Journal | 2026.09.03
This journal is a plan for one day around hokki clams and hokki curry in Tomakomai. You have them by day in Tomakomai, then spend the night at Mori no Auberge Mitsu.
According to Tomakomai City, the town lands more hokki clams than any other municipality in Japan. The figures come from the city and the port authority, so they are firm.
Auberge Mitsu sits in Atsuma, about 40 minutes by car from Tomakomai. From autumn into winter, the hokki by day and the kaiseki by night fit into one easy day.
Why Tomakomai leads Japan in hokki clams
According to Tomakomai City, the hokki clam is formally called ubagai. In 2024, the catch was about 5,100 tonnes nationwide and about 4,500 tonnes in Hokkaido.
Of that, Tomakomai accounted for about 750 tonnes. That is roughly 15 per cent of the national total, and the largest catch of any municipality in Japan.
The Tomakomai Port Authority notes that the town has led Japan in hokki landings for more than twenty years running. You can find more of the area on the Around page.
When hokki clams are in season
According to Tomakomai City, the hokki fishery is managed for its stocks. Only clams with shells 9 cm or longer are landed.
May and June, the spawning season, are closed to fishing. On the Around page, the season to enjoy hokki is said to be autumn into winter.
The hokki clam was named the shellfish of Tomakomai City on 20 July 2002, Marine Day. The local dish at lunch comes from this same clam.
Hokki curry for lunch at the Puratto Minato market
The Tomakomai Port Authority notes that hokki curry is an everyday local dish. It has long been a familiar taste in the town.
Many of the places serving it are at the Puratto Minato market. Stopping at the market for hokki curry makes a good lunch.
It is a dish worth trying first when you visit Tomakomai. You can take your time over it during the day.
Dinner: Hokkaido kaiseki at Auberge Mitsu
After hokki in Tomakomai by day, you head to Mori no Auberge Mitsu for the night. Mitsu is in Atsuma, about 40 minutes by car from Tomakomai.
Dinner at Mitsu is an omakase kaiseki course that follows the Hokkaido season. Breakfast is served too, except on room-only plans.
You can see the evening meal on the Dining page, and the produce of Atsuma on the Ingredients of Atsuma page.
How to plan the day from Tomakomai to Mitsu
A good plan is hokki in Tomakomai at lunch, then the drive to Mitsu in the late afternoon. The drive is about 40 minutes.
Check-in at Mitsu is from 15:00 to 19:00. Even a slow lunch at the market leaves plenty of time to arrive.
It is about 30 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport, and about 15 minutes from the Atsuma interchange. For directions, see the Access page.
The basics of staying at Mitsu
Mori no Auberge Mitsu takes three groups a night, in three rooms named Ki, Mi and Tsuki. It is a 120-year-old farmhouse, built in the traditional style of Toyama, taken down and raised again here.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rooms | Three groups, three rooms |
| From Tomakomai | About 40 minutes by car |
| Check-in / out | 15:00-19:00 / 10:00 |
| Parking | 10 cars, free for guests, no booking |
| Rate | From about 28,000 yen, two sharing, dinner and breakfast |
There is no television in the rooms, but Wi-Fi is available in every room. Every room has its own goemon-style soaking tub in Shigaraki ceramic ware; it is not a natural hot spring but heated water, and there is no shared bathhouse.
The guide price is from about 28,000 yen per person with dinner and breakfast, based on two people sharing a room. Rates are subject to change; please check the booking site before you travel. Payment is cashless only, there is no shuttle service, and pets cannot stay.
Frequently asked questions
How much hokki does Tomakomai catch?
According to Tomakomai City, the 2024 catch was about 750 tonnes, roughly 15 per cent of the national total. That is the largest of any municipality in Japan. The port authority says the town has led Japan in hokki landings for more than twenty years.
Where can I eat hokki curry?
The Tomakomai Port Authority notes that hokki curry is an everyday local dish, and many of the places serving it are at the Puratto Minato market. It is a taste that has long been familiar in the town.
When are hokki clams in season?
The season to enjoy hokki is said to be autumn into winter. May and June, the spawning season, are closed to fishing. Only clams with shells 9 cm or longer are landed.
How far is Auberge Mitsu from Tomakomai?
Mitsu is about 40 minutes by car from Tomakomai. Check-in is from 15:00 to 19:00, so a lunch in Tomakomai still leaves time to arrive. New Chitose Airport is about 30 minutes away by car.
Related: Around / Dining / Access / Ingredients of Atsuma | Back to the journal