Butadon (pork rice bowl)
Tokachi region
Pork farming began in the Tokachi region in the late Meiji era, and pork has been a familiar food there ever since...
HOKKAIDO
Hokkaido
The surveyed city is Sapporo. Of all 394 items in the household survey, Hokkaido stands out most for Flounder — 2.6× the national average (Sapporo 1,415 g / national 536 g). It is Japan’s top producer of Wheat, Soybeans, Buckwheat (soba) and more (Ministry of Agriculture data). Across the 52 surveyed cities, Sapporo ranks No.1 for Salmon, Pasta, Onions — 3 items in all.
2.6×Biggest standout
Flounder
per household / year
Flounder
per household / year
3Items ranked #1 nationally
27Regional dishes
RANK
Furthest above the national average
All figures are annual spending/quantity per household (not per person). 2023–2025 average, showing Sapporo’s value as a multiple of the national average.
| Item | vs. average | Sapporo | National | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlounderSeafood | 2.64× | 1,415g | 536g | #4 |
| ScallopsSeafood | 2.34× | 712g | 304g | #2 |
| Other shellfishSeafood | 2.31× | 411g | 178g | #2 |
| MelonFruit | 1.97× | 1,824JPY | 927JPY | #3 |
| Other salted/dried seafoodSeafood | 1.68× | 5,208g | 3,102g | #3 |
| Other fresh meatMeat | 1.66× | 5,350JPY | 3,228JPY | #2 |
| ShellfishSeafood | 1.63× | 4,630JPY | 2,846JPY | #2 |
| Salmon#1Seafood | 1.62× | 3,309g | 2,041g | #1 |
| CrabSeafood | 1.61× | 571g | 355g | #17 |
| Other processed meatMeat | 1.60× | 5,623JPY | 3,515JPY | #2 |
| Pacific saurySeafood | 1.58× | 672g | 425g | #2 |
| School lunchDining Out | 1.57× | 12,205JPY | 7,756JPY | #13 |
MADE
What Hokkaido produces most in Japan
From Ministry of Agriculture statistics (2024): items where Hokkaido ranks No.1 nationally by harvest or catch. This is about what the prefecture produces; the #1 list below is about what households buy.
- Wheat
- Soybeans
- Buckwheat (soba)
- Scallops
- Alaska pollock
- Kombu kelp
- Salmon
- Atka mackerel (hokke)
- Octopus
- Pacific saury
- Sea urchin
- Sea squirt (farmed)
- Sea cucumber
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Carrots
- Kabocha squash
- Sweet corn
- Yam
- Broccoli
- Edamame
- Asparagus
Also No.2–3: Cherries (#2), Rice (#2), Japanese flying squid (#2), Sandfish (hatahata) (#2), Daikon radish (#2), Tomatoes (#2), Garlic (#2), Green beans (#2), Red snow crab (#3), Burdock root (#3), Melons (#3), Green peas (#3)
Source: MAFF Crop Statistics Survey and Marine Fishery Production Statistics (e-Stat, 2024 final figures).
#1
Where this prefecture ranks #1
Items where Sapporo ranked #1 among the 52 surveyed cities.
- Salmon
- Onions
- Pasta
Q&A
Hokkaido food: common questions
What is Hokkaido famous for producing?
By Ministry of Agriculture statistics (2024), Hokkaido is Japan’s top producer of Wheat, Soybeans, Buckwheat (soba), Scallops, Alaska pollock, Kombu kelp and more.
What food is Hokkaido No.1 in Japan for?
In Japan’s household spending survey (2023–2025 average), Sapporo ranked No.1 of 52 cities for Salmon, Pasta, Onions. This ranks what households buy, not what the prefecture produces.
What to eat in Hokkaido?
Households here buy far more than the national average of Flounder, Scallops, Melon, Other fresh meat, Salmon.
What are the local dishes of Hokkaido?
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture records 27 regional dishes from Hokkaido, including Butadon (pork rice bowl), Chanchan-yaki (grilled salmon and vegetables), Imomochi (potato mochi), Nishinzuke (pickled herring with vegetables).
LINK
Where regional dishes meet the statistics
Ingredients used in regional dishes here that also show up as standout spending in the household survey — cross-referencing MAFF's regional-dish database with Japan's Statistics Bureau data.
Chanchan-yaki (grilled salmon and vegetables)
Main ingredients: Salmon, cabbage, onion, carrot, green pepper, bean sprouts, miso
→ Salmon is 1.5× the national average in Sapporo (7,588 JPY, #1 nationally)
Bibai Torimeshi (chicken rice)
Main ingredients: Chicken, rice, onion
→ Onions is 1.2× the national average in Sapporo (18,276 g, #1 nationally)
Nishinzuke (pickled herring with vegetables)
Main ingredients: Herring, daikon radish, cabbage, carrot, red chili pepper
→ Daikon radish is 1.1× the national average in Sapporo (1,958 JPY, #9 nationally)
Imomochi (potato mochi)
Main ingredients: Potatoes, potato starch
→ Potatoes is 1.1× the national average in Sapporo (9,338 g, #10 nationally)
Zangi (Hokkaido-style fried chicken)
Main ingredients: Chicken, soy sauce, flour, ginger, garlic
→ Chicken is 1.1× the national average in Sapporo (20,725 g, #8 nationally)
Butadon (pork rice bowl)
Main ingredients: Pork, rice, green onions
→ Pork is 1.0× the national average in Sapporo (35,713 JPY, #10 nationally)
DISHES
27 regional dishes from Hokkaido
From Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) “Regional Dishes to Pass on to the Next Generation.” Each dish name links to the MAFF page.
