Lake Utonai Roadside Station is conviniently located along Route 36. It's a perfect rest area for those driving to or from Tomakomai City. Aside from the clean toilets the roadside station also has a souvenir shop and restaurants. If you're collecting roadside station stamps, then you should come when the roadside station is open. You won't be able to stamp when it's closed as the stamp is located near the souvenir shop.

Great scenery and atmosphere. You can only go there by car. There are many car park for everyone. You can walk to the pond or go up to viewing tower to see all the pond view. You can walk to bird education center next to the pond and can walk in the walk way in forest too.

A place to stop by before the flight. Food and souvenirs are also available. Walking trail is also prepared. If fortunate, one can hear bird sounds and see water birds.

Great unobstructed view of Lake Utonai. There is a cafe for you to get your quick food fix and local specialties as well. A great pit stop as expected of Hokkaido.

Nice view of Lake Utonai and you can get some souvenirs in this road rest station! There's a cafe selling noodles and snacks. The toilets are well kept and clean.

So serene and pretty. You can enjoy your lunch/dinner while looking over such a beautiful view

Nice rest area for taking a break with very nice scene of lake.

Stopped at test stop area with access to lake. Nice place to sit, eat and rest.

Very nice michinoeki (rest stop)... a very friendly service and delicious food... And very beautiful scenery around it...

I had a beautiful experience entering the Mir Space station, and the down to earth personnel there guided me through everything and even clicked the shutter for me. There are many innovative scientific experiments and exchanging these ideas with other countries will improve the quality of education for the students. I was mesmerized to know that learning can be made this much fascinating, that me as tourist enjoyed taking time learning each of the experiments. Will definitely visit the next time I visit Japan from India

Good little science center. Not commercialised. Great place to bring kids that are interested in visual tricks, aircraft turbine, how wing generate lift force, pulley system, space station and history. Highlight of the center is the real space station.

Small museum in town, nice and quiet place to free roam especially if you have little ones. Free entry.

A great free museum to spend some time in if you are in the city, the person working in the Mir section was very friendly.

Must visit when you nearby

The real «Mir» space station here! It worth it all!

A replica of the MIR Space Station and other funky space related stuff. 15 minute walk from the station. No admission. Friendly and helpful staff. Pretty nice!

If you love nature, and bird watching or photography, this is a great place to go. I could have spent a week here. If you're coming from the west and are concerned about bathrooms / food, don't be. It has a beautiful main building and a a cafe/gift shop. It also has an observation tower. There are plenty of incredibly clean bathrooms. We couldnt go too far because of snow, but had no trouble spending and entire day.

(Translated by Google) Lake Utonai is a freshwater lake with a circumference of 9km, an area of ​​275ha, and an average depth of 0.6m. For this reason, Lake Utonai is said to be a treasure trove of flora and fauna and a paradise for wild birds. To date, more than 270 species of birds have been confirmed, and you can enjoy seasonal nature and wild birds, such as bird watching, nature walks, and nature observation. increase. It is an important relay point for migratory birds such as cancers, ducks and swans, and is internationally known as a mass migration point for white-fronted geese and swans. (Original) ウトナイ湖は、周囲9km、面積275ha、平均水深0.6mの淡水湖で、美々川をはじめトキサタマップなどの清流がそそぎ、湖の周辺には、原野、湿原などの豊かな自然が形成されています。 このことからウトナイ湖は、動植物の宝庫、野鳥の楽園ともいわれ、現在まで270種を超える鳥類が確認され、バードウオッチングや自然散策、自然観察など、四季折々の自然や野鳥とのふれあいが楽しめます。特にガン、カモ類やハクチョウなどの渡り鳥にとっては重要な中継地であり、マガンやハクチョウの集団渡来地として国際的に知られています。

