In April 2023, my family visited the newly opened Yuu Village (Masaru Village) in Asari, Otaru City, along the road near the ski resort. This place used to be "Asari Village" in a different location, but it seems they have rebranded and started afresh here. It is primarily an izakaya that also serves yakiniku, but during lunchtime, they offer lunch menus only. Orders are placed through a QR code. I tried the following dishes: - Old-fashioned light salt ramen (800 yen) - Rich soy sauce ramen (800 yen) - Barrel rice bowl (1,000 yen) - Mini seafood pickled rice bowl (350 yen) I had previously tried the new miso ramen at "Asari Village," so this time I opted for the old-fashioned light salt ramen. The soup had a thick oil layer like the "Jun Sumi style" and was piping hot! The saltiness was quite mild, so I ended up adding some extra salt from the table. The noodles were medium-thick and curly, and the toppings included bean sprouts, seaweed, menma, green onions, naruto, and two thin slices of chashu and one thick slice (1cm) for a satisfying meal. For 800 yen, you can also get a free extra serving of noodles (up to 2 servings), and it's nice that rice is complimentary for a regular size. The rich soy sauce ramen was easier to eat than the light salt ramen, but the soup lacked the richness you'd expect, living up to its "rich" name. Both ramen dishes came with ginger on top. My wife's Barrel rice bowl, limited to 8 servings per day, was overflowing with toppings, but the portion was suitable for women. It came with a chawanmushi that was quite sweet, likely tailored to the taste of locals, and had chestnuts inside. The mini seafood pickled rice bowl had tobiko, diced tuna, and salmon with a strong vinegar rice flavor. The restaurant has a view of the river and cherry blossom trees from the window, making it a nice spot for enjoying yakiniku and cherry blossom viewing. As we were leaving, we passed by a family from Southeast Asia, indicating that this place attracts tourists as well.

On the way back from the frozen bread shop in the morning, I saw flags for ramen, yakiniku, and Genghis Khan on the main street. I was curious if a new restaurant had opened, so I decided to check it out. The entrance was located between the first and second floors, and after taking off my shoes, I was seated on the first floor. The view from the large window of the flowing Asari River and the big tree outside created a great atmosphere. Looking at the menu, they offered lunch options like ramen and seafood bowl, with the ramen even coming in a large serving for free. I noticed that this place used to be a ramen shop run by the owner of Gomenn Yasu, which closed down and was replaced by a Japanese restaurant for inbound tourists. I ordered the new miso ramen (800 yen) and a mini curry (250 yen) from the topping menu. The miso ramen was a bit light and lacked richness, which was different from my preference for richer miso flavors. I wonder if the richer miso ramen would be better or maybe the shoyu ramen is the way to go here. On the other hand, the mini curry had a nice depth of flavor and I really enjoyed it. I didn't check the evening menu, but I'm curious to come back and try it next time. Thanks for the meal!