I came to Kushiro because I wanted to eat "iwashi" (sardines). In the past, I used to come here for big and fresh Pacific saury, but now it seems that they are not being caught as much, or at least the big ones are not being caught. So now, the new specialty in Kushiro is "iwashi." I rediscovered the deliciousness of fresh, fatty iwashi. They have a course menu for iwashi, but I opted for the a la carte options like kabayaki (grilled with soy sauce), oba-age (deep-fried with shiso leaf), and namero (minced iwashi with miso). It was a delight for iwashi lovers. Today's recommendation was natural sea bream, so I added that to the sashimi platter. The sea bream was surprisingly sweet and delicious. As for drinks, I went for local brands like "Fukushi" and "Kitanokatsu." The selection was great and satisfying. I also got two tekka maki rolls as souvenirs, and when I opened them at the hotel, I found a complimentary squid sushi. This kind gesture made me happy.

Located in a bustling alleyway, this place is a must-visit. They offer a variety of sashimi, sea grapes, oysters, and grilled soy-marinated fish. They also have a wide selection of beers and various types of sake. The fish here is incredibly delicious, and the presentation is beautiful. The daikon radish served in a wasabi dish is very stylish. The grilled fish is also very tasty. With over 10 types of sake available, you can order by the glass instead of a full bottle, allowing you to try a variety. Finish off with some sushi, which is also beautifully presented and delicious. If this place were nearby, I would definitely visit frequently. A must-visit restaurant.

When you hear about Kushiro, you might think of "robata-yaki" (grilled food), but my companion said they wanted to avoid the smokiness, so we chose this place instead. It was only a 2-minute walk from our hotel, so it was very convenient. We had a sashimi platter, grilled oysters, hokke (Okhotsk atka mackerel), and uni (sea urchin) chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), all of which were fresh and delicious. The hokke, in particular, was large, fatty, and very tasty! The rolls we had for dessert were also great. From a tourist's perspective, it may not be the most typical Kushiro experience, but if you want to relax and enjoy the seafood by the sea, I highly recommend it.

I utilized JR's senior citizen (?) ticket and went on a trip to Hokkaido. On the last night at a hotel in Kushiro, I decided to explore the local izakayas for dinner using a coupon I received. The first place was full, but I quickly found a second option nearby. Kushiro, being a northern town, had many robatayaki and izakayas, which was convenient. The restaurant I found had a few customers already around 6 pm, indicating its popularity. I ordered edamame as a starter, a sashimi platter (5 pieces), oysters, a white fish sashimi (I forgot the name), and after about an hour, I ordered a sushi set (5 pieces) as the finale. The sushi took about 40 minutes to arrive due to the high demand, but it was worth the wait. Although I don't plan to visit Kushiro again, I will remember the name of this restaurant in case of a future visit.

- The alcohol, beer was delicious! And there were various types of sake which were also delicious! - The food was overwhelmingly cost-effective, the abalone, Matsukawa beef, soy sauce, and sashimi were all incredibly delicious!!! The fried fish also tasted like the fish itself, it was amazing. - The atmosphere of the restaurant was great. I was guided to a private room on the second floor and was able to relax on a sofa seat for one person. Both the head chef and the young staff were very kind and provided excellent service! I will definitely come back when I visit Kushiro again! It was delicious!!

I ordered the chef's choice of 3 dishes, and the spear squid was amazing, with a rich and delicious taste. The rice wine was also satisfying. I may not know the taste of ultra high-end restaurants in Tokyo, but as someone who has traveled all over Japan and tried various flavors, I can say that the quality of the fish and the skill of the chef's knife work are at a very high level. It was delicious.

On the third day of my trip to Hokkaido, I started craving some fresh seafood. I returned to Kushiro from Nemuro and found a sushi restaurant that serves seafood bowls. I decided to try it out and ordered a seafood bowl. It was a bit pricey, but it was filled with fresh ingredients like sea urchin and salmon roe, and it was delicious. I also had a dish of raw oysters and grilled sablefish in a Japanese butter sauce. The oysters were fresh and delicious. Even though it was June, I was able to enjoy fresh oysters in Hokkaido. I also tried to order raw sardines, but unfortunately, they were only available starting in July. I'll have to come back in the summer to try them.

I walked around looking for a shop in Kushiro and ended up at Kushiro Maru. It looked easy to enter alone. The sashimi was recommended as fresh and delicious, especially the octopus sashimi. I also had my favorite dashimaki tamago. After drinking two beers, I had a dry ponzu sake called Kariboshi. It was great that they poured generously and it was really refreshing. I will definitely come back!

On June 29, 2021 (Tuesday), for the second drink of the evening, I visited a place that I had been following on Instagram and always wanted to visit. You can make reservations through Tabelog, which is convenient. Today's recommendations included sashimi of natural red snapper, flounder, and amberjack from Aomori Prefecture. I decided to focus on seafood and ordered the following: - Draft beer (Sapporo Classic) (550 yen) - Appetizer (440 yen) - Natural flounder sashimi from Aomori (710 yen) - Natural red snapper sashimi from Aomori (550 yen) - Live oysters (2 pieces) (858 yen) - Sake, Tsubasa "Senju Hachisaku" (990 yen) - Nigiri sushi: Bluefin tuna (275 yen), Live octopus (275 yen), Chum salmon (220 yen), Sea urchin (660 yen) - Grilled squid (715 yen) The restaurant mainly focuses on live fish dishes, so I had high expectations, but unfortunately, I couldn't find that one dish that really stood out. Among them, the flounder sashimi and the Tsubasa "Senju Hachisaku" sake were the most delicious. The flounder had a refreshing and firm texture with a hint of sweetness, making it delicious. The Tsubasa "Senju Hachisaku" sake had a light and refreshing taste with a unique aroma, making it easy to drink. I really like this sake! In autumn, they serve fatty Kutchan sardines in their course menu, so I would like to visit again during that season.

Located about a 15-minute walk from Kushiro Station and just a 3-minute walk from Kushiro's symbol, the Hekkai Bridge, this restaurant specializes in fresh seafood dishes. Among their offerings, the freshly caught morning-drawn Pacific saury from Eastern Hokkaido is a must-try! You can watch the chefs prepare the fish right in front of you at the counter, and the fatty sashimi and marinated fish are incredibly tender and melt in your mouth. This is definitely a restaurant I would love to visit when traveling.

The careful preparation of the fish was very noticeable. The confidence and dedication to each dish were clearly conveyed, making the meal in Kushiro well worth it. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was calm, and the service was very polite. I would definitely want to visit again when I come to Kushiro Airport.