During the summer vacation, the drinker visited Shiretoko. Today is the second day of a 2-night, 3-day trip to Eastern Hokkaido! The accommodation for the second day is the Katsuta National Inn in Utoro, Shiretoko, which was also featured in the Michelin Guide for its 100% natural hot spring baths. For dinner, they dined at the Shiretoko Coast Restaurant located in front of the inn. The menu for the day was the "Ezo Deer Steak Course" which included seasonal vegetable flan, a sashimi platter with tuna, flounder, and whelk, chilled pork shabu-shabu, salmon mikiuy, grilled Ezo deer meat, and today's dessert. They started dining at 5:30 PM on the terrace, enjoying the beautiful sunset even though clouds obstructed the view. After dinner, they relaxed in the outdoor hot spring bath recommended by Michelin. As the sun set, the temperature dropped rapidly, so they moved to a table inside the restaurant to warm up.

Accommodation: Aoi Sora Inn with dedicated motorcycle parking space (unpaved). It's an old facility but with confirmed good reviews, so it's okay. Let's enjoy a solo toast! Now, for the much-anticipated dinner. The accommodation is separate from the brand new restaurant, with a view of the Sea of Okhotsk. We enjoyed a sashimi platter, seasonal vegetable Francoise, chilled pork shabu-shabu, salmon miki, roast of local Shiretoko venison, and a bowl of Ikura rice from Utoro in Shiretoko. Despite the disappointing sunset due to bad weather, we were very satisfied and went to bed. - Today's distance traveled: 569km The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast at the same facility as dinner. We had the option to sit indoors or on the terrace, and despite the slight chill, we chose the terrace without hesitation. With a shorter distance to cover today, we plan to relax and enjoy the day. A satisfying stay with a focus on food. Check out the detailed report with photos at http://ohima.jp/06report/2019/190824/19.08.24_report.html

I was drawn to the idea of enjoying a teppanyaki meal while watching the sunset over the sea from the dining deck, so I stayed at the Kokumin Shukusha Katsurada. It seems that now you can only use the Shiretoko Dining if you stay here. Unfortunately, the weather didn't allow us to dine on the deck, but the meal with a view of the sea inside the new restaurant was satisfying. They grill scallops, crab legs, squid, Ezo deer, lamb, and more for you. Overall, the ingredients were just okay. The next morning, I finally got to enjoy a post-meal coffee on the deck as I had hoped. As it is a national lodging facility, the accommodation facilities are... (⌒-⌒; ) I hope they allow non-staying guests to visit in the future.

This hotel is located in Shiretoko and serves as a base for sightseeing. It is the closest hotel in Utoro to the World Natural Heritage Area, with signs warning about bear sightings at the entrance (lol). Dinner was set for 7:00 PM, just as the sun was setting, making for a memorable experience of charcoal grilling amidst a stunning view. There were three dishes: seafood, meat, and vegetables, which you could grill to your liking. Since seafood dishes like crab and shrimp have shells, it's better to save them for last to keep the table clean. Breakfast was also healthy, providing enough energy for a full day of walking around.

I stayed at this accommodation during a 1100-kilometer tour around Hokkaido. The accommodation is an old inn that has been renovated. Meals are served at a restaurant about 20 meters away. The restaurant is modern and newly built. Since it was a sunny day, we had a seafood BBQ on the terrace. The BBQ course was pre-booked by the tour guide and included large scallops, hokke fish, crab, and other Hokkaido specialties. It was all delicious, including the thick steak that was served. The drink selection was also great. We tried a local wine from Ikeda-cho, which was reasonably priced and tasty. Breakfast was a buffet with grilled fish and miso soup, making it a luxurious and delicious meal. Despite the old building, the accommodation fee seemed high at first, but considering the quality of the experience, it was worth it.

I was drawn in by the price of around 7,000 yen for one night with two meals included, featuring a whole hair crab for dinner. As a crab lover, I couldn't resist the sight of the crab in the center of the meal. I indulged in the perfectly boiled crab, cutting into the legs and savoring the meat and miso. It was an experience of pure bliss. The other dishes were also delicious, showcasing local ingredients. I had the chance to interact with other guests, including a couple from Osaka. The breakfast featured my favorite salted salmon and squid, along with steamed local vegetables. The quality of the food was outstanding, and the friendly service from the staff at the front desk was top-notch. Overall, it was a wonderful experience enjoying gourmet meals and hot springs without the need to stay at a luxury hotel.

This is a hot spring inn located in Utoro, Eastern Hokkaido. It seems to be closed during the winter season. The inn is reasonably priced and quite popular. In front of the inn is the Okhotsk Sea, across the road, and behind is a forest that is a World Heritage site. Sometimes you can see deer and other animals walking in the backyard. The meals are served in a dining area next to the entrance on the first floor. The snow crab served was small but had a good amount of meat and miso. It was a proper crab that had just molted. The hot pot dish was made with skate (ray fin), with a light seasoning. The chewy cartilage was enjoyable, and it had a tender texture like engawa. The sashimi included live shrimp, octopus legs, Hokke fish, and salmon roe. Rice, tea, and water are self-service. Later, they served broiled black hamo (deep-sea fish related to conger eel) from Rausu, which was crispy and fatty. The sesame sauce for the Shiretoko chicken was ordinary. For dessert, they served two slices of orange, which felt like a typical public accommodation touch. Overall, the quality and quantity matched the price. Breakfast included grilled fish, hot tofu with ponzu sauce, rice, seaweed miso soup, natto, raw egg, nori, and drinks. The futon is laid out during meal times. The building has a slightly retro feel but is comfortable. The baths are separate for men and women, with indoor and outdoor baths. The view is moderate due to the roadside location, but you can enjoy the sunset over the sea. The hot spring water is a sodium-chloride bicarbonate spring, with a temperature of 55.3°C and pH of 6.8. The water is pumped up naturally with no added water, heating, circulation, or chlorine. The spring water is well-known among locals for its moderate warmth. Bathing is allowed until around 9:30 in the morning, but the inn closes at 10 pm. There is also Wi-Fi and a coin laundry available. The service is adequate, and for the price range, it's a nice place to stay occasionally. The price for one night with two meals (at the time) was 9400 yen. If you don't need a large bath or buffet, and prefer a more laid-back experience, this inn is worth a visit. They seem to be doing well in this price range and location.

Shiretoko is a place where you can stay at a reasonable price, and I found a national lodging facility. The only inconvenience is that the toilets are shared, but otherwise it is a convenient lodging facility. This time, I also requested breakfast along with my stay, so this review is only for breakfast. Taste: For breakfast, they serve rice (all-you-can-eat), miso soup (all-you-can-eat), raw egg (all-you-can-eat), tofu hot pot, salted fish roe, spicy cod roe, steamed vegetables, and grilled salmon. They also offer coffee after the meal. The overall taste is simple and easy to eat, with delicious flavors. The salted fish roe, spicy cod roe, and salmon are tasty, and the steamed vegetables can be enjoyed without any sauce. It's a comforting taste. Atmosphere: Eating on tatami mats is not bad for a meal. Since the lodging facility itself is affordable, there are no major complaints. Service: It is mostly self-service. Cost-performance: I got the impression that it was affordable, including breakfast. Seeing quite a few solo diners, it seems like the facility is used not only for tourism but also for other purposes.