good view

Nice scenery

(Translated by Google) I went in early December to see the sunrise ✨ If you want to see the sunrise, we recommend a roadside station! The reflection in the lake was so beautiful! At first, I mistakenly saw the sunrise from the nature center, but Still, it was really beautiful ✨ The photo is from the Nature Center. As I walked down the narrow road, I found a place that looked a little open, so I took a picture of the view from there! The video is a view of the roadside station. I think it would be a good idea to go to the roadside station because you can see the scenery without having to walk that far. As it is registered under the Ramsar Convention, there are many rare birds here. I don't know much about it, but it was wonderful to see so many swans 🦢 2023/12/10 (Original) 朝日を見に、12月頭に行きました✨ 朝日を見るなら道の駅がおすすめです！湖に反射してとても綺麗でした！ 最初、間違えてネイチャーセンターの方から朝日を見ましたが、 それでも本当に綺麗でした✨ 写真がネイチャーセンターのものです。細い道を歩いて行った先に少し開けて見える場所があったので、そこからの景色を撮りました！ 動画が、道の駅の景色です。道の駅ヘ行けばそこまで歩かず景色を見渡せるので良いかと思います。 ラムサール条約に登録されているだけあって、珍しい鳥がたくさんだと思います。 あんまり詳しくないですが、とにかく白鳥が沢山いて素敵でした🦢 2023/12/10

(Translated by Google) It's a very good place for bird watching. There will be a ranger, so you can check what kinds of birds are there before you go. I'm thankful that there aren't that many people! However, there are two toilet locations. There is only one place on weekdays, so you have to think about it in winter. The roadside station was beautiful and the food was delicious. (Original) 野鳥観察にとても良い所です。レンジャーさんがいるので、どんな種類の鳥がいるのかも行く前にチェック出来ます。人もそこまで多くないのでありがたい! ただ、トイレの場所が2箇所。平日は一箇所なので冬は考えて行動しないとです。道の駅も綺麗だし、ご飯も美味しかったです。

(Translated by Google) It's beautiful no matter when you come. Natural beauty is truly soothing. There is a roadside station attached, so you can buy small snacks and souvenirs. The view from the observation deck is also good. Should I use a disinfectant mat when going to the lake? Be sure to step on them and protect nature. (Original) いつ来ても美しい。本当に自然美って癒されます。道の駅が併設されているので、ちょっとした軽食やお土産も買えます。展望台からの眺めも良いです。 湖畔に行く際は除菌マット？を必ず踏んで自然を守りましょう。

(Translated by Google) Lake Utonai is a freshwater lake located in the eastern part of Tomakomai City, Hokkaido. A gathering place for white-fronted geese and swans. Tens of thousands of birds arrive during the migration season. Additionally, some individuals spend their time here without migrating, and can be observed throughout the year. Most of the area is frozen over in winter, but a certain number of them remain here, partly because they are feeding. In 2020, cranes were observed raising chicks for the first time in about 130 years. It is located in the middle reaches of the Yufutsu River, the Abira River system, which flows through the eastern part of Tomakomai City. The area is surrounded by low-lying wetlands and is dotted with marshes (such as Bentenuma), and Lake Utonai is the largest of these (approximately 275 hectares in area and approximately 9 kilometers of shore). (Original) ウトナイ湖は、北海道苫小牧市の東部にある淡水湖。 マガンやハクチョウの集団飛来地。渡りの季節には数万羽が飛来する。 また、個体のいくつかはこの地で渡らずに過ごしており、一年を通して観察できる。 冬季は大部分が結氷するが、給餌を行っていることもあり一定数がこの地で留鳥となっている。 2020年には約130年ぶりにタンチョウが雛を育てていることが観察された。 苫小牧市東部を流れる安平川水系勇払川の中流部に位置する。周囲は低湿地が広がり、沼が点在しており（弁天沼など）、ウトナイ湖はその中で最大（面積約275ヘクタール、湖岸約9キロメートル。

A tranquil walk through the mostly untouched forest rewards you with scenic views of the lake surrounded by tall grains. Did not manage to encounter any animals, but still an enjoyable unplug from Chitose city.

