Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

The first market we will introduce is the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market's off-site market.

The Sapporo Central Wholesale Market, the largest market in Hokkaido, a treasure trove of food, gathers marine products and fruits and vegetables from all over Hokkaido. The amount of foodstuffs in circulation is said to be as much as 1,600 tons every day.

Instead of the central wholesale market, where the general public is not allowed to shop, the off-site market provides foodstuffs at a discount. The market is divided into 10 blocks and is lined with about 60 stores.

One of the best parts of the trip is enjoying conversations with the shopkeepers while looking at the products. It may be a chance to learn about local cooking methods and professional tips for connoisseurs. The staff are so confident in their products that they will be happy to recommend tastings to you!

It is said that “tasting alone will fill up your stomach,” but if you find food you like, head to the cafeteria. If you find food you like, you can enjoy your favorite taste as much as you like in the cafeteria attached to the market, which makes you happy.

Not only seafood, but also vegetables and fruits, Hokkaido's gourmet foods are available at the outside market. Some stores close in the afternoon because they are sold out, so visiting early in the morning is recommended!

Next, we will introduce Sapporo Nijo Market.

The “advantage” of this market is its easy accessibility. It is conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from Sapporo's tourist attractions, the Sapporo TV Tower and Tanukikoji Shopping Street.

Around the market, the lively voices of shopkeepers can be heard from early in the morning. Stop by for breakfast and you will be energized to start your day. Many stores are lined up along the outer arcade, but it would be a waste to just go around the outside. Please be sure to enter the market from the entrance along the Sosegawa River. Inside the market, you will find many stores, and you will feel the local atmosphere.

The market is often thought of in the morning, but Nijo Market is recommended at night as well.

In “Noren Yokocho,” a corner of the market, you will be lured by the faintly lit red lanterns, and you will find a row of about 10 stores that resemble hideouts. Each store has an indescribable retro atmosphere, and the unusual ambience is sure to stimulate conversation.

From breakfast while sightseeing, to souvenir shopping, to a quick drink.

With convenient access, this market is recommended for travelers who are looking to satisfy a variety of needs.

If you are looking for a place to visit while sightseeing, Otaru Triangle Market (Otaru Sankaku Ichiba) is no different. Otaru Triangle Market is located a minute walk from JR Otaru Station, the window to Otaru sightseeing.

If you have fallen in love with the delicious Hokkaido seafood in Otaru, where sushi is popular, check out the souvenirs at Triangle Market on your way home! The reason why Otaru's sushi is so delicious is because of the varied marine environment. The coast around Otaru is varied with sand, reefs, and boulders, which is why the variety of seafood that lives there is so rich and delicious!

That is why the Triangle Market also offers many kinds of seafood, depending on the season. The narrow straight lines of the market are filled with products, and the calls from both sides are lively. You will surely feel the atmosphere of “this is a market”.

Enjoy bargaining for souvenirs while you are there!

There are many restaurants where you can enjoy a bowl of seafood at a reasonable price, and there is even a line at lunch time! Many of the restaurants offer great deals on seafood bowls, and there is even a line at lunch time!

The night view, Goryo-kaku, and the morning market are indispensable when it comes to sightseeing in Hakodate.

Hakodate morning market is the largest of its kind in Hokkaido, with approximately 250 stores gathered on a 10,000 tsubo (approximately 1.5 square meter) site, and is easily accessible, being only a one-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station.

The specialty of Hakodate morning market is “live squid fishing. You can catch and eat squid swimming around in a tank by yourself! When you are given a fishing rod, aim for a large squid and hook the hook into the squid's ear (emperor) to catch it. Be careful, sometimes the squid may fight back by spraying water or ink!

The squid you catch is handed to the waiter, and in no time at all, it is being cut up and served as a beautiful sashimi. The incredible knife work is one of the highlights of the experience! Don't miss it! Fresh squid has a clear, transparent color. It is crunchy and slightly sweet. It is a different kind of squid from the ones we usually eat. You can also eat the liver called “goro” only when freshly caught!

If you are aiming for breakfast or lunch, “Donburi Yokocho” is recommended.

Find your favorite restaurant among the 20 or so stores lined up! The best part of the trip is choosing from the showcases and browsing through the menu.

The freshness of the kaisen donburi will surely satisfy both your stomach and your mind!

Located about a 15-minute walk from the Hakodate morning market is the Hakodate jiyu ichiba.

Although there are only about 40 stores, it is a full-fledged market where professional chefs come to buy their products. You will be lucky if you happen to visit on the 8th or 18th (except Sundays)! On those days, the entire market is on special price as “Hakodate jiyu ichiba Day” and you can enjoy shopping at a discount price.

Along with Sapporo's Nijo Market and Hakodate's morning market, Kushiro Washo Market is said to be one of the three largest markets in Hokkaido.

In fact, Kushiro boasts one of the largest fish catches in Japan and the largest in Hokkaido! That is why Kushiro Washo Market offers a wide variety of fresh and reasonably priced seafood.

The specialty of this market is “katte-don(勝手丼),” which is a bowl of rice topped with a bowl of vegetables and fish. This “katte-don(勝手丼)” is a dream bowl of rice topped with only the ingredients you want, while you are touring the market! You will never regret that you wanted more red meat again. You can choose the ingredients and the amount you want. Some stores sell crab soup and pickles. The selection of ingredients at the market changes with the seasons, so you may never have the same bowl of rice twice.

Don't hesitate to gather your own all-star ingredients and make your own original rice bowl without reservation.

Wakkanai Fukko Market is a commercial complex developed as a new base for revitalizing the local economy and providing a place for interaction between citizens and visitors, under the keywords of “fisheries,” “tourism,” and “Sakhalin” in the First Sub Port, which was once a bustling place in Wakkanai. The market offers fresh marine products, local specialties, and souvenirs. In addition to a cafeteria and stores, there is also a “Minato no Yu” hot spring facility and a gallery introducing Wakkanai's history.

The facilities include a souvenir store, a restaurant, and a food stall village. The “Minato Gallery” recreates the streets of Wakkanai in the old days, and the “Wakkanai Sakhalin Memorial Museum” introduces visitors to Sakhalin and the people who lived there. Wakkanai Fukko Market is popular among tourists, but it is also loved by locals.