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Abashiri    Tofutsu Lake     Shari/Shiretoko

Places to Eat near Tofutsu Lake

• Teishaba (停車場), Kitahama.
  Mainly Western-style, in Kitahama train station, an old wooden building, with wooden observation platform on the left.
  Open: 11:00~18:00 (last order 17:30) except Tuesday.
  Address: JR Kitahama station
  Price: Drinks ¥400~¥500; Meals ¥800~¥1,200
  Web: In Japanese, has photos, etc.
  Other: Smoking permitted (never bothered me here, booth seats by the window probably best); cash only; kids okay.
  Access: On route 244 on left side just after the long, smooth stretch of road from Mokoto heading toward Tofutsu Lake. Map
  Comments: Beautiful view to the Sea of Okhotsk just meters away. Retro ambiance resembling wooden interior of a train of the old days. About 10 minutes walk to Swan Park, so you could take a train, get off here, have lunch/coffee, walk to the lake, and then even walk along the lake for 7 km to Koshimizu Wild Flower Park and Hama-koshimizu, and take the train again from Gensei-kaen (open May~October) or Hama-koshimizu station. Check train schedules!

• Mugiwara Boushi (麦わら帽子), Kitahama.
  Curries (Japanese-style), pastas, salads, set meals, etc.
  Open: 11:00~19:30 (last order) except Thursday
  Address: Kitahama 16-12, Abashiri
  Price: around ¥1,000
  Web: n/a
  Other: Smoking permitted; cash only; kids okay.
  Access: On route 244 past JR Kitahama station and the Seico-mart convenience store, on the left, as you head toward the lake. Map
  Comments: Popular among locals, pleasant retro atmosphere, good food, been in business a long time. Just a few minutes walk to/from Swan Park.

• Taroyama (太郎山), Hama-koshimizu.
  Chinese noodles (ramen), onigiri rice balls, soft ice cream, etc.
  Open: 11:00~19:00 (11:00-17:00 in winter) except Wednesday
  Address: Hama-koshimizu 474, Koshimizu
  Price: ¥900~¥1,100
  Website: English
  Other: Smoking permitted (booth seats by the window probably best); cash only; kids okay.
  Access: In the same area as Hama-koshimizu train station and the Michi-no-Eki next to the station, on route 244. Map
  Comments: A good place to come, especially on a cold day, after spending time exploring birds at Heiwa Bridge, about 1 km from here. On the way, you might be interested in dropping in at the pottery gallery of Hokujigama Kiln, a dark red building across the road from the lake, about 300 m from 244. Another spot to look for birds is that white pyramidical structure on the top of a nearby hill that overlooks the sea (you can't miss it). It's an easy walk from the parking lot, though you can park there too if you prefer.

• Ekibasha (ラーメンきっさ「えきばしゃ」), Yamubetsu.
  Chinese noodles (ramen), coffee, etc.
  Open: 11:00~18:30 (last order), open Sundays, other days irregular (info from Tabelog)
  Tel: 0152-67-2152
  Price: About ¥1,000
  Website: (In Japanese)
  Other: No info on smoking; cash only; kids okay.
  Access: About 5 km east of Hama-koshimizu, 9 km west of Shari. Inside JR Yamubetsu station, an old wooden building.
  Comments: Local reputation is good. "Tsuu (Two) Ramen" with two main ingredients, Welsh onions (negi) and pork, ¥900, is a popular choice. Ekibasha is along the back roads between Hama-koshimizu and Shari (see map). There are spots in the area such as Nikuru Lake where you might want to stop and look for birds, and if you happen to get hungry and Ekibasha is open then, you'll be in luck.