Sapporo: Jogai Market vs. Nijo Market – Which Should You Visit?

Sapporo—and Hokkaido as a whole—is famous for its incredible food. While dining at the city’s restaurants is a highlight of any trip, visiting one of its local seafood markets is an experience you shouldn’t miss.

At the markets, you can enjoy fresh seafood rice bowls, or have crab, scallops, and other seafood grilled right in front of you. The freshness and flavor are simply outstanding, making it a must-try experience for seafood lovers.

In this article, based on the author’s actual experiences, we introduce Sapporo’s representative markets: “Jogai Market” and “Nijo Market.”

Comparison Item	Sapporo Central Wholesale Market Jogai Market	Nijo Market
Access	Approx. 10 mins on foot from JR Soen Station / Approx. 7 mins on foot from Subway Tozai Line Nijuyanken Station Free parking available	5 to 10 mins on foot from Subway Odori Station / Susukino Station Very close to Streetcar “Tanukikoji” stop
Scale (Number of Shops)	Approx. 60 shops (fresh fish, produce, seafood dining, etc.)	Approx. 20 shops (seafood products, seafood bowls, souvenirs)
Business Hours	6:00 – 17:00 *Dining from 7:00 (Varies by shop)	7:00 – 18:00 *Dining area from 6:00 – 21:00
Morning Operation	◎ Opens at 6:00 with abundant “market meals”	○ Starts at 7:00 (Seafood bowl breakfast available)
Price Range	Slightly high for tourists	High for tourists
On-site Dining	Sushi, seafood bowls, set meals, etc. Abundant seating	Centered on bowl shops/diners inside arcades (Seating is somewhat limited)
Photo-worthy Spots	Giant king crab piles & energetic calling	Retro wooden arcade and signboards
Crowding Level	Peak is after tourist bus arrivals (9:00 – 11:00)	Moderate crowding around noon, pathways are narrow
Recommended Type	Those who want to thoroughly buy up seafood & seafood breakfast in the morning	Those who want a quick seafood bowl while walking around town

If You Want to Enjoy the Market in Earnest: “Jogai Market”

Although slightly away from central Sapporo (Susukino and Sapporo Station), “Jogai Market”—located within a distance reachable in a few dozen minutes by JR train or subway—has large grounds and many shops, making it recommended. Corresponding numbers of seafood retail shops stand side by side on both sides of a somewhat wide road, making it a market that is sufficiently fun just walking around and viewing.

Charms of “Jogai Market”

Seafood Sales at Jogai Market

Crabs stand out extraordinarily as expected, but delicious-looking abalone, scallops, Atka mackerel, and salmon are also sold at low prices, and they also offer frozen shipping, so you can purchase for souvenirs or home use.

Crabs larger than a person’s face are sold whole with a thud, making for a magnificent sight. Snow crabs of this size are rarely seen even in markets. Although meant for tourists, you cannot help but think, “Even if I bring it home… what am I going to do with it? (laughs),” but enjoying a continuous series of surprises is one of the good points of a seafood market.

Eat Right on the Spot (Actual Meal at a Jogai Market Restaurant)

Many shops have attached diners, and being able to enjoy seafood inside Jogai Market is also a good point. Naturally including seafood bowls, individual seafood items and sushi are also available.

The grilled scallops with butter at Jogai Market are simply irresistible! Because they are actually grilled right before your eyes, eating grilled scallops soaked in butter and soy sauce right on the spot is supreme.

Sashimi of whelk is fresh, crunchy, flavorful, and recommended. At this size and quantity, taking a quick sip of Japanese sake while eating whelk sashimi makes coming to Hokkaido worthwhile with this alone.

Giant Crab and Lobster Photo-worthy Spots

Inside Jogai Market, there are monuments of a “giant crab and lobster.”

Just how many people could eat their fill with a crab of this size! Even if you spread your arms, the width of the crab’s legs is larger.

The lobster has great impact. The claws are way too big~. If you made miso soup with this lobster, just how many portions of miso soup could be made? It is a photo-worthy spot where you will want to take a picture together.

Location and Access of Jogai Market

For Jogai Market, “Soen” Station is the nearest by JR, and “Nijuyanken” Station on the Tozai Line is the nearest by subway. You walk a bit from either station, but “Nijuyanken” Station on the Tozai Line is slightly closer.

location

If going to Jogai Market, morning (early morning) is recommended as expected; eating a luxurious seafood bowl for breakfast will become another wonderful memory of your Hokkaido trip.

Buying Fresh Abalone & Scallops at Sapporo’s Jogai Market: First-Hand Experience

We actually bought “abalone” and “scallops”! Here are the completely frozen, fully packaged “abalone” and “scallops” that arrived at home!

In a super splendid Styrofoam box properly packed with ice, domestic Hokkaido scallops and domestic Hokkaido abalone arrived via frozen shipment.

Purchased Shop

Regarding the price, thanks to the kindness of the shop staff who worked hard on it, we cannot write the actual number here, but domestic abalone is not something you can usually buy at a casual price! We were able to purchase at a price unique to markets. A professional chef acquaintance cooked the abalone and scallops that arrived at home! Here it is!

“Abalone” and “scallop” sashimi

Simmered abalone

Isobe-yaki style tempura of abalone and scallops

The abalone had a chewiness with deep flavor, and the scallops were thick-fleshed with a tight flavor, making them delicious. As expected of Hokkaido seafood. Even after returning from a Hokkaido trip, being able to savor Hokkaido once again is irresistible!

