Daiichi Kaisenmaru — Restaurant in Sapporo

4.75 - I have one of their popular seafood bowls (積丹丼) and the overall taste is superior. When they served me the meal, my first glance was "woo. the size of bowl looks small." But when I paid more attention to details, I released all pieces of seafood are cut/ provided in a generous manner. When I started my first bite, I was blown away because of the following factors:

(1) Freshness of Seafood: All seafood are selected carefully by the Chief and each seafood has their unique (seafood-like) sweetness. For example, Botan ebi was my highlight. Before I ate it, I knew it would be a high quality of Botan ebi because the shell was crystal clear which did not had many white spots or stain and its prawn head shell was very fragile and crispy. After tasting, I was damn right about my presumption on the quality of Botan ebi. It was so sweet and juicy. I even sucked the juicy and meat contained in its head. Usually, I don't eat/ or suck the head part of a raw prawn, but with such quality, I was delighted to make an exception.

(2) Quality of the rice: The rice has a shinny white and fatty look. (FYI: A high quality of rice shall looks shinny on its skin, not purely white). The water level used to cook the grain (rice) was almost perfect (I gave it 9.5 out of 10) - Each piece of rice is well distinct (not too soft and too sticky). Taste is absolutely sweet, aromatic and bouncy (not chewy). I have to admit this is my top three in term of rice quality (taste, water control, smell, etc) that I had in Japan (P.S. I went to Japan 6 times)

Last but not the least, this small restaurant is run by a old couple who are very friendly to tourists.

Highly...

Sapporo: First Bites & First Impressions 🍣✨

After an eventful journey, we finally rolled into Sapporo and checked into the charming Villa Sapporo Honobono — a hidden gem that deserves its own post (coming soon!). 🚗 Driving in Japan is a dream: calm, orderly, and the perfect way to kick off a culinary road trip.

🦀 Morning Market Adventures

First stop today: markets — because where else would you start in Hokkaido? We headed to the historic Nijo Market, a compact but vibrant seafood haven. The produce was nothing short of dazzling — crabs, scallops, uni — all glistening with that just-caught freshness.

The real magic, though, happens in the tiny eateries tucked inside, each seating barely ten lucky guests. Sitting elbow-to-elbow with locals over a bowl of Sashimi Don so fresh it practically winked at us? Pure bliss.

🛒 The AEON Surprise

Next up was the AEON supermarket, and honestly — wow. The variety, presentation, and quality put most of what we see back home to shame (sorry, Singapore!). Every aisle looked like a chef’s mise en place, and the freshness was off the charts.

✨ Takeaway

Sapporo knows how to welcome you — with seafood that reminds you why Hokkaido is a foodie’s paradise. If this is just day one, the rest of the trip is going to be spectacular.

📸 Enjoy this little pictorial journey and just imagine the taste exploding on your palate.

#FoodGloriousFood #Sapporo #JapanEats #MarketAdventures #GourmetTravels #SashimiHeaven #FoodieParadise #SGFoodies...

Daiichi Kaisenmaru can be considered the hottest spot in Sapporo's Nijo Market. The couple who runs the restaurant strives to deliver the finest taste of Sapporo while ensuring the freshness of the ingredients. We arrived at around 12:30 PM on a weekday and joined the long queue. Despite it being a workday, there were still many people waiting. It took us approximately three hours to reach the front (braving the freezing cold of -10 degrees Celsius). Upon entering the restaurant, we learned that the reason for the long wait was due to the limited seating available, with only two tables.

The husband and wife duo warmly greeted each customer. Before indulging in the seafood don, we were served a comforting cup of hot tea. We ordered their signature seafood don, and it was evident that the ingredients were exceptionally fresh. The seafood had a delightful sweetness, and when paired with the miso soup, it created a truly satisfying combination. We also ordered some sake, which was particularly fitting for warming up on a chilly winter day.

Although the waiting time was quite long, if you have sufficient time to spare, this restaurant is definitely worth a try. We also tried other seafood don places nearby, but this one was truly the...