Sapporo Crab Market

Seafood doesn’t get much fresher than the offerings at the Sapporo Crab Market, one of the city’s most popular food destinations. Sapporo is considered by many to be the seafood capital of Japan. Join locals and in-the-know foodies at this curbside market, which sells supplies to take home as well as a variety of snacks to enjoy on site.

Make your way to the bustling Sapporo Central Wholesale Market and be immersed in the lively atmosphere. The wholesale center itself is primarily for distributors, but one section is open for all shoppers.

Explore the 60 shops of the jogai market, which include fishmongers and greengrocers alongside vendors of prepared food. This is one of Sapporo’s largest and most beloved public marketplaces, handling more than a half-million tons of seafood, fruits and vegetables every year.

Marvel at the remarkable variety of fresh and dried fish available and appreciate the low prices enabled by the stalls being supplied by the wholesale market next door. Shop for squid, sea urchin, salmon roe and shellfish.

Find out why Sapporo is known as Japan’s crab capital by perusing the many fresh crabs offered at the market, some moving around in tanks and some laid out on ice. You’ll see red king crabs, hairy crabs, Hanasaki crabs or snow crabs, depending on the season. Have a lunch of crab plucked directly from the tank and prepared for you on the spot.

Explore the narrow alleys running between shops and choose one of the many small restaurants offering seafood meals. Enjoy a donburi bowl of rice topped with sweet crabmeat and salmon roe or choose fresh sushi or ramen. Sample Japan’s beloved Yubari melons and snack on raw corn. Gifts and souvenirs are also available at the market.

The Sapporo Crab Market is located west of the city center. Take a 5-minute subway ride and walk for about 15 minutes to reach the market. Some parking is available on site, as are toilets and coin lockers. If you plan on buying any seafood, head to the market as early in the morning as possible.