Bonus: “Kohashi,” a Delicious Soba Shop Near Jogai Market

At “Kohashi,” a residential-style soba shop located a few minutes on foot from Jogai Market, you can enjoy exquisite soba.

On the way back from Jogai Market (for lunch), hand-rolled soba “Kohashi” is highly recommended.

Crispy, tender tempura and genuinely delicious hand-rolled soba are the best. It is a good shop where you can eat such authentic and delicious hand-rolled soba in Sapporo, but because it ends as soon as the soba runs out, be careful about the time when visiting. It is a popular shop where reservations are not accepted and people line up from opening time, so please visit allowing plenty of time.

“Nijo Market,” Close to Sapporo’s Downtown Area

Charms of “Nijo Market”

Location and Convenience for Casual Visits

The greatest charm of Nijo Market is its good access. It is in a good location reachable on foot from Sapporo’s entertainment district Susukino and Tanukikoji Shopping Street; a location so close that you can leave the hotel in the morning before sightseeing and go with a breakfast mood offers unmatched convenience.

Nijo Market has good access and many retail shops selling seafood and dried goods aimed at tourists, making it convenient when you want to buy souvenirs during a short open time during the daytime while sightseeing in Sapporo.

Tourist-Oriented Market Just Right for Souvenir Purchases

In Nijo Market, where there are many seafood retail shops aimed at tourists, going around noon is bustling with people visiting for sightseeing from abroad. Foreign tourists might be more numerous than Japanese people.

Looking casually, you can see alleys brimming with mystery, but the feeling of shops tightly lined up can be enjoyed while walking, and there are also shops where you can eat scallops or crabs grilled right on the spot, making it a gourmet walk as well.

Seafood Bowls Can Be Eaten from the Morning at Diners Inside the Market

Diners inside the market have plenty of seafood bowl menus, so you can go in the morning and even enjoy the luxury of a seafood bowl right from breakfast.

Location and Access of “Nijo Market”

Location

Proceeding east along “Tanukikoji Shopping Street,” which is familiar to Sapporo citizens and tourists, going all the way to the end and crossing the main avenue, “Nijo Market” is right in front of your eyes.

Tips for Enjoying Sapporo’s Markets (Sapporo’s Jogai Market and Nijo Market)

Hokkaido is delicious no matter what you eat! Furthermore, when it comes to markets, you can enjoy fresh seafood and fruit right on the spot, and you can also buy for souvenirs or home use, which is even more so with fresh seafood. A place excellent both for shopping and sightseeing—that is a market.

Talk Well with the Shop People to Enjoy the Market

When you go to a market, (experienced older male staff members) frequently talk to you. Because they especially say things like “What are you looking for?”, you might think a little, “Will I be forced to buy something?”, but that is not the case.

It is true that many staff members have strong sales pitches, but enjoying even that results in better shopping, and there are often times when you can sample, or they give service on price or quantity.

Talking is more fun as expected. You can also taste the market atmosphere.

Even if you talk, there is no rule that you must buy there, so when you still want to tour shops, it is OK to say, “I just arrived and want to look around at various things, so I’ll go around once for now and come back again~”!

Go Around the Market Once for Now

Coming to Sapporo’s markets, there are many retail shops aimed at tourists, and strong “buy this, buy this” talk starts right at the first shop. However, to enjoy the market more, going around once while talking at shops is recommended.

You will come to understand the price market rate, as well as the personality of each shop.

While going around once, mark what you want to buy, sample a little along the way, or sometimes enter a diner to eat a seafood bowl. Finally, returning to the shop you thought was best and buying after returning to a place you truly feel “Your place was the best, so I came back~” makes the shop people immensely happy, and you can make a satisfying purchase, making everyone happy.

Delight Unique to Markets! Look at the “Water Tanks”

Looking at products lined up at storefronts at markets is fun, but looking at water tanks is actually one of the tips for enjoying.

A water tank full of crabs is rarely seen, so it is well worth a look. If you step inside a shop and say, “May I look at the water tanks?”, they will gladly show you, so let’s step inside shops more and more to enjoy.

Putting your hands in is dangerous, so you must never put your hands into water tanks or try to touch them.

Enjoying while observing moderation and manners is important.

Summary: Sapporo’s Markets “Jogai Market” and “Nijo Market”

“Jogai Market” and “Nijo Market” support Sapporo’s food culture. Both are attractive spots where you can enjoy fresh seafood.

Market Name	Recommended For	Greatest Advantage
Jogai Market	Those who want to enjoy market liveliness in earnest	Shop count is high, and selection is overwhelming. This is the place if you want to “bulk buy” large crabs or scallops, or savor authentic market meals in a spacious diner.
Nijo Market	Those who want to enjoy efficiently between sightseeing	Access is outstanding. In a favorable location right after walking from Tanukikoji, it is optimal for leaving the hotel and going straight to eat a “luxurious breakfast.”

Tips to Enjoy Market Touring 120%

• “Go Around Once for Now” First: Without being overwhelmed by energetic callings, first walk through the whole area to grasp the market rate and shop atmosphere.
• Enjoy Conversations with Shop Staff: Try casually asking, “What is the absolute best right now?” There might be stories unique to markets or happy services at times.
• Look Inside the “Water Tanks”: Not just products lined up at storefronts, but seeing crabs and shellfish moving lively in water tanks is also a real pleasure of markets.

Memories of a Hokkaido trip begin with delicious gourmet food. While feeling the air of lively markets, please find your supreme bowl and supreme dish.