A Walk Through Nijo Market and a Feast of Fresh King Crab

After our visit to Tanukikoji Shopping Street, we made our way to Nijo Market (Nijō Ichiba), a bustling seafood market with a history spanning more than 120 years. Established during the Meiji era by fishermen selling their daily catch, the market has grown into one of Sapporo's best-known destinations for fresh Hokkaido seafood. Like many visitors to Sapporo, we wanted to experience for ourselves what makes this market so popular. Rows of stalls displayed an impressive variety of seafood, from scallops, sea urchins and salmon roe to some of the finest crabs in Japan.

Hokkaido's cold, nutrient-rich waters produce crabs renowned for their sweet, firm and flavourful meat. The three most popular varieties are King Crab (Taraba-gani), Snow Crab (Zuwai-gani) and Hairy Crab (Kegani). King Crab is the largest, prized for its thick, meaty legs and succulent flesh. Snow Crab has long, slender legs and a delicate sweetness, making it a favourite for hot pots and sashimi. Hairy Crab, although much smaller, is regarded by many Japanese as the tastiest because of its rich, creamy crab roe (kani miso) and intensely sweet meat.

After wandering through the market, we turned into a quieter row of shops away from the main thoroughfare. At one of the less conspicuous seafood stores, the friendly owner, who spoke a little English, pointed to a Red King Crab priced at ¥7,000 (RM175.00). The price included steaming the crab and serving it at the adjoining restaurant. It sounded like an irresistible deal, and with such a rare opportunity to enjoy freshly cooked Hokkaido King Crab in Japan, we accepted the offer without hesitation.

A short while later, the beautifully steamed crab was brought to our table. The thick, succulent meat was incredibly fresh, naturally sweet and remarkably tender. Every bite reminded us why Hokkaido is famous for its seafood. What began as a casual stroll through Nijo Market turned into one of the most memorable culinary experiences of our trip to Japan.

Plenty of fresh seafood on display for sale at Nijo Market.