First up is Kaitenzushi Nemuro Hanamaru located in the restaurant area of Sapporo Stellar Place, a large shopping mall directly connected to Sapporo Station on the JR and Subway Namboku Lines.

As the name implies, this restaurant began in Nemuro and is a popular place to enjoy sushi prepared by craftsmen, using fresh ingredients from Nemuro and throughout Hokkaido.

Since the time of its founding, one of Hanamaru’s most popular menu items has been “Red Salmon Ikura Pickled in Soy Sauce” (352 yen, tax included). The plentiful serving of salmon caviar is salty and delicious. Many tourists often show photos of the dish and say, “I want to eat this.” Luckily for them, they can eat it year round at Hanamaru, regardless of the season!

Winter-only “Toro-Nishin” (297 yen, tax included) is made using herring from Abashiri carefully selected for their fat content. It’s a taste unique to Hokkaido with many repeat orders and customers declaring that “I’ve only had it once, but the taste is unforgettable.”

Be sure to try some of the non-sushi dishes too. Many customers order soup and the Nemuro specialty “Teppo Jiru” is a dish unique to Hanamaru (352 yen, tax included). The crab legs, covered with strong barbs, turns bright red when boiled and are full of umami Hanasaki crab meat.

There’s always a line of customers waiting for a seat at Hanamaru. You can take a numbered ticket and leave for a stress-free wait, but getting your ticket as early as possible is advisable. The restaurant is particularly crowded from 11:00 when it opens until around lunch at 13:00, but you can enter with relatively little waiting between 15:00 and 16:00.

Most people eat about seven dishes, with an average bill around 2,000 yen. Nemuro Hanamaru has five locations in Sapporo, including the Stellar Place shop.

“Sushi Dokoro Nagoyakatei,” originating in Kushiro and boasting sashimi and sushi directly from there, is popular with a wide range of patrons, from local families to tourists. The Fukuzumi store is located right next to the Sapporo Dome, and is a 10-minute walk from Fukuzumi Station on the Toho Subway Line. It’s also convenient if you’re driving.

Nagoyakatei's specialty is “Kobore Ikura” (590 yen, excluding tax). It’s served with a shout of “Wasshoi!” accompanied by drums in a performance you’ll remember long after your trip – not to mention how delicious the food is.

One of the most distinctive features of Hokkaido seafood is its delicious shellfish. There are plenty of people who come to Hokkaido to search out good shellfish, and the “Three Kinds of Shellfish” (560 yen, excluding tax) fulfills that wish! With this serving, you’ll be able to compare the taste and texture of Hidaka’s whelks, surf clams from Tomakomai and Okhotsk scallops.

Dishes are reasonably priced and packed with the taste of Hokkaido's “Maika Yama Wasabi” (240 yen, excluding tax). It features Tokachi-grown mountain wasabi with its unique scent and flavor that enhances the sweet flavor of this squid sushi.

Because it’s in the suburbs, the Nagoyakatei Fukuzumi location is visited by many local families. It’s particularly busy at lunch from 12:00 to 13:30, and for dinner around 18:00 to 20:00. For about 6 or 7 dishes, the average cost is about 1,700 yen per person. Sapporo has nine Nagoyakatei stores, including the one in Fukuzumi.

Kitami’s “Kaitenzushi Toriton” has also gained popularity on the Sapporo kaitenzushi world. With about 100 menu items, Toriton has a wide variety of fresh, delicious Hokkaido dishes prepared by skilled chefs. The Maruyama location is a 6-minute walk from Nishi-Nijuhatchome Station on the Tozai Subway Line, and is also easy to reach by car.

The “Dekkai Botan Ebi (Huge Botan Shrimp)” (530 yen, excluding tax) makes an impact with its overwhelming size and mouth-pleasing sweet taste. This is one dish you simply must eat if you visit Hokkaido.

You’ll also want to try Toriton’s specialty – “Ikura” (salmon roe) (330 yen, excluding tax). Prepared daily, a secret sauce gives it a rich taste and a unique texture with a “pop” like a bubble.

“Raw Salmon” (280 yen, excluding tax) is a standard sushi menu item. It’s simple, and yet often ordered because of its high quality and balance of meat and fat.

Toriton attracts a wide range of customers from casual locals diners to tourists seeking the tastes of Hokkaido. The restaurant is crowded around 11:30 to 14:00 for lunch and 17:00 to 20:30 for dinner, so it’s best to go after 14:00 or 20:30. A typical order is about 6 to 7 dishes for 1,700 yen per person. There are eight stores in Sapporo, including the Maruyama location.

Hokkaido's conveyor belt sushi restaurants are characterized by the use of fresh local ingredients and reasonable prices, and you can enjoy a filling meal for around 2,000 yen. They are easily accessible and accommodating, even if it’s your first time. Reservations aren’t an option, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead and set aside plenty of time. If you come to Hokkaido, be sure to experience kaitenzushi at least once!