On my second visit, I once again experienced the wonderful dishes I felt during my first visit. From the Tamamon onion in Kitami (served as a mousse), to the corn soup in Biei, the seafood including saltwater sea urchin, a large flounder in ankake sauce, Shimamiso shrimp from Akkeshi, rich-tasting cherry salmon, braised meat, soba noodles, we enjoyed amazing dishes. It's a local favorite restaurant filled with love for the region.

JR Kitami Station is a 9-minute walk away. The restaurant is located at a corner of the bustling street, right at the intersection. Despite being a traditional Japanese restaurant, the atmosphere is welcoming and not intimidating. You can feel the passage of time in the décor, but the place is well-maintained and clean. I visited on a Saturday just after they opened at 5 pm, which was convenient. I ordered the affordable course menu for 2,200 yen, and of course, started with a beer. The menu was described as "affordable," and indeed, it was easy to order without hesitation. The variety and quality of dishes in the course were impressive for the price. Starting with an appetizer, sashimi, soup, simmered dish, soba noodles, and dessert, it was a complete meal. Each dish had a gentle flavor that was enjoyable. This is a restaurant I would love to visit again!

A Japanese restaurant located in the center of Kitami city. I made a reservation thinking that this was not the kind of place you could just walk into casually. However, the owner was very friendly and welcoming. I had reserved a course for 5,500 yen. I started with a draft beer for 620 yen. The course began with "Creamed Bamboo Shoots and Komatsuna" – boiled bamboo shoots and komatsuna with a sesame-flavored cream. It was smooth and had a nice sesame flavor, quite unusual in Japanese cuisine. Next was the sashimi platter featuring fresh flounder, Minke whale from Abashiri, octopus from Tokoro, salmon from Mutsu Bay, and sashimi of bamboo shoots from Shizuoka. The salmon and Minke whale were particularly delicious. I then moved on to sake, having "Kokuryu (small)" for 880 yen and "Okunomatsu (small)" for 660 yen. The "Yuzu Miso Grilled Cherry Trout" from Shakotan Peninsula was tender and had a nice yuzu miso flavor. The "Scallop Juvenile and Harusame" from Lake Saroma was flavorful and delicious. The "Grilled Kyoto Bamboo Shoots" were marinated in bonito and kombu, and seasoned with soy sauce, mirin, and sansho pepper. The "Thick Asparagus Tempura" from Memanbetsu was juicy and sweet, served with tempura sauce and salt. The "Miso-marinated Pork from Shiretoko" was tender and had a nice miso flavor, served with mountain wasabi and Ainu green onions. Finally, the meal ended with hand-cut soba noodles, which had a great texture and were served with a flavorful broth. Overall, the seasonal dishes prepared by the owner were all satisfying and delicious. The menu also had a variety of tempting à la carte options. It's a great place to enjoy seasonal flavors!

Visit date 2020.1.25 Today, I came to Eastern Hokkaido for work and had a meal with clients at Yamabuki. I was excited to hear that they have a full course of blowfish, including shirako. However, I arrived at 7 pm, missing the 6 pm reservation for 8 people. But they kindly served me some grilled dishes to start, so I could still enjoy tessa and tecchiri. I am grateful for the consideration from the staff and clients. Yamabuki is a well-known Japanese restaurant in Kitami, catering to adults with its taste, atmosphere, and prices. This time, I organized a blowfish gathering in advance and requested it at Yamabuki. I arrived late, so I quickly caught up with everyone by devouring the grilled and fried dishes. The alcohol didn't go down easily, but the chawanmushi was delicious. The tessa that followed was stunning, with a powerful presentation of a 4-person portion. The hot pot had a delicious and gentle broth, and the zosui was exquisite. It was delicious - thank you for the meal!

A Japanese restaurant on Yamashita Street that I've been wanting to go to for 10 years. When it comes to Japanese cuisine, it might seem intimidating, but this place is very cozy and welcoming. I decided to try the affordable 2000 yen course to see how it was. It included 6 dishes: - Mozuku seaweed appetizer - Sashimi platter (whale, scallop, salmon, octopus, bamboo shoot, herring roe) - Braised pork belly (so sweet and delicious!) - Asparagus tempura (very thick) - Soba noodles for the finish (so refreshing, maybe the water is special?) - Dessert All of this for 2000 yen? Such a great deal. Even after having 2 beers, I was still very satisfied for around 3000 yen. I also ordered garlic soy sauce marinated monkfish liver, fried blowfish, and a bowl of steamed egg custard with Black Dragon sake. The steamed egg custard was incredibly delicious! I had heard good things, but it was truly amazing. The blowfish and sake were also top-notch. The quality is excellent, but the atmosphere is welcoming and not intimidating at all. I think it's a really great restaurant. I'd love to come back and try more dishes next time.

Visited on July 24, 2017. This restaurant serves sophisticated Japanese cuisine with a personal touch. The clientele consists of well-dressed individuals enjoying delicious food and drinks at a leisurely pace. The simmered abalone was surprisingly good, with a black appearance and a texture beyond softness. The salt-grilled chicken had crispy skin with a strong black pepper flavor, very tasty. The grilled eel was plump and delicious. The chawanmushi had a gentle taste with an elegant broth. I was intrigued by the menu item "buckwheat sashimi" and enjoyed it with wasabi soy sauce, appreciating the interesting texture. There are other menu items I am curious about and look forward to trying next time. Thank you for the meal.

