Day Trips from SapporoRishiri Furusato Shokudo on Rishiri Island: Crunchy Sculpin Roe with the Island's Own Sake
By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published 
Quick answers
- Walked in alone at 18:00 on a Wednesday without a booking; only three or four other groups
- Gisuko (sculpin roe) 850 yen, hokke fish cake 450 yen, local sake Reiho no Shizuku 750 yen a glass (June 2026)
- Lunch 11:00 to 13:30, dinner 17:00 to 21:00, closed Sundays
- 5 to 10 minutes on foot from Hotel Rishiri; I paid in cash
Gisuko is the roe of a local sculpin, and I had it as a small plate with the island's own sake at Rishiri Furusato Shokudo, a casual local eatery in Kutsugata, the town on the island's west side, on my first night in June 2026. Here is whether you need a booking, what I ate, the menu prices and the opening hours.
Rishiri Furusato Shokudo hours and closing day
Rishiri Furusato Shokudo is open for lunch from 11:00 to 13:30 and for dinner from 17:00 to 21:00, and closed on Sundays. The phone number is 0163-84-3393 (the island's tourism site Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026). The printed menu gave the last order for rice dishes as 20:30.
Shokudo means an everyday eatery. At lunch it serves soba and udon noodles, in summer a sea urchin bowl, and in the evening also yakiniku (grilled meat), according to Rishiri Plus.
When I went, I paid in cash. If you need cash, there is a Japan Post Bank ATM at the Rishiri Kutsugata post office in the same town.
Do you need a reservation?
I walked in alone at 18:00 on Wednesday, June 24, without a booking, and got a counter seat straight away. There were only three or four other groups. It may have been quiet because it was a weekday and still early in the evening.
What I ate at Rishiri Furusato Shokudo
The most unusual dish was gisuko, the roe of the gisu-kajika sculpin. The eggs are smaller than salmon roe and pop like flying fish roe, with a clean saltiness and no fishy taste. It went well with the local sake, Reiho no Shizuku.
Hokke (Atka mackerel), a fish Hokkaido is known for, was on the menu several ways. Besides the fish cake, I had it fried, and I also ordered chicken-skin gyoza, dumplings wrapped in chicken skin instead of dough.
Rishiri Furusato Shokudo menu and prices
These were the prices in June 2026. The menus are in Japanese, with photos of some dishes.
| Menu | Price |
|---|---|
| Hokke chanchan-yaki (grilled with miso and vegetables) | 1,800 yen |
| Hokke hiraki (split and dried overnight) | 1,050 yen |
| Fried hokke | 850 yen |
| Hokke fish cake | 450 yen |
| Gisuko (sculpin roe) | 850 yen |
| Chicken-skin gyoza | 850 yen |
| Reiho no Shizuku sake (glass / 180 ml) | 750 / 1,300 yen |
| Grilled hokke set meal | 1,500 yen |
| Soba and udon | From 800 yen |
How to get to Rishiri Furusato Shokudo
The restaurant is at 17 Honcho, Kutsugata, Rishiri Town. I walked there in 5 to 10 minutes from Hotel Rishiri, where I stayed, so I could leave the car and have a drink.
Hotel Rishiri on Rishiri Island: An Onsen Hotel Where You Can Walk Out to DinnerTwo nights at Hotel Rishiri in Kutsugata: the onsen source bath, tororo kombu miso soup at breakfast, prices, parking, the free shuttle and winter closure.
FAQ about Rishiri Furusato Shokudo
Q1. Do I need a reservation at Rishiri Furusato Shokudo?
I walked in alone at 18:00 on a weekday in June without one. The phone number is 0163-84-3393.
Q2. When is Rishiri Furusato Shokudo closed?
On Sundays (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026).
Q3. Do I need cash?
I paid in cash, so bring yen. There is a Japan Post Bank ATM at the Rishiri Kutsugata post office.
More on Rishiri Island
Rishiri Furusato Shokudo was my dinner on the first night, after driving around the east and south of the island. Here is the whole two-night drive with times and costs.
Rishiri Island Itinerary: 2 or 3 Days Around Mt. Rishiri by Rental CarA Sapporo local's Rishiri Island itinerary by rental car, with real times: flights from Sapporo, picking up the car at the airport, Himenuma Pond, Cape Peshi, sea urchin season and prices, where to stay, costs, and a shorter 1-night version.