Pick your favorite seafood and enjoy it to your heart's content in Hokkaido.

When talking about Hokkaido, you can't miss its sweet and succulent seafood. Especially in the cold winter, it’s the perfect time to head north and indulge in delicious food. The Kushiro and Asahikawa areas in eastern Hokkaido are must-visits for foodies wanting to taste 100% authentic, naturally rich seafood. Savoring each bite of the original flavors makes the happy moments of your trip feel even more heartwarming.

Hokkaido in Japan has many mouthwatering seafood dishes. In addition to prepared set meals at restaurants, there’s also the “Katte Nomi” (eat-what-you-like) style, which is another creative dining experience. Kushiro City’s Wakasō Market offers this appealing self-selection service. The term “Katte” means “to choose freely,” so visitors to Wakasō Market can buy a bowl of rice from any shop and then walk around to different seafood stalls to pick their favorite ingredients such as sashimi, sea urchin, sweet shrimp, crab legs, scallops, clams, and fish roe. The vendors will skillfully arrange your selections, and you can find a cozy spot to enjoy your fresh seafood feast to your heart’s content.

With a history of over 50 years, Wakasō Market is the third-largest traditional market in Hokkaido, following Sapporo’s Nijo Market and Hakodate’s Morning Market. Thanks to its abundant seafood supply, walking into Wakasō Market, you’re greeted by the vibrant sight of bright red king crabs, scallops, sea urchins, and fresh, juicy sea bream. There are also plenty of other seasonal seafood, plus an array of other local ingredients, making this a true paradise for seafood lovers. This is where you can savor the freshest and most luxurious seafood. The prices of seafood here are very reasonable — a set of around 5–6 ingredients typically costs just over 1,500 yen. So, if you’re looking to enjoy a wide variety of premium seafood without spending too much, this is the place.

Besides eating seafood raw, people in Kushiro also love grilling it. The famous “Robatayaki” involves placing fresh seafood on a wire rack, sprinkling it with salt or brushing it with a special sauce, then slowly grilling it over a charcoal fire. The result is hot, smoky seafood that melts in your mouth — an experience that’s simply intoxicating. Robatayaki includes a wide range of fish, shellfish, crabs, oysters, crucian carp, red snapper, sand lance, and even sea snails, as well as black pork skewers. Thanks to the expert grilling, every dish is crispy on the outside, fully showcasing the luxurious texture and rich flavor of the seafood.

If you want to try robatayaki, aside from street stalls at festivals, there are many robatayaki specialty restaurants in Kushiro. These let you comfortably sit at tables equipped with grills and enjoy the fun of grilling your own food. With a table full of delicious, varied seafood, no one can help but feel truly blessed.

Wakasō Market
Transportation: A 3-minute walk from JR Kushiro Station
Address: 13-25 Kuroganecho, Kushiro City
Hours: 08:00–18:00

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