Hokkaido (Kita no Aji Kiko to Jizake Hokkaido) Japan Guide for Tourists: King Crab, Hokke Fish & Northern Seafood Feasts

Quick Facts

What it is

Kita no Aji Kiko to Jizake Hokkaido (北の味紀行と地酒 北海道), operated by restaurant titan REINS International (part of Colowide Group), was founded on the enticing promise: "Experience the full culinary wonder of Hokkaido without needing a flight to Sapporo." Designed as an upscale regional specialty tavern, the restaurant flies fresh seafood and ingredients straight from the subarctic waters and fertile pastures of northern Japan. Guests can feast on *steamed Red King Crab (Taraba-gani) and Snow Crab (Zuwai-gani) legs, colossal charcoal-grilled Okhotsk Hokke (Atka mackerel) with sizzling fatty skin, sizzling cast-iron Jingisukan (Genghis Khan grilled lamb)*, and refreshing Hokkaido Ramen Salad, all while sipping artisanal regional sakes in comfortable private tatami suites.

How to order

Dining at Hokkaido is luxurious, peaceful, and frictionless:

1. Be seated in a private room: Enter the restaurant. Staff dressed in Japanese attire will guide your party into a spacious private room with wooden sliding doors or an intimate booth.
2. Evening Otoshi starter: At dinnertime, a seasonal Hokkaido-themed appetizer (Otoshi, ~¥450–¥550) will be served with a warm damp hand towel (oshibori). At lunch, table charge is ¥0.
3. Switch tablet to English: Pick up the tabletop touchscreen tablet and tap "English" at the top corner.
4. Order regional drinks first:
   • Sapporo Classic Beer: Hokkaido's exclusive flagship draft beer, rarely served outside Hokkaido except at specialty venues like this!
   • Hokkaido Jizake (Local Sake): Premium sakes from celebrated northern breweries like Otokoyama (Asahikawa) and Kunigame (Mashike).
   • Yubari Melon Sour: Sweet, aromatic cocktail made with genuine Yubari melon juice.
5. Order signature northern delicacies:
   • Steamed King & Snow Crab Platter (蟹盛り合わせ): Massive crab legs pre-cracked for easy extraction, served with crab vinegar (kani-zu).
   • Grilled Hokke (特大 縞ホッケの一夜干し): Enormous dried Atka mackerel grilled over open flame until juices bubble.
   • Jingisukan Lamb Skillet (ジンギスカン): Tender lamb meat and onions grilled on a sizzling domed iron hotplate with sweet garlic soy sauce.
   • Hokkaido Ramen Salad (ラーメンサラダ): Chilled ramen noodles tossed with fresh crisp vegetables, corn, and creamy sesame dressing.
   • Fried Potato Mochi (いももち): Chewy Hokkaido potato cakes pan-fried in sweet soy glaze and melted butter.
6. Track your bill & call staff: The tablet allows you to monitor your running total or request free ice water and tea with a single tap.
7. Pay at the register: Tap "Checkout" on the tablet, carry your wooden table number plaque to the front register, and pay with cash, credit card, Suica, or smartphone QR codes.

What to order first

Dishes below reflect core brand staples officially featured on the Hokkaido Official Website and verified row records:

• *Boiled King & Snow Crab Leg Assortment (タラバ蟹・ズワイ蟹の盛り合わせ)*: Plump, succulent crab meat bursting with sweet oceanic brine, served chilled with crab forks and dipping vinegar (~¥2,800–¥4,200 tax-included as of October 2026).
• *Giant Okhotsk Hokke Dried Mackerel (特大 ホッケの一夜干し)*: A colossal whole grilled fish spanning the length of the platter, bursting with rich savory oils (~¥1,380–¥1,880).
• *Teppan Jingisukan Lamb (特製 鉄板ジンギスカン)*: Tender Australian lamb slices seasoned in house garlic apple soy glaze, sizzled with bean sprouts and onions (~¥1,180–¥1,480).
• *Original Hokkaido Ramen Salad (元祖 北海道ラーメンサラダ)*: Sapporo's famous banquet staple; springy yellow noodles with fresh greens, sweet corn, and roasted sesame sauce (~¥780–¥880).
• *Luncitime Kaisen-Don / Teishoku Sets (ランチ海鮮丼・定食)*: Bountiful midday bowls piled with salmon, scallops, and salmon roe with miso soup (~¥1,100–¥1,600).

Payment & practical info

• Pricing & Value: Mid-to-high tier regional izakaya; dinner with premium crab legs, grilled fish, and Hokkaido draft beer averages ¥3,500–¥5,000 per person. Lunch sets are a tremendous budget value under ¥1,500.
• Cover Charges: Lunch has zero cover charge (¥0). Dinner includes an authentic izakaya table appetizer fee (Otoshi, ~¥450–¥550), which features a seasonal northern appetizer.
• Payment Methods: Accepts Japanese Yen cash, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners Club, UnionPay), Japanese transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA), electronic money (iD, QUICPay), and mobile QR codes (PayPay, d-barai, 楽天ペイ).
• Atmosphere: Refined, tranquil, and comfortable. Featuring traditional Ainu-inspired wood carvings, sliding shoji partitions, and sunken kotatsu (Horigotatsu) seating that allows guests to sit naturally.
• Family & Group Friendly: Private rooms accommodate intimate couples up to large tour groups with zero room rental charges.

Good to know / Common mistakes

• Crab eating made easy: The kitchen pre-scores and splits the thick crab shells with heavy shears before serving. Use the long two-pronged metal crab fork (kani-fōku) provided on your table to slide whole strips of crab meat out in one clean piece!
• Sapporo Classic rarity: In Japan, "Sapporo Classic" beer is legally restricted almost exclusively to Hokkaido prefecture. Drinking it on draft at this chain in Tokyo is a rare treat!
• The giant size of Hokke: The grilled Hokke mackerel is massive—often measuring over 30 cm long. It is meant to be shared between 2 to 4 people.
• Lunch budget hack: If you want to savor northern seafood without dinner prices, visit for weekday lunch between 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM for gorgeous sashimi rice bowls.
• No tipping: Tipping is never accepted. Pay the exact bill at the front desk.

Sources

• Hokkaido Official Website: https://www.hokkaido-aji.com/ (Verified: 2026-10-01)
• REINS International Corporate Portal: https://www.reins.co.jp/ (Verified: 2026-10-01)