Sapporo

Spring (March to May)

Seasonal Foods:

1. Asparagus

   • Hokkaido-grown asparagus is tender and sweet, often served grilled, steamed, or in tempura.
   • Cost: Around ¥300–¥500 per bundle at markets or ¥800–¥1,500 in restaurants.
   • Where to Try:
     • Sapporo Central Wholesale Market (Curb Market): Fresh asparagus is sold directly by farmers.
     • Nemuro Hanamaru Sushi: A sushi restaurant where you can find seasonal vegetable tempura, including asparagus.

2. Spring Mountain Vegetables (Sansai)

   • Includes fiddlehead ferns (warabi), butterbur shoots (fuki), and bamboo shoots (takenoko). These are foraged and used in soups, tempura, or sautéed dishes.
   • Cost: ¥500–¥1,000 for a small portion in restaurants.
   • Where to Try:
     • Kani Honke: A traditional restaurant that incorporates sansai into its seasonal menu.
     • Local Izakayas (Japanese pubs): Many offer sansai dishes in spring.

3. Cherry Blossom-Themed Sweets

   • Sakura mochi and sakura-flavored ice cream are popular during hanami (cherry blossom viewing).
   • Cost: ¥200–¥500 per item.
   • Where to Try:
     • Kinotoya Café: Known for its seasonal sweets.
     • Maruyama Park: Vendors sell sakura-themed snacks during the cherry blossom season.

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Summer (June to August)

Seasonal Foods:

1. Melons (Yubari King Melon)

   • Hokkaido’s Yubari melons are famous for their sweetness and are often served as desserts or gifts.
   • Cost: ¥2,000–¥10,000 for a whole melon; ¥500–¥1,000 for a slice.
   • Where to Try:
     • Sapporo Central Wholesale Market: Fresh melons are sold and sampled.
     • Odori Park Summer Festival: Vendors often sell melon slices during the festival.

2. Sea Urchin (Uni)

   • Summer is the peak season for uni, known for its creamy texture and rich flavor.
   • Cost: ¥2,000–¥5,000 for a uni rice bowl (uni-don).
   • Where to Try:
     • Nijo Market: A seafood market where you can enjoy fresh uni-don.
     • Sushi Tanabe: A high-end sushi restaurant specializing in seasonal seafood.

3. Corn (Toukibi)

   • Hokkaido corn is sweet and juicy, often grilled and sold as street food.
   • Cost: ¥200–¥400 per cob.
   • Where to Try:
     • Odori Park Summer Festival: Grilled corn is a popular snack.
     • Farmers’ Markets: Look for fresh corn at local markets like the Sapporo Ekimae-dori Farmers’ Market.

4. Beer and Genghis Khan (Jingisukan)

   • Genghis Khan is a lamb barbecue dish, often paired with Sapporo Beer during summer beer gardens.
   • Cost: ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person.
   • Where to Try:
     • Sapporo Beer Garden: A must-visit for the full experience.
     • Odori Park Beer Garden: Held during the summer festival.

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Autumn (September to November)

Seasonal Foods:

1. Salmon (Sake)

   • Autumn is the season for salmon, often grilled, served as sashimi, or in hot pots.
   • Cost: ¥1,000–¥2,500 for a salmon dish.
   • Where to Try:
     • Nijo Market: Fresh salmon and salmon roe (ikura) are available.
     • Hyousetsu no Mon: A restaurant specializing in seafood hot pots.

2. Potatoes and Pumpkins

   • Hokkaido’s potatoes and kabocha pumpkins are hearty and flavorful, used in soups, croquettes, and stews.
   • Cost: ¥500–¥1,500 for a dish.
   • Where to Try:
     • Soup Curry GARAKU: Famous for its soup curry made with seasonal vegetables.
     • Farmers’ Markets: Fresh produce is widely available.

3. Matsutake Mushrooms

   • A prized autumn delicacy, often grilled or used in soups.
   • Cost: ¥5,000–¥10,000 for a small portion in high-end restaurants.
   • Where to Try:
     • Kaiseki Restaurants: Such as Hanamaru, which offer seasonal tasting menus.

4. Autumn Festivals

   • The Sapporo Autumn Fest in Odori Park features stalls offering seasonal dishes, including salmon, potatoes, and mushrooms.

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Winter (December to February)

Seasonal Foods:

1. Crab (Kani)

   • Hokkaido is famous for its snow crab (zuwaigani), king crab (tarabagani), and hairy crab (kegani). Winter is the best time to enjoy them.
   • Cost: ¥3,000–¥10,000 for a crab meal.
   • Where to Try:
     • Kani Honke: A renowned crab specialty restaurant.
     • Nijo Market: Fresh crabs can be purchased and cooked on-site.

2. Hot Pot (Nabe)

   • Ishikari Nabe, a salmon-based hot pot with miso broth, is a winter favorite.
   • Cost: ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person.
   • Where to Try:
     • Hyousetsu no Mon: Known for its Ishikari Nabe.
     • Local Izakayas: Many offer nabe dishes during winter.

3. Dairy Products

   • Hokkaido’s milk, cheese, and butter are especially rich and creamy. Winter desserts like cream puffs and cheesecakes are popular.
   • Cost: ¥300–¥1,000 per item.
   • Where to Try:
     • Kinotoya Bake: Famous for its cheese tarts.
     • Sapporo Sweets Café: Offers a variety of Hokkaido dairy-based desserts.

4. Sapporo Snow Festival Foods

   • During the Sapporo Snow Festival in February, food stalls serve hot bowls of ramen, grilled seafood, and sweet treats.
   • Cost: ¥500–¥1,500 per item.
   • Where to Try:
     • Odori Park and Susukino, where the festival is held.

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Local Etiquette and Customs

1. Seasonality is Key:

   • Japanese cuisine emphasizes eating foods at their peak season. When dining, ask for the "shun" (旬) menu, which highlights seasonal dishes.

2. Market Etiquette:

   • At markets like Nijo Market, it’s common to sample foods before purchasing. Vendors are friendly and often explain how to prepare or enjoy the items.

3. Sharing Meals:

   • When dining in groups, dishes are often shared. Use the opposite end of your chopsticks to serve others from shared plates.

4. Tipping:

   • Tipping is not customary in Japan. Instead, show appreciation by saying "gochisousama deshita" (thank you for the meal) after dining.

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Sapporo’s culinary scene is deeply tied to its seasons, offering visitors a chance to experience the freshest and most flavorful ingredients year-round. Whether you’re exploring markets, dining in restaurants, or attending festivals, you’ll find that each season brings its own unique delights.