Lake Shikotsu 'Chip' Fishing Season Opens June 1st: Qkamura Shikotsuko Offers Buffet Plan with Salt-Grilled Chip

The Lake Shikotsu chip (trout) is harvested under 120 years of ongoing conservation and resource management. Its brief three-month fishing season is about to begin.

Qkamura Shikotsuko, a resort hotel located on the shores of Lake Shikotsu in Chitose City, a 40-minute drive from New Chitose Airport (General Manager: Asako Doi), will launch the 'Buffet Plan with Salt-Grilled Lake Shikotsu Chip' starting Monday, June 1st, to coincide with the start of the fishing season.

Furthermore, the resort houses 'Mori to Mizuumi no Marche,' the only specialty antenna shop for Lake Shikotsu chips in Japan, operated in collaboration with the Lake Shikotsu Fisheries Cooperative. The shop is approaching its first anniversary since opening last June.

The fishing season lasts only three months, from June to August. At Qkamura Shikotsuko, the charm of this seasonal taste is introduced not only through dining, but also by highlighting the conservation efforts of the fisheries cooperative and the shop's product range.

◆ Lake Shikotsu Chip: The Taste of Summer

Lake Shikotsu chip fishing is done via single-line fishing. Following the season opening, the public can enjoy fishing at three locations: Poropinai, Morappu, and Bifue.

Lake Shikotsu chip (trout) is a freshwater salmonid species. It is a landlocked variant of sockeye salmon. The name 'chip' is said to derive from 'kabachep,' meaning 'thin fish' in the Ainu language.

Every June, the fishing season opens, and it is cherished as a delicacy that signals the arrival of summer at Lake Shikotsu. Raised in the cold, clear waters of Lake Shikotsu, it is characterized by its refined taste and lack of the distinctive odor often associated with freshwater fish. The 'Lake Shikotsu Chip' is also a registered 'Regional Collective Trademark.'

◆ Fishing for the Future

Lake Shikotsu provides the habitat for the chip. Through conservation efforts, this local flavor has been passed down.

The appeal of the Shikotsu chip is more than just its taste. For over 120 years, hatchery and release projects have been conducted at the lake. The Lake Shikotsu Fisheries Cooperative manages resources, sometimes limiting fishing based on stock levels.

Through fishery management and breeding projects, the chip is a regional resource preserved for the next generation while coexisting with recreational fishers.

◆ 'Mori to Mizuumi no Marche' and Collaboration

Through 'Mori to Mizuumi no Marche,' the charm of the Lake Shikotsu chip is promoted year-round. Previously, opportunities to taste the chip were mainly limited to local inns and restaurants during the fishing season. Responding to requests for easier purchasing, Qkamura Shikotsuko partnered with the Lake Shikotsu Fisheries Cooperative last June to open this specialty shop inside their retail area.

In addition to processed products like smoked chip, dried一夜干し (lightly dried), and fish sauce, they sell flash-frozen chip, allowing visitors to bring the taste home as a souvenir.

◆ Buffet Plan Overview

This limited-time plan includes one salt-grilled chip per adult to enjoy along with the buffet.

This summer, the buffet main dish will be a 'seafood bowl' topped like jewels and served with soy sauce jelly. Other items include cheese fondue, lamb Genghis Khan with two seasonings, and alternating daily servings of 'Gosetsu Udon' and 'Sapporo Ramen.'

Period: June 1st (Mon) - June 30th (Tue), 2026

Price: From 20,200 JPY per night with two meals (tax included, excl. hot spring/accommodation taxes).