Hokkaido

The signature dish of the Tokachi region around Obihiro. Thick slices of pork loin are grilled, often over charcoal, glazed with a sweet soy-based sauce and served over rice. It is said to have been created in the early Showa era by an Obihiro diner that wanted to give hard-working farmers a hearty, energizing meal. The combination of smoky pork and sauce-soaked rice is simple but deeply satisfying. Each shop has its own sauce and cut of meat, and there are many specialist restaurants around Obihiro Station.

Typical price

¥1,000–1,800

Where

Obihiro and the Tokachi region

Sapporo's signature ramen: a rich miso broth with thick, wavy noodles, often topped with stir-fried bean sprouts, minced pork, corn and a pat of butter. A layer of lard on the surface keeps the soup hot to the last sip, even in the depths of winter. It is said to have been born at a Sapporo ramen shop before spreading across Japan. Try it at Ramen Yokocho in Susukino or at popular shops around the city. On a snowy day, it warms you to the core.

Typical price

¥900–1,300

Where

Sapporo

The local ramen of Asahikawa, Hokkaido's second-largest city. Its double soup combines pork and chicken bone broth with seafood stock, seasoned with soy sauce. A film of lard on top seals in the heat, so it stays hot even when Asahikawa drops below freezing. The thin, wavy, low-moisture noodles hold the soup well. The city has many long-established shops, and at Asahikawa Ramen Village you can compare several famous ones. Pair it with a visit to Asahiyama Zoo.

Typical price

¥800–1,100

Where

Asahikawa

A salt-based ramen long eaten in the port city of Hakodate. Pork and chicken bones are simmered gently so the broth stays clear and light. It is served with thin, straight noodles and simple toppings such as roast pork, bamboo shoots and green onions. Some say its roots go back to Chinese cooking that arrived in the Meiji era, giving it one of the longest histories of any Japanese ramen. Try it around Hakodate Station or in the Motomachi area, perhaps as a light meal before seeing the famous night view.

Typical price

¥700–1,000

Where

Hakodate

A Sapporo-born curry with a thin, broth-like soup instead of a thick roux. It usually comes loaded with large pieces of fried vegetables and a bone-in chicken leg, and looks as good as it tastes. Scoop some rice with your spoon and dip it into the fragrant, spicy soup. Many shops let you choose the soup base, spice level and amount of rice, so you can make it your own. Sapporo has countless specialist shops, so comparing them is fun. If it is your first time, start with a mild spice level.

Typical price

¥1,200–1,800

Where

Sapporo

Hokkaido's beloved fried chicken. The chicken is well marinated in soy sauce, garlic and ginger before frying, giving it an irresistible aroma. Kushiro is said to be its birthplace, and locals sometimes eat it with a dipping sauce. How zangi differs from ordinary karaage varies by shop and area, but to people in Hokkaido, fried chicken is simply zangi. It is a staple at izakaya, in bento boxes and at home, and goes perfectly with a cold beer.

Typical price

¥500–900

Where

All over Hokkaido (said to originate in Kushiro)

Hokkaido's signature dish: lamb or mutton and vegetables grilled on a special dome-shaped iron pan. The meat juices run down to the edge of the pan and soak into the bean sprouts and onions. There are two styles: meat marinated in sauce before grilling, or grilled plain and dipped in sauce afterwards. Locals enjoy it at home, at cherry-blossom parties and at barbecues. The smoke sticks to clothes easily, so use the apron most restaurants provide.

Typical price

¥1,500–3,000

Where

Sapporo and all over Hokkaido

A hot pot of salmon fillets and bones simmered in miso broth with cabbage, onion, potato and tofu. It is the specialty of Ishikari, at the mouth of the Ishikari River, and is said to come from meals eaten by fishermen in the Meiji era. A sprinkle of sansho pepper at the end adds a fresh aroma that brings out the salmon's flavor, and some places add butter for extra richness. Enjoy this Hokkaido home-style dish in autumn and winter, during salmon season. It warms you right through.

