Suttsu: Fishing History, Coastal Views, and Regional Cuisine

Suttsu brings together fishing history, a connection to the coast, and regional food culture. In the town of Suttsu-chō, the former fishing site of the Sato family is located in Utasutsu, on Suttsu Bay. There is also a Fūta course with rest stops, a viewpoint deliberately oriented toward the fishing harbor, and seasonal oyster cuisine. You can shape your trip around different interests: cultural history, time around the course, or regional specialties each offer a distinct focus.

Insights into Fishing History

The former fishing site of the Sato family in Utasutsu was the center of the family’s fishing business during the Meiji period. The site is permanently designated as a cultural heritage property. Its surviving features include a Fukuroma harbor built on the foreshore, a residence, and a family shrine. Drying grounds lie behind them. Together, these elements show the different parts of the historic property, with the harbor and drying grounds alongside the residence and shrine. This means the site is not just about a single building, but about a former fishing site with several preserved features.

The wider region also has a historical connection to the coast: the Oiwake-Sōran Line on National Route 229 is a coastal route between Cape Benkei and Isoya. Historic buildings stand along the route. It offers a distinct regional perspective, while the Sato family’s fishing site is specifically located in Utasutsu, Suttsu-chō.

Rest Stops on the Fūta Course and Views of the Harbor

At the start of the Fūta course is the public bath Yubetsu-no-Yu, which serves as a rest stop. There are also pavilions for resting in Fūta Park and at the park golf course. There are toilets at four locations around the course: Yubetsu-no-Yu, Fūta Park, the park golf course, and the campground on the coast at Hamanaka. Check the current operating conditions of the facilities before your outing.

Mina-to-mare Suttsu offers a different view of Suttsu. The facility is right by Suttsu’s fishing harbor and is designed to provide a view over the harbor. While the former fishing site focuses on the history of the fishing business, Mina-to-mare Suttsu draws attention to the harbor. These two themes offer different starting points for planning your trip.

Oysters and Regional Specialties

From January to June, the Suttsu Bay Oyster House offers an all-you-can-eat option featuring large, freshly steamed oysters. As this is a seasonal offering, confirm that it is available if you are planning a trip for specific dates. The menu also includes rice with oysters, carrots, and bamboo shoots, as well as oyster soup. Menus may change, so ask about the current menu before your visit.

Another specialty pairs rock seaweed harvested from Suttsu’s foreshore with Namadaki-Shirasu-Tsukudani. This is a different culinary combination from the oyster offerings at the Suttsu Bay Oyster House: here, a product from the foreshore is paired with a tsukudani preparation. When planning your meals, you can distinguish between a seasonal oyster meal and a specialty featuring rock seaweed.

Festivities and Accommodation Search

At the two-day Suttsu Shrine festival, a mikoshi, Matsumae Kagura performers, child performers, and floats from the town’s neighborhoods parade through town. If you would like to include the festival in your trip, check the specific dates. The festivities add a community tradition to the historical and culinary themes, without requiring you to follow a particular itinerary.

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Suttsu, it may help to first decide what you want to focus on: would you most like to explore the fishing history, take in views of the harbor, spend time on the Fūta course, or experience seasonal cuisine? These interests can help guide your search. Once you have a specific accommodation in mind, you can then check whether its location suits your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Menashi District, Sorachi District, Niikappu, Wakkanai, Toyotomi, Kawakami District, Iwamizawa, Samani.

For the main travel overview: Hokkaido.