Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan｜Kitano Gurume

During my recent visit to Sapporo, I had the opportunity to dine at a popular fish market restaurant. The restaurant was located within one of the well-known fish markets in Sapporo, known for its wide variety of fresh seafood. Among the numerous fish vendors, I found a particular stall that offered on-site preparation and dining. I knew that the seafood here would undoubtedly be fresh. This restaurant stood out as the largest within the bustling fish market. I noticed the walls adorned with autographs from various celebrities, which added a touch of charm to the place. Excitedly, I placed an order for a seafood rice bowl, scallop sashimi, and a grilled fish dish called "Ichinichi Kan" (meaning "overnight dried"). The scallop sashimi and seafood rice bowl were exceptionally fresh. The sashimi was of top-notch quality, with the scallops practically melting in my mouth. The seafood rice bowl was a delightful combination of fresh sashimi on a bed of rice. The only slight criticism I had was that the rice was hot. However, the highlight of my meal was the grilled fish. It was hands down the best grilled fish I have ever had. The aroma was enticing, and the fish retained its juiciness and tender texture. The flavors were well-balanced, with the essence of fish oil enhancing the overall taste. It was perfectly cooked, ensuring the meat remained moist and succulent. If you have the chance to visit Sapporo, I highly recommend exploring the fish markets and indulging in a meal at one of the on-site restaurants. The opportunity to savor the freshest seafood, like the delectable scallop sashimi and the mouthwatering grilled fish, is an experience not to be missed.

Visited on 8 July 2023, Saturday morning. They provide shuttle pickups from hotel, be sure to reserve in advance on their website (English available). I took the shuttle at 6.30 from my hotel, and the driver would ask if you need a return service as well. Very good service provided. Take note that if you intend to dine there, the restaurant only opens from 7am onwards. I was there earlier and had to walk around a bit before breakfast. Breakfast was sumptuous and we had the horseshoe crab (whole), shima hokke (mackerel), two grilled big sized scallops and finished off with two set meals (rice, miso soup and a couple of appetisers). This was one of the best meal I had in my Hokkaido trip. Total bill came up to around 8-9k yen which was fair for the quality and freshness of the food. Bought a few souvenirs outside in the store too. All in all, highly recommend anyone to visit and have a meal.

They offer a free shuttle pickup and return, looks like they'll collect you from most hotels! I booked a pickup via their website (with google translate), and everything went really smoothly. They ask for a phone number on the booking form, but I still got picked up in the morning without needing to confirm anything. The 15 min drive took about half an hour total as they filled up the 8 seater with pickups from various hotels, as well as doing fever checks and asking for return pickup bookings. Lovely staff and friendly atmosphere, we just bought some items from the shelves because we actually wanted to eat somewhere else in the market. You get a free gift (little toy crab mascot thing!) with 1000 yen purchases if you go via shuttle and give them the little coupon you get :) There was one free sample when we went, a pale yellow roe.