{"id":19121,"date":"2018-04-13T12:21:09","date_gmt":"2018-04-13T11:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=19121"},"modified":"2018-04-13T09:07:12","modified_gmt":"2018-04-13T08:07:12","slug":"food-experiences-hokkaido","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/13\/food-experiences-hokkaido\/","title":{"rendered":"Four top food experiences in Hokkaido"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19121&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19121\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19121&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19121&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19121%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19121\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19121\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Last year Brock, our social media guru and Japan first-timer, headed to Japan&#8217;s lesser trodden northernmost island of Hokkaido. Having arrived as a seafood sceptic, he found more than a few surprises.<\/strong><br \/>\n<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-half-width wp-image-19136\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Serving-Katte-don-at-Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-6-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Serving-Katte-don-at-Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-6-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Serving-Katte-don-at-Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-6-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Serving-Katte-don-at-Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-6-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Serving-Katte-don-at-Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-6-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Serving-Katte-don-at-Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-6-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Serving-Katte-don-at-Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-6-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Serving-Katte-don-at-Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-6-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Serving-Katte-don-at-Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-6-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Serving-Katte-don-at-Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-6-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Serving-Katte-don-at-Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-6-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Serving-Katte-don-at-Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-6-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When I found out I was heading to Hokkaido for a whirlwind adventure, the first thing that the travel consultants said to me was: \u201cI hope you like seafood\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now I\u2019ll be the first to admit that while I have no problem with seafood, it\u2019s not my go-to food of choice and I was very inexperienced in the world of crustaceans and octopi. All that was about to change; to my great surprise, I found myself not just coping with Hokkaido cuisine, but very much enjoying it!<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve pulled out my favourite food experiences in Hokkaido (only one of them doesn\u2019t involve sea-dwelling creatures). So if you are in the vicinity of any of these places, be sure to check them out.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Top four food experiences in Hokkaido<\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">1. Katte Don at Kushiro Washo-Ichiba Market<\/h2>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-half-width wp-image-19130\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kushiro-Washo-Ichiba-Market-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p>Washo Ichiba market is a good spot to lunch with the locals and taste some absolutely top notch sashimi. Entering the labyrinth of seafood stalls can initially feel a little daunting, but once you realise that the place isn\u2019t actually as large as you first thought, and everyone is very friendly, you\u2019ll soon feel comfortable. As you wander around the stalls looking at all the brightly coloured and intriguing seafood, try to spot someone serving <em>donburi<\/em>-rice. This is where your lunch begins\u2026<\/p>\n<p>In Japanese, \u201cKatte\u201d means to act on impulse or on a whim &#8211; a pleasant description for choosing your own seafood. After you have picked your bowl size and accompanying base of rice, head over to the katte-don counter that takes your fancy.. Give your rice bowl to the helpful server and decide how adventurous you want to be.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m going to be totally honest here. As this was my first lunch in Hokkaido, I played it relatively safe and went for mainly fish sashimi, but after tasting the melt-in-your-mouth tuna and flavourful crab, I was willing to be more adventurous on the rest of the trip. For anyone reading this thinking \u2018there is no way I\u2019m going to eat raw fish\u2019 I would urge you to give it a go; if you\u2019re going to enjoy it anywhere, it\u2019s going to be here.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, grab your soy sauce and wasabi and sit yourself at one of the tables dotted between the stalls. Watch the comings and goings of the marketplace and enjoy!<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">2. Japanese-style barbecue at Yakiniku-kappo Tamura<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-half-width wp-image-19124\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Yakiniku-kappo-Tamura-2-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Yakiniku-kappo-Tamura-2-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Yakiniku-kappo-Tamura-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Yakiniku-kappo-Tamura-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Yakiniku-kappo-Tamura-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Yakiniku-kappo-Tamura-2-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Yakiniku-kappo-Tamura-2-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Yakiniku-kappo-Tamura-2-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Yakiniku-kappo-Tamura-2-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Yakiniku-kappo-Tamura-2-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Yakiniku-kappo-Tamura-2-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Yakiniku-kappo-Tamura-2-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The single seafood-free meal on my list was experienced (yes, it was an \u2018experience\u2019) in Abashiri on the north-eastern coast of Hokkaido. I am a huge fan of the Japanese practice of cooking your food at the table; not only do you feel like the world\u2019s best chef but you also get your food hot off the grill! Sitting down in Tamura (whose d\u00e9cor is also pretty slick), you are confronted with a sizable gold-rimmed barbecue in the middle of the table for four people. Sharing is caring!