1
Kanetomi Tomita Fish Store

Founded in 1951, this is a rare squid specialty shop even for Hakodate.

This is the only squid specialty shop in the market, which has been in business since the Hakodate Jiyu Market officially opened in 1951. Looking at the amount of squid lined up at the storefront, you can tell the status of the squid catch in Hakodate that morning; it is like a benchmark shop. When you purchase squid, the third-generation owner and his two daughters will skillfully fillet it for sashimi on the spot. Be sure to try the freshly caught and freshly filleted squid with warm rice and miso soup at the eat-in space inside the market.

The shop's original handmade salted squid guts are also a must-try.

The squid lined up in the store includes varieties such as "morning-caught squid," which was caught that very morning, and "live-tank squid," which is prepared directly from the tank, allowing you to choose according to your preference. Also beloved by locals is the store's original homemade salted squid guts (shiokara). The basic seasoning consists only of guts and salt, and since no preservatives are used at all, it is usually sold frozen. There are three types in total, including those made using only the body or only the legs, and the most popular one features the spicy accent of "soy-marinated green chili peppers," making it perfect as a side dish for rice or as a snack with drinks.

Local
Supporter

Information regarding squid arrivals is posted on the store's Instagram Stories around 7:00 AM every morning. Since squid fishing in Hakodate can sometimes have poor catches, we recommend checking this in advance.

Kanetomi Tomita Fish Shop

• 1-2 Shinkawa-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
• Approx. 10-minute walk from OMO5 Hakodate
  Approx. 12-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station
  Approx. 1-minute walk from Shinkawa-cho tram stop
  15 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport
• 7:00–16:00
• Sunday
• 0138-23-5502
• Available

2
Yamamatsu Mae Fish Store

One of Hakodate's leading fresh fish shops, offering seasonal and rare seafood from all over the country.

This fresh fish store offers seasonal seafood from not only the local area but all over the country, including fresh fish, crab, fish roe, and dried fish. It is characterized by its abundant selection, which is so extensive that it is fun just to look at. It is also known for stocking rare fish and shellfish that you wouldn't see at mass-market retailers, and it is a renowned shop supported not only by the general public but also by professional chefs from high-end sushi restaurants and Japanese restaurants.

For tourists, we recommend the packs of assorted sashimi that are lined up in the store alongside the fresh fish. With reasonable prices starting from 500 yen, you can enjoy a unique combination that is available only for that day.

A wide variety of marine products that change with the seasons.

A variety of seafood is lined up in the store each season, including bluefin tuna from Funka Bay and Toi, locally farmed "Hakodate Salmon," crab that is popular as a gift, and new-season Matsumae rock seaweed.

In addition to fresh fish, there is also an abundance of processed products, with items perfect for souvenirs such as dried fish like Okhotsk Atka mackerel, Arabesque greenling, and Sōhachi flounder, as well as Mukawa pregnant shishamo, miso-marinated sablefish, and one-night dried squid.

Local
Supporter

The representative of this store also serves as the chairman of the Hakodate Jiyu Market Cooperative. As a leader of a market lined with highly professional shops, they value the desire to satisfy both local customers and tourists.

Yamamatsu Mae Fish Shop

• Inside Hakodate Jiyu Market, 1-2 Shinkawa-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
• Approx. 10-minute walk from OMO5 Hakodate
  Approx. 12-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station
  Approx. 1-minute walk from Shinkawa-cho tram stop
  15 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport
• 7:00–16:00
• Sunday
• 0138-27-2850
• Available

3
Kaneni Nakamura Fish Store

A specialty shop that knows everything about salmon and trout. They also carry rare items you won't find anywhere else.

This is a long-established specialty store for salmon and trout that has been operating in this location since the late 1940s, when the Hakodate Jiyu Market was still an open-air market. They handle everything from sockeye salmon to autumn salmon, Tokishirazu (off-season salmon), wild king salmon known as "Masunosuke," and even the legendary "Keiji" salmon. Because the taste and texture of the same salmon change depending on the season, the store offers a wide range of seasonings from lightly salted to very salty, a level of care unique to a specialty shop. We also recommend telling them your preferred taste so they can help you choose the ideal item.

