In winter Japan, aside from the soft snowfall, what people most look forward to is a hotpot of bright red crabs. Hokkaido is practically the headquarters of crabs, with an overwhelming variety including the snow crab, horsehair crab, and spider crab. Thanks to their freshness and deliciousness, you can enjoy them raw, in hot pot, grilled, or even as tempura. All kinds of top-tier delicacies are available only in Hokkaido, where they’re sourced, so you can eat to your heart’s content without worrying about going broke.
The Japanese love crabs so much that there’s even a song called “かに食べ行こ～ (Let’s go crab hunting).” This shows just how highly crabs are regarded in the kingdom of food. The most commonly eaten crabs include the mantis shrimp crab, king crab, and horsehair crab. The most satisfying way to enjoy them is simply blanched—when you snap off a leg and pull out the long, tender meat into your mouth, that rich, chewy sweetness makes the trip to Hokkaido totally worthwhile. Meanwhile, the tanner crab is hailed as the representative of “winter flavors,” excelling both in price and taste. Blanched tanner crab with a couple of dashes of vinegar is delicious, but even better is crab hot pot. Cut the crab legs into sections and add scallops, chrysanthemum greens, tofu, mushrooms, and glass noodles. The resulting broth is absolutely first-class.
If you want affordable yet delicious shrimp and crab dishes, the Crab & Shrimp Battle is a great choice. The restaurant offers around 70 different kinds of shrimp and crab dishes, including steamed, boiled, grilled, and fried options. There’s also the extremely popular all-you-can-eat crab, featuring sushi, chawanmushi, and the long legs of the three major crabs. For an average budget of about ¥4,725, you can enjoy a feast. Located at the Susukino Station on the subway, Kaisen Douraku serves up super tasty seafood dishes cooked on the spot by experienced chefs. Charcoal-grilled items are especially recommended. In addition to common skewers of chicken and beef, there are also Hokkaido specialties like grilled crucian carp, overnight-dried squid, and grilled snow crab legs.
If restaurants aren’t enough to satisfy your cravings, head to the seafood shops in the morning market. Fresh, bright red crabs are always on display, and the friendly vendors generously offer free samples of grilled snow crab legs. Don’t hesitate—these are all complimentary. Some shops even offer special crab meat buns stuffed with generous amounts of crab meat. Every bite is packed with intense crab flavor, hearty and fulfilling, making your Hokkaido crab adventure truly memorable.
Crab & Shrimp Battle
Address: 12F, F45 Building, 4-5 Minami 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Phone: 011-210-0411
Transportation: 2-minute walk from Susukino Subway Station
Business Hours: 16:00–24:00
Kaisen Douraku
Address: 2F, 2nd Green Building, 3-4 Minami 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Phone: 011-512-9999
Transportation: 1-minute walk from Susukino Subway Station
Business Hours: 16:30–23:30
Read more: Sushi is also a Hokkaido culinary highlight (provided by Tripass Attractions)
