Fisherman's restaurant Nakamuraya in Shakotan, Hokkaido - Akaguni Donburi (Ezobafun Uni) for 8,800 yen, Murasaki Uni Donburi for 4,180 yen. Located in the western part of Hokkaido, about a 2-hour drive from Sapporo, near the Nishidate Peninsula in Shakotan, close to the Hisaka fishing port, is the Nakamuraya restaurant specializing in fresh sea urchin bowls. The restaurant is popular alongside Misaki, which is just 20 seconds away (30 meters) from Nakamuraya, and both have long lines on weekends. The Shakotan Peninsula, jutting out into the Sea of Japan in western Hokkaido, is known for its beautiful blue sea, referred to as "Shakotan Blue". The sea is clear due to the lack of plankton, which means the kelp, a favorite food of sea urchins, grows well. Shakotan's kelp is of high quality, which in turn produces excellent sea urchin. Murasaki Uni is available from June to August, while Ezobafun Uni is only available in July and August. By August, the sea urchins begin to spawn, causing the taste to deteriorate, making July the best time to enjoy them. In Hokkaido, sea urchins from Rebun Island, Aomori, Russia, and other regions are commonly found, but in Shakotan, almost all sea urchins are caught and consumed locally. The quality of the sea urchins from Shakotan is unmatched. Nakamuraya operates on a reservation system, unlike Misaki where you wait in line until you enter. Upon arrival at Hisaka fishing port around 10:30 am, we lined up at Misaki, then registered at Nakamuraya around 11:30 am. We entered Misaki at 12 pm, finished our meal by 12:30 pm, and were called to Nakamuraya at 12:35 pm. We chose the Akaguni Donburi (Ezobafun Uni) for 8,800 yen, which is the most expensive bowl of food we've ever had. The orange-colored uni was rich and sweet, with a lingering taste. My wife chose the Murasaki Uni Donburi for 4,180 yen. The quality of the Murasaki Uni was slightly less sweet and flavorful compared to Misaki. The uni appeared more melted and less defined compared to Misaki. Two years ago, we visited Shakotan and did a similar Misaki-Nakamuraya combo, both serving Murasaki Uni Donburi. The quality of the uni was noticeably different this time. Despite the higher price at Nakamuraya, the taste of the uni was exceptional. A Hokkaido native once said, "Those who have tasted Shakotan sea urchin will be cursed. Once you've experienced the taste of this uni, you won't be impressed by uni served in high-end restaurants in Sapporo, Ginza, or anywhere else." This statement holds true.

I rented a car from Sapporo to come and eat today's main dish, the fresh sea urchin bowl. The sea urchin fishing in Shakotan ends at the end of August, so I was worried if I could still eat it, but luckily I was able to. I really wanted to try the half and half bowl with red and white sea urchin, but it wasn't on the menu. My husband and I ordered separate bowls. The "Red Sea Urchin Bowl" was 8,800 yen with Ezo Bafun sea urchin, and the "Fresh Sea Urchin Bowl" was 4,290 yen with Murasaki sea urchin. This year, sea urchin was not caught much, so the price is double the usual. But this is the only time to eat Shakotan sea urchin! Let's savor it properly. We ordered white and red sea urchin bowls for two people, and they gave us a small bowl so we could have a half and half bowl. The red sea urchin is definitely the king of sea urchins with a strong sweetness. The white sea urchin is also sweet enough, like a gentle princess. Both were delicious. I would love to come back again next year. Thank you for the meal.

I ordered a red sea urchin bowl made with Ezo Bafun Uni. I have had sea urchin a few times since coming to Hokkaido, but this is on a different level. The taste is different from what I have had before, as it is a different type of sea urchin, but it truly lives up to its reputation as a rare delicacy. The sweetness and richness of the sea urchin stand out above the rest. I highly recommend trying it at least once in your life.