In autumn, they also offer homemade soy-marinated salmon roe.

Alongside fresh salmon, our signature product is the "homemade soy-marinated salmon roe," which hits the shelves around early September each year. With its jewel-like luster and rich, deep flavor, it is a delicacy that is addictive once you try it. We also offer a wide variety of fish roe, including cod roe, trout roe, salmon roe sacs, and spicy cod roe.

Other popular items include "sake-toba" (dried salmon strips), a Hokkaido local specialty made by filleting autumn salmon and drying it with the skin on, as well as whale bacon, which is now a rare delicacy.

Local
Supporter

This sockeye salmon has long been loved by citizens as a standard year-end gift. You can also use the shipping service available at all shops in Hakodate Jiyu Market to send it right on the spot after purchasing.

Kaneni Nakamura Fish Shop

• Approx. 10-minute walk from OMO5 Hakodate
  Approx. 12-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station
  Approx. 1-minute walk from Shinkawa-cho tram stop
  15 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport
• 7:00–16:00
• Sunday
• 0138-26-3677
• Available

4
Tsugaisa Sato Store

For shellfish, this is the place to go. Enjoy incredibly fresh abalone and sea urchin.

Founded in 1945, the same year the market was established, this long-standing shop specializes in abalone and sea urchin, while also handling a wide range of other shellfish. The abalone is wild-caught in the waters near Hakodate, and our sea urchin, including both Bafun and Murasaki varieties, is also primarily sourced from the same local waters. We are committed to using wild-caught surf clams from Tomakomai and scallops from the Okhotsk region. A key feature of our shop is the large size of the abalone and scallops we stock. You can grill and eat the shellfish you purchase at the charcoal grilling corner within the market, so please be sure to enjoy them using the delicious preparation methods recommended by the shop owner.

A wide array of seasonal shellfish such as whelk, scallops, sea urchin, and freshwater clams.

Seasonal shellfish are lined up at the storefront throughout the year. From early spring to summer, we offer blue whelk caught in Funka Bay, as well as true whelk, which is popular for sashimi and sushi. From winter to spring, we stock Ezo abalone, which is packed with umami from feeding on the high-quality, abundant seaweed in the waters of southern Hokkaido, as well as wild scallops, Bafun sea urchin, and Murasaki sea urchin, so you will encounter a different selection of shellfish every time you visit. We also accept domestic shipping, making it convenient if you wish to take items home as souvenirs.

Local
Supporter

If you want to enjoy shellfish purchased here at the charcoal grill corner inside the market, be sure to reserve your seat before you go shopping. Please enjoy the luxury of having seasonal shellfish for an indoor barbecue starting in the morning.

Tsugaisa Sato Store

• Inside Hakodate Jiyu Market, 1-2 Shinkawa-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
• Approx. 10-minute walk from OMO5 Hakodate
  Approx. 12-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station
  Approx. 1-minute walk from Shinkawa-cho tram stop
  15 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport
• 7:00–14:00
• Sunday
• 0138-26-6263
• Available

5
Maruya Yana Store

A shop where you can buy 'Gagome kelp,' a specialty product found only in the waters near Hakodate.

Opened in 1945 as a dried goods store, the shop is now run by its third-generation female owner, who has transformed it into a select shop offering a wide array of Hokkaido's finest flavors, including true kelp, salmon roe sacs, and cod roe, which have been our main products since the beginning. In particular, we have the best selection of Gagome kelp, a specialty of southern Hokkaido, in all of Hakodate. Gagome kelp is a rare variety characterized by its strong stickiness and is rich in nutrients such as "fucoidan." We carry various processed products, including dried kelp, dashi powder, and soup bases, making them perfect for souvenirs.

