Hokkaido is famous for its fresh seafood cuisine, which is one of the highlights of traveling in the region. While visiting markets and restaurants to enjoy delicacies such as crab, salmon roe, sea urchin, and scallops is always a great option, in recent years, seafood all-you-can-eat buffets at hotels and ryokan have also become increasingly popular. In this article, Nana Iwai, a hotel writer who visits over 100 accommodations each year, has carefully selected 10 hotels and ryokan where you can fully enjoy the unique flavors of Hokkaido, including sushi, seafood don (seafood rice bowls), and all-you-can-eat crab. Please use this as a reference when choosing your accommodation.
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Hokkaido is Famous for Seafood! Representative Seafood Ingredients
Hokkaido is surrounded by the Sea of Okhotsk, the Sea of Japan, and the Pacific Ocean, making it a treasure trove of fresh seafood. It is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Japan who wants to enjoy a wide variety of ocean delicacies, including crab, salmon roe, sea urchin, and scallops.
Crab
Hokkaido is synonymous with crab when it comes to seafood cuisine. The four most famous types of crab caught in Hokkaido are Red King Crab (Tarabagani), Snow Crab (Zuwaigani), Horsehair Crab (Kegani), and Hanasaki Crab. Red King Crab is known for its large, meaty legs and rich flavor. Snow Crab offers a delicate and refined sweetness. Horsehair Crab is prized not only for its meat but also for its rich crab miso (crab tomalley), while Hanasaki Crab is known for its firm texture and robust taste. Because crab fishing takes place in different regions throughout the year, you can enjoy crab in Hokkaido for much of the year. There are many ways to enjoy crab, such as grilled crab, crab shabu-shabu, crab hot pot, and simply boiled crab, all of which highlight the natural flavors of the ingredient.
Salmon Roe (Ikura)
Ikura, or salmon roe, is one of Japan’s most iconic seafood ingredients, made by curing salmon eggs in salt or soy sauce. Its vibrant orange color and glistening appearance are beautiful, and the unique popping texture in your mouth is truly delicious. In Hokkaido, the autumn salmon season brings an abundance of fresh ikura. With its rich umami and just the right amount of saltiness, it pairs perfectly with white rice. Ikura is commonly used in gunkan-maki (sushi wrapped in seaweed) and even in Western-style dishes such as pasta.
Scallops
Scallops, a type of shellfish, are especially well-known as a specialty of the Okhotsk Sea coast and the area around Funka Bay (Uchiura Bay), which are among the top production regions in Japan. The thick adductor muscle is prized for its strong sweetness and plump, springy texture. When fresh, the more you chew, the more umami flavor spreads in your mouth. Scallops are popular not only as sashimi, enjoyed raw, but also as toppings for sushi and seafood rice bowls.
Scallops become even sweeter when cooked, so they are also commonly enjoyed grilled on the shell, sautéed in butter, or prepared in other grilled dishes. In Hokkaido, scallop farming is thriving, making it possible to enjoy them relatively stably throughout the year.
Sea Urchin
Sea urchin is a type of echinoderm that lives in the ocean. The part that is enjoyed as food is the yellowish gonads inside the shell. In Hokkaido, the Ezo Bafun Uni and Kita Murasaki Uni are especially famous. Ezo Bafun Uni is known for its rich, sweet flavor and vibrant orange color. On the other hand, Kita Murasaki Uni is characterized by its refined sweetness and smooth texture. The best season varies by region, but sea urchin is especially delicious from early summer through summer. Fresh sea urchin has little bitterness and a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture. If you visit Hokkaido, the fresh local sea urchin is a must-try delicacy.
Hotels and Ryokan in Hokkaido Where You Can Enjoy All-You-Can-Eat Seafood
In Hokkaido, there are many dreamlike hotels and ryokan where you can indulge in buffets and all-you-can-eat experiences featuring crab, salmon roe, sushi, seafood rice bowls, and more. This time, our hotel writer introduces accommodations that every seafood lover should stay at at least once.
Tomamu The Tower by Hoshino Resorts
This resort hotel lets you experience the great outdoors of Hokkaido. In the green season, you can feed animals, and in winter, you can enjoy horseback riding in a snowy wonderland, among other special activities.
The resort also features an observation spot with a view of the sea of clouds and an indoor pool, so staying for two nights or more is recommended. There are several types of spacious guest rooms over 50㎡, making it perfect for families and group trips.
If you want to enjoy seafood, the top recommendation is the buffet dining "hal," which has a crab and salmon theme. A wide variety of creative dishes made with seasonal Hokkaido ingredients, including salmon and crab, are available. The "Salmon and Salmon Roe Hand Roll Sushi" and "Crab Soup" prepared right in front of you are must-tries!
- Address: Nakatomamu, Shimukappu Village, Yufutsu District, Hokkaido
- Access: About 5 minutes by free shuttle bus from JR Tomamu Station
- Official Website: https://hoshinoresorts.com/ja/hotels/tomamuthetower/
- Reservations: Click Here
HOKUTEN NO OKA Lake Abashiri Tsuruga Resort
This hot spring resort hotel, themed around the nature of Okhotsk and the culture of northern peoples, stands quietly on the shores of Lake Abashiri. Located on a gentle hill overlooking the vast Hokkaido sky, it offers sweeping views of the majestic landscape and Lake Abashiri below.