While staying at my sister's house in Sapporo and traveling around various places such as Cape Soya, I headed to the Otaru church where we had our wedding ceremony. On the way, my sister recommended visiting the Shakotan Peninsula for the beautiful Shakotan Blue and trying sea urchin rice bowl, especially the Bafun Uni. Unfortunately, the recommended restaurant was closed, so I settled for a mini sea urchin rice bowl at another place for 3,300 yen. This was the most expensive meal of the trip, as I rarely spend over 2,000 yen on a meal in Yokohama. The Bafun Uni my sister suggested would have cost around 8,000 yen, which is way beyond what I, a pensioner, can afford. I'm not a fan of sea urchin, so I opted for a mini sea urchin rice bowl with Murasaki Uni, which was enough for me. It was interesting to see Chinese tourists everywhere from Hakodate to Sapporo, Cape Soya, and even in Shakotan, where seafood restaurants catered to them. The Shakotan Peninsula was beautiful with its Shakotan Blue, and it was a great experience overall.

Sea Urchin Bowl 5,390 yen I came to Shakotan, so I decided to try the sea urchin bowl. As I head towards Shakotan, I notice sushi restaurants and seafood shops in the towns of Furubira, Bikuni, and Shakotan. It seems like there are more tourists as there are many cars around. I went to Nakamuraya in the town of Notsuka, Shakotan. It was lunchtime during the Obon holiday, and the place was quite busy, although Misaki-san nearby had a much longer line. I entered the restaurant and put my name down. There were 5 groups ahead of me, but the turnover was quick. I was shown to a sunken kotatsu seating area after about 10 minutes. Although a bit pricey, I ordered the sea urchin bowl with Murasaki sea urchin. The Bafun sea urchin was even more expensive, about 4,000 yen extra. The bowl arrived in about 5 minutes. The service was fast. I was recommended to add soy sauce or some sauce, but I tried a bite without anything. The rich sweetness of the sea urchin spread in my mouth. It was incredibly delicious! I was moved by the sea urchin bowl after a long time. I didn't even need soy sauce anymore. However, having only sea urchin might be a bit monotonous, so a seafood bowl might be a better choice. Sea urchin bowl is truly a luxury.

A fisherman-operated shop at the tip of the Shakotan Peninsula. Many shops around here recommend the Uni-don, and Nakamuraya is also popular for its Uni-don. So, I ordered a mini Uni-don! It cost around 4000 yen. The Uni was sweet and rich in flavor! It was full of umami! This Uni can only be enjoyed in this area.

I searched for Seki-dan uni and ended up at Nakamuraya. Unfortunately, they only had Bafun uni from nearby waters, but it was incredibly delicious. It had no fishy smell, was smooth, and felt very luxurious. I visited nearby shops, some of which had uni bowls with Bafun uni for over 14,000 yen, or couldn't even get it in stock. Nakamuraya seemed popular in comparison.

I checked out of Iitani in the morning without having breakfast and headed to Nakamuraya. I wanted to eat the king of sea urchins, Bafun Uni! Due to the rough weather last week, the fresh Bafun Uni was from three days ago. The Bafun Uni, drizzled with a slightly sweet soy sauce, had a wonderful aroma and a natural flavor. It was delicious. Although it cost 8,800 yen, it might be considered cheap for fresh Bafun Uni. It seemed like it was the last Bafun Uni bowl of the day, so I recommend calling in advance to confirm if you want to try it. Thank you for the meal.

One of the pleasures of this season every year♪ There is always a long line, but this time I was lucky and got in without waiting! I ordered a purple sea urchin bowl! I'm not a fan of sea urchin in general, but I can eat the sea urchin here. It's strange how well it holds its shape, but as soon as you put it in your mouth, it melts right away! There is absolutely no fishy smell! The slight scent of the sea is also nice. My companion ordered a red sea urchin bowl, so I tried a bit and compared it. The red sea urchin has less of a sea scent than the purple sea urchin and is really sweet!! I savored each bite in happiness. We also ordered abalone sashimi and fresh sea urchin sashimi for a luxurious lunch♪ (The sea urchin sashimi is best eaten as is without soy sauce!!)

It was a regular day but there was a long line! The sea urchin bowl was generous in portion and really delicious. They also had beer and you could order individual sashimi dishes, so I was really satisfied! They had sweet soy sauce that paired well with the sashimi. I would definitely want to visit again if I have the chance.

