You can enjoy Ainu traditional cuisine that can only be eaten here. Deer meat, wild garlic, potato mochi, and more. They are all quite delicious. Since Ainu cuisine has a small number of menu items, after trying everything, we ordered some grilled dishes. Among them, the real shishamo was delicious. It's completely different from the so-called shishamo eaten on the mainland. It has a gentle flavor, but it's packed with umami, and even though the size is small, the flesh is plump and delicious. There was a note in the restaurant saying sorry for not being very friendly as they are focused on cooking, but when I talked to the owner, he was very friendly and talked to me. It has become a restaurant I want to visit again. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Kushiro Gourmet Part 5: Northern Flavors Located near Lake Akan, a tourist spot called "Ainu Kotan" offers the chance to enjoy Ainu traditional dances and wood carvings. In one corner of this area is "Northern Flavors Ban'ya." For dinner, it's a must to try Ainu cuisine here. The interior is decorated with wood carvings, creating a local atmosphere. Here are the reviews of the 5 items we ordered: - Ainu Negi Mix: A set of Hokkaido's famous "monk garlic" pickled in soy sauce and kimchi. Monk garlic is known for its high nutritional value, including benefits like improving blood circulation, fatigue recovery, and even anti-cancer effects. I didn't have high expectations, but it was surprisingly delicious! The unique aroma and texture made it perfect with a drink. - Monk Garlic Egg Topped Dish: Simple yet delicious. The strong salty flavor makes it perfect with beer. Another round, please! - Monk Garlic Dumplings: Surprisingly, the monk garlic flavor is subtle here. The crispy dumplings are delicious. - Venison Steak: Trying venison for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised. It's like lean beef without the fat. Healthy and rich in protein, it's of high quality. The proud owner mentioned they source delicious venison, making it different from others. I'm grateful for their dedication to providing such quality food. - Ban'ya Ramen: A luxurious ramen with plenty of mountain vegetables and seafood. The salt-based soup with a rich broth was delicious. The noodles may not be as good as a ramen shop, but it was enjoyable until the last bite. The restaurant is run by a husband and wife, so as it gets busy, the service may take some time. Arriving early allows for a leisurely dining experience. There are signs outside saying "Stubborn old man open for business" and inside saying "Unfriendly but please understand." The owner may seem reserved, but he takes pride in his offerings and even thanks guests on their way out. Ultimately, as long as the food is delicious, everything is okay! On the way back, a deer crossing the road gave us a little scare, perhaps a small payback from the deer... Life is precious, thank you for the feast!!!

The atmosphere inside the shop was surrounded by a slightly old-fashioned items and posters, and I was able to enjoy the time until the ordered items arrived at the table. The shop manager was also friendly and I had a pleasant conversation, so I could relax even after soaking in the Akan Lake hot spring. If I have the opportunity to go again, I would definitely want to go!

I didn't have high expectations as there were few open restaurants in the heavy rain, but I decided to try Ban'ya-san. Even though I wasn't very hungry, I ordered a classic draft beer and Ezo deer skewers. They were delicious. The meat was tender, not gamey, and well-seasoned. It went perfectly with the beer. The prices were a bit high, but I also wanted to try the steak and liver.

Ainu cuisine, zero calories? Had lunch at an Ainu village by Lake Akan. I was wondering if they serve Ainu cuisine here, but I ended up ordering miso vegetable ramen and pork bowl. However, the vegetables had Ainu leeks in them! So maybe it's considered Ainu cuisine after all! But what exactly is Ainu cuisine? As a tourist dining spot, I guess this is good enough. By the way, the pork bowl was just average. Thank you for the meal!

I visited Bangya-san, a restaurant in the northern country! This was my first visit. It's located inside Ainu Kotan. I decided to try their lunch menu. The prices seemed a bit high. I chose the soy sauce ramen for 800 yen. It seems like a family-run place, with a daughter and mother working there. The atmosphere was not very impressive. It took about 7 minutes for the ramen to be ready. When it arrived, I was surprised by the large portion. It was quite a generous serving. I started eating and noticed a sour taste in the soup, which I had never experienced before. The ramen had various toppings like bean sprouts, seaweed, fish cake, bamboo shoots, and green onions. The noodles were curly and had a high water content. Overall, it was delicious, but the sourness in the soup was a bit off-putting. It was an interesting ramen experience.

At the entrance of Ainu Kotan, on the right side, there are table seats. I visited around 1:00 pm on a holiday. There were 2 groups of customers already there. I had the Jizou Garlic Ramen, which cost around 800 yen. The restaurant is run by Ainu people, and there are various Ainu decorations and the staff also shared some information about the Ainu culture. The ramen had curly noodles like Sapporo ramen and was quite flavorful with the garlic. It may be a bit pricey for some items, but it's understandable to maintain the unique atmosphere of the place. Overall, it was a great experience!

This is a shop in Lake Akan Ainu Kotan. I had miso ramen made with Ainu vegetables. The vegetables were wild garlic. The miso soup was a bit light, but when mixed with the spicy miso coated with wild garlic, it became quite a good taste. I felt like it needed a bit more richness, but it was a nice and easy-to-eat flavor. Thank you for the meal.

I ordered a unique menu at Ainu Kotan, and the Ezo deer yakiniku set. The lean and refreshing meat had no gamey taste at all. I really liked it.

