Hakodate Morning Market Ekini Market Live Squid Fishing Moat

Tucked inside the Ekini Market hall of Hakodate Morning Market, this self-styled original ikatsuri pond invites you to do something few travellers expect from a morning out: fish for your own breakfast. Swimming squid are caught on a simple hook, then whisked to the kitchen and served fresh: sashimi doesn't get more immediate than this. The adjacent Shokudo Nibankan cafeteria rounds out the experience with affordable seafood set meals for those who prefer to let the chefs do all the work.

When to go

The market runs every day, opening at 7 AM: arrive early to catch the liveliest atmosphere and the fullest fishing pond before the morning winds down at 2 PM. Shoulder seasons, particularly spring and autumn, tend to draw quieter crowds, giving you a more unhurried taste of this wonderfully local Hokkaido tradition.

“Really cool location right next to the train station. Tons of vendors selling all kinds of fish, crabs, squid,shushi etc. they also have live squid fishing they cook what u catch for u . Absolutely worth a stop .”— Anthony Napolitano, Google review