It's a really beautiful place for nature lovers..i did go in the winter and the lake was frozen is a different thing though 🤣

On the day we visited we could not observe any birds but it was still beautiful. This small lake and wetland area deserves a visit if you are in the chitose or Tomakomai area. The Sanctuary visitor center is only open on the weekends but that may be due to the pandemic.

The main wetland visitor park is a few hundred metres down the road and more family friendly. This place here is more for the informed birder that wants to be away from tourists.

Really good to see the lake and birds. However it is quite windy and chill outside. Better to prepare some jumper in these days.

Good place to take a walk

Good place for relaxing..

(Translated by Google) "Ikoro" means "treasure" in Ainu language. Protected by the forest, you can feel the breath of nature, and the flowers and trees are growing. Located in a corner of a golf course, there are two routes to enter: along the national highway and from within the golf course grounds. Events are held frequently and there are various stalls at those times, which is a lot of fun. Walking in the forest is also very pleasant. It feels more like a natural forest than a garden. I'm glad that the paths through the forest are paved with wood chips. There is an admission fee, but annual passes are also available, so if you go there often, I think it would be better to purchase an annual pass. (Original) 「イコロ」とはアイヌ語で「宝物」を意味します。森に守られながら自然の息づかいを感じ、花や木をそだてています。 ゴルフ場の一角にあり、国道沿いから入るルートとゴルフ場敷地内から入るルートがあります。 イベントが頻繁に開催されておりそのときには色々な出店があってとても楽しいです。 また森林の中の散歩もとても気持ちがいいです。 ガーデンというよりは自然の森といった感じです。 森林も歩く道はウッドチップが敷いてあるのがうれしいです。 入場料はかかりますが年パスなども発売されているので頻繁に行かれる方は年パスを購入された方がいいと思います。

(Translated by Google) The roses are in full bloom and very beautiful. There is no hustle and bustle of the city, it is very quiet and calm. (Original) 薔薇が見頃でとても綺麗です。 都会の喧騒が無く、とても静かで落ち着きます。

(Translated by Google) I was soothed by the forest bathing, which is very well maintained. The autumn leaves are expected to change in mid-October. (Original) とても良く手入れをされている森林浴で癒やされました。紅葉は10月中旬になりそうとのことでした。

(Translated by Google) It was a wonderful garden. The cafe has large windows overlooking the garden. It's a very relaxing place. Various flowers and plants bloom depending on the season. I think you can enjoy it any time of the year. There is also horse riding facilities on the same grounds. (Original) ステキなガーデンでした。 カフェは、大きな窓でお庭が眺められて、 とてもゆったりできる場所です。 季節によっていろんなお花や植物が咲くので 四季折々いついっても楽しめると思います。 同じ敷地内には乗馬施設もあります。

(Translated by Google) I always go for walks with my dog ​​♪ Every time I go, I enjoy various flowers and take pictures with my dog. I'm looking forward to the rose season. (Original) いつも愛犬とお散歩に行っています♪行くたびにいろんな花を楽しみながら愛犬との写メを撮っています。 薔薇の時期を楽しみにしています。

(Translated by Google) Naegi's shop was already closed, but the general store was open. I'm excited to see all the carefully selected kitchen goods and imported items with good taste. The horses and sheep at the entrance made me smile. It was so cute to see Kana Choro basking in the sun 😍 (Original) 苗木のショップはもうクローズでしたが雑貨屋さんはやってました。 厳選されたキッチングッズや輸入品などセンスが良い物ばかりでワクワクします。 入り口に居た馬と羊が微笑ましかったです。 かなチョロが日向ぼっこしてたのが可愛かった😍

(Translated by Google) It's a great place for a walk. I visited in mid-May, but I wish they would offer a slight discount during the period when not many flowers are in bloom. ^^ (Original) 散歩に最適な場所です。5月中旬訪問しましたが 花が多く咲かない時期は少し割引をしてほしいですね。^^

