I used this restaurant on a ferry from Otaru Port to Niigata Port. The ferry departed from Otaru Port at 5:00 PM and arrived at Niigata Port at 9:15 AM the next day. Ordering was very easy with the touch panel. The food was decent overall. The grilled saury was soft and delicious. The Genghis Khan dish had a sweet and flavorful meat. The Zangi was freshly fried and tasty. The udon noodles in broth were simple but delicious.

The beef curry was delicious. The ginger soy sauce ramen had a rich soup that was surprisingly good, and I couldn't help but drink it all. However, the noodles were a bit soft, which was disappointing. Both dishes were served very quickly.

I took a light meal at the cafe next to the port before departing from Otaru at 17:00. The pizza and beer were enjoyable. The ramen had a refreshing taste with a strong ginger flavor. The fried tofu was not my favorite, I'll try something different next time. The sashimi was simply delicious.

Ferry schedule experience was coming to an end. As it was morning and the sea was calm, we decided to have breakfast at the restaurant. I ordered the "rice porridge set" for 400 yen and my companion ordered the "scallops with kelp" for 310 yen. The rice porridge and miso soup alone would be a bit plain, so the scallops with kelp were just right. My companion's Japanese plate set had trout instead of salmon, but it was quite delicious. Surprisingly, many people were eating curry for breakfast. This inspired us to try the famous curry after arriving at Niigata Port, and it was delicious. Thank you for the meal! (^人^)

I went on an 18-hour boat trip from Niigata Port to Otaru in Hokkaido. However, due to bad weather, there seems to be a delay of about 2 hours. I boarded at 12 o'clock and headed straight to the large communal bath! I took a quick bath before departure and considered it as lunch. The restaurant opens at 12:30. There doesn't seem to be much change in the menu from before. I brought Shiba sushi, so I decided to order a soup dish. I was briefly intrigued by the "Shiretoko Salt Ramen" but changed my mind when I saw the price of 800 yen. I ordered the "kakesoba" for 410 yen. I didn't have high expectations for the taste. The soba was firm and there was a decent amount. I appreciated the price. After departure, we entered the open sea and the ship started to sway, so I went back to my seat. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal (^人^) ※From here on, it was hellish with all the swaying.

Today was a day in Otaru. The wind and rain were strong, so I watched a movie at Aeon and had a drink, spending a relaxing day. After the rain stopped, I walked to the port. Once aboard, I relaxed in the bath. The private room had a TV, so I watched "Hissatsu Shigotonin" while having a drink. For dinner, I headed to "Lavender" restaurant. It is a cafeteria-style restaurant. I had a draft beer with pork cutlet stew and salted fish roe, enjoying a drink while looking at the sea. The rich flavors went well with the beer. The restaurant was spacious, and there were few customers, so it felt safe. There were also solo male customers, perhaps drivers. Finally, I had salted fish roe and beer. Let's continue drinking in the room. Thank you for the meal. It was a ferry trip with nothing special to do. Look at the sea, drink, and sleep. Then morning comes, and after a morning bath, it's time for breakfast. Not a driver, so let's start in the morning. I had morning curry set with a lemon highball. I took my medicine and started with a vegetable salad. Curry eaten at sea has a different taste. Morning curry, thank you for the meal! "Shin Nihonkai Ferry Lavender AKANE" Otaru, Hokkaido, Sukunato 7-2 Katsunou Port Terminal

The Niigata to Otaru route seems to be just the right distance. Departure from Niigata is at noon, and departure from Otaru is at 5 p.m. It is possible to have a 12-hour stay in Otaru. New Japan Sea Ferry offers a discounted plan for a two-night, three-day stay between April and June (excluding specific days). When I traveled, this plan was not available, but my stay in Otaru was quite enjoyable, so I suggest considering it. The restaurants operate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, making it a fair and considerate shipping company. However, they close within two hours, which is unfortunate. The shop is also open for limited hours, so be careful not to end up fasting. The restaurant is cafeteria-style. You can choose from small dishes, side dishes, and main dishes and pay in cash. - Sea bream sashimi: The beautifully crafted sea bream sashimi, with a skin that resembles a straw hat or frosted glass, catches the eye. However, the taste seemed a bit diluted, as if it had been thawed. - Mountain vegetable tempura: The combination of the seed and batter was excellent. Including spring-like ingredients such as bracken fern in the season when there is still snow in Hokkaido was a nice touch. I also remember there being wild vegetables like Aralia elata and burdock. Using matcha salt instead of tempura dipping sauce is a unique consideration for a restaurant on a ship. Liquid is sure to spill and be shaken when the weather gets rough. I recommend placing each dish on a tray. - Tarako salad: The moist and smooth texture of the mashed potatoes was followed by the popping fish eggs. Despite that, the flavor of the cod roe in the tarako salad was robust. I felt the dedication to cod roe that Hokkaido residents deeply love. - Grilled Atka mackerel: The half portion was just right. It was not too salty, not overcooked, and the small bones were not bothersome. Most importantly, it was kept warm, so it was nice to be able to eat it while it was still warm. - Beef stew: I sensed that they were pursuing detail. Therefore, I accepted the looseness of the filling. The beef belly-like cut was tender, although it was not completely chewable. There were no traces of stewing in the sauce. I wondered if this was a pre-made dish because I had experienced a similar form elsewhere. Even if it was just poured with demi-glace sauce and garnished with diced potatoes and real vegetables, I think the cost performance is high. I was delighted by the subtle saltiness, which is a staple in Western cuisine. The rice also went well with it. Overall rating: 2.6 Thank you for the meal.