It's work in Akanko... Had lunch and came to see the Ainu Kotan village, saw a sign for ramen at the entrance, a taste of the north... even in Akanko, well, okay. But, there's no "Banya" in Akanko, right??? Even though I know it's not good? But I'm feeling like going in... When I entered the restaurant, it was 12:20 PM and I was the only customer, with 3 staff members... I'm definitely going to be taken advantage of... What? I ordered the salt ramen, which cost 750 yen, too expensive for lunch, should be 100 yen cheaper for lunch! He said "Anywhere is fine," so I sat at a table near the entrance for 4 people. There's also a raised seating area and a counter, seems like they're open at night too, so there are some side dishes available. The TV was showing Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, but then changed to NHK halfway through. Did you change it from afar??? I don't need to watch TV, just make the food quickly! The menu also has "O-toshi," wonder what kind of beef that is. Are you from Hidaka after all??? The ramen came in 12 minutes, not Kushiro noodles, it's yellow and straight noodles... delicious. Bamboo shoots, fish cake, and seaweed without salt are unnecessary. Oh, the owner started smoking at the counter, well, nothing I can do about it, I don't need you anymore, go smoke outside! The seaweed, green onions, and soup are not just pure salt, they also use soy sauce, right? It's light, and the lard in the chashu is also used in the broth. A bit lacking, but this chashu is... the fat is removed and it's delicious. I wonder what kind of broth they use... I think it's pork, but it's good. If the old man didn't smoke... it was 3.2, but 3.0 is enough.

During the Showa era, this restaurant has a very ordinary appearance and may not seem inviting for tourists, but if you have some extra money, I recommend giving it a try. They offer dishes like Ezo deer meat set meal and Priest Garlic set meal. The menu also includes ramen, but I have not tried it as I visited for sightseeing. My recommendation is the slightly pricey but delicious Deer Meat Loupe, which is semi-thawed deer meat. Despite some initial concerns about eating raw meat, I found it to be delicious! It really captures the taste of deer meat. It may not be everyone's cup of tea judging from my companions' reactions, but it's worth a try at least once in a lifetime, right? The deer meat set meal is also good. Grilling it gives a slightly different taste compared to Loupe, so trying both is recommended, even though it may leave you feeling quite full. As for the Priest Garlic set meal, the seasoning is a bit too strong for my liking. There aren't many options for tourists on the menu, so I ended up ordering it twice, but found it too spicy both times. In small amounts, it tastes like pickles and is enjoyable, though.

When I visited Lake Akan near my in-laws' house on August 15, 2014, I heard from a friend that this restaurant was good and decided to visit. The restaurant is located at a corner of an area where Ainu ethnic folk art shops line up, and the interior is not particularly spacious. It has the look of an old ramen shop. They also offered local dishes like Ezo deer set meal, but since I'm not a fan of Genghis Khan either, I didn't want to take any risks. I usually only eat soy sauce ramen, but I decided to try miso butter ramen because it's Hokkaido. The ramen itself was so-so, but to be honest, it would have been better without the butter. As a person from Kanto, asking if I would visit again is a silly question, but I probably won't go back there again.

In Hokkaido, there is a place called "banya," which is a small hut where fishermen stay during their fishing trips. This restaurant perfectly captures the banya atmosphere with its cluttered interior filled with various wooden carvings, fishing tools, umbrellas, Ainu artifacts, and ukiyo-e prints. I personally enjoy spending time in such places, drinking sake and relaxing. When I visited Lake Akan ten years ago, I was hesitant to enter a banya-like establishment, but this time I finally fulfilled that wish. I ordered the garlic dish, a common Ainu cuisine, cooked with butter. It was not as pungent as I expected and quite easy to eat. The Ezo deer frankfurter had a rough texture typical of lean meat, with a good flavor even without additional seasoning. Lastly, I tried the salt ramen, which had a strong salty taste characteristic of northern cuisine.

Ban'ya, a local cuisine restaurant located by Lake Akan in Hokkaido, is open from 11:30 to 15:30 and 18:00 to 24:30, year-round. Situated in the Akan Lake Onsen town, the restaurant offers Ainu cuisine, Ezo deer dishes, grilled fish, yakitori, set meals, ramen, and rice bowls. The atmosphere inside is reminiscent of a crowded cafeteria, with various Ainu-themed decorations scattered around. The menu includes dishes such as Ezo deer set meal, pork bowl, and various types of ramen. The Ezo deer dish I ordered was decent, although the meat had a slightly strong odor and was tough. Despite the taste, the convenience of the restaurant being open at night makes it a great choice. I would definitely consider coming back if given the chance.

During a company trip, we stayed at Hotel Emerald, had a meal, soaked in the hot spring, and then walked about 10 minutes to a place called Ainu Kotan. There was a shop selling Ainu traditional crafts, and we decided to try the deer meat and wild garlic they offered. We ordered a oolong highball, deer sashimi, and stir-fried wild garlic. The deer meat was delicious without any gamey taste, and the wild garlic was crispy and not too pungent. Both were unusual ingredients for me but very tasty. If you visit Lake Akan, I recommend stopping by this place. By the way, there was a school trip group at the hotel at the same time, and the inn upgraded our rooms for free, which was great.