One day camping in Atsuma-cho, at the Daonuma Campground. After drinking a lot and enjoying nature, the next morning we cooked rice in a mess tin (turned out perfectly), finished the sushi rice with vinegar in a sushi box, and made sushi using the nationally renowned Oji smoked salmon from Tomakomai. Wow...naturally, it was delicious!

When it comes to Tomakomai, it's synonymous with Oji Paper, and Oji Paper is synonymous with Oji Smoked Salmon (a bit forced?). This is a familiar specialty product. As a New Year's Eve snack, wrap vegetables, cream cheese, and Oji Smoked Salmon in rice paper to make a quick and easy dish. Rice paper has a long shelf life, and with vegetables and cream cheese always on hand, all you need is Smoked Salmon or shrimp to make it. Enjoy with sweet chili sauce! The crunchy vegetables, the flavor of the smoked salmon, onion slices, and shiso leaves all come together nicely. Perfect for a drink's companion, thank you for the meal!

This is a gently flavored salmon dish called Saikyo-yaki with a hint of miso. It says that it requires thawing in advance, but you can simply thaw it by microwaving it. It's okay to microwave it a little longer. It's not the typical strong and heavy taste of retort food. It has a gentle flavor.

As a popular specialty product in Tomakomai, the "Oji Salmon" is highly sought after. On the way back from Mitsuboshi, there happened to be a factory-direct store, so I decided to stop by. Recently, there was news that even conveyor belt sushi restaurants are having trouble serving salmon. Salmon has become a precious commodity, and prices may soar... It might even become difficult to eat. Alright, let's buy some smoked salmon! Inside the store, various types of smoked salmon were neatly displayed. Since it's a factory-direct store, they also have outlet items. There seems to be many gifts being given, as the gift section is well-stocked. It would certainly be nice to receive this as a gift. I chose a small frozen pack and had it sent via delivery service. - Hokkaido Salmon Smoke x2 1000 yen - Party Slice 1050 yen - Red Salmon Smoke x2 1000 yen - Tokishirazu (sliced) 1200 yen - Salmon Cream Croquette 640 yen I have only tried one item so far, but it has a good thickness and a smooth texture. The flavor from the long smoking process is truly delicious. I look forward to trying the rest. The origin of Oji Salmon dates back to 1961 when the then Vice President of Oji Paper tried smoked salmon in the UK and decided to start making smoked salmon in Tomakomai. Despite the struggles, they succeeded with the important element of using whiskey barrel chips for smoking, which were provided by the president of Yoichi Nikka Whisky at the time. It's like a story that could be a morning drama series. I was moved to learn about this on their website. In 2015, a store opened in Ginza, and they also have a location in Nihonbashi Takashimaya. It was nice to visit the place where it all started. Thank you for the meal.

I was on a business trip alone in Tomakomai for the first time. It was my first time going to a restaurant in Tomakomai. Tomakomai City was originally a company town for "Oji Paper." In 1961, a senior executive of Oji Paper was impressed by the "smoked salmon" he ate in London and decided to try making it with Hokkaido salmon. After experimenting with using barrels from Nikka Whisky for smoking, they successfully created Japan's first smoked salmon. In 2013, another company acquired the shares, but the name "Oji Salmon" remains. I had tried smoked salmon before, but this time I bought the "crude" or "collar" of wild Alaskan salmon produced during the smoking process. Since it is wild Alaskan salmon, I expect the broth to be delicious. With this collar, I think I'll try making a Hokkaido regional dish called "Ishikari Nabe." It will definitely turn into a delicious Ishikari Nabe.

After finishing a visit to a client, I passed by the store and decided to stop by as usual. There were no cars in the parking lot, so I parked and went inside. The smoked salmon here is great because it is produced fresh at a factory in Hokkaido and sold chilled without freezing. It's perfect as a side dish for alcohol, really helps the drinking go smoothly! Oh, but now it's not for alcohol, it's a snack for Koutarou and me (laughs). I bought the smoked salmon to take home, but it's a secret from my wife!

Tomakomai is located along Route 36 towards Shiraoi. They have not only gifts but also reasonably priced smoked products that are great for personal use. I used to buy from Hanazono Service Center in the past. It's a shame that they are no longer around. My parents used to send gifts to relatives outside the city or in Honshu, and they were always well received. They used to come with capers, but they have been sold separately for a few years now. It's a pity, but it's still okay without them. For the past few years, I have made it a tradition to only have my favorite foods for dinner on my birthday. Also, I prefer dishes that are easy to prepare. Although it may seem a bit pricey, the amount I purchase is enough for my family of four for two meals, so it's not really expensive. And the taste is so delicious, it's melt-in-your-mouth good. My family loves it, and it brings back memories of my hometown, so it's all good. This year, I was working on my birthday, so I had the staff meal at my part-time job, but it's okay because I have some frozen food (*^^)v Oh, it's already the next month, haha. Salad, marinated dishes, snacks for alcohol, etc. The remaining half, I might just eat it little by little by myself... It was delicious. It's always well received as a gift, and how about treating yourself as a reward? (*´ω`*) Thank you for the meal♪

There was an ice hockey game at Hakucho Arena, and there was a direct-operated salmon bowl from Prince Salmon at the event. The bowl is priced at 500 yen, making it affordable for beginners. The salmon is not fishy and is delicious even for someone like me who dislikes tuna. I ended up buying two more bowls! Prince also won against Sakhalin in the game!!!