Lunch was served right after boarding the ship. Dining at sea always feels delicious and full of travel vibes. Especially when the departure is at noon, you have over 12 hours ahead without having to drive, so enjoying a drink in the daytime is even more special. ・Amberjack sashimi: It didn't have a strong fishy taste, but it smelled really nice. ・Fried rice: It had a familiar taste with pickled mustard greens, which was comforting. ・Scallop salad: It was a delightful addition. Snacking on this while sipping on a drink during the day is irresistible. Overall rating: 2.5. Thank you for the meal.

- Date of Visit: July 26, 2019 (Friday), Sunny weather. Arrived at 10:45 for an 18:21 visit. - This was my 160th bowl of noodles for research purposes. - Today, I visited the restaurant "Shin-Nihonkai Ferry Lavender AKANE" for the first time, located inside the New Japan Sea Ferry. - Upon arrival, there were many customers already waiting in line. - The restaurant operates in a buffet-style where you pick your preferred dishes and pay at the end. - I ordered the "Zangi Shoyu Ramen (Regular size) for 800 yen and received a buzzer. - After waiting in line for 24 minutes, my buzzer went off, and I picked up my order of "Zangi Shoyu Ramen". - The ramen was topped with zangi (fried chicken), menma, green onions, and chopped onions. - I tasted the noodles and soup first before finishing the rest of the dish. - The noodles were medium-thin curly noodles with a nice firm texture. - The soup was a delicious, light hot soy sauce broth. - The zangi consisted of three large and tender pieces of fried chicken, which were tasty. - The menma was plentiful and delicious. - I enjoyed my meal while overlooking the sea from the window-side table. - I left feeling satisfied and would like to visit again if I have the chance. - Overall Noodle Research Results: 1. Soup Flavor: Soy sauce 2. Noodle Thickness: Medium-thin curly noodles 3. Portion Size: Adequate 4. Soup Flavor Intensity: Just right 5. Richness Level: Light 6. Personal Satisfaction Rating: (4.0) ★★★★

I took the same ferry for both the outbound and return trips. I boarded at noon on the way there, but in the evening on the way back. Dinner was served shortly after boarding. I bought some fried half chicken at Naruto Main Store, but that wasn't enough, so I went to restaurant AKANE. I ordered the delicious Beef Stew with Rice, which I had enjoyed on the way there. The meat was even more tender on the way back. Oh, and the Buttered Corn was also delicious, so I ordered that too. The Curry Rice was just okay, nothing special. Dinner while watching the sunset was fantastic. The restaurant crew was mostly the same as before. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I was unsure if I should have ramen before boarding the Lavender cruise to Otaru, but as soon as I got on board, I took a bath and started feeling hungry. The snack corner next to me closes at 12:00, and the restaurant here opens after that. The same staff member is seen going back and forth between the two. The restaurant is only open for an hour and a half! The line at the snack corner is so long, but I decide to go for it. The line doesn't seem to move at all. Finally, I enter the shop and grab a tray. The first section I reach is for sashimi and small dishes, which I decide to save for dinner. Little did I know that this decision would lead to a tragedy later on. Next is the salad section, which I skip. Then, I move on to the main dish section and order a Niigata specialty, the "Tare Katsu Don" which is delicious, the "Butter Corn" with bacon bits and sweet corn, and the "Naruto-ya Zangi" which is a bit pricey at 200 yen each. I also enjoy a draft beer while seated at a table. The counter seats facing the sea were quickly taken. Despite spending over 3,000 yen for two, we were satisfied and full. It was delicious! Thank you for the meal. Looking forward to dinner!

