"Feel and Experience Everything about Kelp" is the motto of this unique attraction located outside of Hakodate (and convenient to those driving in the direction of Sapporo). The museum helped convey the importance of kelp cultivation to Japanese diet and the long history of the industry. The community market offered a vast array of kelp samples and products. I particularly liked the flavored kelp oshima, in which many layers of kelp were pressed together, finely shredded, and seasoned. The kelp soft-serve ice cream was also a fun, if not life-altering, experience.Our hour at Hokkaido Konbukan was a worthwhile stop. We improved our knowledge of Japan's food traditions and scored a shopping bag's worth of good-tasting local fare.
DYA717
Interesting museum worth visiting as konbu is a big industry and most of the best come from Hokkaido and shipped to rest of Japan. Nice overhead screen introduces Hokkaido’s konbu industry – worth seeing. Other displays also helps to understand that industry better; learn about the sex life of the konbu – yes, the sperm has to fertilize the seed in order to get more konbu. You send up in the market where you won’t believe the different products resulting from konbu – and they taste great! Samples galore so make a pig of yourself – don’t hold back. You snooze, you lose!