Food Recommendations, Activities, Experiences
Food: Where to Eat in Tobetsu
Tobetsu is full of great food spots, whether you want to stay within the town centre, or go on a little drive to a neighbouring town in the Tobetsu area. Tobetsu shows off some of Hokkaido's best dishes; ranging from nationally acclaimed Ramen, to venison specialty shops, with everything in between.
Jigen
Chuuka Jigen Shuka (ちゅうか慈元) is nominally a specialist in Chinese food. However, both its Chinese and Japanese dishes are superb. From big bowls of ramen, to the summer classic Hiyashi Chuuka, the menu is packed full of tasty dishes that will satisfy any customer year round. Locals flock here for lunch in their breaks, so don't be surprised if you go there at around 12 and can't get a table!
Address: 6564-48 Yayoi, Tobetsu, Ishikari District, Hokkaido 061-0223
Cafe Junon
Cafe Junon is a charming local spot with walls covered in art and souvenirs. The staff are friendly and welcoming with years of experience. They do great tea, coffee, and drinks. But they also offer an amazing and cheap Curry Rice. Curry Rice is Japanese soul food, and eating this warming dish is a like having a hug after a long day at work. Highly recommend.
Address: 51 Yayoi, Tobetsu, Ishikari District, Hokkaido 061-0223
Tobetsu Yakitori
Tobetsu Yakitori (当別やきとり) is a small eatery with sizzling meats straight off the grill, alongside cold drinks and all the Yakitori staples. What is Yakitori? It is a nationally loved and inexpensive cuisine compromised of bite size pieces of chicken grilled on skewers over charcoal. Different skewers highlight different parts of the bird.
Address: 52 Yayoi, Tobetsu, Ishikari District, Hokkaido 061-0223
Gibier Deer Shop
The Gibier Deer Shop is a specialty venison store that opened to use the meat of deer that are exterminated in the area to control the population size. They do not use deer that have been shot for hobby hunting and instead only take in deer meat from authorised hunters. They sell cheap but delicious Bento lunchboxes and mostly focus on takeout.
If you've never tried venison before, this is a great place to try it; all the animals are killed humanely and the chefs are masters in preparing it in the most delicious way. In Hokkaido, deer meat is quite the rarity due to the strict controls, making this shop extremely unique.
Address: 〒061-0223 Hokkaido, Ishikari District, Tobetsu, Yayoi, 52−19 ジビエ工房
Honke Nakamura
Having been featured on Japanese national TV, this famous ramen shop in Futomi earns its reputation as having some of the tastiest ramen in Hokkaido. Futomi is a very short drive (10 minutes or less) from Tobetsu. Alternatively, it is 5 minutes on the train and a 1 minute walk from the station. All their ramen dishes are sensational: deep, hearty umami flavour, with perfect noodles and big portion sizes.
Like Jigen, this is a favourite spot for locals on lunch breaks, so you may have to queue briefly if you come during the lunchtime rush, but it is very worth it. Highly highly recommend.
Address: 1499-47 Futomimachi, Tobetsu, Ishikari District, Hokkaido 061-3776
Offshore Cafe
This Tobetsu cafe specialises in American cuisine. With a sleek interior and friendly staff, people of all ages come here to enjoy the delicious burgers, hang out with friends and even work. Given that it has Wi-fi and power outlets, this is a great place for remote work in Hokkaido.
There is an emphasis on local ingredients: the buns are from a local bakery, the bacon is from a local pig farmer and the vegetables are also sourced in Tobetsu-cho. It is a 5 minute walk from the station.
Kabato Seimen
Unless you want to queue, it is probably best not to come to this extremely popular eatery between 12 and 1. The delicious udon, soba, and tempura are perhaps the best in Tobetsu, and given the restaurant's roadside location people driving all around Hokkaido stop off here for some of the most delicious handmade noodles in Japan.
The noodle maker is a master at his craft, sculpting perfectly chewy noodles with locally grown wheat. The dashi they use for cold soba is refreshing and perfect for a summery lunch.
It is also important to note the traditional Japanese noodle shop hospitality on display here, with customers being welcomed with a loud "Irrashaimase!" and the till worker hitting a drum to his side every now and then, part of some code I didn't quite understand. This place has also appeared on national TV for its tasty dishes.
Address: 355 Kabatocho, Tobetsu, Ishikari District, Hokkaido 061-0218
Restaurant Ari
In the scenic Sweden Hills area, Restaurant Ari continues the European themes of the area in its dishes. The best Italian restaurant in Tobetsu, Restaurant Ari serves amazing pasta dishes, as well as focaccia. Th cuisine here is elevated and refined, and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly. That said, it may be best to reserve in advance.
The Sweden Hills is most easily accessed by car, but there is also a regularly running bus from outside Tobetsu Station to Sweden Hills that only take 10 minutes or so.
Address: 〒061-3777 Hokkaido, Ishikari District, Tobetsu, Sweden Hills, ２丁目３−2
Companio: A Small Local Bakery
This small artisanal bakery is located in the Suehiro area of Tobetsu. It is a fairly new opening not yet on google maps or tabelog. But it is absolutely amazing. There is no comparable bakery in Tobetsu. From miso baguettes, to buns filled with matcha cream, this place is superb. It is run by the baker and his wife.
Having studied in a Sapporo bakery for decades, he has now finally opened his own place. This is a Tobetsu must-go. Given that it doesn't really have an online presence, its customers are mostly locals and it is a Hokkaido hidden gem.
Address: 380-7 Suehiro, Tobetsu, Ishikari District, Hokkaido 061-0224 (Where Coffee Stand 4Fourest used to be)