Around 11:45, I arrived in Otaru and parked my car in front of the takoyaki shop "Miyabi" that I had been eyeing for a while. The owner seemed a bit flustered and said, "The takoyaki is not ready yet..." I was surprised and asked, "What do you mean?" The shop was set to open at 12 o'clock. The owner suggested some hot snacks instead, so I looked at the case and decided to buy "fried sweet potatoes for 100 yen and two kinds of fried chicken for 100 yen each, totaling 300 yen." I paid and received my items, then enjoyed them in my car. The fried sweet potatoes were slightly moist on the outside and had a nice sweetness, although they lacked a bit of a fluffy texture. The fried chicken, whose official name I forgot to check, came in two flavors: soy sauce and sweet and spicy sauce with sesame seeds. They were boneless and juicy, making them a good snack for students looking to satisfy a small hunger. Since the reviews praise the takoyaki, I plan to come back after 12 o'clock next time. The shop has a festival-like atmosphere and seems like a good place for students to enjoy a snack. It's not a place for drinking, as they don't seem to have alcohol. Thank you for the meal.

There aren't many takoyaki shops in Otaru. The ones I know of are Kamakura, a food truck, and this restaurant called Gasho that opened in Teppu last year. I finally visited Gasho, a shop that I had been curious about for a while. It's like a food stall at a festival. In addition to takoyaki, they also had potatoes, and I wonder if the "last potato" is the same as "don don potato"? I'll have to try it next time. But back to the takoyaki. I asked for takoyaki, and they took one out of the warming case for me. They also had mentaiko mayo, but I chose regular mayonnaise. It was 400 yen for 6 pieces. I took it home and ate it. It was a type of takoyaki with a soft and creamy texture. When I picked it up with a toothpick, it almost fell apart from gravity. The filling was creamy and soft. It's a delicious takoyaki! I love it! I have to go buy it again! Thank you for the meal.

In July 2021, Otaru experienced a heatwave with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius for 9 days, and even reaching a record high of 36.2 degrees on the 28th. Despite the usual "Tide Festival" happening around this time, local festivals were canceled for the second year in a row due to the extreme heat. In this situation, a shop called "Miyabi" that used to sell takoyaki at festivals opened a store in Toyokawa-cho, so I decided to visit. The shop is run by a husband and wife, with the wife in charge of making takoyaki. In addition to takoyaki, they also offer shaved strawberries, shaved ice, long potatoes, tropical drinks, and other festival favorites. Although there is some seating inside the shop, it is not fully set up yet, so I opted for takeout. The takoyaki comes in regular and mentaiko mayo flavors, with 6 pieces in each pack for 400 yen. The takoyaki balls are large and have a chewy texture, with a warning to be careful as they are very hot. The octopus pieces are also sizable, but the overall taste is slightly lacking in presence. Overall, it is a satisfying option for those craving festival-style takoyaki. The area where the shop is located used to be lively with markets and shops, but now it feels a bit deserted. I hope that the opening of this new shop will help bring back some vitality to the area. I look forward to trying their shaved ice or shaved strawberries next time!