Since my flight arrived at New Chitose Airport after 9 am, I had to drive fast on the highway to reach Shakotan in the morning. I thought it might be difficult to eat red sea urchin (Ezobafun Uni) until around mid-July. However, I read a review saying that you can still eat it at Nakamuraya even in the afternoon, so I decided to visit. There were a few groups waiting outside, but we were able to enter relatively quickly, waiting about 10 minutes. It was great! I treated myself to the red sea urchin dish priced at 8,000 yen, and even treated the driver. I'm definitely going back to Shakotan next year!

I tried to enjoy the sea urchin bowl on the Shakotan Peninsula, but all the restaurants were full. Finally, I got a ticket and managed to get into Nakamuraya. The red sea urchin bowl was incredibly creamy. It melted in my mouth. The restaurant had a traditional Japanese atmosphere with tatami rooms.

I traveled to Hokkaido to eat sea urchin, and finally came to Shakotan to eat sea urchin. I wanted to eat Bafun sea urchin, so I woke up early to arrive on a Monday at 8:30 am. I was the 6th in line. I had already called the store the day before and confirmed the arrival of sea urchin. As soon as they opened, I was able to order the Special Sea Urchin Bowl and the Bafun Sea Urchin Bowl. The Special one had a lot of sea urchin due to its high price. I was aiming for Bafun sea urchin, but the Murasaki sea urchin was also delicious with a strong sweetness and a light taste. It was the most delicious sea urchin I have ever eaten. It was worth waking up early and making the effort.

First visit in 2023. I'm here on the Shakotan Peninsula, aiming for the freshly opened sea urchin. Nakamuraya is located at the tip of the Shakotan Peninsula, about 100km or 2.5 hours from Sapporo. This time, I tried sea urchin at Nakamuraya and Tamura Iwataro Shoten, but the latter only had Murasaki sea urchin available and no Bafun sea urchin, so I will introduce Nakamuraya where I could try both Murasaki and Bafun sea urchin. When I arrived at Nakamuraya around noon, the restaurant was packed despite it being a weekday, with the parking lot full. Indeed, the freshly opened sea urchin has great appeal. However, the turnover seemed to be quite fast, as I was seated about 30 minutes after writing my name on the waiting list. As soon as I sat down, I asked the staff a question. Me: Do you still have the Red sea urchin bowl available? Can I have the Bafun sea urchin? Staff: It's okay. We still have them. Me: Yay! Then, please give me one bowl of fresh sea urchin and one bowl of Red sea urchin. It was just a 30-second conversation, but I was quite moved. After all, comparing the two types of sea urchin was the main purpose of this trip. Yay! After a 10-minute wait, the two types of sea urchin were served. See the image for reference. Hmm. I was captivated by the visual of white and red. I came all the way here, Shakotan~♪ First, I tried the white Murasaki sea urchin without rice. It was so sweet, rich, and incredibly fresh. Next, I tried the red Ezo Bafun sea urchin without rice. Oh. It was even sweeter and richer. The level of umami was much stronger than the Murasaki sea urchin. Well, in terms of taste, the red Ezo Bafun sea urchin was the clear winner. However, for some reason, it didn't sit right with me. While the Bafun sea urchin was undoubtedly tastier, the white Murasaki sea urchin was surprisingly delicious, making me realize the power of the season in Shakotan Peninsula. The Murasaki sea urchin bowl cost \4,180, while the Bafun sea urchin bowl cost twice as much at \8,800. Considering the recent price increases, the debate between expensive and cheap is irrelevant, but I wonder if the deliciousness and excitement of the Bafun sea urchin are really twice that of the Murasaki sea urchin. If we ask, "Isn't it more luxurious to allocate one Red sea urchin bowl to two fresh sea urchin bowls given the quality of this Murasaki sea urchin?" my wife had the same impression. That concludes the comparison of the two sea urchin bowls. The outcome of the battle between the two may vary depending on each customer's stomach capacity and wallet, but cheers to both the seasonal Bafun and Murasaki sea urchins for their great performance. Bon appétit. P.S. The reason I was able to go on this bullet tour of freshly opened sea urchin was thanks to JAL holding a \6,600 Time Sale for June. I'm trembling at the price being even cheaper than the nationwide travel support at the Sapporo Snow Festival in February. Thank you! --- Fresh Sea Urchin Bowl <Murasaki Sea Urchin>, Pickles, Miso Soup (\4,180), Red Sea Urchin Bowl <Ezo Bafun Sea Urchin>, Pickles, Miso Soup (\8,800)

