Suttsu brings together a chapter of fishing history, rest stops along the Fūta Course, and seasonal oyster cuisine. This gives you different priorities to choose from when planning your trip: a historic family business, practical information about the course, and local food.
Fishing History in Utasutsu
In the town of Suttsu, the former Sato family fishing site is located in Utasutsu on Suttsu Bay. During the Meiji period, it was the center of the family’s fishing business. The site is permanently designated as a cultural heritage property and is of historical significance.
The historic site includes a Fukuroma harbor built on the foreshore, a residence, a family shrine, and drying grounds behind it. The layout preserves not just individual structures but the connections between them as a historic fishing site. For those interested in cultural history, this place offers a tangible link to the community’s former fishing industry.
Coastal Route and Fūta Course
In the wider region, the Oiwake-Sōran Line runs along National Route 229 as a coastal route between Cape Benkei and Isoya, with historic buildings along the way. This is a broader regional perspective than the view of the single former fishing site in Utasutsu: here, the focus is on a coastal route and the buildings along it.
In the town of Suttsu, the public bathhouse Yubetsu-no-Yu is located at the start of the Fūta Course and serves as a rest stop. There are also pavilions in Fūta Park and at the park golf course that serve as rest stops. There are toilets at four locations near the course: at Yubetsu-no-Yu, in Fūta Park, at the park golf course, and at the campground on the Hamanaka coast. These places provide practical guidance for planning breaks along the course. If you plan to use them, check the latest information on opening hours and use before your visit.
Oysters and Local Food Culture
In the town, Suttsu Bay Oyster House offers an all-you-can-eat option featuring large, freshly steamed oysters from January to June. As this is a seasonal offering, confirm availability and current operations before traveling during this period.
Rice with oysters, carrots, and bamboo shoots is also available, as is oyster soup; the menu may change. Another specialty combines rock seaweed harvested on the foreshore at Suttsu with Namadaki Shirasu Tsukudani. These offer two distinct culinary connections: seasonal oysters and a special combination of ingredients featuring seaweed.
The Two-Day Suttsu Shrine Festival
During the two-day Suttsu Shrine festival, a mikoshi and floats from the town’s neighborhoods travel through town; Matsumae Kagura and children performing are also part of the event. The festival offers a different cultural focus from the historic fishing site: here, the focus is on a procession and performances. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the event dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Chitose, Samani, Shakotan District, Nayoro, Monbetsu District, Muroran, Oshidomari, Iwamizawa
For the broader travel overview: Hokkaido.
