CrabKING OF MARINE PRODUCTSHokkaido is among the largest producers of crabs. Hair crabs (Erimacrus isenbeckii), red king crabs (Paralithodes camtschaticus) and snow crabs (Chionoecetes opilio) are called the Three Great Hokkaido Crabs. Blue king crabs (Paralithodes brevipes), very rare crabs living only near Nemuro City, are famous, too.

Charm of Hokkaido foods

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Esashi Town (C)　110-minute ride from Monbetsu Airport

Oumu Town (A)　60-minute ride from Monbetsu Airport

Nemuro City (B)110-minute ride from Nakashibetsu Airport

Hiroo Town (D)80-minute ride from Obihiro Airport

roo Town (D)rroo TTowwn (DD)rroo TTowwn (DD)minute ride from Ommin ee ridee fromm80 m

HirHirHir80-m

portrrNew Chitose AirportNew Chitose AirportNew Chitose Airport

Wakkanai AirportWakkanai AirportWakkanai Airport

Monbetsu AirportMonbetsu AirportMonbetsu Airport

Hakodate AirportHakodate AirportHakodate Airport

Asahikawa AirportAsahikawa AirportAsahikawa Airport Memanbetsu AirportMemanbetsu AirportMemanbetsu Airport

Nakashibetsu AirportNakashibetsu AirportNakashibetsu Airport

Kushiro AirportKushiro AirportKushiro Airport

Obihiro AirportObihiro AirportObihiro Airport

Rishiri AirportRishiri AirportRishiri AirportRebun AirportRebun AirportRebun Airport

Okushiri AirportOkushiri AirportOkushiri AirportOkushiri Airport

Sapporo Okadama AirportSapporo Okadama AirportSapporo Okadama Airport

Sapporo CitySapporo CitySapporo City

Red king crabs

Red king crabHair crab

Red king crabSnow crabHair crabHair crab

Blue king crabHair crabHair crabHair crab

Dohoku

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The best season for crabs varies according to the crab type and the region. Why don’t you travel around Hokkaido to find the best taste at that time?

Production areas ~ Enjoy the fresh foods on siteoy the fresh foods on sit

Data collection for enjoying the Hokkaido crabs more

Hokkaido Crab

Producer Map

Recommendation of the ways of eating the Three (plus One) Great Crabs

They have a big body and thick legs. Just one leg is substantial enough.

Hair crabsThey are characterized by short hair covering their whole body. They taste delicately sweet. Their innards are exquisite, too.

Snow crabsThey are characterized by long, slim legs. Their meat has minute fibers like silk, and tastes naturally sweet.

Blue king crabsThey become vividly vermeil just like flowers in bloom when they are boiled. They are very rare crabs popular for their thick flavor and texture.

“Grilled crabs” for red king crabs Hair crabs, having excellent

flavors, should be eaten as “sashimi”. Fresh hair crabs can be eaten raw when they are in season.

Being large-sized, red king crabs are most delicious eaten when grilled. It is such an extravagance which can be enjoyed only in the place of production to grill raw crabs.

“Sashimi” for hair crabs

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Okhotsk

Kushiro-Nemuro

Tokachi

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Oumu Town

◆ http://www.town.oumu.hokkaido.jp/(Oumu Town)A

“Crab shabu-shabu” for snow crabs

This is a luxurious miso soup containing plenty of roughly cut crab. Thick Umami from the crab is concentrated in the soup. This is the local cuisine of Nemuro City.

“Shabu-shabu” is good if you wish to fully enjoy the delicate flavors and texture of snow crabs. Dip crab meat quickly into a broth based on soy sauce and eat it with vegetables. At the end of “shabu-shabu”, put rice into the pot and make rice porridge with crab.

“Teppo-jiru” for blue king crabs

Nemuro City

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Secrets of deliciousness realized by the blessing of drift ice

“Crab luxury” in crab festivals

On the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, a place of production of crabs (Maps ❶❷), drift ice comes in the severely cold winter. As the drift ice contains a lot of plankton, the sea becomes a perfect feeding area for crabs when the drift ice starts to melt in spring. Crab during this period is said to be “most delicious” because crab meat becomes firm due to severe cold and stores much nutrition.

簡日 英 繁

◆ http://www.nemuro-kankou.com/(Nemuro Tourist Information) 日 英

Esashi Crab FestivalIt is held on the first Sunday of July every year.Esashi Town has the largest catch/haul of hair crabs in Japan. In addition to hair crabs, fresh marine products, hair crab soups and other various specialties can be enjoyed in the festival.

Esashi Town

◆ http://esashi-kankou.com/index.html (Esashi Tourist Association)C

簡日 英

Hiroo Crab FestivalIt is held on the second Sunday of December every year.Hair crabs are boiled in a very large iron pot. Do not miss this spectacular event! Boiled crab, hair crab soup and marine products are sold. You can eat much and enjoy yourself much in this festival.

Hiroo Town

◆ http://visit-tokachi.jp/jp (“Visit Tokachi” Tokachi General Subprefectural Bureau)D

簡日 英 繁

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Railway

ExpresswayAirport

Railway (Shinkansen)

Legend

Region Month JanuaryType February March April May June July August September October November December

■Best Season Calendar

Major place of production

MAP

Major place of production

MAP

Venue MAP

Venue MAP