Inside, the calm atmosphere is enhanced by wood-carved interiors and stylishly designed chairs. In addition to saunas and open-air baths, there is also a foot bath that can be enjoyed while fully clothed, allowing you to relax and unwind from your travels.
For dinner, the buffet restaurant “COTA” offers the “Okhotsk Buffet” with around 70 Japanese and Western dishes. At the seafood corner, you can find salmon, scallops, shrimp, tuna, and more, allowing you to create your own seafood rice bowl with your favorite toppings.
In addition, you can enjoy a wide variety of Hokkaido specialties such as teppanyaki and stone oven-baked pizza with your choice of toppings. This is a great choice not only for seafood lovers but also for those who want to experience the food culture of Okhotsk!
- Address: 159 Yobito, Abashiri, Hokkaido
- Access: About 20 minutes by free shuttle bus (advance reservation required) from Memanbetsu Airport
- Official Website: https://www.hokutennooka.com/
- Reservations: Click Here
Hakodate Yunokawa Onsen Umi to Akari / Hewitt Resort
This popular resort hotel is located in Yunokawa Onsen, one of Hokkaido’s three great hot spring areas, about five minutes by car from Hakodate Airport.
On the top floor, the infinity open-air bath offers a unique experience where you can soak in the hot spring while gazing out at the Hakodate sea and enjoying local sake.
At the buffet restaurant “Tsukifune,” breakfast features fresh seafood such as salmon, salmon roe, and tuna, served as sashimi or sushi. The seafood rice bowl, where you can pile on as much salmon roe as you like, is especially popular. Depending on the season, you may also find whelk, conger eel, and flying fish roe, allowing you to create a colorful and eye-catching bowl.
- Address: 3-9-20 Yunokawacho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
- Access: About 15 minutes by bus from Hakodate Airport, about 1 minute on foot after getting off at the Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden stop
- Official Website: https://hewitt-resort.com/hakodate-yunokawa/
- Reservations: Click Here
Hotel Mahoroba
This large hot spring hotel is located in Noboribetsu Onsen, one of Japan’s leading hot spring resorts and one of the three major hot spring areas in Hokkaido. The hotel features 31 different baths where you can enjoy four types of hot spring water, each with its own unique benefits, making it highly popular among hot spring enthusiasts.
There is a wide variety of guest rooms, from Japanese-style to Western-style, and some rooms even come with their own open-air baths.
For dinner, guests can enjoy a buffet at the dining venues “Liberty” and “GREEN TERRACE.”
The highlight is the all-you-can-eat crab! You can savor as much crab as you like, cracking it open yourself for a satisfying experience. The open kitchen also offers a live cooking atmosphere, with chefs grilling Hokkaido seafood such as scallops and shrimp right before your eyes. This hotel is perfect for those who want to fully enjoy both hot springs and the seafood delicacies of Hokkaido.
- Address: 65 Noboribetsu Onsen-cho, Noboribetsu-shi, Hokkaido
- Access: About 1 hour and 40 minutes by paid shuttle bus from Sapporo TV Tower
- Official Website: https://h-mahoroba.jp/
- Reservations: Click Here
Yunohama Hotel
This long-established hot spring hotel is located in Yunokawa Onsen, Hakodate. The main attraction is the natural hot spring water that flows directly from the source. Guest rooms and panoramic baths take advantage of the seaside location, offering sweeping views of the Tsugaru Strait. It is easily accessible, about 10 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport, making it convenient even for those traveling by public transportation. You can enjoy a relaxing hot spring experience unique to Hakodate while gazing out at the vast ocean.
At the buffet restaurant “Harunire,” both breakfast and dinner feature dishes made with seafood caught near Hakodate and seasonal ingredients.
For dinner, you can enjoy as much seafood as you like, including salmon, tuna, octopus, and yellowtail. Steamed dishes using hot spring steam are also a specialty here.
In addition, the live kitchen serves freshly made Hakodate Salt Ramen and teppanyaki-style Jingisukan (grilled lamb). Be sure to try the flavors of Hakodate together with Hokkaido wine or sake.
- Address: 1-2-30 Yukawacho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido
- Access: About 15 minutes by bus from Hakodate Airport
- Official Website: https://www.yunohama-hotel.com/
- Reservations: Click Here
Hakodate Kokusai Hotel
This city hotel is located in the Hakodate Bay Area, with easy access to Hakodate Morning Market and the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses.
In addition to high-quality guest rooms, the hotel features the panoramic natural hot spring bath “Shiomi-no-Yu.” The spacious bath overlooks Hakodate Bay, and you can enjoy a strong saline chloride hot spring with a salty taste similar to seawater, warming you to the core.
At the restaurant Azalea, the breakfast buffet is especially popular for its “Seafood Parfait,” made with fresh seafood from Hokkaido.
