When planning your itinerary, inevitably you'll wonder what to eat in Hokkaido. From “Very delicious!” to “This is a bit different,” Hokkaido is a treasure trove of unique food, known for its seafood, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and other fresh farm produce.
These culinary delights attract tourists from all over the world, so we asked tourists from abroad to share what are the must-eat foods in Hokkaido.
*The following are the personal impressions of those interviewed.
‘So different to Chinese ramen!’ The unique evolution of Hokkaido ramen
A Chinese man commenting on Hokkaido ramen said, “Japanese people sometimes call ramen ‘Chinese noodles,’ but normal Chinese noodles have a texture similar to udon noodles and are completely different from ramen. Hokkaido's ramen has a wide variety of flavors and tastes differ depending on the shop and region, so you’ll never get tired of eating it. Hokkaido ramen shops have also expanded into China as ‘Japanese-style ramen,’ but home-cooked ramen is exceptional – especially during cold winters, when it warms your body and soul and makes you happy.”
Ramen is popular all over the world but seems to be especially sought after by Chinese and Taiwanese tourists. Perhaps that’s due to its Chinese origin. In Hokkaido, Sapporo, Hakodate, and Asahikawa varieties are renowned, and eating delicious ramen is the main event for many sightseers.
Recently, the growth of the ramen scene has continued with “evolution-type ramen,” which uses unique ingredients and cooking methods, and extra-large servings gaining popularity. The ramen “battlefield” is about to heat up even more! Ramen should definitely be on your list of what to eat in Hokkaido.
‘Full of local cuisine!’ Trying Hokkaido’s “ekiben”
“I often travel in Hokkaido for work, and I look forward to eating an ‘ekiben’ on the train,” said one man from Thailand. “I think it's only in Japan that you can buy a local food bento (lunchbox) at the station. I like the Hokkaido seafood ekiben in Kushiro and Hakodate, and the Obihiro pork bowl is also delicious. It's a shame that I can't buy ekiben or beer in the train carriage because on-board sales have stopped in recent years.”
Ekiben, or “station lunchboxes” like those found in Japan do seem to be a rarity around the world, and tourists are often surprised by the variety and great taste of lunchbox meals. Hokkaido ekiben are exceptional, and beyond the taste and color, their designs are eye-catching.
Tomakomai Station’s salmon sushi bento is wrapped in paper that features illustrations made by a local manga artist…
