashu Blue lake, Kamuish Island, and the towering Kamui Nupuri (Mount Mashu). Adjacent to the observation deck is a common tourist spot at Lake Mashu with a souvenir shop and a light snack counter. Inside the shop, we found Mist Soft Serve ice cream, a pale blue soft serve that resembles Lake Mashu. It has a gentle taste. Surprisingly, they were also selling melon slices for 200 yen each at this time of year. The melon was incredibly sweet, soft, and juicy. We enjoyed it while sitting at the tables and chairs provided, looking out at the scenery. They were also selling Lake Mashu Ruby strawberries and plenty of marimo goods. It was a relaxing moment after enjoying the scenery.

After visiting the Kamoshikoike and going around Lake Mashu counterclockwise to the third observatory, then the first observatory, we stopped by a souvenir shop. They were selling cut melon for 200 yen each. I knew from previous information that sometimes they have a time sale where it's half price at 100 yen, but I didn't know what time that would be. Unfortunately, I didn't come across the time sale, so I just tried one at 200 yen. It was sweet, soft, and juicy, definitely delicious Hokkaido melon. Even though it would have been great to get it for 100 yen, it was still delicious at 200 yen. I was originally looking to try cut melon, but then I found soft-serve ice cream. I personally prefer vanilla, so I ordered the shaved ice flavor for 300 yen. Soft-serve ice cream from a farm usually costs more than 300 yen, so this might be the Hokkaido price. The rich milk flavor was delicious, but later I noticed they had a rich milk flavor for 400 yen. I wonder if that would have been even better... I've had delicious soft-serve ice cream from various farms, so I'm really curious if this one surpassed them all.

Located inside the first observatory of Lake Mashu. The observatory charges a parking fee of 500 yen. Upon entering the entrance, there is a local products corner and a rest area. As Lake Mashu is in Teshikaga Town, there is Teshikaga Ramen available. This time, I ordered the "Mashu Sweet Potato Dumplings". It arrived promptly. The "Mashu Sweet Potato Dumplings" are warm and very soft. The sauce is soy sauce-based, with a sweet and salty taste. It's a sauce that I have been familiar with since I was a child, and it somehow evokes a nostalgic feeling. The "Sweet Potato Dumplings" cost 250 yen including tax. I was able to easily learn about the formation of Lake Mashu through CG.٩( ᐛ )و

Yesterday, I stayed overnight at Kawayu Onsen for a business trip and came to the restaurant at the Mashu Lake Observatory to have breakfast. While I was enjoying some potatoes in the morning, Minister Koizumi came for an inspection. He had some cool gestures! Meanwhile, I was just eating my potatoes, potatoes! But, man, the food in Hokkaido is delicious! The Minister even tried the strawberry soft-serve ice cream that I had last time I visited. Copying me, huh? Haha. He praised it saying "It's delicious! Have you never tried something this tasty before?" The local famous representative from a different party is Muneto.

When I came to Lake Mashu, I absolutely wanted to try the Mashu Soft Serve. It is inspired by the blue color of Lake Mashu and is said to be ramune flavored. As I headed to the shop thinking "I must try the Mashu Soft Serve," I was surprised to find Mashu version of Black Thunder, and a soft serve inspired by the mist of Lake Mashu, among other creative options. The lineup was so impressive that it made me want to try the Cantaloupe and Tokachi Strawberry soft serves on the spot or even back at the hotel. But I was set on trying the Mashu Soft Serve. The blue soft serve had a flavor that was like a mix of ramune and a hint of cream cheese (I'm sorry if that sounds strange). It wasn't as refreshing as soda or ramune, but I was satisfied because trying the Mashu Soft Serve was the highlight of my visit.

After leaving Lake Kussharo, it's finally the start of the third day of my trip to Eastern Hokkaido. First, I headed to Lake Mashu, which was the most impressive sight from my previous visit. I drove up the mountain in a rental car, parked at the observatory parking lot, and admired the breathtaking view from above. Known as the lake with the highest transparency in the world, its mysterious and unapproachable appearance is truly captivating. This time, I also visited the "Lake Mashu First Observatory Rest House," which I didn't stop by last time. While the "Third Observatory" is unmanned, this place has a souvenir shop and a cafeteria, making it quite fulfilling. I was briefly tempted by the "Teshikaga miso ramen," but during this trip to Eastern Hokkaido, I rediscovered the deliciousness of milk, so I tried the "Cow's Udder Milk" that I found. This milk is freshly squeezed at the "Mashu Plateau Watanabe Experience Ranch" at the foot of Lake Mashu. At this ranch, they have a motto of not using any chemical fertilizers or pesticides, and they let the cows graze freely on natural grasslands day and night to minimize stress on the cows. When I looked closely at the contents of the bottle, I noticed cream accumulating at the top. After shaking it well and taking a sip, it was indeed very rich and delicious, reminding me of the original taste of milk. The milk was so delicious that I got carried away and decided to have soft serve ice cream as well. They had five flavors: "Ice Trees," "Mashu Blue," "Rich Milk," "Mist," and "Shiroi Koibito," but I chose "Rich Milk." True to its name, the milk flavor spread throughout my mouth. The mild sweetness was also nice. This was my second soft serve ice cream in Eastern Hokkaido, and both had restrained sweetness. Perhaps, to bring out the flavor of milk, a lower level of sweetness is more effective. It turned out to be a milk-filled trip, including breakfast at the hotel. The total bill for the "Cow's Udder Milk" at 250 yen and the "Rich Milk Soft Serve Ice Cream" at 430 yen was 680 yen. Thank you for the meal!

