In early November 2020, my family visited "Otaru Masazushi Zenan" to celebrate a special occasion. The main guest, who is turning 90 this year, wanted to eat sushi, so we chose this place. The restaurant is located on the second floor, but there is an elevator available. Despite being a sister store of Masazushi, the place was not crowded due to the current situation, and we were seated in a room that can accommodate around 20 people. We each ordered our favorite dishes, and I had a ponzu sake, appetizers, and sushi for the finale. The dishes we ordered were: Squid Somen (1,370 yen), Hoya and its innards salad (800 yen), Homemade salted fish roe (390 yen), Masazushi's selected sushi (4,500 yen), and Matsumidori Junmai Daiginjo sake (820 yen per glass). The squid somen was served in a special sauce with quail eggs and sea urchin, which made it exceptional. The combination of hoya and its innards was new to me but paired well with the sake. The homemade salted fish roe was a bit salty for my taste. The selected sushi included fatty tuna, botan shrimp, shrimp miso, octopus, white fish, salmon, scallop, hokkigai clam, snow crab, sea urchin, and salmon roe, all of which were satisfying and had a comforting taste. Mixing the shrimp miso with sea urchin was particularly delicious. Despite coming here for sushi, the main guest ended up eating Wagyu steak, and even ordered additional sushi sets later, so I guess they were too full to fully enjoy the meal! Overall, it was a delightful dining experience.

Otaru Honten, Zen-An, with two branches in Tokyo, and also an outlet in Nagoya and Thailand, is a popular restaurant known for its long history. Arriving in Otaru close to 2 o'clock, I decided to stop by for lunch but was told there would be a wait of over an hour due to no reservation. The customers in line all seemed to be tourists. Since I had already had Evig's bread, I wondered if I could hold out until dinner. I made a reservation and returned for dinner. After visiting an art museum, I arrived at the restaurant at 5 o'clock. I was guided to a nice seat with a view of the Otaru Canal. The evening scene unfolding in the soft light typical of Otaru was very gentle. A bus carrying school trip students arrived at a corner of the canal. I could see the students getting off the bus and dispersing for free time. I'm glad I came to Otaru. Please make wonderful memories. Now, this is my second time at Zen-An. The spacious parking lot allows you to take your time and relax. The Hokkaido-style squid noodle set looked delicious, so I ordered the Masu Sushi set. I am grateful for the words "no additives" that were said when I first visited Masu Sushi. When I visit Otaru, I always use Masu Sushi for safe and secure food. The fresh squid noodle had a good texture and was very satisfying. As expected, it was delicious. Furthermore, I was thrilled to find sea urchin inside! Even though it was small, it was delicious and satisfying. When I became a LINE friend, I learned that there would be a lottery, so I immediately registered on the spot. I won a prize for one seared fatty tuna. It was a great birthday present. I was grateful and happy. The sushi was also fresh and chewy. The salmon, salmon roe, sweet shrimp, and fatty tuna were all delicious. The tofu salad was also delicious. I was thinking of ordering sea urchin later, but this course of 7 sushi dishes was very satisfying and filling. Otaru is a great place, I want to go there again... In this never-ending era of COVID, it seemed that the number of tourists had decreased significantly. Tourist spots were not as crowded, and it would be great if we could create a good space where people could interact with each other with consideration and smiles. Thank you for the meal. I look forward to the next opportunity to go again.

I visited this restaurant while on a business trip nearby. The atmosphere inside was calm and the seats were spacious, which was nice. It was a Saturday afternoon, but when I arrived about 30 minutes before the last order, I only had to wait for about 10 minutes. The service was polite and the sushi was fresh. It wasn't overflowing with ikura as they claimed, but overall I was satisfied.

It was delicious, but considering I paid 11,000 yen per person, it felt overpriced. The octopus and scallop sashimi were tasty, but the tuna was just okay. Overall, there were some hits and misses. You can find similar dishes in the city without having to go out of your way while traveling. If it was 11,000 yen for two people, it would have been reasonable. Even considering tourist prices, it still felt too expensive.

