[2025 Otaru Restaurant] Travel Guide for Kukizen (Updated Oct)

Sushi is a must-try on any trip to Hokkaido! 🍣✨ From famous restaurants perfect for a quick stop between sightseeing to hidden gems perfect for a quick bite at the airport, we've rounded up some great places to enjoy delicious sushi, even while traveling! [Nigiri Kukizen] This restaurant is said to be the cheapest two-star Michelin sushi restaurant in Japan. ⭐️ The dinner course is ¥16,500, but lunch features 12 pieces of sushi, egg, and soup, focusing on seasonal local ingredients. (¥7,700) Elegant nigiri 🍣 The carefully selected ingredients dance in your mouth. ❤️ With counter seating at the center, you can watch the sushi being made right before your eyes. Please note that the sign is small and easy to miss. ⚠️ Reservations are required, but please don't give up! 📞 📍Address: 2-4 Shinonome-cho, Otaru, Hokkaido 11-12 minutes walk from Otaru Station (towards Sushi Street and the canal) 🚶 Hours: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM [Nigirizushi Kantaro New Chitose Airport [International Terminal] This is a non-conveyor belt sushi restaurant, not a conveyor belt sushi restaurant like the hugely popular Kantaro at New Chitose Airport. 🍣 While the conveyor belt sushi restaurant on the 3rd floor of the domestic terminal always has a long line, Kantaro Nigiri Sushi is a hidden gem. 👍 You're likely to get a seat right away, so we recommend this restaurant if you're traveling internationally. ✨ From 100 yen nigiri sushi to 5,200 yen special sets, we cater to a variety of tastes. ⭐️ Sit at the counter, typical of a sushi restaurant, and you can watch the sushi being made, creating a perfect atmosphere. 👌 The fresh fish delivered from Hakodate is juicy. ✨ Please note that the restaurant is located in the "Hokkaido Market Food Street," which has been closed due to the inspection. 💡 📍Address: 987-22 Bibi, Chitose City, Hokkaido New Chitose Airport, International Passenger Terminal 3F Hours 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM [Takara Sushi] A popular restaurant selected as one of Tabelog's Top 100 Restaurants ✨ High-end sushi starts at ¥20,000 in the evening, but lunch is available for ¥6,600. (Cash only at lunchtime.) The lunch menu features 12 sushi pieces and a soup, giving it a Hokkaido feel 🍣 Enjoy fresh, delicious sushi ♪ The exterior is modern and chic, while the interior has a homey atmosphere. While there are tables available, the counter seats offer a chance to enjoy the friendly and cheerful chef's dedication up close. ☺️ You can enter without a reservation, but it's a popular restaurant, so we recommend making a reservation early. ♪ Approximately a 12-minute walk from Otaru Station. 🚶 Right next to the nearest bus stop, "Shiyakusho-dori." 🚌 📍Address: 1-9-18 Hanazono, Otaru, Hokkaido Hours: 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM #Otaru #OtaruFood #Hokkaido #NewChitoseAirport #NewChitoseAirportFood #HokkaidoFood #JapanTravelGuide

Otaru is known as the most affordable Michelin two-star restaurant in Japan. On the way to Yoichi, you will pass through Otaru, so make sure to stop by Sushi Street in Otaru for a meal, especially at this place: Kukizen 🍣, a Michelin two-star restaurant ⭐️⭐️. My family sponsor has been missing this sushi restaurant dearly. From our first visit ten years ago until now, our love for it has never faded. As soon as I entered, the owner and head chef of Kukizen recognized me with a knowing look that said, "I remember you 😏" #EyeContactConfirmed👀. The last time I visited was during my solo trip in June 2024, back when it was still at its old location. Now, after relocating, the counter seating for one dining session has been reduced to just six spots. It seems this already hard-to-book restaurant will become even harder to reserve in the future 🥹. However, if you have the chance to visit Otaru, I still highly recommend Kukizen. They exclusively use seafood ingredients from Hokkaido and Otaru, and the balance of acidity and texture in their sushi rice is exceptional. Lunch 12-piece sushi set: ¥7,000 per person, which is less than NT$1,500. Although I don't like to evaluate a restaurant based on "value for money," it’s probably hard to find a more affordable Michelin two-star sushi restaurant than this. #Kukizen #Omakase 🍶 Kukizen Original Nama Genshu Sake 🍣 Flounder Sushi 🍣 Herring Sushi 🍣 Medium Fatty Tuna Sushi 🍣 Surf Clam Sushi 🍣 Lean Tuna Roll 🍣 Striped Jack Sushi 🍣 Cuttlefish Sushi 🍣 Marinated Salmon Roe Gunkan 🍣 Scallop Sushi 🍣 Tokishirazu Salmon Sushi 🍣 Botan Shrimp Sushi 🍣 Otaru Purple Sea Urchin Gunkan 🥢 Miso Soup (Additional Orders) 🍣 Seared Nodoguro Sushi 🍣 Kohada Sushi 🍣 Herring Sushi Restaurant Name: Kukizen 握 群來膳 Location: 1-10-7 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido Business Hours: 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM

#JapanTravel A Michelin 2-star sushi restaurant in Otaru ⭐️Cookiezen⭐️. I barely made a reservation about two months ago. The lunch sushi omakase for 12 pieces is a whopping 6,600 yen!! Including drinks, it's less than 8,000 yen. After the meal, you can order additional sushi of your choice. I ordered Otoro and Eel Sushi. The chef nodded quietly and started to make sushi. 🎯ヴィスタ東雲, 1F, 2-4 Shinonomecho, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0026 Japan #OtaruTravel #OtaruRestaurant #Cookiezen #Sushi #sushi