In the southern area of Hokkaido, there is a town called Matsumae known for its high-quality nori and tuna. I traveled all the way here to enjoy a luxurious nori bento box. It took me 5 and a half hours by car from Otaru, the local town, to Matsumae. It's a long journey, but I came here specifically to try the nori bento that I love, which is available at Nori Dandan in Yano Ryokan. I first tried it at Yano Ryokan a few years ago and have been a fan ever since. Despite the temptation to try other restaurants, I always end up coming back to Yano Ryokan. As always, I parked my car in the ryokan's parking lot. Even though I love seafood, I didn't order any tuna dishes this time. I ordered the Nori Dandan bento box for 1,500 yen. It had gone up by 120 yen since my last visit, but I was still happy with the price. It was Sunday lunchtime, and the restaurant was about 60-70% full, with a short wait of about 10 minutes before the bento was served. The bento box was heavy and when I opened it, the aroma of seaweed filled the air. The miso soup was comforting with a subtle dashi flavor. Then, I dug into the nori bento. It was packed with layers of seaweed, and the taste was just as delicious as I remembered. The homemade Matsumae pickles by Yano Ryokan were slightly sweet and added to the overall flavor. The bento was also accompanied by various other pickles in green and pink colors. The portion size was impressive, with plenty of rice that seemed to never end. It was a luxurious experience. I left the restaurant feeling satisfied and decided to explore Matsumae Castle (Fukuyama Castle) until dinner time. The atmosphere was wonderful, and I also enjoyed the hydrangea festival at the historical site of the former Matsumae Clan's residence. After fully enjoying Matsumae, I continued my journey to Hakodate.

Hokkaido Wanderlust ⑳ Matsue City Super Premium Nori Bento (⁠｡⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠｡⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠ This is a traditional local dish in Matsue, a two-tiered Nori Bento made with hand-picked rock seaweed. You can enjoy this at the hotel restaurant where even the general public can dine. Matsue Nori Nori Bento - ¥1500. A bit pricey, but worth trying for a memorable travel experience. When you open the lid of the bento box, a nice aroma of seaweed fills the air (⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠). As you bite into it, the seaweed melts in your mouth, leaving a flavorful aftertaste. Surprisingly delicious! Matsue pickles are also incredibly tasty (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠). Additionally, the stem seaweed with perilla pickle is delicious. The Nori Bento is quite filling, with about 400g in total. It can get a bit overwhelming and tiring to finish. I wish they offered a smaller size on the menu. After enjoying the hot springs at Hanazawa Onsen and exploring the "Path of the Gods," head to Matsue City to wander around Matsue Castle (⁠꒪⁠꒳⁠꒪⁠)⁠. There is a mound called "Eternal Nishipa" where a drama about deceiving and slaughtering the Ainu people is based on the history of the Matsue Clan treating the Ainu people as slaves and naming Hokkaido and other places with Ainu words adapted to Chinese characters. Enjoy the view of the sea at the southernmost tip of Hokkaido before heading back to Hakodate.

"What? A rock seaweed bento box!?" What caught my eye was a multi-tiered lunch box with seaweed spread on top of the rice, and it looked visually appealing. It may not be extravagant or flashy, but as someone who loves seaweed, I was immediately drawn to it. I have visited Hakodate to eat curry before, but going all the way to Matsumae is a 300km journey one way. However, when you feel like doing something like this, you have to act on it, or else you may never visit. So, I woke up early and went there. I arrived around 11:30, but the navigation led me to the back of the inn. There is a fairly well-equipped parking lot at the back, making it convenient. Restaurant Yano is located inside the Yano Onsen Ryokan, with a separate entrance right next to the inn entrance. I entered through the inn entrance and sat at a table for two, where a female staff member brought me the menu. Since I already knew what I wanted to eat, I ordered the Matsumae seaweed bento box on the spot. As it is an inn, there is free Wi-Fi available, but it is not a free Wi-Fi network. There were no signs about Wi-Fi in the restaurant or on the menu, so when I asked at the front desk, they showed me where it was available. The tall female staff at the front desk, as well as the female staff in the restaurant, were lively and charming. When the rock seaweed bento box arrived, it came with not only rice but also miso soup and three types of pickles, including Matsumae pickles. Taking a bite of the bento box, I thought, "Wow, this is delicious!" It's not just rice with seaweed on top; it's more like rice with seaweed growing on it. The seaweed-wrapped onigiri is not freshly wrapped but has seaweed that has melded with the rice, creating a unified onigiri. The simplicity of just seaweed, but it is incredibly tasty. If you love rice, you would silently enjoy eating this. When I sent a photo to my rice-loving wife, she was envious.