(Translated by Google) Garden admission 800 yen. Annual pass 1000 yen. Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash. The use of space is wonderful, and you can take a leisurely stroll around it for about 30 minutes. There weren't many flowers in bloom yet, but it was a pleasant walk. The cafe is Kotobuki Coffee in Sapporo☕️ It's easy to drink, and you can have a relaxing time while enjoying a coffee while looking out at the garden. There was a dog at the horse riding area, and it was so cute. I was also allowed to touch the horses. They were quiet and fun to touch. (Original) ガーデン入園800円。年間パス1000円。 リードつけたら犬もOK。 空間の使い方が素敵で、ゆっくり散策して、30分くらい。まだ花はそんなに咲いていなかったけど、気持ちよく歩けました。 カフェは、札幌の寿珈琲☕️ 飲みやすくて、庭見ながらカフェタイムできて、ゆったりした時間を過ごせます。 乗馬のところに、ワンコいて、かわいかった。 馬も触らせてもらえましたv大人しくて、触りごごちもよかったv

Surf clam curry was too sweet and overpowering so I couldn't taste the clam. The meat chunks are tiny and they don't give you much. Kaisen don was average at best. I think this restaurant is overrated

I’ve heard that the shop always has a waiting line. Fortunately, when we visited there, there were no waiting people so we could smoothly go into the shop. The inside of the shop was almost full. We had to wait to order for around 15 minutes and wait again for serving but you can enjoy seeing what others ordered or side dishes arranged on the counter. Seafood rice bowl was covered with lots of shrimps, sea urchins, surf clams, salmon, salmon eggs, abalone, and two white fishes. Miso soup with great dashi soup was also nice! I will try rice curry with surf clam what were ordered by many customers.

A hidden gem but judging by the reviews on TripAdvisor and the long queue of locals that greeted me, I'm in for something exciting. And their signature dish ホッキカレー didn't disappoint. I was just a tad annoyed that I tried to order 2 things on the menu but the lady said the don't have it anymore... Hmmm then why display them on the menu? Come early or expect long queues. They don't take reservations.

Hokki curry and hokki sashimi are must-try items. I like the hokki soup noodles too. But there is a long queue outside that I have to wait for almost 2 hours to be seated😭

I was told to go here on the recommendation of the guest house owner I stayed at last night. The hours were 5am-2pm, so I thought I would go there for lunch and just hang out and munch for bit while waiting for my ferry. The hanging out part was correct: when I got there, the line was out the door. I was waiting in line for almost 2 hours. Was the wait worth it? I don't know, I didn't try any of the other restaurants in the area. However, the dishes I had were some of the best I've ever tasted of their variety. When I finally got in, I realized why it was so crowded. This is a small place for locals, not designed to take the brunt of every tourist passing through tomakomai. I came to realize that this place has not yet completely sold out to the tourists: its definitely a still a place for the locals. Some of the dishes are dirt cheap (little fried fish for 50 yen apiece, meat shumai for 20 yen apiece, and that amazing red fish fillet for 200yen). Of course, the famous dishes are jacked up to the usual 1000-1300yen for the tourists. The host (who is also one of the chefs, everyone who works here also works the kitchen) sat me at a table, with space for 2. I saw 2 other customers waiting, so I insisted to move to the bar and sat down next to a very talkative grandma who would drunkenly shout her opinions about foreigners coming to Japan to me over the meal. It was very amusing. I ordered for about 3 people, and the lady took my order without flinching. Sakhalin surf clams, seafood donburi, and seafood yakisoba. I also got to see the stuff sitting in the glass case at the counter, and ordered that red fish that you see with fried eggplant on the side. To this day I have no idea what that fish is called, but it was the best damn saltwater fish I've had in years. The tiny bit of eggplant they cooked was also perfect: a little bit of batter, a little bit of sauce, and a lot of flavor. The first dish to come out were the clams, and they were amazing. They surprised me - they're sweeter than any seafood I've ever tasted, and I think the sweet taste comes naturally. It's no wonder those are a local specialty, and they use them in every seafood dish. The seafood don was pretty typical with the addition of some blue roe I've never seen before, really good raw shrimp, the Sakhalin surf clams, and a freshness I've only ever tasted at the hakodate seafood market and tsukiji fish market. It came with chopped... Pickles I think? The taste was a bit different than pickles so I'm not sure. A bit like sauerkraut. And miso soup. That miso soup was great, had some seaweed (the small fingery kind) and lots of savory ocean flavors. The seafood yakisoba was the best seafood yakisoba I've had, but also the first seafood yakisoba I've had. It definitely rivals the viet seafood fried noodles you can get for dirt cheap at viet stores in Milpitas, which is (and still is) hands down the best seafood fried noodle dish I've ever had. This one used a bit more onion, obviously used yakisoba noodles instead of the thinner Chinese style egg noodles, and many many clams. My god those clams are good. Did I mention the portions are huge compared to most places? Sorry for writing an epic: tldr sat next to a drunk grandma, had good seafood at a tiny restaurant. Would recommend.