This is a place in Tomakomai City, located in Ariake-cho 2-chome along the up lane of National Route 36. For the exact location, please check the map on Tabelog as usual. On the way back from Muroran, I leisurely drive along National Route 36 to return to Sapporo, where I noticed this building. I visited the shop for the first time this time. I parked my car in the front parking lot and entered the shop. I first looked around the shelves, refrigerators, and freezers where products were displayed. This time, I purchased "Smoked Salmon Chip Dry" and "Flavor Stick" as they seem to last long, and since I came to a smoked salmon shop, I also bought "Smoked Salmon Slices." I then left the shop. Later, at home, I tried the "Smoked Salmon Slices" and they were well-made, with a good balance of saltiness and smokiness, making it a great accompaniment for drinks. I still have the "Smoked Salmon Chip Dry" and "Flavor Stick" that I've kept, and I look forward to enjoying them as a snack with drinks in the future.

"When the former vice president of Oji Paper visited England, he encountered delicious smoked salmon at a restaurant in London. When he inquired about the ingredients of the smoked salmon, he found out that it was made from salmon caught off the coast of Hidaka, Hokkaido. This encounter with the 'impressive taste' became the roots of Oji Salmon. From there, they began experimenting with making smoked salmon in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. Despite trial and error, they successfully created Oji Salmon, a unique smoked salmon that has received high praise on various stages. Oji Salmon has been highly praised at events such as a banquet for the Imperial Family and a dinner party for Queen Elizabeth of the UK in 1975, as well as the G8 Summit dinner party in Lake Toya, Hokkaido in 2008. It has also been adopted by top hotels in Tokyo and Osaka, showcasing the company's dedication to quality ingredients and techniques. [excerpt from the company's website] As for souvenirs unique to Tomakomai, sweets are common and surf clams are not suitable as fresh products. In such cases, I always find the 'Oji Salmon' to be very useful. It has excellent quality, taste, luxury, brand recognition, regional characteristics, and leaves nothing to be desired. It can be a bit pricey, so for personal use, I take advantage of 'outlet products' that are irregularly available at the direct sales store. The moderate smokiness and firm taste of the salmon are still GOOD! This is a regional privilege (laughs). It is said that Mr. Taketsuru of Nikka (whiskey) also gives advice on smoking to Oji Salmon and that it is reflected in the product development. Oh, yes, it goes well with Nikka (whiskey), doesn't it."

This is a Prince Salmon direct store located along Route 36 in 2016. I have seen it in department stores before, but I didn't realize they had a factory in Tomakomai. Since it is a direct store, they have reasonably priced products. I purchased smoked salmon this time. I will enjoy it as a snack for my evening drink. I drizzled it with olive oil and sprinkled with black pepper. The smoked salmon has a strong fatty flavor. The smoking process is just right, making it taste like fresh sashimi salmon. It feels quite fatty to me, but it seems delicious when marinated or used in other dishes. I was happy to receive a 10% discount by presenting my DoShin BUNBUN card. Thank you for the meal. ✿ฺ(๑´ڡ`๑)✿ฺ.

I received this as a souvenir. The person who gave it to me was really enthusiastic about it being "Oji Salmon." Unfortunately, I didn't know what that meant at the time, so I just brushed it off. But when I tried it, I understood why they were so adamant. It was really delicious. It's from a famous shop, right? It's great as a snack or a treat. Just the right amount of salt. Perfect texture and flavor. I realized, this is what salmon is supposed to taste like. I couldn't stop eating - haha. Lately, there's been a lot of greasy imported salmon going around, so I was starting to dislike salmon. But after trying this, I must say it was really delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Prince Salmon Hokkaido Factory Direct Store found! I have to go see this! I'm curious about the soft smoked salmon from the sea-caught wild red salmon. I bought it. Behind the Prince Salmon Hokkaido Factory Direct Store, there is a coast where I played with the waves for a while. Back home, I immediately serve the soft smoked salmon as a snack with sake! This time it was sake, but it also seems to go well with wine♪ The soft smoked texture is soft and easy to eat, which is great! Unlike the salmon belly I usually eat, the saltiness feels softer and the smoking enhances the deliciousness of the salmon. The perfect amount of salt made the sake even more enjoyable. The customer service was friendly, with a kind of neighborly kindness in the explanation. ☆☆☆Coming Soon☆☆☆ Next time I come to this area, I will definitely stop by the Prince Salmon Hokkaido Factory Direct Store and purchase the soft smoked salmon from the sea-caught wild red salmon!

