Setting off from Otaru! We’ll make our way at a leisurely pace, taking in views of Mount Yotei and stopping at roadside stations along the way
Good morning.
The final destination city of my road trip across Hokkaido is finally coming into view.
So far, I’ve made a somewhat compact, counter-clockwise loop around Hokkaido, starting from Tomakomai.
Today, I’m heading to Hakodate—the last city on my itinerary.
From Google MapHere is the plan for today’s journey.
We’ll head for Hakodate, taking local roads the whole way while catching a view of Mount Yotei and stopping at roadside stations along the route.
It’s a trip of approximately 270 kilometers.
Google Mapより
We set off right away and bid farewell to the sea at Otaru.
I stopped at a convenience store along the way and came across a liquor store with a lovely exterior.
It’s a bit cloudy and chilly.
The drive from Otaru to Hakodate offers a leisurely view from the car window.
I am worried about the clouds getting thicker and thicker.
After driving for about an hour and a half, I arrived at a spot where you’re supposed to be able to see Mount Yotei.
Here it is.
Apparently, the magnificent Mount Yotei is supposed to be towering right behind these trees.
However, the shape of the mountain is completely invisible today.
It’s a case of “Mount Yotei? Where is it?”
I tried moving to a few different spots, but I couldn’t see it at all.
Since we are dealing with nature, there is simply nothing to be done about it.
We still have a long way to go, so we’ll keep moving forward.
There are truly no buildings in this area, so whenever you spot something that looks like a restroom, be sure to stop there—you never know when you might come across another one.
After driving for about an hour from Mount Yotei, we stopped at 「道の駅 くろまつない toit vert ll」 “Roadside Station Kuromatsunai Toit Vert II.”
We took a break and used the restroom.
When you reach this area, everyone tends to stop at the same places.
I later learned from a YouTuber traveling in a Nissan Z that this roadside station is famous for its bakery and delicious pizza.
We stopped by around 10:30 AM—a bit too early for lunch—so we didn’t eat anything. However, it turns out their signature dish is a pizza made with fresh mozzarella from Kuromatsunai; knowing that now, I’m kicking myself for not buying even a single pizza, especially since they had already opened at 10:00 AM.
The station also sold other items like cheese, ham, sausage, and rice.
It was a shame I couldn’t buy any of those things, as they all looked delicious.
The only thing I did buy was some *kumazasa* (Sasa veitchii bamboo leaf) tea.
Unlike regular green tea, it had a slightly wild, distinctive flavor that was quite addictive.
It seemed there was a golf course adjacent to the facility as well.
It looks like there is plenty to enjoy there.
I set off again, driving along local roads toward Hakodate.
The sea came into view.
I wonder if that is Uchiura Bay.
As I was stretching a bit while taking a break, a locomotive with a red body sped past.
It appeared to be a JR Freight diesel locomotive; apparently, it goes by the nickname “RED BEAR.”
It might have been on its way to pick up a freight load.
After driving for about an hour from the previously mentioned Roadside Station Kuromatsunai, you arrive at 「道の駅 YOU·遊·もり」 “Roadside Station YOU-Yu-Mori” in Mori Town.
Mori Town is famous for seafood such as salmon roe and scallops.
After taking a break and using the restroom, I browse the goods for sale at the roadside station.
A beautifully maintained park spreads out behind the building; I felt like the place looked familiar, and realized it was a roadside station I had stopped at before.
It was already past 12:30 by this point.
I was starving, but since Hakodate was just a little further on, I decided to keep moving.
Lunch, lunch, lunch at the Lucky Pierrot Tōgeshita Main Store!
When you think of Hakodate, you think of Lucky Pierrot.
Since I arrived in Hakodate absolutely famished, I decided to go to Lucky Pierrot for lunch.
I checked out a couple of locations, but they were all packed!
I finally managed to park at the Lucky Pierrot Toge-shita Main Store.
Even though the lunch rush was long over, there was a line out front.
So, we joined the queue.
The interior is spacious and has a very lively atmosphere.
There is even a “Wealth-Bringing Chair,” so naturally, I made sure to sit in it.
I wonder if this store’s theme is an amusement park.
The decorations are fun—kids would probably love it.
We ordered the hamburger steak and the omurice.
The portions were huge, and the omurice was incredibly delicious.
It was crowded the whole time, but it seemed to quiet down a bit after 2:00 PM.
The time between lunch and dinner is the best time to go.
We are staying at Hotel Resol Hakodate tonight.
Since we took our time having lunch, we ended up checking in at 3:00 PM.
道の駅 くろまつない toit vert ll ”Roadside Station Kuromatsunai Toit Vert II”
Address: 8-10 Shiraigawa, Kuromatsunai-cho, Suttsu-gun, Hokkaido
Tel：0136-71-2222
Business Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Operating hours for the restaurant and other facilities may vary)
Roadside Station Kuromatsunai Website: Home | bunanosato (jimdosite.com)
道の駅 YOU·遊·もり “Roadside Station YOU-YU-Mori”
Address: 326-18 Kamidai-cho, Mori-machi, Kayabe-gun, Hokkaido
Tel: 0137-42-4886
Business Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Roadside Station “YOU-Yu-Mori” Website：http://www.hokkaido-michinoeki.jp/michinoeki/641/
ラッキーピエロ 峠下総本店 ”Lucky Pierrot Toge-shita Main Store”
Address: 337-11 Tōgeshita, Nanae-cho, Kameda-gun, Hokkaido
Tel：0138-66-6566
Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Lucky Pierrot Website: http://luckypierrot.jp/shop/togeshita
Comment: Lucky Pierrot is a chain with locations exclusively in Hokkaido; it is so popular there that practically everyone knows it. All the branches tend to be crowded, so you should either try to visit at off-peak times or be prepared to wait. I recommend the omurice (omelet rice).
