Lunch between Shiraoi Museum and Noboribetsu

I am planning a driving trip in Hokkaido this Dec... heading from Sapporo to Lake Utonai to Shiraoi and to Noboribetsu...

As lunch time happen to be between Shiraoi and Noboribetsu, I wonder if there is anything to eat at the Shiraoi ainu museum or I should just pack something from Sapporo and munch till I reach Noborbetsu..

Since it's winter and day is short, I don' want to detour.

We didn't eat there but there is a cafe within the compound of the museum. Not really sure what kind of food is being served there though.
http://www.ainu-museum.or.jp/en/info/img/map.jpg

If you don't mind eating a bit later, enroute from the museum to Noboribetsu you will pass a Michi no eki (road side station) where you can pick freshly caught sea food and have it prepared for you. The place is easily identified by the giant bear and salmon on the roof top and is roughly halfway between Shiraoi Ainu Museum and Noboribetsu by the coast.
http://www.kanigoten.co.jp/index.htm

Hi William,

Thanks for it! I will sure note it down. I am kind of skeptical about the café. Your recommendation sounds like a good idea..

btw, I realized that you have traveled quite extensively in Hokkaido, wondering if you think Cape Chikyu is worth dropping by?

Yes, we love Hokkaido and had been there a few times but unfortunately we have yet to go to Muroran and Chikyu Misaki, so couldn't really comment on it. Sorry.

BTW, I hope you won't mind me asking. How confident are you driving in winter time. At home we have to drive under snowy weather every winter and we hate it and would never dream of doing it under unfamiliar road condition in a foreign country. In the past couple of years there were 2 fatal winter accidents in Hokkaido that involve foreign visitors with rental cars. Around Christmas time in 2010 there were 2 deaths including a child and they were from Hong Kong. Just last Nov 3 were killed and they were from Taiwan. Unless you have proper winter driving experience you should think twice before embarking on a self drive road trip during that time of the year.

Hi William,

Actually you have highlighted my concerns..I do have my reservations about it which it why out of my 7 days, I am planning 3 days of driving only. Tot of doing a full JR travel but with 2 kids and 2 old folks, it seems to be really difficult.

Which is why I am planning to just go to a couple of places and then head back. All within 1-2hrs from Sapporo.

Hi pinkitty

If you decide on a road trip, do some extra research and read up on winter driving especially on how to deal with black ice.

Here are some references on driving in Hokkaido.
http://en.visit-hokkaido.jp/forAgent/media/brochures/driving_en.pdf
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g298143-c87465/Hokkaido:Japan:Drivin...
http://www.hkd.mlit.go.jp/zigyoka/z_doro/english/index.html
http://northern-road.jp/navi/eng/howto.htm

Hi William,

Thanks alot for the info...we are thinking if we keep driving at 50km/h, will ppl honk at us

Japanese people are one of the (if not the most) polite and accommodating drivers we have encountered. Actually you better restrain from honking at the drivers in front of you when mostly you will find them doing below 50km per hour outside the expressways. A bit exaggerated but just to ensure you that this aspect is the last thing you should worry about driving in Japan.

Great! Seems like we will have company crawling.

But I will definitely read up more on driving