HAKODATE Travel Tips

〜Hakodate through my lens: Real stories, Real advice〜


A Night at Daimon Yokocho: Your Ultimate Guide to Hakodate’s Best Food Stall Village

A wide night shot of the illuminated entrance to Daimon Yokocho Food Stall Village in Hakodate, featuring bright signs and wooden fences along the street.
The iconic entrance to Daimon Yokocho, glowing under the night sky.

A trip to Hakodate isn’t complete without experiencing the vibrant nightlife at Daimon Yokocho. This lively alleyway is home to 26 tiny “yatai” (food stalls), each offering a unique taste of local culture. Here are two standout spots I personally recommend for an authentic Hakodate experience.

1. Nomikuidokoro Sakura: The Best Spot for Translucent Squid Sashimi

The exterior of the food stall "Nomikuidokoro Sakura" in Daimon Yokocho, showing a bright red banner and sliding glass doors with various menu items posted.
The welcoming red banner of Nomikuidokoro Sakura.

If you are looking for Hakodate’s famous squid, “Sakura” is the place to be.

  • A Local Pro Tip: While they offer a “Banshaku Set” (1,500 yen for a drink, appetizer, and sashimi assortment), ordering a la carte is often more cost-effective. You can pick exactly what you want and sometimes spend even less!
  • Taste the Season: On this visit, I had the “Yari-ika” (Spear Squid), available during the winter months (Market price; 1,000 yen on this day).
  • Winter: Sweet and delicate “Yari-ika”
  • Summer/Autumn: Crunchy and flavorful “Surume-ika” (Japanese Flying Squid) Prices vary based on the daily catch, which is a true sign of freshness.
  • A glass of draft beer next to a small plate of assorted fresh sashimi and a side of salted squid guts on a wooden counter.
    A perfect start: Fresh sashimi paired with a cold Asahi beer.
  • Freshly sliced translucent squid sashimi served on a glass plate with ginger and wasabi, accompanied by grilled squid tentacles and a glass of beer.
    Exquisite winter specialty: Translucent Yari-ika (Spear Squid) sashimi.

2. Club House: Rich Seafood Grills and the Iconic “Hakodate Style” Potato

The exterior of "Club House" at Daimon Yokocho, decorated with glowing yellow lanterns and colorful food photos on the window.
Look for the yellow lanterns and the “Crab House” sign.

For those craving grilled seafood, “Club House” offers an incredible atmosphere and mouth-watering dishes.

  • Must-Try Grilled Delicacies:
    • Scallop Grilled in Shell: Cooked with butter and soy sauce—a perfect pairing with cold beer.
    • Crab Grilled in Shell: A luxurious blend of crab leg meat and flakes heated with rich butter and crab miso (umami-packed internal organs).
  • The Hakodate Soul Food: “Jaga-Butter & Shiokara” A local staple! Melt butter on a steaming hot potato and top it with “Ika no Shiokara” (salted fermented squid). The combination of creamy butter and salty umami is addictive.
  • Value Insight: Similar to Sakura, ordering a la carte here is generally a better deal than the 1,980 yen “Banshaku Set.”
  • A large scallop being grilled in its shell with butter and green onions over a small portable flame on a bar counter.
    Sizzling Scallop in Shell with butter and soy sauce.
  • A basket of steamed potatoes served with two pats of butter and a generous side of dark, salted fermented squid.
    The Hakodate classic: Steamed potato with butter and salted squid.
  • A crab shell filled with crab meat and miso being heated over a flame, served with a glass of beer and condiments.
    Decadent Crab Shell Grill with butter and miso.

Enjoy every moment of your Hakodate journey, and travel safe!

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