<\/p>\n<p>I would fully recommend the beef rib, which I was told came from Hokkaido cattle; it certainly tasted top quality. The meat comes with a selection of vegetables, delicious dipping sauce and, naturally, a bowl of rice. The waiter will turn on your barbecue when you get to the table, so all that\u2019s left to do is to pick up your ornate tongs and get cooking.<\/p>\n<p>From a Western perspective, this is a great way to taste Japanese flavours without departing too far from the familiar. The interactive nature also makes it a much more social and fun affair; what better to talk about than some of the best beef you\u2019ve ever had, cooked by your very own self?<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">3. Ainu cuisine at Umizora no Haru, Sapporo<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-half-width wp-image-19138\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ainu-Cuisine-2-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ainu-Cuisine-2-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ainu-Cuisine-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ainu-Cuisine-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ainu-Cuisine-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ainu-Cuisine-2-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ainu-Cuisine-2-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ainu-Cuisine-2-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ainu-Cuisine-2-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ainu-Cuisine-2-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ainu-Cuisine-2-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ainu-Cuisine-2-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Everyone loves an <em>izakaya\u00a0<\/em>(Japanese inn)\u00a0so how about trying one with a Hokkaido twist? Internationally, there appears to be little knowledge of Hokkaido\u2019s indigenous race, the Ainu, so experiencing their culture is rarely on anyone\u2019s must-do list.<\/p>\n<p>Awareness of their unique traditions is slowly building, and the Shiraoi Ainu Museum will be getting a revamp over the next few years which will hopefully attract an international audience. If you want to go for something truly Hokkaido then experiencing even a little of Ainu culture is a great way to go\u2026 and what better way to experience a culture than through its food?<\/p>\n<p>Collaborating with the Ainu Museum in Shiraoi, Umizora no Haru in central Sapporo serves a modern twist on traditional Ainu cuisine (with Instagram-worthy presentation). A variety of delicious sashimi, venison and unique <em>sake<\/em> called Pashport make for a truly memorable meal.<\/p>\n<p>If you manage to book the private room inspired by the traditional Ainu \u2018chise\u2019 or house, then all the better.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">4. Sushi-Making Experience at Otaru Tatsumi Zushi<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_19139\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19139\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-half-width wp-image-19139\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Otaru3.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-19139\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>The pretty town of Otaru<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you wanted to give one of the most Japanese of dishes a go after watching\u00a0<em>Jiro Dreams of Sushi<\/em>, then the coastal town of Otaru is for you. Otaru, only half an hour away from Sapporo, is perfect for a day trip from the island\u2019s capital. It&#8217;s famous for\u2026 you guessed it\u2026 fresh seafood.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to leave it to Otaru Tatsumi Zushi\u2019s professional sushi chefs then I fully understand; top class sushi is an art form, not just in taste but in presentation too. But if you are in the mood for making Japanese food, this place will show you how it\u2019s done. Tie the handy paper napkin around your neck and slide on the plastic gloves (marking you out a sushi newbie) before joining the pros behind the counter.<\/p>\n<p>In case you were wondering, the main ingredients are all prepared in advance so don\u2019t worry about any prior sushi-making experience, or any prior cooking experience for that matter; this is definitely beginner level stuff. The sushi chefs make it look easy but you\u2019ll soon find that the simple act of shaping a handful of sticky rice is harder than it looks.<\/p>\n<p>After hand-crafting your lunch with the greatest care, tuck in with gusto and hope you didn\u2019t accidentally add more wasabi than you intended\u2026<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Hungry? Us too. For more information about Japan&#8217;s diverse foodie scene and food experiences in Hokkaido, <a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/IATFoodandDrink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">head to our Food &amp; Drink page<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! Last year Brock, our social media guru and Japan first-timer, headed to Japan&#8217;s lesser trodden northernmost island of Hokkaido. Having arrived as a seafood sceptic, he found more than a few surprises. Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2366,2355],"tags":[1625,1730,3724],"class_list":["post-19121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-japanese-food-and-drink","category-first-trip-to-japan","tag-hokkaido","tag-japanese-food","tag-food-in-hokkaido"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19121"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19121\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19145,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19121\/revisions\/19145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}