Katsukani no Hanasaki
Food Sapporo


Amid the wealth of seafood available throughout the city, Sapporo is renowned for its crab. Considered Japan’s crab capital due to the surrounding cold and crystal-clear seas, Horsehair crab, Snow crab, King crab, and Hanasaki crab amongst others are harvested and served seasonally in a variety of dishes. For aficionados of Taraba, the red king crab, restaurant Katsukani no Hanasaki is the place to go. Charismatic chef Kenyuu Oochi, who has dedicated 40 years to perfecting the art of transforming crab eating into a ritual, heads the performance, skillfully slicing, grilling, and boiling the crab in front of guests, turning each dish into a theatrical, sensory experience.