In the morning, after exploring Otaru Canal and the town, we went to "Otaru Masazushi Zenan" to eat sushi. We had reserved the course "10 pieces of nigiri sushi 'Akane'". Each piece was delicious, but 10 pieces were not enough to fill our stomachs. Thank you for the meal.

I made a reservation for a high-grade sushi experience through Tabelog. I enjoyed 12 pieces including Botan Ebi, Uni, and Otoro, and added Ikasomen personally. It was hot, so I paired it with beer. The sushi in Otaru is truly exceptional. Unlike my visit a few years ago, ordering was done through touch panels like in a family restaurant, and there were serving robots. If you don't have a reservation, you'll have to wait in line, as they stop accepting customers at 7:00 PM. I highly recommend making a reservation.

Otaru's "Otaru Masazushi Zenan" is a popular sushi restaurant in Otaru with multiple locations. I tried the "Sapporo Classic" set which includes 7 pieces of nigiri sushi for 3850 yen. Each piece costs 550 yen. I found the taste to be mediocre compared to other high-end conveyor belt sushi places in the area. I couldn't understand why this place is so popular. The presentation was messy and disappointing. While I understand that prices can be higher in tourist areas, I hope they can improve the quality of their sushi and presentation. I left feeling unsatisfied. #HakodateGourmet

This is a modern sushi restaurant located just across the intersection from the viewpoint of Otaru Canal. It is a branch of the famous Otaru Masazushi, as the main store is closed on the day of my visit, I made a reservation here instead. Despite being a weekday, it is very popular so reservations are essential. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is great, I was very satisfied with my experience.

Hmm... It's been a while since I visited Hokkaido, and when it comes to Otaru, I had high expectations after researching a lot of seafood reviews and travel magazines. However, the taste of the seafood was disappointing and not as good as expected. I wonder why all the reviews were so positive... It's a shame.

I visited on Wednesday afternoon and had the "HAGI" set consisting of 7 pieces of sushi for 3,300 yen. Each piece was delicious and satisfying, but considering the price and location, I expected this level of quality. I had requested a counter seat when making the reservation, but I was disappointed to find that it was not the traditional counter where you sit facing the chef, but rather a counter seat by a glass window where you could see outside.

I went to eat seafood bowl at Sankaku Market, and although the excitement for seafood was a bit diminished since I had it recently, it was still delicious. We were able to get in with about a 15-minute wait on a weekday at 6 p.m. The location is great, overlooking the Otaru Canal, and having a parking lot is convenient. I think there are other places where you can enjoy even tastier food for the price. The location is good and the food is decent. Otaru has a lot of seafood restaurants, so it can be overwhelming. If you're looking for a seafood bowl, I recommend Sankaku Market.

I went on my first sightseeing trip to Otaru with a friend and we made reservations based on various online research. We decided to splurge on the Takumi course for 6000 yen. Unfortunately, the appearance of the dishes did not live up to our expectations and we were not impressed. The sushi rice was also scattered on the plate. The composition of the sushi was different from what I am used to, and it did not suit my taste. When we left, there was a long line of waiting customers. I guess it's unavoidable at a tourist spot. Next time, I will try going to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant.

I came to Otaru for the first time! There are more shops lining the streets than I thought, and it's very lively. There are many glass craft shops and LeTAO here. So, I decided to look for a good sushi restaurant with a view of the Otaru Canal on Tabelog and made a reservation. Unfortunately, it was raining, so it was not as crowded as I expected, but it's still a popular place - it was full within 30 minutes of opening. I'm glad I made a reservation! The sushi was fresh and had no fishy smell, and the special items that can only be found here were delicious. However, as someone who prefers Edo-style sushi, I probably won't make a reservation next time.

