I had sea urchin outside and it was delicious. Even though it's not in season, it had a good taste and for that amount at ¥1000, it seems reasonably priced.

After having breakfast at the hotel, I strolled through the morning market near Hakodate Station. I didn't plan on buying anything, just casually walking down the street. But the hawkers were so persistent that I couldn't take my time to look around. I wasn't particularly interested in crab, so I was looking for sea urchin. And I found it! A huge pile of sea urchin at a place called "Yoshioka Shokudo." They had been featured on TV, and the owner was quite a character! The sea urchin was priced at 1,000 yen per piece, which seemed cheap at the time, but looking back, maybe not so much? Maybe it's just the tourist spot pricing. The sea urchin was delicious, with no bitterness or fishy taste, just sweetness and the natural flavor of sea urchin. Hakodate's morning market is bustling with foreign tourists, creating a different kind of liveliness. The hawking was intense, and I had to walk with my head down to avoid making eye contact with the staff. The sea urchin I had was tasty, but I don't think I'll be visiting Hakodate's morning market again.

When I visited Hokkaido in September and stopped by the morning market, I enjoyed trying different sea urchin dishes. As a sea urchin lover, I always make sure to eat fresh sea urchin (without any additives) and also buy some sea urchin to take home. This was my first time visiting this particular shop at the market, even though I used to live in Hakodate and have been to the market a few times before. The prices at the market are generally on the higher side, but I believe they are fair. There are other cheaper shops, but some have closed down due to not being able to sustain their business or have been involved in scandals like selling snow crabs as king crabs. Selling high-quality products at a reasonable price is a good stance, and I hope they continue to provide good quality products at a fair price. One thing that stood out during this visit was the large number of foreign tourists, especially many from Taiwan, lining up at this shop. I hope more people from around the world get to experience the wonderful things Japan has to offer and become fans of them.

Arrived safely in Hakodate. Immediately went to explore the morning market in Hakodate. So many things to see! So many things to eat! I thought I was prepared, but everything I planned went out the window in an instant. The shock of it all - Yoshioka Shokudo restaurant!! This gourmet spot is right on the souvenir street! The owner stands out with his presence! A generous serving of fresh sea urchin for only 1000 yen!! The moment when all desires are fulfilled!! Explosion of deliciousness! Just enjoy the photo without any need for words!! My excitement is at its peak, so here's an extra special shot!! Now, how many more episodes will this midsummer equation series have?! From today until August 18, the midsummer equation series will not be limited to just Hokkaido!

July 19, 20, and 21, a 3-day JR East holiday pass for 26,000 yen. I decided to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Morioka and back, which alone would be worth it, but this time I chose to take the Shinkansen to Tokyo-Shirakawa, Shirakawa-Morioka, and back, making it even more worth it. Excited, I purchased the tickets from the ticket machine. Oh, the ticket that came out had the word "Hakodate" on it. Yes, I knew that you could go to Hakodate with this pass, but the Shinkansen only goes up to Hachinohe. I wondered how long it would take to get to Hakodate, so I checked and found out that if I leave Morioka station in the morning on the 21st, I could visit Hakodate and return to Tokyo on the same day! I departed from Morioka station at 7:59 am on the "Hayate No. 95," transferred to the "Super Hakuchou No. 95" at Hachinohe at 8:52 am. I arrived at Hakodate station at 12:04 pm, a little delayed due to a stop in the undersea tunnel because of an earthquake. At 12:15 pm, I went to the morning market first. There were swimming squid. I wanted to eat them, but I decided to enjoy them with some sake on the way back. I had something I needed to eat for lunch. I need to endure. But it's okay to have a little snack. Abalone is small, so it's not a problem. Sapporo Classic as well. And one sea urchin is fine. After eating, I asked for the location of the restaurant I wanted to go to, and it turned out to be nearby. Yahoo Blog - First trip to Hokkaido, a day trip to Hakodate.

Last time I came 3 years ago, the sea urchin was really fresh and delicious. This time, as you can see in the photos, it was disappointing. I think there are times when it gets better, so I will come back again.

The location of the morning market is available on the official website. The small shops have about 5 menu items each, with seating available in the back. 1. Uni (¥1,000) - Fresh, but small portion. Sweetness is not as good in the summer, but still sufficient. 2. Grilled Hokki (¥1,500) - A must-try. Great taste and portion size. I also want to try the sashimi. 3. Botan Shrimp (¥600) - Big and sweet. Overall, the prices are a bit high due to the touristy location. I wish they had more menu options, like the local fish of the day.