Sprawling across roughly 250 stalls just steps from Hakodate Station, this century-old market opens as early as 5 a.m. and overflows with Hokkaido's freshest crab, sea urchin, salmon roe, and live squid. The market's unique 'tsuri-bori' squid-fishing pools let visitors catch their own ika, which is then prepared as sashimi on the spot. Dozens of small restaurants line the market lanes serving kaisen-don (seafood rice bowls) that rank among Hokkaido's most celebrated breakfasts.
- Type
- Experience
- Category
- Food
- Season
- Year-round
- Month
- Year-round (most vibrant April–October)
- Region
- Hokkaido
- Prefecture
- Hokkaido
- City
- Hakodate
Highlights
- ◆Catch-your-own live squid and eat it as fresh sashimi
- ◆World-class uni (sea urchin) and ikura rice bowls
- ◆Opens before sunrise — ideal pre-sightseeing ritual
- ◆Adjacent to Hakodate's historic waterfront and ropeway
- ◆Peak season brings Hokkaido snow crab and scallops