I visited on a Sunday afternoon. I was aiming for lunch, but they closed before 14:30, so I had to wait for about 5 minutes after they reopened at 17:00. Reservations are required. The taste was average and the cost performance was not that great as I expected. The squid somen was delicious. The seats with a view of the canal were very nice.

While watching a game at the new Hokkaido Escon Field, the writer also went on a cafe tour in Sapporo. On the final day, they took a little trip to Otaru for sightseeing. They first had a meal at the renowned sushi restaurant "Otaru Masazushi Zenan" located in front of the Otaru Canal. They ordered the ⭐️ Nigiri Set ~TAKUMI~ for 5,500 yen, which is a selection of 12 carefully chosen nigiri sushi pieces that represent Hokkaido. The sushi included items like fatty tuna, large shrimp, shrimp miso, seasonal white fish, seared medium fatty tuna, scallop, surf clam, sea urchin, salmon roe, and three seasonal nigiri pieces. Otaru is known for its fresh seafood from fishing ports like Ishizaki, Shiotani, and Shinoro, where freshly caught fish is served. The chefs in Otaru constantly refine their skills to meet the high standards of the local residents, which is why Otaru's sushi is so delicious. Enjoying the fresh Ezo-style sushi while overlooking the Otaru Canal was a delightful experience. The writer recommends arriving early for lunch as the restaurant tends to get crowded.

This branch has different operating hours from the main store, so this place is recommended when the main store is closed. However, during lunchtime, seating at the counter is by reservation only, even if there are empty seats, it is not allowed. So, it is recommended to make a reservation in advance if you want to eat here. Credit cards are accepted. Non-smoking.

Today was a snowy scenery. The view of Otaru and the sushi were both amazing. I had the most popular lunch set, Akane, for 3,300 yen, and also tried the sea urchin as a single item. Everything was delicious, but the botan shrimp, fatty tuna, and sea urchin were exceptional! I would love to come back in other seasons as well.

At 12:10, my wife, daughter, and I visited this restaurant for the first time and we were the second group on the waiting list for a full house. We were seated after about 15 minutes, possibly due to a shortage of sushi chefs or as a precaution against Omicron. The background music was instrumental, including R. Crumb. The service from the hall staff and waiters was pleasant. I ordered the "Seiji Sushi Set", while my wife and daughter ordered the "Akane Nigiri". The food arrived in about 10 minutes, and we felt like tourists as we eagerly dug in. The "Shari" was exactly to our liking, perfectly seasoned and textured. The tarako sushi was a first for us, and my wife found it to be a bit disappointing. The uni with squid sashimi was not in season, but still decent. Despite the poor winter environment at the entrance, this restaurant is a great place to enjoy a leisurely meal. The "Seiji Sushi Set" costs 3,850 yen, while the "Akane" costs 3,000 yen. Thank you for the delicious meal!

We used the couple plan at the end of 2022. It was my partner's first time in Hokkaido, and my second. As a reward for our hard work this year, we decided to splurge on sushi in Otaru! The food, drinks, and snowy scenery were all amazing. The sushi in particular was so delicious that I would love to visit again. There were two things that slightly disappointed me. First, when we arrived 10 minutes early for our 5 pm reservation, there were a few couples waiting around the register area. We sat and waited for a staff member to seat us, but another couple who arrived after us (around 5 pm exactly) was seated first. It seemed like they also had a reservation, but I wish they had seated us in the order we arrived. Second, the timing of the course meal was a bit off. There were about 7-8 dishes in total, with the first 4 dishes coming out all at once. I ate quickly, so I ended up waiting and just drinking Sapporo Classic beer until the next main dish arrived (which took quite a while, even though it was a 2-hour course). The restaurant seemed quite busy, so I understand that this may be unavoidable. Overall, these were just minor issues and didn't affect our dining experience. The restaurant seemed very popular, and it left a good impression on me. I would like to visit their Tokyo branch as well. Thank you for the meal. It was a great memory from our Hokkaido trip.