Shakotan is overflowing with restaurants serving fresh sea urchin rice bowls. Even though it may seem simple to just put fresh sea urchin on rice, I couldn't help but wonder if there are differences in taste between the various restaurants. Despite it being a weekday lunchtime, there is a long line at this particular restaurant. The nearby restaurants have empty parking lots, so what sets this place apart? However, after experiencing this sea urchin dish, I can't help but question the sea urchin I bought at the supermarket. I originally wanted to eat it with sushi rice, but maybe vinegar rice doesn't pair well with sea urchin? Regardless, the seafood bowl, including the sea urchin, was delicious. I definitely want to come back!

I came to Shakotan for the majestic views and sea urchin bowl. I left Sapporo in the morning and arrived around 9 o'clock after a 2-hour drive. Despite being a weekday, there were already several cars parked. I ordered a sea urchin bowl and abalone sashimi. The soft sea urchin and chewy abalone were thoroughly enjoyable. I'm glad I came to Hokkaido. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Red sea urchin bowl (Ezo bafun uni) ¥7,150 Scallop sashimi ¥1,320 ¥8,470 in total Hmm, delicious. Creamy, no fishy taste, delicious. The scallops are also delicious. The thickness, texture, ease of chewing, sweetness, everything is good.

■ Awabi sashimi: 1760 yen ■ Crab bowl: 1980 yen Fisherman's Restaurant Nakamuraya (Awabi sashimi, Crab bowl) 0135-45-6500 34-1 Nichiji-cho, Shakotan-cho, Shakotan-gun, Hokkaido https://tabelog.com/hokkaido/A0106/A010602/1005212/

Fisherman's shop Nakamuraya is a popular seafood bowl restaurant in Shakotan, Hokkaido. Many shops in the competitive seafood area of Shakotan are closed because the season for sea urchin has passed. When it comes to Hokkaido, seafood is a must-try! I enjoyed the generous seafood bowl with salmon, salmon roe, scallops, and more. The sea urchin was not available due to the season being over, so I had steamed sea urchin instead. It can be a bit challenging to figure out where to start eating when faced with such a lavish seafood bowl. The rice used was not vinegar rice but warm regular rice, which was a personal preference disappointment for me as I prefer cold vinegar rice. The portion size is quite large, so if you have a small appetite, I recommend ordering a smaller size. Thank you for the meal.

Holiday outing series. On this day, my husband and his merry companions went on a drive to Shakotan to go snorkeling. For lunch, they wanted to eat seafood, so they headed to "Fisherman's Restaurant Nakamuraya". This area has many restaurants that serve seafood bowls, and it gets busy early in the morning during this season. Next to it is MIsaki-san, which I reviewed before. After playing in the sea, around lunchtime (I didn't go into the sea at all, just drank canned beer while admiring the view), they first tried to enter the restaurant next door but found out that they had run out of rice and were closing. Nakamuraya had a sign at the entrance saying they weren't serving grilled dishes that day. Since it was late, they were able to easily get a seat in the tatami room. Looking at the menu, it seems that sea urchin prices are increasing year by year. Since they were in Shakotan, they decided to go for the three-color bowl with sea urchin, crab, and salmon roe. The sea urchin was Murasaki sea urchin. It was delicious, but perhaps the lack of excitement was due to the mismatch between the price and taste. The portion was also just average. The scallop and flying fish roe aburi bowl that my husband had might have been a better choice. I thought that if you want to eat delicious sea urchin in Shakotan, you should probably go early in the morning. Thank you for the meal♪

I arrived around noon! The parking lot was full but I only had to wait for about 40 minutes before getting a seat because the turnover of customers is fast. The entrance was crowded but once I got to the tatami room, it was very calming. I ordered a bowl of fresh sea urchin (around 4000 yen) and an abalone (around 1700 yen). The dishes came out quickly! The restaurant runs very efficiently! The service was also very good and I felt well taken care of. Of course, the food was delicious!!! The sea urchin was so crunchy and creamy♬ I especially loved the vinegared rice, so I would give it the highest rating. I will definitely go back! Thank you for the meal!!