I had a job that was supposed to take all morning, but it unexpectedly finished quickly. I heard rumors about it, so I decided to go to a restaurant called "Nori Dan Dan" right after it opened. As soon as I opened the menu, I ordered the nori dish. When it was brought to me, I was amazed by the amount of nori on the plate. The taste was exceptional and the portion was generous. I left feeling satisfied. While the seafood at the roadside station is good, if you consider the price, this place offers better value. I will definitely come back again!

Ever since watching the local Hokkaido TV program "Onigiri Atatamemasu ka" featuring Yo Oizumi and Shigeyuki Totsugi, I had been wanting to try the gourmet dish they visited. During the cherry blossom festival in Golden Week, I finally had the chance to visit. Despite its popularity, I arrived just in time at 11:30 and was seated immediately. The Nori-dandan is a two-tiered rice ball dish made with locally sourced flavorful seaweed. It is a simple yet exquisite gourmet dish, more of a specialty of the Yano hot spring inn rather than Matsue. At the attached restaurant, you can enjoy it as a "Nori-juu" dish. As soon as I opened the lid, a delightful aroma of seaweed filled the air. This fragrant seaweed is truly unique and cannot be found elsewhere. It is the ultimate Nori-dandan dish. The set meal also comes with a side dish of Matsue pickles, allowing you to fully enjoy the flavors of Matsue. The portion is quite generous due to the stacked layers, so it may be a bit much for women or elderly customers.

Oh, it was so delicious! The food had a subtle yet exceptional taste. The "Nori Dandan" that was the main dish we ordered was great, but what really stood out was the "Tuna marinated with mountain wasabi rice bowl" that I ordered! The combination of mountain wasabi, not regular wasabi, was amazing! The atmosphere of the restaurant was like a cafe with dim lighting, which may not be ideal for lunch, but overall it was a great experience.

When I visited the Michi no Eki before, it was winter and they didn't have it, saying "Come back in spring!" So when the cherry blossoms bloomed at Matsumae Castle and it was the Matsumae Sakura Festival, I decided to go eat Matsumae seaweed. I found this shop when I looked it up. When I arrived at the shop around 11:40, they said, "Please write your name and wait for about 30 minutes, or maybe 1 hour..." So I wrote my name and waited in the lobby. Exactly 30 minutes later, I was taken inside. The menu included Matsumae seaweed donburi. It arrived in less than 10 minutes. It looked delicious! The seaweed is in two layers, hence the name "donburi." It also came with Matsumae pickles, pickled seaweed and shiso, pickles, and miso soup. I started eating the seaweed donburi. It was delicious! The Matsumae pickles and pickled seaweed were also highlights! It was worth the 30-minute wait! The portion size was quite large! It felt like about one serving of rice? It was a feast! Thank you for the meal.

A long-established Japanese-style restaurant with a calm atmosphere. Visited in late April, so I chose a dish with Hokkaido's specialty mountain wasabi. It has a mild taste with a momentary spiciness, making it versatile as both a main and a side dish. It can be sprinkled on white rice with soy sauce, or drizzled over herring or mackerel to enhance the flavor of the fish. Mountain wasabi is not commonly seen outside of Hokkaido, but if you're okay with wasabi, I highly recommend trying it. The pickled bowl is seasoned with dark soy sauce and topped with seaweed. It's not exceptionally delicious just because it's close to Ooma, but it's worth the price. The mountain wasabi is as delicious as expected. The Matsumae pickles are slightly oily with a rich flavor and aroma. It has a fresh spiciness with a slightly unique scent, making it suitable for rice or snacks. I ordered the famous seaweed donburi for takeout. The seaweed has a strong aroma and flavor, with dashi soy sauce drizzled over the rice. The seaweed is layered, and when you bite into it, the flavor is strong.