Typical price

¥1,500–3,000

Where

Ishikari and all over Hokkaido

A fishing-town dish of salmon fillets and vegetables such as cabbage, onion and carrot, steam-grilled on an iron plate with miso sauce. Once cooked, you flake the salmon and mix it with the vegetables as you eat. Theories about the name include that it can be made quickly (chatto) or that it was cooked by dad (chan). Adding butter makes it even richer. It is a staple at home and at barbecues in Hokkaido, and you will often find it at izakaya too.

Typical price

¥1,000–2,000

Where

All over Hokkaido

Squid stuffed with glutinous and regular rice and simmered in a sweet soy sauce. It is famous as an ekiben (station bento) from Mori Station on the Hakodate Line, and is said to have been created during wartime food shortages as a way to fill people up with less rice. The chewy rice soaks up the squid's flavor and the aroma of soy sauce. It is a favorite at station bento fairs across Japan and a classic Hokkaido souvenir. It is best warmed up before eating.

Typical price

¥600–1,000 per pack

Where

Mori (Mori Station, Hakodate Line)

A Hokkaido specialty of thinly sliced dried squid and kelp marinated in soy sauce, sake and mirin. The kelp releases a silky stickiness and umami, while the squid gives a pleasant chew. The name is said to come from the Matsumae domain, a source of kelp and dried squid in the Edo period. Luxurious versions include herring roe, and it is a popular New Year dish. It goes perfectly with rice or drinks and keeps well, making it a popular Hokkaido souvenir.

Typical price

¥500–1,500

Where

All over Hokkaido (famous around Hakodate)

A rice bowl topped generously with ikura, salmon roe separated and marinated in soy sauce. The roe pops in your mouth and releases a rich, creamy flavor. Autumn, when salmon are caught, is the season for fresh raw ikura. The classic place to eat it is at a market diner, such as Hakodate Morning Market or Sapporo's Nijo Market, and bowls combined with sea urchin or crab are also popular. Prices vary by season and shop, so check before you order.

Typical price

¥2,000–4,000

Where

Hakodate, Sapporo, Otaru and more

A luxurious Hokkaido rice bowl piled with fresh sea urchin. It is known for its rich sweetness and a texture that melts in your mouth. Hokkaido is home to northern purple and short-spined sea urchins, and areas such as the Shakotan Peninsula and Rishiri and Rebun islands are famous for them. The main season for fresh sea urchin is summer, when you can enjoy bowls made with the day's catch. Prices vary greatly by season, area and type, so check before ordering. Having it for breakfast at a morning market diner is a real treat.

Typical price

¥3,000–6,000

Where

Shakotan, Rishiri, Rebun, Hakodate and more

White chocolate sandwiched between crisp langue de chat cookies, made by Sapporo confectioner Ishiya. It is known across Japan as the classic Hokkaido souvenir. The light, crunchy cookie and smooth chocolate are what make it so popular. At Shiroi Koibito Park in Sapporo, you can tour the factory and try making sweets, and it is a popular attraction in its own right. You can buy it at airports, stations and souvenir shops all over Hokkaido. Seasonal packaging also appears from time to time.

Typical price

From about ¥800 per box

Where

All over Hokkaido (Shiroi Koibito Park in Sapporo)

Biscuits sandwiching a cream made with Hokkaido butter and raisins. The Marusei Butter Sandwich by Obihiro confectioner Rokkatei is especially famous and has become a classic Hokkaido souvenir. The crumbly biscuit, rich butter cream and raisins with a hint of liqueur make a delightful combination. Chilling it in the fridge firms up the cream and gives a different texture. You can find it at airports and stations around Hokkaido.

Typical price

From about ¥800 per box

Where

All over Hokkaido (main store in Obihiro)

A baumkuchen made by Obihiro confectioner Ryugetsu. It is coated in white and dark chocolate so that it looks like a birch log. The name comes from the firewood used in the pioneer days, which was cut to six sun (about 18 cm) on each of three sides. The moist cake and sweet chocolate go well together, and because it is sliced to share, it makes a great souvenir for the family. You can buy it in the Tokachi region and at souvenir shops all over Hokkaido.

Typical price

¥700–1,000

Where

Obihiro and all over Hokkaido