Let's eat all the crab in Hokkaido! Types of crab and how to eat them. Hokkaido Lab ~A travel guide to enjoy Hokkaido's gourmet food, nature, and culture~

Let's eat all the crab in Hokkaido! Types of crab and how to eat them

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: Last updated: September 10, 2018

Table of contents

Image of crabs in Hokkaido

When it comes to Hokkaido's representative cuisine, it's "crab." If you're traveling to Hokkaido, it's definitely something you'll want to try.

In Hokkaido, you can enjoy not only the most common crabs caught in Japan, such as hairy crab, king crab, and snow crab, but also unusual varieties like snow crab and Hanasaki crab.

Moreover, Hokkaido is a vast region with fishing grounds throughout the prefecture, and it boasts the largest catch volume of each type of crab in Japan.

Furthermore, in Hokkaido, where the climate varies depending on the fishing grounds, it's wonderful that there's a crab season for each time of year. No matter what season you visit, you can enjoy crab in season.

This time, we'll provide a detailed guide to the characteristics, fishing grounds, and peak seasons of crabs caught in Hokkaido. We'll also introduce some recommended ways to enjoy them.

<Table of Contents>
1. King crab
2. Snow crab
3. Hairy crab
4. Snow crab
5. Hanasaki Crab
Summary

1. King crab

King crab

First, let me introduce the king crab. With its spiky shell and thick, long legs, it's probably the first crab that comes to mind for many people when they think of crabs.

The fishing season in Hokkaido is from January to May and from September to October. Wakkanai Port in Wakkanai City, located at the northernmost tip of Hokkaido, boasts the largest king crab catch in Japan.

In particular, April and May, after the drift ice in the Sea of Okhotsk has cleared (known as "sea opening"), are said to be the best time to enjoy king crab, as its sweetness intensifies during this period.

Boiled King Crab

Actually, king crabs are biologically related to hermit crabs, and they have eight legs, two fewer than other crabs. Apparently, the crab miso, which is one of the things that makes crabs delicious, doesn't taste very good.

However, the long, thick legs of the king crab are exquisite. They are considered one of the luxury ingredients, aren't they?

King crab legs, when in season, can be enjoyed with their firm texture and rich sweetness simply by boiling them once, freezing them, and then letting them thaw naturally.

If you're eating it locally, enjoying it freshly boiled is great, but we also recommend trying other ways to enjoy fresh king crab, such as sashimi or crab shabu-shabu.

2. Snow crab

アブラガニ Image provided by: Abashiri City Tourism Association

The "oil crab" closely resembles the king crab. In Hokkaido, it is caught off the coast of Abashiri in eastern Hokkaido. Before boiling, its body has a bluish tint, and it is also known as the "blue crab."

With a long fishing season from January to June, snow crabs are cheaper and easier to obtain than other crabs. Generally, they are said to have a less intense flavor than king crabs, but fresh snow crabs eaten in Hokkaido are very sweet and have an excellent texture.

Compared to king crab, snow crab has a milder flavor, but it seems that quite a few people prefer snow crab because it's easier to eat.

Crab tempura

If you boil snow crab for too long, the meat will become tough, so if you're going to cook it, it's best to grill or fry it.

The snow crab tempura, in particular, is very filling and satisfying. Its mild flavor makes it a great choice for a tempura rice bowl with plenty of tempura sauce.

Other recommended ways to enjoy crab, such as crab fried rice or crab rice, take advantage of the reasonable prices and offer a touch of luxury.

3. Hairy crab

Horsehair crab

The hairy crab is covered in hair and is smaller than other crabs. It is often thought that there is nothing to eat but crab miso, but its firm flesh has a rich and delicate flavor.

When you mix the crab meat with the crab miso and savor the flavor, the firm crab meat and the mellow crab miso create a perfect harmony in your mouth.

Furthermore, hairy crab pairs exceptionally well with Western-style dishes. Pasta and gratin dishes using plenty of crab meat and crab miso are highly recommended.

4. Snow crab

Snow crab

Snow crabs are a famous winter delicacy in the Sea of Japan region, including Hokuriku and Kansai. While snow crabs caught on Honshu are of the "true snow crab" variety, in Hokkaido, when people refer to snow crabs, they are usually talking about the "red snow crab."

The peak season for red snow crab is from April to June. The fishing grounds are off the coast of Rishiri and Rebun islands and Esashi on the Sea of Japan side.

Crab sashimi

While red snow crab is said to have more moisture and a less intense flavor compared to regular snow crab, fresh red snow crab from Hokkaido has sweet and juicy flesh. It's best enjoyed raw as sashimi to take advantage of its freshness. The crab miso is also exquisite, so be sure to try it!

5. Hanasaki Crab

花咲ガニ

"Hanasaki crabs" are caught along the Pacific coast from Cape Erimo off the coast of eastern Hokkaido to Nemuro. They are covered in rough, bumpy spines, and when boiled, they turn bright red like a blooming flower, hence their name.

Because the fishing season is short, from July to September, and the catch is small, this crab is often called a "phantom crab" because even Hokkaido residents rarely get to eat it.

Teppōjiru (gun soup)

Hanasaki crab is said to have a unique sweetness and rich flavor that makes it addictive once you try it. A recommended way to eat it is in Hokkaido, where it's served as crab miso soup called "Teppo-jiru."

This miso soup, generously made with chunks of Hanasaki crab, is so flavorful you'll want to have seconds and thirds.

Summary

Above, we introduced the characteristics and delicious ways to eat five types of crab caught in Hokkaido.

Throughout Hokkaido, there are many restaurants and accommodations that serve delicious crab dishes. Visiting a market to choose souvenirs is also a unique Hokkaido travel experience.

When you visit Hokkaido, be sure to enjoy some delicious crab!

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