Many sightseeing spots are clustered around Sakaimachi-dori. Otaru Poseidon is one Otaru restaurant where you can get seafood bowls and grilled main dishes at reasonable prices. Close to the Otaru Canal, it is the perfect place to take a break for lunch or dinner when sightseeing.

Many types of seafood caught in the sea near Otaru are displayed at the counter, and one of the pleasures is to watch experienced chefs preparing dishes before your very eyes as you wait for your order to be served.

You'll love watching grilled the dishes being prepared and then served with a flourish on a large rice paddle to customers at the counter. There are also tables and a kids’ room, so this is a place where families are welcome to come and enjoy themselves.

The menu features affordably priced dishes like Unga-don (Canal Bowl) and Kaisen Tobikko-don (Seafood and Flying Fish Roe Bowl), both loaded with generous portions of the freshest seafood from Otaru.

The crowd favorite, Posei-don, offers a diverse selection of nine fresh seafood varieties served over white rice. This dish comes complete with teppojiru (a miso soup with crab meat) and Japanese pickles as sides.

Other popular dishes are the Oyako-don consisting of salmon and salmon roe (1,188 yen) and the Yokubari Kaisen-don (1,620 yen), a bowl adorned with several kinds of neta. The menu also includes fried scallops (540 yen) and the extra-large overflowing dish of grilled mackerel (1,620 yen), as well as other grilled dishes full of flavor.

Aotsuka Shokudo is an Otaru restaurant operated by a local fisherman in the Shukutsu area, a section of scenic spots spread along the Sea of Japan. This inn is famous for its fabulous views from dawn to dusk of beautiful Shukutsu. Herring is charcoal-grilled in front of the shop, the enticing aroma filling the air.

Inside tables and koagari (floor-seating) can accommodate 100 people, giving you an idea of its spaciousness. It has a pure atmosphere typical of a diner in a fishing town, one that is warm and relaxing. Popular nearby sightseeing spots are offering spectacular views of the area, such as the Otaru Shukutsu Panorama Observation Deck, Nishin Goten (Herring Palace), and the Otaru Aquarium which are definitely worth visiting.

It is located only a 15-minute drive from Otaru Station, but there are other ways to get here, such as by a sightseeing ship that leaves Otaru Port and skirts the beautiful Otamoi Coast arriving at Shukutsu Port. On some days, you can even see pods of dolphins swimming alongside the boat!

This Otaru diner is directly operated by a fisherman and serves the finest catches of the day, prepared either as sashimi or grilled.

Shukutsu is blessed with abundant herring catches. The herring, being cooked over charcoal at the entrance, is served in the famous dish called Tokudai Nishin Yaki (Special Large Grilled Herring). The set lunch, Tokudai Nishin Yaki Teishoku, of charcoal-cooked herring is also available. Additionally, Nishin Soba (herring in soba noodles) is offered. These are just some of the many herring dishes offered.

While Hokkaido is famous for herring, there are also many other kinds of dishes made with seafood from the nearby sea. Summer is the season for sea urchins, Atka mackerel, hakka (sailfin poacher), and other fish in which Otaru takes pride.

The menu boasts sought-after bowl dishes such as Nama Uni-don (a bowl of raw sea urchin), whose price varies with availability, Ikura-don (a bowl of salmon roe), and Kaisen-don (a fresh seafood bowl). These dishes are offered at attractive prices, thanks to the diner being run by a fisherman.

For those eager to savor the finest fish caught at its peak season, the Sashimi Moriawase is a must-try. This dish features a variety of the season's prime neta, or toppings, each slice showcasing the best raw fish available.

The restaurants introduced above are great places for enjoying fresh seafood dishes. They are perfect places for taking a break from your sightseeing to enjoy lunch or dinner.

Otaru has more to offer than just the beauty of its historical buildings, so when you come, we highly recommend you sample the delicious seafood cuisine, too.