After enjoying the award-winning croquettes, I decided to explore the sushi restaurants along Otaru Sushi Street. Among the many places catering to foreign tourists, I was drawn to a more elegant establishment. With no other customers around, I took a seat at the counter. The display case was filled with ice, showcasing fresh and tempting ingredients like large Botan shrimp. The menu offered a variety of options, but I opted for the chef's choice sushi set. The appetizer was marinated fish, followed by a beautifully presented sushi platter with delicacies like medium fatty tuna, octopus, golden eye snapper, scallop, abalone, Botan shrimp, mantis shrimp, snow crab, ikura, sea urchin, clam, and herring. The Botan shrimp and mantis shrimp were particularly impressive in size and taste, showcasing the best of Hokkaido's seafood. The unique offerings like octopus and herring added to the experience. Despite the 4200 yen price tag, I felt that the quality and satisfaction justified the cost. Leaving Otaru with a full stomach, I headed back to New Chitose Airport on the JR line. Thank you, Hokkaido, for the delicious meal!

An acquaintance invited me to Otaru just to try a supposedly delicious sushi restaurant. I thought Sapporo would have better sushi, but they insisted, so I took the train all the way to Otaru. It had been a while since I last visited! I felt nostalgic as I walked through the arcade from the station to Sushi Street. When we found the restaurant we were looking for, we entered to find it empty... A bad feeling crept in. Well, it was a weekday and this time of year in Otaru, so it's understandable (laughs). Setting that aside, we started with some beer and assorted sashimi. We had octopus, mackerel, golden eye snapper, button shrimp, and giant shrimp. I tried giant shrimp for the first time, and it was sweet, firm, and delicious! Whenever I go to a sushi restaurant, I always crave chawanmushi, so we ordered that too. Aside from the unique sweet chestnut flavor of Hokkaido, I always feel a little happy when something warm is served in between (laughs). We had local sake Samurai from Otaru and Hokkaido sake Hokkai no Katsu. And for some reason, we also had fin sake! We enjoyed it with rolled tuna sushi. It wasn't a mind-blowing experience, but there was a significant meaning in eating sushi in Otaru, a town known for its sushi (laughs).

At the end of October, I took a Peach flight from Osaka for a 2-day trip to Hokkaido with 3 people. The most memorable and delicious restaurant we visited on this trip was recommended by a salesperson in Otaru. We went there with gratitude! We visited for lunch on a weekday. The main purpose of coming to Otaru was sushi! We came all the way here with high expectations. The exterior of the restaurant was chic and the interior was so calm and relaxing. The staff welcomed us warmly and we decided to order what we wanted to eat, even if it was a bit expensive. We were all excited! The first thing we ordered was the saltwater sea urchin x3 (for 3 people) - it was amazing! The sea urchin was so sweet and delicious, we were in awe. We also had scallops, ikura, squid, autumn shrimp, crab soup, a special large steamed egg bowl, and more. The conversation with the owner was delightful, and he recommended some dishes for us to try. The food was so delicious and the experience was unforgettable. We had a great time and enjoyed every moment of our meal at this fantastic restaurant in Otaru.

On the second day of my trip to Hokkaido, I visited Otaru to eat sushi, one of my goals. It was 6:00 pm, a time when I would normally be working. The streets were dark and empty, but I heard that Otaru is usually like this. I found a great sushi restaurant called Sushi Dokoro Sakai on Sushi Street, but surprisingly, there were no reviews. It used to be called "Kansushi" before. The first floor has only counter seats, while the second floor has tatami seating. I chose to sit at the counter. The sushi chef seemed strict at first, but he was actually very kind, recommending fresh seasonal ingredients and sharing stories about where the fish came from. I tried the "Kazunoko" which I love since I was a child. It was thick and chewy, unlike the ones you find in supermarkets. Each piece of sushi, including ikura, botan shrimp, and toro, had a firm and thick texture, providing a satisfying bite. I also tried the recommended oysters, which were creamy and rich, the best I've ever had. Lastly, I saw fresh shishamo, which I had never seen before. It looked like a large, firm, and plump fish. I was already full, so I didn't try it, but now I regret not eating it. Overall, my trip to Otaru was worth it, and I would love to visit again just to eat sushi.