Hakodate asaichi

Hakodate Asaichi – The Morning Market Seafood Lover Must Go

The Hakodate Asaichi sells various fresh seafood such as red king crab, hairy crab, salmon roe, sea urchin, scallops, squid, and seaweed,  but assorted agricultural products and dried fish are also sold, like the famous specialty Yubari Melon. Kindness warning seafood lover never misses out on this spot. The market location is a few steps away from the Hakodate train station. Many restaurants around the market area sell various seafood meals. Below I will tell you about one local’s ordinary snack and one local’s secret ramen shop.

Fresh Local Seafood

  • Crab

Red king crab, blue king crab, hairy crab, snow crab, hanasaki crab are the common and popular various crabs here. 

  • Salmon roe

known also as caviar and ikura. It is often found on top of sushi or rice (donburi). 

  • Cod roe 

In Japan, people called cod roe “Tarako”, they have a certain way to eat it. Also, there are seasoning cod roe(Mentaiko) and spicy seasoning cod roe(Karashi Mentaiko). You can put it into a rice ball, deep-fry, cook with pasta…etc, it’s fresh and tasty!

  • Salmon Jerky

If you visit Hakodate Asaichi, never miss this local snack! People who live in Hokkaido will have beers after hard work. And the salmon Jerky is one of the ordinary snacks to eat while they drink beer. Every shop has its secret recipe to make salmon jerky, you can try it at different shops and find your favorite one.

  • Dried Atka mackerel

In the days before the fridge and can, people who lived in Hokkaido were salting and drying mackerel overnight to preserve the fish. Nowadays people still keep this way because it is only need simply grill and tasty! Recommend you to try it.

  • scallop

If you love scallops then give Hokkaido scallops a try, you’ll be surprised by how sweet and fresh it is. Also, there are dried scallops great for souvenirs.

  • squid

Hakodate is well-known for being a “Squid City” They even have a squid dance festival every year. The famous squid produces fresh morning squid, ikameshi (squid stuffed with glutinous rice), ika no shiokara(marinated salted squid) It’s a Japanese common side-dish that you can give a try.

  • Kelp

Kelp is known as kombu in Japan. It’s one of the important ingredients of Japanese cuisine. Japan is not the only country that can be found worldwide. But most Japanese kelps are harvested in Hokkaido. There are different varieties of kelps sold at Hakodate Asaichi that you can look around.

Squid Fishing

Catch a live squid from the water pond by yourself, the chef will trim and julienne it. Then enjoy the fresh dish that local people called squid soba right away. 

The Fresh And Joyful Squid Fishing At Hakodate Asaichi

Seafood Meals

After strolling around the Hakodate Asaichi, you may feel hungry or have a desire to try Hokkaido seafood. Here is a list of restaurants that I recommend.

Restaurants Around Hakodate Morning Market

The Local Secret Ramen Shop

If you like to explore the shop that local people eat daily, then this shop you should try. It’s a small ramen shop. The price is cheap and cheerful. The popular meal is seafood ramen. The only issue is the shop is tiny, so if you’re traveling families may need to consider this.

The Local Secret Ramen Sop – Hakodate Ramen Kamome

How To Eat Ramen Like A Pro

Information

Business Hours: 6:00 – 14:00/Jan. -Apr., 5:00 – 14:00/May-Dec. Open year-round (differ from store to store)

Contact : +81-120-858-313(+81-138-22-7981) 

Address: 9-19 Wakamatsu-cho, Hakodate-shi, Hokkaido