From kelp to processed meat products, a full lineup of Hokkaido flavors

For kelp-related souvenirs, "Ma-konbu Dashi (with root kelp)" is also popular, allowing you to enjoy the flavor and umami of kelp by simply adding a few drops to dishes like soups and simmered foods. It is a liquid type that is easy to use, and its stylish bottled packaging is also appealing.

Furthermore, the selection goes beyond processed seafood to include a wide range of processed meat products. They offer various items, starting with "Kami no Shika-burg" (God's Venison Burger) made with venison, as well as roast duck, beef stew, demi-glace hamburger steak, seasoned beef bowl toppings for Japanese black beef, and seasoned Genghis Khan. There is a wide variety of other processed goods available, and the ability to choose from a broad range of Hokkaido flavors is a unique pleasure of this shop.

Local
Supporter

The shop owner's "Gagome kelp presentation" is one of the market's specialties. With skillful storytelling, they explain how to eat Gagome kelp deliciously and what kind of dishes it can be used in.

Maruya Yana Store

• Inside Hakodate Jiyu Market, 1-2 Shinkawa-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
• Approx. 10-minute walk from OMO5 Hakodate
  Approx. 12-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station
  Approx. 1-minute walk from Shinkawa-cho tram stop
  15 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport
• 9:00–16:00
• Sunday
• 0138-26-8519
• Available

6
Sushi Masa

Enjoy unique Hakodate ingredients with ease. A highly popular sushi restaurant with only 5 seats

This popular counter sushi restaurant fills up with reserved guests as soon as it opens at 9:30 every morning. The low price starting at 80 yen per piece of nigiri and the high-quality sushi are highly rated not only by locals who are particular about their sushi but also by market workers who are fish professionals. Since there are only 5 seats, advance reservation is essential. The system requires you to write your name and phone number on the reservation sheet placed at the storefront from 8:00 AM, and the shop will call you when it is your turn. During the tourist season, even if you reserve early, the waiting time can be 1 to 2 hours, so it is recommended to visit with plenty of time to spare.

Freshness and affordable prices made possible because it is a shop inside the market

All the toppings used are purchased within the market that day. Focusing on local catches such as spear squid, herring, Atka mackerel, Tokishirazu salmon, and mantis shrimp, you may even find "phantom shrimp" known as grape shrimp depending on the season. There is also a service where you can bring in fish purchased within the market to have it cleaned and made into nigiri (*this may not be available during busy times). You can order sushi by the piece, and there are also set menus such as the special nigiri and premium nigiri (both 10 pieces).

Local
Supporter

A highlight of this shop is the complimentary "shrimp miso soup." A large stockpot is set up in the seating area, where you can help yourself to the rich, flavorful shrimp broth.

7
Eat-in Space

Turn the seafood you bought into a seafood bowl. A luxurious way to enjoy the market

One of the highlights of Hakodate Jiyu Market is the eat-in space (opens at 8:00 AM, free to use) where you can eat the fish and shellfish you bought in the market right on the spot. Since white rice and miso soup are also sold nearby, you can enjoy your own custom seafood bowl or sashimi set meal using the sashimi you purchased or fish filleted for you at the storefront. Also, be sure to check out the white rice and miso soup corner, as they sell "rock seaweed bento" made with rock seaweed, a rare and high-end ingredient.

You can also enjoy fresh seafood grilled over charcoal

Next to the eat-in space is the charcoal grill corner, another one of the market's specialties. Charcoal is provided in advance, so you can grill and enjoy the ingredients you purchased right there. Butter is also sold, so you can, for example, buy scallops and enjoy them grilled with butter.

The charcoal grill corner requires a reservation, and it can take 15 to 30 minutes to get the fire going, so we recommend making a reservation before visiting the market or planning your schedule with that time in mind.

Local
Supporter

Near the charcoal grilling corner, there is also a live squid fishing pond, where you can have the squid you catch prepared into sashimi on the spot. It may not be available on days with poor catches, so be sure to check the information board at the market entrance for availability and pricing (approximately 1,200 to 1,500 yen).