You can freely choose your favorite toppings and create your own original seafood rice bowl. Try different combinations as many times as you like to find your favorite mix.
- Address: 5-10 Otemachi, Hakodate, Hokkaido
- Access: About 8 minutes on foot from Hakodate Station
- Official Website: https://hakodate-kokusai.jp/
- Reservations: Here
La Vista Hakodate Bay
This popular hotel, representing the Hakodate Bay area, features a classical atmosphere inspired by the Taisho Romantic era. It is easily accessible from Hakodate Station and is the perfect base for sightseeing, including the Red Brick Warehouses and Hakodate Morning Market.
From the large windows in the guest rooms and throughout the hotel, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery unique to the bay area. The natural hot spring bath on the top floor offers views of Mount Hakodate and the port town.
At the buffet restaurant Kita no Banya, the breakfast buffet is famous for its seafood rice bowls, where you can pile on as much salmon roe and shrimp as you like. There is also a wide variety of grilled fish and seafood dishes, so you can enjoy Hokkaido’s fresh seafood to your heart’s content from the morning.
- Address: 12-6 Toyokawa-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
- Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Hakodate Station
- Official Website: https://dormy-hotels.com/resort/hotels/la_hakodate/
- Reservations: Here
JR Inn Hakodate
This hotel boasts an excellent location adjacent to JR Hakodate Station and within walking distance of the Hakodate Morning Market.
The interior is simple and calming, and the top floor features a large public bath with views of Hakodate Bay. There are also plenty of services to ensure a comfortable stay, such as a selection of pillows, making it a convenient choice for both sightseeing and business trips.
Breakfast is served on the first floor of the hotel at “Marukatsu Suisan,” where you can enjoy a buffet featuring a variety of dishes unique to Hokkaido.
You can also enjoy sushi served in a conveyor belt style, featuring fresh toppings typical of Hokkaido and Hakodate such as scallops, tuna, and shrimp.
*Salmon roe is served in a small bowl, limited to one per person.
- Address: 12-14 Wakamatsu-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
- Access: About 1 minute on foot from Hakodate Station
- Official website: https://www.jr-inn.jp/hakodate/
- Reservations: Click here
Vessel Inn Sapporo Nakajima Park
Located in the heart of Sapporo, this hotel boasts a lush natural setting adjacent to Nakajima Park. Nakajima Park has been selected as one of the “100 Best Urban Parks in Japan” and “100 Historic Parks in Japan,” allowing you to enjoy both the convenience of the city and a green, relaxing environment.
It is also conveniently located for easy access to Susukino, making it a popular base for sightseeing in Sapporo.
There is also a complimentary “Hokkaido Vanilla” soft serve ice cream service, where you can customize your toppings to your liking. It is perfect for a relaxing break after check-in or after a bath.
For breakfast, the Japanese and Western buffet is popular for its seafood rice bowls, which you can top with your favorite ingredients. About eight types of seafood are offered daily on a rotating basis, and it is a nice touch that salmon roe is available every day. Local specialties such as Jingisukan (grilled lamb) and Hokkaido ramen are also featured, so you can enjoy Hokkaido gourmet cuisine from the morning.
- Address: 4-1-2 Minami 9-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Access: About 1 minute on foot from Nakajima Koen Station
- Official website: https://www.vessel-hotel.jp/inn/sapporo/
- Reservations: Click here
Lake Saroma Tsuruga Resort
This resort hotel stands on the shores of Lake Saroma, Japan’s largest brackish lake. The hotel features guest rooms and open-air baths with views of the lake, allowing you to relax and enjoy the grandeur of nature.
The open and spacious location is another highlight, and the sunset, where the sky and lake seem to blend into one, is truly exceptional. You can spend a luxurious time gazing at Lake Saroma as its appearance changes from moment to moment.
For dinner at the buffet restaurant “La Mer,” you will find dishes that make the most of the bounty of the Okhotsk Sea and land. You can enjoy plenty of fresh seafood caught around Lake Saroma, as well as a wide variety of mountain and sea delicacies unique to Hokkaido.
At the live kitchen, freshly prepared grilled seafood and steak are served. This is a recommended accommodation for those who want to enjoy dishes made with plenty of Hokkaido ingredients.
- Address: 306-1 Sakaeura, Tokoro-cho, Kitami City, Hokkaido
- Access: About 1 hour by free shuttle bus (advance reservation required) from Memanbetsu Airport
- Official website: https://www.s-tsuruga.com/
- Reservation: Click here
Enjoy Hokkaido’s Seafood to Your Heart’s Content! A Special Stay at Hotels with All-You-Can-Eat Buffets
Hokkaido offers a wide variety of unique hotels and ryokan, from accommodations where you can enjoy a luxurious seafood rice bowl for breakfast to hot spring inns where you can indulge in all-you-can-eat crab for dinner. The 10 facilities introduced here are especially appealing for gourmet lovers, and are must-visit spots for seafood enthusiasts from a hotel writer’s perspective. Why not enjoy the unique flavors of Hokkaido along with sightseeing, hot springs, and breathtaking views, and make your trip a memorable one?
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