Sushi Aikawazushi — Restaurant in Toyako

This place isn't for "you"

I want to preface this story by saying I'm a foreigner. Non Asian too.

I went to this town on a trip road around Hokkaido. I was looking forward to trying Hokkaido sushi and my hotel had this place as a recommendation nearby.

So I went with my partner. I open the door. And the server. An old woman looked up and emphatically put her arms up in an "X" and shouted "NO!" at the sight of me. I looked around all of the other customers were Asian. The mood shifted in the place and there was this very awkward energy I saw on customer's faces. It was also very embarrassing.

This was discrimination. Full stop.

I checked reviews here and the complaints I've saw were other foreigners claiming something similar to my experience OR if they were allowed, they felt very unwelcomed.

The reviews by Asian customers were typically glowing, some even took pictures with the staff.

In contrast, I went down the block to a local run izakaya and the staff was nothing but welcoming and sweet to us. They even occasionally conversed with us and let me try some local Hokkaido drinks. It was true hospitality.

In short this sushi place is a terrible representation of Japan, Hokkaido and the region and the people who live here.. And you are better literally going ANYWHERE ELSE

I know this is a stretch, but hear me out. I've learned a lot about the region because I was preparing my trip. I learned a lot about the Ainu indigenous people. I went to Upopoy Ainu history museum. And another day I took a tour of a rural area where Ainu lived by a tour guide who gave us a very detailed history of the area.

Japan colonized Hokkaido. Ainu people were not considered Japanese. Their lives, culture and language were violently and systematically eliminated. And it wasn't until fairly modern that Ainu were recognized as their own people. I say all this to say. With the amount of harm done to Hokkaido for generations. A restaurant like this wants to discriminate? For shame. Or maybe this part is just the ramblings of a...

My family and I were just here this evening in Toyako for a Sushi dinner. This Sushi diner is helmed by an elderly Japanese couple who were affably pleasant - although the elderly lady who took our order did make a few mistakes, we did not mind it much. And while the Sushis were very very good, so was the kaisendon that my wife had at this diner. By the way, my family and I loved the quaintness of the diner, which made our dining experience all the more enjoyable. So, I highly recommend this diner, if you are visiting Toyako and if...

Worst experience in Japan EVER. Been here 4 times already. The place was a gas chamber with meat BBQ gases (and you don’t know where they come from since it’s a sushi only place and they don’t do even tempura). The chef is 95 years old and the waitress is 89. The quality of sashimi was the lowest I ever found in Japan. Not even a scallop. Just supermarket level fish. The most disgusting experience ever. 17€ I regret...