When I arrived at Lake Mashu, inspired by the hit song "Kiri no Mashu-ko" by Akira Fuse from my childhood, I noticed that there was no fog and I could see the entire lake from the first observation deck. I also realized that there were no shores around the lake, just steep slopes, making it impossible to enjoy the lake up close. I wondered how different it must have been 50 years ago when the song was released. Inside the rest house, I saw a sticker from a popular restaurant on Tabelog and decided to try the "Cut Melon: 200 yen" that I had missed out on earlier. It was juicy and delicious, and my companion and I quickly finished it, savoring the first bite the most. It was a simple pleasure, but it was enough.

Lake Mashu covered in fog. Once again, Lake Mashu was shrouded in mist, but this soft serve ice cream cleared the fog in my mind. Made with strawberries harvested from a farm owned by Oriental Land Company, which operates Disneyland, this strawberry soft serve ice cream is sprinkled with Mashu rubies. Mashu rubies are not your typical sweet strawberries; even strawberries used in cakes are intentionally made to have a strong sourness. However, the acidity enhances the sweetness of the soft serve, making it even more delicious. The soft serve with plenty of Mashu rubies was excellent. However, the eastern region of Hokkaido, with its many ranches, produces incredibly delicious beef, cream, and other dairy products!

This is a rest house located next to Lake Mashu. I thought it was just a souvenir shop for tourists, but I found some interesting things to buy. - Cow's milk from the udder: 250 yen - Mashu's 80% buckwheat soba: 399 yen - Mashu Ruby (strawberry): 500 yen - Cut melon: 100 yen I visited several other rest houses in the area, but this was the only place where I could eat melon at this price. You can also take the food to go, but it might get messy, so it's better to eat it on the spot. The Mashu Ruby was a strawberry with a slightly strong acidity.

Rest house located near Lake Mashu in Hokkaido. Visited during a tour of Hokkaido. It was lunchtime, so I ordered the Teshikaga miso ramen (800 yen) and the potato pumpkin cheese (300 yen). [Teshikaga Miso Ramen (800 yen)] Teshikaga miso ramen is a collaboration menu with Teshikaga ramen, also located in Mashu. It is a rich miso ramen. Despite it being summer, it was a rainy day and not very warm, so it was nice to warm up with this dish. It contained chashu, wood ear mushrooms, corn, green onions, and ginger. Although not at the level of a specialty shop, it was satisfying enough for a rest house meal. [Potato Pumpkin Cheese (300 yen)] This snack consists of fried potatoes and pumpkin dumplings with melty cheese in the center, making it a good option for a light snack. Various souvenirs are also sold at Lake Mashu. Thank you for the meal.

■ Date of Visit: April 30, 2019 at 5:15 PM ■ Amount Spent: 350 yen Located at the first observation deck of Lake Mashu, this restaurant may have a plain exterior but the interior is bright and lively. They have a wide selection of souvenirs from various regions in Hokkaido, making it quite impressive. The White Lover Soft Serve Ice Cream had a nostalgic taste to it, especially the chocolate part.

I stopped by this rest house because of parking convenience. It was quite busy and they had a wide variety of souvenirs. I wasn't planning on buying anything, but I was curious about the coffee beans chocolate that was only available at non-company stores, so I decided to buy it. When I opened it, there were five bags stacked inside, making it easy to share. When I tried it, the coffee beans provided a crunchy texture and a bitterness that was more suitable for adults.

In the winter at Lake Mashu, the strong wind makes the cold even more piercing... Despite shivering, looking at the frozen Lake Mashu is soothing. Then, I entered a souvenir shop. I was tempted by the White Lover soft serve ice cream, but because of the cold, I opted for something warm... I ordered a hot coffee and sweet potato dumplings. The hot coffee was served in a cup and I poured it myself from the coffee server. I carried the sweet potato dumplings and coffee to a table in the back. The sweet potato dumplings had a sweet and salty sauce, just as I imagined. The chewy texture made from kneaded starch was quite delicious. The warmth of the coffee seeped into my frozen body. And the simple taste of the sweet potato dumplings. Somehow, I felt that it was the best combination.