Winter Gourmet: Top Choices
Hokkaido's cuisine is famous throughout Japan and across Asia. Come with us on a Gourmet Tour to sample the best seafood, beef, lamb, Genghis Khan, soft cream, dessert houses, cafes and many more great eats.
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We visit local restaurants, famous establishments, homestead farms and wholesale markets - all according to your taste and budget.

Genghis Khan Lamb BBQ

Genghis Khan is a dish unique to Hokkaido and an absolute classic! Most restaurants offer all-you-can-eat menus and a variety of meat (beef, pork, lamb). Spring onions, pumpkin and sprouts are added as garnish. You can choose family-run restaurants or famous institutions like Sapporo Beer Garden. Whatever your choice, you better bring your appetite.

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​Our Favorite Spots
  • Sapporo Beer Garden
  • Hokkaido Beer Garden
  • Jin JIn Jingisukan

Ramen

While Japan, Korea and China all vie for the title of The Home of Ramen, Sapporo takes credit for miso ramen.  There are hundreds of ramen shops scattered throughout the city, most of which serve ramen in one of three flavored broths: miso, soy or salt.  Ramen lovers will want to visit Ramen Alley, a string of ramen shops in Susukino. Connoisseurs will want to venture to Asahikawa, which locals say has some of the best ramen in all of Hokkaido. 

​Our Favorite Spots
  • Ramen Sakurajima (Sapporo)
  • Asahikawa Ramen Village
  • Sapporo Ramen Alley
  • Tsuruya Ramen (Asahikawa)
  • Meijinbou's Japanese Noodles (Sapporo)

Soup Curry

It's hard to imagine how we would survive a winter in Hokkaido without soup curry. Another of Hokkaido's great additions to the culinary scene, soup curry is just as it sounds - a mouth-watering curry broth with plentiful vegetable, meat or seafood portions and a side of rice. Choose your own spice level, broth and rice quantities, and toppings such as cheese or coconut cream.     

​Our Favorites Spots
  • Soup Curry King (Sapporo)
  • Samurai Soup Curry (Sapporo)
  • Hiri Hiri Soup Curry (Sapporo)

Sushi

Some of the best sushi in Japan comes right from Hokkaido, and you needn't spend a fortune either. The most popular type of sushi restaurant is Kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt). You can also visit fish markets, walk around with a bowl of rice, and point at the sashimi that you want. There is everything from budget-friendly local spots to Michelin star restaurants from where you can sample some of world's best sushi!

​Our Favorite Spots
  • Hanamaru Kaiten-zushi
  • Toppi Kaiten-zushi (in Otaru)
  • Sapporo Central Wholesale Market
  • Washo Market (Kushiro)

Crab Sashimi Platter

For those searching for a rare and exclusive gourmet experience, a crab sashimi platter brings out the best of Japan's gourmet. The first step is to find a willing sushi master, only a select few of which are adept enough to create the dish. It takes years to master the myriad of surgical cuts that are needed to create a palatable and safe crab sashimi platter; a dish that will be the highlight of your Japan gourmet experience. 

​Our Favorite Spots
  • Otaru's Sakaimachi Street
  • Sankaku Market
  • Sapporo Wholesale Market
 

Ice Fishing

Forge out onto a frozen lake or river to try your luck at ice fishing! We will supply a tent, stools and fishing equipment and our guide will prepare a BBQ for you to immediately grill your fresh smelt into an unforgettable culinary experience. Soup, spices, tea and coffee will also be provided. 

​Our Favorite Spots
  • Barato River (outside Sapporo)
  • Lake Akan
  • Lake Kanayama (Furano area)
  • Lake Abashiri

Sake Brewery Tours

Nikka Whiskey Distillery

King Crab & Oysters
Sake from Hokkaido is famous for its high quality, which is derived from the excellent rice grown on the island and the pure spring water sources used in fermentation. Visit a sake brewery to learn about the ancient brewing techniques and to enjoy free samples. Some breweries are housed in historic buildings dating from Hokkaido's frontier era. 

​Our Favorite Breweries
  • Kunimare Sake Brewery (Mashike)  
  • Takasago Sake Brewery (Asahikawa)
  • Tanaka Sake Brewery (Otaru)
One of the most enduring brands in Hokkaido is Nikka Whiskey, which was established in Hokkaido nearly 100 years ago by  Masataka Taketsuru, a Japanese entrepreneur, and his Scottish wife. Visiting the distillery is both a fascinating look into a bygone era and a great chance to sample some of the world's best whiskey. Indeed, Nikka Whiskey recently won the 2015 award for best international whiskey blend.

​The distillery is located about 1.5 hours west of Sapporo.
Hokkaido is justifiably famous for the fantastic seafood, but the King Crab deserves special mention. At about 10,000 yen per 1.5 kg, it is not cheap, but the memory of holding the crab fresh from the tank before your crab-fest will leave a strong impression.
Hokkaido's oysters are also world-class. The large and delectable oysters are served raw, grilled, boiled, or deep-fried, all according to your taste.   

​Our Favorite Spots
  • Sapporo Central Wholesale Market
  • Otaru's Sankaku Fish Market
  • Washou Market (Kushiro)