Chanchan-yaki (grilled salmon and vegetables)AuWi
Ishikari region
Chanchan-yaki is salmon caught from autumn to winter, steam-grilled together with seasonal vegetables...
Imomochi (potato mochi)
Throughout Hokkaido
Imomochi is an easy home-cooked dish made with potatoes, one of Hokkaido's signature crops...
Nishinzuke (pickled herring with vegetables)SpAuWi
Rumoi region
Nishinzuke reflects the history of Hokkaido's herring industry, dating back to the late Edo period...
Ishikari-nabe (salmon and miso hot pot)Wi
Ishikari region
Ishikari-nabe is a signature Hokkaido dish, named for the Ishikari River, famed for its salmon...
Ikameshi (rice-stuffed squid)
Southern Hokkaido
A famous dish of the Hakodate and Oshima areas, ikameshi originated during World War II...
Ramen
Throughout Hokkaido
In 1884, a Western-style restaurant in Hakodate served a noodle dish called 'Nankin soba'...
Sekihan (red rice)
Throughout Hokkaido
Sekihan is eaten nationwide on festive occasions; in Hokkaido it's cooked with sweet red beans...
Kobumaki (fish rolled in kelp)Wi
Hidaka region
Hokkaido, a leading kelp producer, wraps fish such as salmon and herring in kelp...
Bibai Torimeshi (chicken rice)Wi
Bibai City
Still a beloved home-cooked dish in Bibai City, this chicken rice traces its origins back to...
Bibai Yakitori (grilled chicken skewers)
Bibai City
Bibai City lies midway between Sapporo and Asahikawa; its western part sits in the low-lying Ishikari Plain...
Muroran Yakitori (grilled pork skewers)
Muroran City
As the name suggests, Muroran yakitori was created in Muroran City, Hokkaido...
Kujira-jiru (whale soup)Wi
Southern Hokkaido
Kujira-jiru is an essential New Year dish in southern Hokkaido; as the new year nears, salted whale meat is simmered in a large pot...
Ruibe (frozen raw salmon)AuWi
Coastal areas including Ishikari, Hakodate, and Kushiro
Ruibe is salmon or trout that is frozen and eaten as sashimi without thawing...
Nishin Soba (herring soba noodles)
Throughout Hokkaido
Nishin soba tops soba noodles with dried herring simmered sweet, a Hokkaido specialty...
Zangi (Hokkaido-style fried chicken)
Throughout Hokkaido
In Hokkaido, fried chicken is called zangi; compared with typical karaage...
Shishamo no Kanroni (sweet-simmered shishamo smelt)AuWi
Iburi, Hidaka, Kushiro, and Tokachi regions
A dish featuring shishamo, one of Hokkaido's signature fish...
Kasube no Nitsuke (simmered ray)Wi
Multiple coastal areas
A winter dish often made at home; kasube is ray caught in Hokkaido's coastal waters...
Tokishirazu (grilled, marinated off-season salmon)SpSu
Throughout Hokkaido
Salmon that migrates to Hokkaido's coast from autumn to early winter to spawn is called akizake, or autumn salmon...
Ikura no Shoyuzuke (soy sauce-marinated salmon roe)AuWi
Throughout Hokkaido
Ikura, one of Hokkaido's signature seafoods, is well known nationwide and loved by all ages...
Tachi no Misoshiru (cod milt miso soup)AuWi
Throughout Hokkaido
In Hokkaido, cod milt is called 'tachi' — true cod milt is 'ma-dachi' and walleye pollock milt is...
Bekomochi (leaf-shaped rice cake)SpWi
Throughout Hokkaido
Long loved by Hokkaido residents, bekomochi is typically a leaf-shaped cake in two tones, white and black...
Izushi (fermented fish and rice sushi)AuWi
Throughout Hokkaido
Izushi is sushi made by pickling fish and vegetables in rice malt and lactic-fermenting the mixture...
Matsumaezuke (squid and kelp pickle)Wi
Southern Hokkaido, around Matsumae
Matsumaezuke is made by shredding dried squid and kelp and marinating them in soy sauce, sake, mirin, and sugar...
Teppo-jiru (crab miso soup)SuAuWi
Eastern Hokkaido (mainly Nemuro region)
In eastern Hokkaido, miso soup made with crab is called teppo-jiru...
Sanpei-jiru (salted fish and vegetable soup)Wi
Throughout Hokkaido
Sanpei-jiru simmers salted fish such as salmon or herring together with vegetables like carrot and daikon...
Jingisukan (grilled mutton)SpSu
Throughout Hokkaido
In the Taisho era, when the outbreak of World War I made wool imports difficult, Japan promoted domestic sheep farming as national policy...
NEARBY