Marutomadon taste was great, but Hoki curry taste was kinda typical curry rice. If someone ask me the reason to choose hoki curry rice, i'd say Hoki's texture. (As far as i know hoki is a sort of clam.

Very tasty and reasonable price. It would be much better to see more pictures of meals than only reading Japanese for foreigners

Must try - a no frills small restaurant Please prepare to wait at least one hour, but worth it. Seafood is fresh and prices are very reasonable No English menu, however all meal with pictures Free parking nearby Highly recommend

Arrived just after 6am. It was half full. Cafe was full by 7am and people started to queue outside. We had Marutoma don and curry ramen. Both were lovely! The sashimi don was very cheap.

Soup Curry is a food famous in Hokkaido, but Aji no Daio also offers one of the most famous Curry Ramen versions. And I just happened to be driving by the honten main store in Tomakomai, Hokkaido! I ordered one of their popular options, a Cheese Curry Ramen for 950¥. The smell of the curry was quite evident and the cheese looked absolutely mouth-watering.The noodles were soft and the portion very reasonable, every ramen bite carrying the curry flavor. The curry broth itself was not simply just “watered down” curry, as it had plenty of meaty, rich taste. Since the soup was so strong, the cheese was simply not necessary and couldn’t really be distinguished. Unless you’re a huge curry lover, though, I found myself halfway through the ramen wanting to cut the taste with some rice or some veggies to lighten it up. Still, it was worth having if you’re in town.

Tried their gyoza for a quick break before heading to our hotel 1.5h away. Not too bad. Alot of ppl eating their ramen.

Curry spicy ramen with paper cover to prevent spill over. First buy meal ticket and present it to the staff. Staff will provide small device with half ticket. After ready the device will buzz and self service.

Aji-no-daio is a fun place for a bowl. It’s well-known as “the birthplace of curry ramen.” It’s worth visiting if you like those two things. The curry is quite a standard Japanese curry flavor profile, I recommend a spicy version if you want a bit more punch. It’s located between Chitose and Tomakomai and easily accessible from the airport by car. It can get busy over meal times, but it’s a large establishment and tables turn over quickly, so you won’t have to wait long. Side menu items are worth exploring also. There is the ubiquitous chashu-don, but for my money and if you want something a little different try out their gyoza dumplings. There are several varieties of gyoza, all explained in Japanese and English on the menu. I had Hokkaidō venison (deer). The wrappers of the dumpling are as made in-house as well, giving them a pleasing chewy texture not often not found in commercial varieties. This is not refined gourmand style ramen, but you will leave satisfied with honest home cooked feel.

Amazing Wagyu steak house. We arrived late at night 7.30pm but the manager still allowed us in to make the last order. Ambience is superb and staff were helpful even though they didn’t speak any English. Very Good value for money considering what they served.