In 1961, before their debut, The Beatles were performing at a live house in London. Two prominent figures from Oji Paper, on a European inspection trip, encountered an incredibly delicious salmon dish called "smoked salmon" at the restaurant "Scotts" where they stopped during their trip. This rare delicacy sparked the beginning of the history of Oji Salmon. The smoked salmon, known for its soft texture, was not made from the typical Atlantic salmon, but rather from the Oosuke salmon caught off the coast of Tomakomai, Hokkaido. The factory manager at the time was tasked with recreating the taste of the smoked salmon they had in London using various salmon and wood chips from Hokkaido. After learning from Nikka's Masataka Taketsuru about the ideal wood chips for smoking, they used the leftover barrels from Nikka's whiskey production to successfully recreate the taste of the smoked salmon. This marked the birth of Japan's first soft smoked salmon.

【Revisited in February 2015】After eating soba in Shiraoi, we headed to Tomakomai AEON... "How about buying some smoked salmon on the way back?" We stopped by here with the intention of finding a good deal, even though they probably sell it at AEON as well. This time, there were no discounted items. I bought a 250 yen smoked salmon and an 800 yen smoked red salmon. Why? The Smiles brand has 12 pieces, but mine only had 5... Are they looking at my face when they pack it? (+_+) Oh well, I guess it's because of my bad deeds. (+_+) In recent years, they have been focusing on simple ingredients, but even the seasoning (amino acids) in the smoked salmon gets criticized by my taste buds. But well, it still tastes good here. As for the smoked red salmon, it's made with "wild-caught red salmon" and doesn't use amino acids, so I'm expecting it to be even more delicious. (It's still in the freezer) [Visited in August 2014, first posted in September] For year-end gifts, we send Prince Salmon sliced... but the senders have to make do with the trimmings (^_^;) We visited Shiraoi and Tomakomai. After lunch in Granada, we leisurely made our way to Tomakomai. We stopped by the Prince Salmon direct sales store on the way. When I saw the review from Smiles, I was looking forward to visiting because it seems like you can only buy the trimmings bag here, which is very cost-effective. Every year, we send the Prince Salmon smoked sliced for year-end gifts, and it's always well-received no matter who we send it to. At our relative's house, they use it for pressed sushi, salads, and various dishes. Even when we suggest trying something different, they always say, "We don't need anything else, we look forward to Prince Salmon every year." When they say that, it brings joy to the sender. The store interior is quite plain. The refrigerators lined up against the walls display various small packs. They also have dried products and gifts. From there, I bought 200g of Atlantic Salmon trimmings for 1000 yen and 150g of umami for 1000 yen with a 30% discount. (All prices excluding tax) Even though I send sliced pieces to others, what ends up in the sender's mouth is the trimmings. (bitter smile) I have bought "Smoked Salmon Cooking 80g for 500 yen (this one is Trout Salmon, not Atlantic Salmon)" a few times, which looks like trimmings but this is even more cost-effective than that. The regular Atlantic Smoked Salmon is 80g for 1300 yen, so it's quite a bargain. The taste should be just as good, but without actually trying them side by side, I can't say for sure. (laughs) Well, the sliced pieces are probably a bit tastier. (I hope so) But still, when I saw the actual product, I thought it was a lot less than I had imagined from Smiles' photos. I guess my eyes are greedy. (bitter smile) I forgot to take a picture of the umami that I gave to guests. They said it was delicious with a nice amount of fat.

I received a gift from a friend who loves me very much♪ It's a set of products from "Oji Salmon". You know, if you drive on the Subroku Line in Tomakomai City, you'll see a factory and their directly operated store next to it. Let's enjoy it together - "Smoked Salmon", "Ikura Soy-marinated", and "Nishikyo Miso". I'll have these as snacks while drinking alone during the New Year holidays! Thank you♪(〃´ε｀〃)♡

In Hokkaido, you can buy salmon at the supermarket! I worked in Tomakomai for 8 years during my active days, but I never had the chance to try it! I never associated salmon with the Oji Paper Tomakomai Factory. I used to live in an apartment near the station (deducted from my salary as company housing) and would see the smokestack with a red stripe every day (laughs). When I looked it up, it seems that in 1961, the executives of Oji Paper went on a business trip to the UK. They tried smoked salmon at a restaurant in London and loved it. When they inquired about the ingredients, they were told it was salmon from Tomakomai, Hokkaido! Surprised, they decided to make salmon, but it was a series of failures. They consulted with Nikka Whisky, and were told that the wood chips from Nikka's barrels would complement the salmon well. And thus, Oji Salmon was born! After eating it, the aftertaste is smoky but juicy. It goes well with onion slices and beer. It was delicious, but I won't buy it myself (laughs) because it's a bit pricey. I recommend it to everyone! By the way, the difference between salmon and trout is that salmon is farmed and safe to eat raw due to parasite concerns, while trout is a white fish.