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The day we said goodbye to Otaru. After three nights and more seafood than I can reasonably account for, it was time to hit the road. But not before one final, non-negotiable stop.
One Last Otaru Meal: Seiichiya’s 5-Variety Uni-don
I’d had my eye on Seiichiya (世壱屋) ever since I saw it featured on Ega-channel on YouTube. The host had famously tried — and failed — to eat there on his birthday trip to Hakodate, ending up going home without his uni-don. I felt a quiet duty to eat on his behalf.
I ordered the 5-variety uni tasting bowl: five different types of sea urchin, from different regions and species, all served together in one extraordinary bowl. Each one had its own distinct character — different levels of sweetness, different textures, subtly different flavors from the sea. Eating them side by side was a revelation.
As a final meal in Otaru, it was absolutely perfect.
| Restaurant | Seiichiya (世壱屋) |
| Area | Central Otaru |
| Must-order | 5-variety uni-don (sea urchin tasting bowl) |
| Note | Expect queues. Arrive early. Check opening hours before visiting. |
Picking Up the Rental Car: Toyota Rent a Car, Otaru
With a stomach full of sea urchin and a heart full of Otaru memories, we picked up our rental car from Toyota Rent a Car near Otaru Station and set off into Hokkaido’s open roads.
Trains are wonderful, but Hokkaido was made to be driven. The scale of the landscape only makes sense from behind a windshield.
| Rental | Toyota Rent a Car, Otaru Station |
| Tip | Book well in advance — summer and holidays fill up fast |
Stop 1: Alice Farm — Blueberry Soft Serve & Legendary Jam
Our first stop along the way was Alice Farm (アリス牧場), a farm known throughout Hokkaido for its handmade blueberry jam — the kind that makes it onto the shelves of Tokyo department store food halls during regional produce fairs.
We had the soft serve with blueberry sauce drizzled over the top. The richness of the Hokkaido milk ice cream against the tart, fresh blueberry was exactly what a road trip break should taste like.
We also stocked up on jars of the blueberry jam to bring home. Highly recommended as a Hokkaido souvenir — it’s the real thing.
| Location | Alice Farm (between Otaru and Kutchan) |
| Must-try | Blueberry soft serve, handmade blueberry jam |
| Note | The jam is sold at Tokyo department stores too — a genuine local specialty |
Stop 2: Kyogoku — Cherry Blossoms & Mt. Yotei
Passing through the Niseko and Kutchan area, we stumbled upon something completely unplanned: a street lined with cherry trees in full bloom in the small town of Kyogoku.
We pulled over immediately. And there it was — Mt. Yotei, Hokkaido’s own answer to Mt. Fuji, rising majestically in the background behind a curtain of pale pink blossoms. It was one of those travel moments that no amount of planning could have produced.
We stayed longer than expected. It’s that kind of place.
| Location | Kyogoku Town (near Kutchan) |
| Highlight | Cherry blossoms framed by Mt. Yotei |
| Season | Cherry blossoms typically peak in early May (varies by year) |
Tonight’s Stay: Midori no Kaze Resort Kitayuzawa
From Kyogoku we drove toward the Lake Toya area and checked into Midori no Kaze Resort Kitayuzawa.
The outdoor baths here are something else entirely. The sheer number of different baths — each with its own character, temperature, and view — is hard to describe without sounding like you’re exaggerating. We soaked for two days straight and still hadn’t tried them all.
The dinner buffet was equally impressive. A wide, thoughtfully curated spread making full use of Hokkaido’s ingredients — the kind of hotel buffet that makes you go back for a third plate and feel no guilt about it whatsoever.
The next morning we took a quick look at Lake Toya before heading to Showa Shinzan. More on that in the next post.
| Hotel | Midori no Kaze Resort Kitayuzawa |
| Area | Kitayuzawa Onsen (near Lake Toya & Showa Shinzan) |
| Highlights | Extensive outdoor hot spring baths, lavish dinner buffet |
| Rates & Availability | Check on Expedia or the official website |
Day 6 Sample Itinerary
| Time | Activity |
| Morning | 5-variety uni-don at Seiichiya (Otaru) |
| Morning | Pick up rental car at Toyota Rent a Car |
| En route | Alice Farm — blueberry soft serve & jam |
| En route | Kyogoku — surprise cherry blossoms & Mt. Yotei views |
| Evening | Check in to Midori no Kaze Resort Kitayuzawa |
| Evening | Outdoor hot spring baths & dinner buffet |
Wrapping Up
An unplanned detour through cherry blossoms, a legendary sea urchin bowl, and a hot spring resort at the end of it all — Day 6 was the kind of day that makes you remember why you travel.
Next up: Lake Toya and the dramatic volcanic landscape of Showa Shinzan. Stay tuned.
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