This time it's dinner. Seeing the long line, I decided to take it easy and checked the opening hours I took earlier, and to my surprise, it's until 7:30 PM. I hurried to the same place as lunch, AKANE, and indeed there was a long line. I didn't feel like going back now, so I just went with the flow. Now, I wanted to choose sashimi that I saved from lunch for dinner, but it was not available in the case. However, there were plates, so I ordered. "I'm sorry, we're sold out." Oh no, no sashimi at all! I should have eaten it for lunch. Oh well. I had to make do. - Grilled eggplant with miso - Shumai (dumplings) - Chawanmushi (savory egg custard) - Potato salad - Miso-simmered mackerel - Beef stew (took a while to be served, beef was tough) Drink: Nihonkai (sake) Dessert: Unknown I sat at a window counter seat this time, but it was dark outside so I couldn't see anything. The person next to me turned out to be a juggler who performs on a ship, and we had a fun conversation. Both my companion and I were full. It's a shame about the sashimi, but overall the food was delicious. Thank you for the meal. Note: Lunch was more expensive than dinner, which is funny. ==================== *I can only hope that there will be different dishes and sashimi available at the same place, RABENTA, on the way back.

I am currently on a ferry from Hokkaido to Saitama for my return trip. The ship is relatively calm compared to last year's rough ride, so I was able to move around naturally and have dinner at the restaurant on the 5th floor. I chose beef curry for 700 yen and a mini salad for 300 yen, totaling 1000 yen. They also served "zenzai" as a New Year's treat. The food tasted just as good as before, although this time I tried the sesame dressing on the salad, which had a different flavor profile from the usual soy-based dressing. Overall, the meal was enjoyable, and I also took a bath before heading to bed to wait for our arrival. I am considering taking this route again for my next trip home.

I ordered fried tofu from Tochio. I thought I was getting a few small pieces as shown in the picture, so it would be a good snack with beer. But in reality, I got a whole piece. It was a lot. It was delicious though.

Breakfast the next morning after using the route from Otaru (departing at 17:00) to Niigata (arriving at 09:15).

Dinner at a restaurant in Otaru → Niigata. I ordered chicken and tempura soba, as well as garlic zangi which is not shown in the photo. The chicken was soft but cold. The tempura soba took about 10 minutes to make after ordering. The taste was average. The garlic zangi was the size of a child's fist. The garlic and soy sauce flavors were strong. There was also hamburger on the menu, but it takes about 10 minutes to cook, so it seems that noodle dishes and grilled items take time.

I found a tour to ride on the new ferry Lavender, which has started its service from Niigata to Otaru. The tour includes staying at a business hotel with a shower in Niigata, taking a ferry to Niseko Rusutsu, and returning by Shinkansen from Hakodate. The room was a clean twin room with amenities like a TV, tea, T-fal kettle, washlet, sleepwear, bath towel, and toothbrush set. The bath even had an open-air bath, which was very relaxing. There were activities like a bingo game and a flute concert on board. The meals were served in a cafeteria-style restaurant with a variety of dishes and drinks. The tour was mostly attended by people in their 60s and 70s who enjoy traveling by ship. Overall, it was a comfortable and enjoyable ferry trip that I would recommend to others who want a leisurely travel experience.

Today, I am heading to Niigata from Otaru on the New Japan Sea Ferry. We depart Otaru at 5:00 PM and will arrive in Niigata at 9:00 AM the next morning. The ship we are on this time is the "Lavender," a new vessel. We started with a few drinks before departure, but now let's move to the cafeteria for dinner. It is a cafeteria-style dining. - Beef Stew (690 yen) - Salted Fish Roe Side Dish (200 yen) - Buttered Corn (300 yen) - Kuro Kirishima Shochu (1,080 yen) A mix of Japanese and Western dishes. The beef stew was delicious with lots of meat. The Kuro Kirishima is served in a bottle and is quite affordable. We'll save some for a nightcap. For breakfast before arrival, let's have Morning Curry. - Curry (500 yen) - Western Assortment (550 yen) - Highball (360 yen) The Western Assortment includes bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, and salad. The curry was simply delicious. The Highball is Suntory Kakubin. Had a drink in the morning. A journey to enjoy the travel itself. I would like to use this service again. Thank you for the meal! [Menu] - Draft Beer, Pork Cutlet Stew, Salted Fish Roe, Lemon Highball, Curry Set (Solo Traveler Izakaya 2021 May) - Kuro Kirishima Shochu, Beef Stew, Salted Fish Roe, Corn Butter, Highball, Curry, Western Assortment (Solo Traveler Izakaya 2017 August) "New Japan Sea Ferry Lavender AKANE" Otaru City, Hokkaido, Tsukisako 7-2, Katsunai Pier

<Summary in three sentences> A restaurant located on the New Japan Sea Ferry "Lavender" serving food cafeteria-style. The beef stew had large cuts of meat with a tender texture and was delicious. However, the pork simmered dish was lukewarm and lacked flavor, so overall it was just average.