Lunch Akane 3300 yen After moving from Sapporo to Otaru, we went on an art museum tour. Instead of just going to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, we decided to try something different in Otaru. So, we headed to this place, which is a branch of a rival sushi restaurant featured in the famous sushi manga "Shota no Sushi"... The lunch set we had included herring, two servings of lean tuna, medium fatty tuna, octopus with raw squid legs, Tokishirazu (type of fish), salmon roe and sea urchin, red shrimp, scallop, and yellowtail. Originally, it was supposed to come with spicy cod roe, but they kindly switched it to tuna lean meat for us. Maybe because it was close to the end of lunch hours, who knows. The lean tuna was really delicious! (In my opinion, even better than the medium fatty tuna). And the highlight was the herring sushi, which was served raw! In Kansai, herring is usually cooked hard in dishes like "nishin soba", so it was my first time having it raw. The knife work was so delicate that when I put it in my mouth and started chewing, it just unraveled. It had a sticky and tender texture like horse mackerel, with tiny bones giving it a complex mouthfeel. I wanted to savor it in my mouth forever, and even my wife and daughter were impressed by it... My wife had the same lunch set as me, while my middle school daughter was moved by the salmon roe bowl. The salmon roe was not the popping kind but rather a moist and tender type. Of course, it was marinated in soy sauce, and it was incredibly delicious. Since the bowl was small and cute, I thought she would ask me to try just a bite if she said it was good. And indeed, she asked me to have a small bite. As the memorable time passed, I glanced around the restaurant and noticed an elderly staff member confidently taking orders from a foreigner in fluent English. Otaru seems to be full of people from Asian countries. At the Otaru Canal, people were speaking in at least three different languages when asking for photos to be taken... For a snack break, I recommend heading to "Kani Ei Factory Store" about a 5-minute walk away for their bread rolls or the limited edition pandome bread. They also have craft beer from Otaru. (Note: It might take a little longer to walk there due to snowy roads.)

I went to a famous restaurant in Otaru. It's cold and the snow is heavy, making it difficult to walk. Living in a snowy region is tough after all. It was a Sunday and I didn't make a reservation, but since it was a little after 11 am and the restaurant was spacious, I was able to enter without waiting. I ordered the famous squid noodles with sushi set and a bottle of beer. Wow, the snow view with sake was amazing!! The classic beer was delicious! Also, being close to the sea, the sushi was really tasty. The tuna, salmon roe, and flounder were all fresh. I feel so lucky to be able to eat my favorite sushi for lunch. When you visit Sapporo, be sure to visit Otaru, which is only about 30 minutes away by train.

Local people often say that when it comes to sushi restaurants in Otaru, 8 out of 10 people will mention "Otaru Masazushi" as the top choice. This time, when trying to make a reservation for a gathering of 10 people, the main store was fully booked. However, we were able to secure a reservation at "Otaru Masazushi Zenan," which is located right in front of the Otaru Canal, a prime tourist spot. The first floor is a parking lot, and the second floor is where the restaurant is located. Upon entering, the restaurant was already covered in snow, creating a picturesque scene. There are counter seats, table seats, and private rooms available. We opted for the 8,000 yen course this time. To be honest, the amount of food served for 8,000 yen was quite overwhelming, especially for older individuals. The course included a separate charge for a draft beer, steamed abalone, vinegar dish with seaweed, chrysanthemum, and cucumber, simmered dish of yellowtail and bamboo shoots, tea-steamed egg custard with sea urchin, Kyoto-style grilled silver cod, tempura with prawns, shiitake mushrooms, and green pepper, sushi with tuna, amberjack, salmon, scallop, and sea urchin, along with miso soup, and a dessert of matcha roll cake with strawberries. Despite being full, the food was delicious, and everyone left satisfied, commenting "As expected of Otaru Masazushi!" The restaurant was bustling with customers waiting for a table inside.