◆June 1, 2012◆ It was a hot day and I worked up a sweat, so I thought a beer would taste amazing. I headed to "Yamabuki" and even the taxi driver said, "You must be looking forward to a good beer tonight." I quickly downed three beers at the restaurant. The dishes I had this time included: jun-sai appetizer, Matsukawa, Masunotsuke, grilled saury (which was deliciously fatty), beef tendon stew, Akita natural rock oysters, grilled bamboo shoots, gratin tofu rolls, and I went home completely satisfied. ◆May 24, 2012◆ The dishes I had this time included: flounder, Masunotsuke, saury, sawara, extra thick asparagus from Nemuro, trefoil tempura, fried Kamo eggplant, Akita natural rock oysters, gratin tofu rolls, Kyoto-style simmered butterbur and small taro, broad beans, chawanmushi. Once again, I enjoyed the incredibly delicious food. ◆April 21, 2012◆ The 2012 Michelin Guide for Hokkaido was released and although my favorite restaurant "Yamabuki" didn't receive a star, it was recommended by the inspector and awarded the Bib Gourmand. I visited the restaurant with a bouquet in hand to celebrate. I had: 2 beers, 4 glasses of sake, 1 glass of sake from Fukushima (to support the disaster-stricken region), 2 glasses of sake with the president and his wife, boiled trefoil appetizer, bamboo shoot sashimi, minke whale sashimi, firefly squid in soy sauce, grilled bamboo shoot, bamboo shoot and small taro simmered dish, chawanmushi, sakura manju, white shrimp tempura, hand-cut soba noodles as the final dish, and matcha ice cream for dessert. I even treated the president and his wife to abalone (laughs). All of this came to just under 8000 yen. I will continue to support "Yamabuki." I have become a regular at "Yamabuki" and have been completely drawn in by its charm. At first, I was nervous, but thanks to the friendly head chef and the lovely landlady, I always feel relaxed. The excellent food and delicious sake always leave me satisfied. Every dish is perfect, truly embodying "Japanese cuisine." They source their ingredients daily from Tsukiji Market, so the menu changes daily. The single dishes range from 500 yen, making it seem like a high-end restaurant, but it is surprisingly affordable to enjoy Japanese cuisine. The banquet courses start from 3000 yen for 6 dishes, making it very reasonable. The only downside for a sake lover like me is that they only have two types of sake available, but lately, I've been bringing my own sake to enjoy.

I went to the restaurant with my colleagues. It was a place recommended by a coworker. We had a course meal with all-you-can-drink, and I arrived a little late, so I focused on eating and ended up with only this picture. The dishes were elegant and had a strong dashi flavor. Among them was the chawanmushi. It was visually appealing and cute in size. When I opened the lid, I enjoyed the aroma, then savored the smooth texture. I poured the rich broth and savored the concentrated umami flavor. It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I truly enjoyed the dish with my senses of sight, smell, and taste.

Hokkaido is in Kitami. It's a cold place. The city has become lonely with even the major department stores closing down. You can enjoy the simple and warm flavors of the north at this restaurant located a little off the main street. The thinly sliced herring marinated in vinegar goes perfectly with sake. As I eat my katsudon, I can't help but feel warm inside. Now, let's head back to the inn.

I was surprised by the accounting. I was charged 4000 yen for just one beer. The only other things I ordered were Ainu leeks and three types of sashimi. The Ainu leeks were too strong in flavor and not tasty. The sashimi was whale, gizzard shad, and milt. The whale had no fishy taste, but was not particularly delicious. The gizzard shad was not tasty, and the milt was served frozen. At first, it was crunchy to eat. The taste was subtle with a strong aftertaste. All this for such a high price. I never expected such prices at a bar in Kitami. I will not go back again.

I found a restaurant in Kitami that serves delicious Japanese cuisine. It seems to be featured in the Michelin Guide. Although there are only 3 reviews, one of them provided detailed information, making me trust that the food will be delicious. The owner was helpful when I called to make a reservation. The entrance doesn't look fancy, more like a casual izakaya. The interior is not very spacious, with a counter and a small raised tatami room. The room has sliding doors but the sound carries, so conversations can be heard. I dined with colleagues and we had a 5,000 yen course with about 8 dishes, including a variety of sashimi. The dishes were all delicious with great seasoning. The presentation was elegant, using seafood and ingredients from outside Hokkaido. We also had oysters from Iwate and a delicious hot pot with seasonal mushrooms. The dishes were so tasty and well-prepared. The meal ended with the owner's hand-made soba noodles, a nice touch. The broth was flavorful and satisfying. Despite feeling full, we enjoyed every bite. The quality of the food was high and the 5,000 yen course offered good value. The only downside was that the dishes were all very soft in texture, almost too soft like food for elderly people. However, this may have been just a coincidence. They also have a counter where you can casually drop by without a reservation, offering courses starting from 3,000 yen, making it affordable for the quality of food. I really liked this place.

*Michelin recommended*