A must-have on any trip to Hokkaido is a kaisendon, a bowl of rice topped with a variety of fresh seafood. The rich and colorful array of ingredients, including salmon, salmon roe, scallops, and sea urchin, makes this dish a feast for the eyes. Try the Kaisendon, a bowl of rice topped with seafood that represents the taste of Hokkaido.
What is Kaisendon?
Kaisen-don in Hokkaido is one of the most popular gourmet dishes that showcases the richness of the region’s seafood. This dish of fresh seafood, served on a bed of rice in abundance, is a must-try when visiting Hokkaido.
Kaisendon is a great way to enjoy all the seafood Hokkaido is famous for at once, including salmon, salmon roe, scallops, sea urchin, and crab. Many restaurants offer seasonal seafood, so you can enjoy the flavors of the season. Some restaurants also allow you to choose your own favorite seafood to put on top of the rice.
There are many places to enjoy kaisendon in Hokkaido, including markets, small restaurants, and izakayas (Japanese-style pubs), so be sure to enjoy fresh and delicious kaisendon on your trip to Hokkaido!
I went to Nijo Fish Market where you can eat Kaisendon.
Sapporo has many restaurants where you can eat seafood, but why not eat at a market with a great atmosphere? At Nijo Market, located in the center of Sapporo, you can enjoy eating freshly caught seafood.
What is Nijo Fish Market like?
Nijo Fish Market is a seafood market located in the center of Sapporo. The market is close to major sightseeing spots in Sapporo and is crowded with many tourists every day due to its easy accessibility. As a market with a long history, it is characterized by its retro atmosphere.
In addition to seafood, Nijo Fish Market offers a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and other locally grown foods. Most stores close for business around dusk, so it is recommended that those who want to eat kaisendon go to the stores early in the day.
There are several restaurants in the market, and they always seem to be popular and crowded. All of the restaurants offer gorgeous kaisendon (bowls of rice topped with seafood), so you may end up wondering which restaurant you should actually go into. Each restaurant offers a different menu, including grilled fish and sashimi, so if you are at a loss for a restaurant to choose, you may want to take a tour of the market before deciding.
Enjoy a Kaisendon at a popular diner.
There are many restaurants in Nijo Fish Market where you can enjoy kaisendon, sashimi, and set menus. While all of them are delicious and attractive, we would like to introduce three restaurants that we particularly recommend.
Ohiso（大磯）
The first restaurant we recommend is Ohiso, located right at the entrance to the market. Oiso has been famous for a long time and is a classic restaurant that first-time visitors to Nijo Market should not miss. It offers a wide variety of kaisendon and you can taste your favorite combination of seafood such as sea urchin, salmon roe, and crab.
Prices range roughly from 2,000 to 3,000 yen and are little different from many of the restaurants in the market. In addition to kaisendon, sashimi and grilled fish are also offered.
Ohiso’s kaisendon is sold with its large and meaty ingredients in any case. In particular, the bowl of rice topped with sea urchin, crab, and other high-end seafood is a gorgeous combination that can only be found at Nijo Market. The restaurant is always popular, and you must wait in line, so it is recommended to go with plenty of time to spare.
Donburi Chaya（どんぶり茶屋）
Donburi Chaya, a restaurant specializing in kaisendon, is another good choice for first-time visitors to Nijo Fish Market. Donburi Chaya also operates at New Chitose Airport Terminal and Otaru, but this Nijo Fish Market branch is the origin of the restaurant. It offers a wide variety of menu items, many of which are original menus not available at other restaurants.
The most luxurious “Kogane Kaihou don” is a sumptuous bowl of rice topped with a total of seven kinds of classic high-end seafood, including sea urchin, salmon roe, and snow crab. A picture is a must for this sumptuous Kaisen-don, which can also be enjoyed at a relatively reasonable price, as Kaisen-don is available in the 1,000 yen range.
Daiichi Kaisenmaru（第一海鮮丸）
Daiichi Kaisenmaru is a favorite among the locals. Its homey atmosphere attracts not only tourists but also locals. It is a small restaurant and can get crowded, so it is recommended to get to the restaurant early.
The menu offers a wide variety of kaisendon, a bowl of rice topped with a large number of large sashimi for a great price. The secret of the restaurant’s popularity is that you can enjoy not only luxurious Kaisendon but also many other dishes in the 1,000-yen price range. You can add any seafood you like to your bowl of rice, so you can create a Kaisendon of your choice.
5 restaurants where you can eat Kaisendon
editerKaisendon is a must-try dish when traveling in Hokkaido!
Popular stores will have lines, so getting there early is recommended!