I returned from Matsumae to Tokyo. I decided to enjoy the famous Nori Dandan Bento from Matsumae on the way back on the Tohoku Shinkansen, so I asked Yano Ryokan to prepare it for me. I requested to pick it up at 09:40 after checking out. I ordered the Nori Dandan Bento (¥1400). It was warm when I received it. They had made it according to the time I requested. It comes in a beautiful traditional-style lunch box (made of styrofoam). Since I had plenty of time at Michi-no-Eki Kikonai before boarding the Shinkansen, I decided to enjoy it in the rest area there. But before that, I bought a bottle of Abashiri beer at the shop. This combination is definitely delicious. When I opened the lid, I was greeted by the striking appearance of rock seaweed. This is the legendary Matsumae seaweed. This bento was my first time trying it, and it may have a more visually impactful presentation. Please see the photo for reference. I can't explain the taste. It's an absolute deliciousness and strong aroma that only those who have tasted it would know. It's neatly made, and the cross-section of the two layers is beautiful, and the soy sauce is also delicious. It must be a special one. The ingredients include Matsumae pickles and two other items. It's the same as what was served for breakfast this morning. I felt happy again. I enjoyed it deliciously with Abashiri beer.

I stayed at the famous inn owned by Mr. Yano in Matsumae. Of course, breakfast was included. The breakfast here is surprisingly delicious. Breakfast time is from 07:00 to 09:00. I arrived right at 07:00 this morning, looking forward to it since making the reservation. Today, as part of the stay, I was seated when I provided my room number. I had a table for two all to myself. The presentation was perfect. Then, I was served squid sashimi, rice in a wooden rice container, and tea. The visual was perfect. I was worried if I could finish it all, but it was a pleasant worry. The tea provided was hojicha, but there was also self-service water available. The squid sashimi was really delicious, a highlight every time. It's locally caught squid. I had the first bite as is, and then the rest with soy sauce. I couldn't stop eating the rice, which was freshly cooked and shiny in the rice container. I couldn't finish it all, but I had seconds and thirds. It was really delicious. They also served homemade Matsumae pickles, and an amazing miso soup. This luxurious breakfast is hard to come by. I was full from the delicious meal. As always, it was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

On my day off, I went to Matsumae. This week, I used the national travel support and Hakodate discount to stay in Hakodate for 2 nights and 3 days! Since I have already explored Hakodate city quite a bit, I decided to extend my trip to Matsumae. For lunch in Matsumae, I went to Restaurant Yanosan! I was there for their Nori Bento (Matsumae Nori Dandan). It had two layers of hand-picked rock seaweed and it was incredibly delicious! This is a taste that will make you want to come back for more!

I ordered the tuna sashimi bowl for 1,800 yen and the Matsumae nori-dandan bento for 1,380 yen. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to try the nori-dandan due to timing issues. The nori-dandan bento was delicious, with tasty Matsumae pickles as a side. The miso soup was a bit salty. I hesitated at the price of 1,380 yen for the nori-dandan bento, but after trying it, I understood why. The quality of the nori was exceptional. The tuna sashimi bowl was also delicious, but I wish I had tried regular tuna as well.

In the final stages of the Michi-no-Eki stamp rally. When it comes to Matsumae, it's all about nori (seaweed). I tried the famous "dandan" dish. It's a nori bento box (1,300 yen) and it's really delicious. The flavor of the nori is truly amazing. The nori was sold out at the nearby Yoneda store, but I was able to buy some at the Michi-no-Eki. 5 sheets for 3,500 yen. I plan to buy a bento box to enjoy at home.

