The fresh ingredients nurtured by Hokkaido’s vast land and rich sea attract gourmets from all over the world. I myself still remember the taste of seafood I encountered at a small local restaurant when I visited Sapporo a few years ago. In this blog, I would like to share with you such gastronomic delights of Hokkaido , sharing with you my own experiences. I have also picked out some of the best spots for foreign tourists and compiled some useful information to help you plan your trip.
Straight from Sapporo’s seafood market! Introducing restaurants where freshness is the name of the game!
Sapporo is the gateway to Hokkaido. Let’s start your gastronomic journey here. Sapporo Central Wholesale Market is a lively spot from early in the morning and is crammed with fresh seafood. I visited the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market. After arriving early in the morning and experiencing the hustle and bustle of the market, I had breakfast at a nearby restaurant. The seafood rice bowl filled with sea urchin and salmon roe melted in my mouth, and the texture was unforgettable. More and more restaurants have English menus for foreigners and are easily accessible; Google Maps shows that they are within walking distance from Sapporo Station, so it is convenient to take the train as well.
The next restaurant we visited was a hideaway in the Susukino area. The Susukino area, beloved by locals, is famous for its jingisukan and ramen restaurants, but seafood restaurants are also recommended. The steamed hairy crab I had at one small restaurant had a sweet flavor that went well with wine. Hokkaido’s seafood is firm thanks to the cold ocean currents. From my experience, if you visit during the winter, dining while viewing the snowy landscape is exceptional. On a related note, Hokkaido ramen is also popular, but you can kill two birds with one stone by choosing one with seafood toppings.
In addition, take a short trip from Sapporo to Otaru. Sushi served at a restaurant along the canal is exquisite. Otaru Canal in Otaru is famous as a sightseeing spot, and fresh scallops and king crab are available at seafood restaurants in the area. I had live squid sashimi there. The clear, crispy texture was a testament to the bounty of Hokkaido’s sea. Since the area attracts many foreign tourists, many of the restaurants are English-speaking, so you can order with confidence, and as “Hokkaido seafood recommendations” is often searched for in Google Trends, these spots should be a highlight of your trip.
One tip for visiting these places is to make reservations in advance. Popular restaurants fill up quickly. I once experienced being turned down without a reservation, so I recommend that you plan ahead. Also, if you combine this tour with a visit to a beer factory in Sapporo, you can enjoy beverages and increase your day’s satisfaction. Hokkaido beer is fresh and a great marriage with seafood.
Discover the charm of Genghis Khan! Enjoy Hokkaido’s unique meat dishes
In addition to seafood, Hokkaido’s meat dishes are not to be missed. Jingisukan, in particular, is the soul food of the locals, a unique style of grilling mutton on an iron plate. I first tried it at a long-established restaurant called Daruma Honten in Sapporo. The aroma of the mutton sizzling on the Genghis Khan grill whets the appetite. It is usually eaten with vegetables, which makes it healthy and appealing. Even if you are not fond of the peculiar taste of mutton, fresh mutton from Hokkaido has less odor and is easy to eat.
As for my experience, when I visited with friends, we had several more plates with beer in hand. Jingisukan is one of the most popular dishes on the “Hokkaido gourmet ranking” list, and many restaurants cater to tourists. For example, a restaurant near the Sapporo Dome is a great place to have dinner after a sports game. The high nutritional value of lamb meat and its rich iron content will help relieve travel fatigue. Furthermore, as the related word “Hokkaido jingisukan recipe” is searched for, it is best to eat there, although some people take it home and recreate it.
Another recommendation is the Obihiro area’s pork bowl. Pork in Hokkaido is tender and the sweet and spicy sauce soaks into the rice and is exquisite. When I visited Obihiro in Obihiro, I had a pork bowl at a local diner, and it was hearty. There is also a spicy variation for foreigners, so you can choose according to your taste. In my case, I discovered a hidden gem of a restaurant by being taken there by a local I met during my trip. Such encounters are the best part of gourmet Hokkaido dining.
On the beverage front, don’t forget to try Hokkaido’s locally brewed sake and craft beer. What goes best with Jingisukan is a light beer. If you drink one directly from the factory at Sapporo Beer Garden, it will be fresh. These combinations are the secret to enjoying Hokkaido’s gastronomy in depth.
A world of desserts and drinks! The Hidden Charm of Hokkaido Sweets
Finish your meal with Hokkaido sweets. As a land rich in dairy products, it is famous for its cheesecakes and soft-serve ice cream. My favorite is the lavender soft serve I had at a store near a lavender field in Furano. The aroma is gentle, and it is a typical summer treat. The area around Farm Tomita is dotted with such sweet stores, which can be enjoyed in combination with sightseeing.
A tour of a chocolate factory in Sapporo is also recommended. Lloyds chocolates are so popular worldwide that they are searched for as “Hokkaido souvenir chocolates. In my experience of tasting freshly made chocolates at the factory, I was impressed by how well they melted in my mouth. For foreign tourists, English tours are available, making it easy to participate. Furthermore, the puddings and ice cream made with Hokkaido milk are creamy and addictive. On my trip, I had dessert time every day and even gained some weight (laughs).
In terms of beverages, Hokkaido wines are a must. The wine I tasted at a winery in Yoichi was fruity and perfect with seafood. As “Hokkaido wine tours” is a trendy word, bus tours are also available. On the tour I took, we walked through the vineyards and learned about the hardships of the harvest. Knowing such background deepens the flavor.
Combined with these sweets and drinks, Hokkaido’s gastronomy is perfect. It is also a great way to preserve your trip in photos as a memory of your trip.
Private Wisdom-like Summary
Hokkaido’s gastronomy is not only about eating, but also about connecting with nature and its people. The trick, as wisdom gained by travelers like me, is to focus on freshness and ask the locals for their recommendations. From seafood to meat dishes to sweets, a wide range of choices awaits you. I hope your trip will be an unforgettable one, and at Private Wisdom, we value such private discoveries.
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