The resort hotel “Kyukamura Shikotsu-ko” (address: Shikotsu-ko Onsen, Chitose City, Hokkaido), located on the shores of Lake Shikotsu in Chitose City, a 40-minute drive from New Chitose Airport, will begin selling a “Shikotsu Lake Chip Salt-Grilled Buffet Plan” from June 1st (Monday) to coincide with the opening of the fishing season for Shikotsu Lake Chip (kokanee salmon).
Furthermore, the facility houses “Mori to Mizuumi no Marche,” Japan’s only antenna shop specializing in Lake Shikotsu wood chips, which is a collaboration with the Lake Shikotsu Fisheries Cooperative Association. It will soon celebrate its first anniversary since opening last June.
The fishing season lasts only three months of the year, from June to August. At Kyukamura Shikotsu-ko, the appeal of “Shikotsu-ko Chips,” a taste that heralds summer, is introduced not only through eating them, but also through the efforts of the fishing cooperative and the development of products at specialized antenna shops.
◆ “Shikotsu Lake Chips,” a taste that heralds summer at Lake Shikotsu.
The fishing season is only three months long. Lake Shikotsu’s chip fishing is done using a single line. When the season opens, the general public can enjoy fishing at three locations (Poropinai, Morappu, and Bifue).
Shikotsu Lake chip (kokanee salmon) is a freshwater fish belonging to the salmon family, known as a lake-resident form of sockeye salmon. It is said that the name “chip” originated from a corruption of the Ainu word “kabachep,” which means “thin fish.”
Fishing for these fish opens every June, and they are a beloved delicacy that signals the arrival of summer in Lake Shikotsu. Because they grow in the cold, clear waters of Lake Shikotsu, they have less of the fishy smell typical of freshwater fish and are characterized by their refined flavor. Furthermore, “Lake Shikotsu Chips” are registered as a “regional collective trademark” to protect the local brand.
[About Lake Shikotsu chips]
Detailed URL: https://shikotsuko-gyokyo.org/aboutchip/
◆ Not just “fishing to catch,” but “fishing that connects to the future.”
Lake Shikotsu nourishes the wood chips produced there. Along with efforts to protect and cultivate the lake, the region’s local flavors are being passed down through generations.
The appeal of Lake Shikotsu chips isn’t just their taste. For over 120 years, Lake Shikotsu has been engaged in a fish breeding program involving hatching and release. The Lake Shikotsu Fisheries Cooperative manages fisheries while monitoring resource conditions, and may restrict fishing as needed.
Lake Shikotsu wood chips are a local resource that has been preserved for future generations through fisheries management and propagation projects, while also coexisting with recreational anglers.
[About the initiatives of the Lake Shikotsu Fisheries Cooperative]
Detailed URL: https://shikotsuko-gyokyo.org/union/
◆Collaborating with Lake Shikotsu Fisheries Cooperative, “Forest and Lake Marche” delivers “local flavors”
Through the “Forest and Lake Marche,” we promote the appeal of Lake Shikotsu wood chips throughout the year.
Lake Shikotsu chips are a unique local resource of Lake Shikotsu that has been preserved under resource management, and until now, opportunities to enjoy them were mainly limited to the fishing season at accommodations and restaurants. Responding to requests for easier purchase and as a place to promote the appeal of Lake Shikotsu chips throughout the year, Kyukamura Shikotsu Lake collaborated with the Lake Shikotsu Fisheries Cooperative to open “Mori to Mizuumi no Marche,” a specialty antenna shop for Lake Shikotsu chips, inside the hotel’s shop last June.
In addition to smoked fish, dried fish, and fish sauce, the store sells processed products such as Shikotsu Lake chips that have been flash-frozen. By presenting these products in a way that makes them a souvenir or memento of a trip, the store aims to broaden opportunities for people to experience Shikotsu Lake chips.
Since opening last year, we have been used by many customers, and we will soon be celebrating our first anniversary.
Location: Inside the shop on the 1st floor of Kyukamura Shikotsu Lake
Opening hours: 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Detailed URL:
https://www.qkamura.or.jp/shikotsu/blog/detail/?id=117100
This limited-time plan includes one Lake Shikotsu Chip per adult, grilled with salt, and served alongside a buffet.
This summer’s buffet will feature a seafood rice bowl as its main dish, with fresh seafood arranged like jewels and served with soy sauce jelly. Other offerings include cheese fondue and lamb jingisukan (grilled lamb) with two different seasonings. “Gousetsu Udon” and “Sapporo Ramen” will be available on a rotating daily basis.
Sales period: June 1st (Mon) – June 30th (Tue), 2026
Price: From 20,200 yen per night with two meals included (tax included, excluding hot spring tax and accommodation tax)
*Price per person based on double occupancy of a Western-style room on weekdays.
*If we are unable to provide the product due to poor catches caused by weather conditions, etc.,
We will guide you through the basic buffet plan.
We offer Shikotsu Lake chips, grown in the cold, clear waters of Lake Shikotsu, grilled with salt to bring out the natural flavor of the ingredients.
◆Kyukamura Shikotsu-ko
Lake Shikotsu has been ranked No. 1 in water quality surveys of lakes and marshes nationwide for 11 consecutive years. Kyukamura Shikotsu-ko is located on a hill overlooking this beautiful lake. In the surrounding bird sanctuary, you can encounter many wild birds regardless of the season. In addition, Shikotsu-ko Onsen, known for its skin-beautifying properties, is characterized by its smooth, silky water.
Location: Shikotsu Lake Hot Springs, Chitose City, Hokkaido 066-0281
Manager: Asako Doi
URL: https://www.qkamura.or.jp/shikotsu/
Shikotsu Lake Hot Springs are known for their thick, viscous texture.
Relax in a spacious Japanese-Western style room
◆A resort that will make your heart flutter with nature: Kyukamura
Located in outstanding natural environments such as national and quasi-national parks that represent the scenery of Japan, these resort hotels have 35 locations. Based on the concept of “a resort that makes your heart flutter with nature,” they offer opportunities to experience the unique charm of each place, such as cuisine that makes use of local ingredients and experiential programs that allow you to connect with the local nature, culture, and history, and deliver a moment that makes your heart flutter with nature to all our guests.