I ordered a salad, soup, and rice set for ¥1100. I wanted a hearty portion of spaghetti Napolitan, but I also wanted to indulge in a hamburger. The hamburger was thick, probably about 3 centimeters, making it a satisfying size for men. It was a soft and fluffy hamburger. The Napolitan had no toppings, but it was delicious. I wonder how they achieve this flavor. Unfortunately, I couldn't see the smiles of the staff as there are no nearby branches of this restaurant.

During our trip to Hakodate, we also visited Matsumae for lunch. I had heard that Matsumae was known for its "Matsumae seaweed donburi," so I decided to try it. My husband ordered the "Tuna and mountain wasabi pickled donburi." The Matsumae seaweed donburi came with Matsumae pickles, which I had never tried before. The restaurant, located inside a ryokan, was a great place to experience local cuisine. The meal was quite salty with three different types of pickles, but the seaweed flavor was enjoyable. I couldn't finish the whole bowl, but it was delicious. The tuna that my husband shared with me was also very tasty. It seemed like locals enjoyed ordering tuna sashimi or pickled donburi.

I visited the restaurant around 12 pm on a Saturday in June 2022. It is famous for its Nori-dandan, so I came to try it. The parking lot was located behind the restaurant. There were about 4 groups of customers before us. The atmosphere inside was calm with soothing music playing in the background. The interior was slightly dimly lit, creating a relaxed ambiance. My wife ordered the Nori-dandan for 1380 yen, and I ordered the marinated tuna bowl for 1800 yen. The dishes arrived in about 10 minutes. The tuna in my bowl melted in my mouth, it was delicious. The wasabi was fresh and paired well with the dish. The Nori-dandan had tasty seaweed with a strong aroma of the sea, which was delightful. However, both dishes had quite a lot of rice. Towards the end, I ended up eating the remaining rice with wasabi, which was also tasty. It was a delicious meal. Thank you for the food.

I went to eat at Nori Dandan because it seems to be famous. The rice and seaweed were delicious, and the portion of rice was large. The nori was stacked in two layers, so it was not boring to eat. The Matsumae pickles served with it were also tasty.

I finally had the seaweed bento I had been longing for. I had stayed at Yano Inn once before, but they didn't serve the "Matsumae seaweed bento" for dinner or breakfast. I was determined to eat it no matter what, so I made it my mission for this trip and rode my bike all the way to Matsumae. Along with the main seaweed bento, they served miso soup, Matsumae pickles, and a slimy dish flavored with perilla leaves. It may seem a bit bold, but it was enough for me. I wondered why I could be so moved by just a seaweed bento. I want to go back again. It's just far. That's why I have such a special attachment to it. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

The Matsumae specialty hand-picked rock seaweed is delicious with plenty of seaweed flakes. The homemade Matsumae pickles were also incredibly tasty and went well with rice! I'm curious about other Western-style dishes like Matsumae pickle pasta and homemade hamburger on the menu as well! Check out more details here ☟ Ate Matsumae seaweed flakes at Restaurant Yano! Homemade Matsumae pickles were also delicious ♡ https://saron-sayuko.com/2021/07/26/matsumae-yano/

I visited Matsushima for sightseeing and stopped for lunch. I had the ginger pork set meal. It cost 850 yen and was great value for money. The meat was sliced thick and juicy. The salad was also generous. It was crowded but the food came out in about 10 minutes. It seemed to be one of the few dining options in the area and was quite popular with tourists, so it was bustling with customers.

Before visiting Matsumae Castle, we decided to have lunch at this restaurant. Although it is a tourist spot, there are not many dining options available. We chose to have lunch here where you can enjoy a set meal using Matsumae seaweed. We ordered the "Matsumae Nori Dan Dan (featuring hand-picked Matsumae rock seaweed)" and the "Tuna Set Meal (featuring tuna sashimi, seared tuna, tuna rice bowl, and Matsumae pickles)." The "Matsumae Nori Dan Dan" is like a seaweed bento box, with seaweed on top and sandwiched between the rice layers. It tastes like a rice ball. To avoid getting tired of the flavor, it is recommended to eat it together with the tuna from the tuna set meal. When visiting with friends, I think this combination of dishes is a good choice. Thank you for the delicious meal.