Our favourite place in the whole of Hokkaido. This is my 3rd visit. Look at the marbling on the meat… you can imagine how good it tastes!!!

Everything is just perfect!! The location is close to Chitose airport if you have time before flight or after landing I highly recommend this one .

We detoured an additional 35 km to get here. We were not disappointed. The restaurant is big and comfortable. The wait staff were helpful even though they cannot speak English well. The beef are of high quality! I will certainly make another detour to come back again

Dec 2022 visit, brought here by Hokkaido travel agent. Delicious and value for money. Premium platter (180g) costs 2850 JPY. The corn or pumpkin soup was also good! English menu is available.

The best wagyu I have ever tasted in my entire life. Food was phenomenal, but the service and ambience were what made the entire experience. Cuts of meat were marbled perfection. The restaurant’s a little out of way though, but that’s also a good point because the quiet atmosphere allowed us to enjoy our meal in peace. This was my best meal in Hokkaido and it was worth every cent we spent on it. I will definitely go out of the way to visit again if I were to return to Hokkaido.

What a lovely place to stop by for lunch Serves really nice wagyu steaks Self cook Price wise is reasonable for the quality The prime steak was really good

Great restaurant & atmosphere. Staff were very accommodating and helpful. Highly recommend and want to go back already.

The restaurant is around 10 mins drive from New Chitose airport (CTS). It's not in a busy commercial area so I guess that's why there's no queue in the early evening. Prime sirloin steak is a must-try.

THIS IS THE WAGYU PLACE!!!! If wagyu is what you are craving, look no further. Near the airport, this restaurant serves only wagyu beef among other such as chicken and pork. However, all the meats here are premium cuts, so prices are more steep or at least according to its quality. All meats are unseasoned, so if you are not into cooking premium cuts, it might go wasted. You need to have some basics in meat grilling the science of seasoning just before grilling so as not to "dehydrate" the meat. Everyhtong is so good. A special mention to the bone in sausage, funny and interesting as I have never seen this before ...so something to baost about!!

If you come to Hokkaido, must try I came here a few days ago. Today , I wanted to eat again but they have an event so I have to give it a miss as I have a flight to catch Will definitely come back here and eat thsi if I come back to Hokkaido.

wow so fresh clams!

(Translated by Google) Even though it is this time of the year, it is extremely crowded. Because it's delicious. Hidaka's grain stabs are sweet and crunchy. The star anise sashimi is hot and hot. The sashimi of surf clams is a source of stones. Salmon salmon roe bowl is the strongest cospa. The clerk's otoboke is also canceled. If you stay at a hotel for 6200 yen, 3000 yen discount for the residents' discount ... more! With a coupon of 2000 yen! It was luxurious! (Original) このご時世なのに激混み。 何故なら、美味いから。 日高産の粒刺しはコリコリあまい。 八角の刺し身は熱燗にサイコー。 ホッキ貝の刺し身は流石産地。 鮭イクラ丼はコスパ最強。 店員さんのオトボケも帳消し。 6200円のホテルに泊まったら、 道民割で3000円引き…更に！ クーポン2000円分付き！ 贅沢しましたぁ～!

(Translated by Google) I went to lunch time Daily limited 500 lunch I am grateful that there are few restaurants where you can eat with one coin these days. You can get change for 1000 yen for a seafood bowl! I'm really happy even though it's more than the price ♡ (Original) ランチタイムに行ってきました 日替わり限定500のランチ 今ではワンコインで食べられるお店が少ない中有難いです 海鮮丼なんかも1000円でお釣りが来ます！ほんとお値段以上なのに嬉しい♡

Good soba store! The recommended on is so great! The texture of noodles and teste of soup is well matched together. Thay have dorayaki which made from soba flour too. Car park is near the store but quite hard too see and don't have much.

Good soba! Wanna go back again! It’s quite busy during lunch on weekdays!