Hakodate's markets, such as the "Hakodate Morning Market" and the "Jiyu Market," have become tourist attractions in themselves. Among them, Nakajima Renbai is a market affectionately known as "Renbai" by the locals of Hakodate.

This market, which carefully selects products, procures them at low prices, and then sells them even cheaper, is a valuable resource that can be called the kitchen of Hakodate citizens, prioritizing the consumer's perspective.

From fresh seafood and vegetables to prepared foods, sweets, and even restaurants, Nakajima Renbai offers a truly diverse range of goods. This article will fully convey the charm of Nakajima Renbai.

<Table of Contents>
1. What kind of place is Nakajima Renbai?
2. Let's start by walking along "Fish Market Street."
3. Introducing shopping streets that retain the atmosphere of the Showa era.
4. Lunch and sweets are available at "Renbai"
5. There are still many more shops that cater to the needs of the local community.
Summary

Map provided by: Nakajima Renbai official website

Nakajima Renbai is conveniently located about a 5-minute drive from Hakodate Station, and also about a 5-minute drive from Goryokaku, a central tourist area, and Yunokawa Onsen. Its origins trace back to the Great Hakodate Fire of 9, which burned down one-third of Hakodate. Hundreds of street vendors lined up in Nakajima-cho, which was undamaged by the fire.

Later, the street stalls evolved into shops, and around 11, a shopping street called "Nakajima Renbai" was established. Renbai means selling goods cheaply. As the name suggests, Nakajima Renbai is lined with many shops selling good quality goods at low prices.

If you want to experience the market atmosphere at Nakajima Renbai, start by heading to "Uoya-dori" (Fishmonger Street), marked by its blue sign. Under tents with bright blue roofs, numerous fresh fish shops line both sides of the narrow passageway, all the way to the back.

The storefront is lined with fresh seafood that could be used for tonight's dinner, including raw fish, sashimi, dried fish, and processed products such as salted seafood.

You might see some fish you've never seen before, but the shop staff are all very friendly, so don't hesitate to ask them. They'll kindly explain everything from the name of the fish to how to prepare it.

They also offer nationwide shipping, making them perfect for souvenirs from your Hakodate trip.

The main street, Renbai-dori (Bargain Street), is lined with a few street vendors that retain the atmosphere of the Showa era.

The voices coming from the storefronts saying, "It's delicious, give it a try," and "I'll give you a discount," make you stop in your tracks. These kinds of conversations are one of the unique charms of Nakajima Renbai. It's a refreshing experience that you can't get with your usual shopping.

In addition to these, Nakajima Renbai has a wide variety of other shops. Let's take a look at some of them.

Hioki Shoten

Hioki Shoten is a grocery store that mainly sells ingredients for oden, such as konjac and kamaboko. The friendly owner greeted us warmly.

Regular customers constantly visit the shop and purchase items recommended by the owner.

Hioki Shoten is a delightful place to visit, with its friendly owner and charming, old-fashioned storefront.

Tomoe Ota Kamaboko

This shop sells processed fish products and fried foods made with fresh ingredients from Hokkaido. It's a long-established kamaboko (fish cake) shop that everyone in Hakodate knows.

The display cases inside the shop are lined with freshly made kamaboko (fish cakes) and other prepared foods, and the aroma is wonderful.

You can enjoy original Hakodate-style dishes such as "Chigiri-age," a fried fish cake made with fresh seafood and vegetables, and squid cutlets made with squid.

Marusho Co., Ltd.

This is Marusho, a crab wholesaler. Inside the store, there are tanks filled with hairy crabs and large king crabs. As a wholesaler, they can offer fresh crabs at low prices.

This crab is a popular choice for both personal consumption and as a gift. They ship nationwide, so even locals use it for year-end gifts. In addition, you can find a variety of seafood, carefully selected by professionals, at reasonable prices.

Domori Tofu Shop

Handmade tofu shops used to be a common sight in every shopping district. Domori Tofu Shop retains that Showa-era atmosphere with its storefront. Domori Tofu Shop's tofu, made using the same methods since its founding, attracts customers from all over Hakodate City who come seeking its taste.

We offer a variety of products essential to the dining tables of Hakodate residents, including our generously portioned 500g homemade tofu, kinchaku (pouch-filled tofu pouches) where you can enjoy the exquisite harmony of ingredients and broth, our specially crafted fried tofu, and side dishes handmade by the proprietress.

Shige-chan Sushi

If you get hungry while shopping, how about lunch at Nakajima Renbai? I'd like to introduce you to "Shige-chan Sushi," a popular stand-up sushi bar and takeout restaurant. When I visited the restaurant, I was greeted by a friendly-looking owner.

As expected of a standing-only sushi bar, the interior is small, with only a counter about 3 meters long. However, as you'd expect from a popular restaurant, the counter was packed with customers by lunchtime.

The most popular item on the lunch menu is the "Sushi Platter for 600 yen (tax included)". When you order, the chef makes it right in front of you. I immediately took a bite of the freshly made sushi at the counter. The exquisite harmony of the toppings, made with inexpensive, fresh seafood, and the chef's proud rice was incredible. It felt like a dream to be able to eat it at this price.

Meanwhile, the chef is extremely busy dealing with takeout orders and phone reservations. Combined with the chef's friendly personality, this sushi restaurant is beloved by the locals.

Tonchinkan

After lunch, you often crave a sweet dessert. Nakajima Renbai also has a shop that sells delicious sweets. It's a small pink shop called "Tonchinkan" located across from the "Fishmonger Street" that I mentioned earlier. What they sell there is taiyaki (fish-shaped cake filled with red bean paste).

These taiyaki (fish-shaped cakes filled with sweet bean paste) have a thin crust and are generously filled, making them delicious even when cold, a local favorite. In addition to the standard red bean paste filling, they offer unique varieties such as chocolate and cream, and we also recommend the mixed taiyaki that lets you enjoy two different fillings in one.

Tonchinkan is a delightful place to visit, and you'll enjoy chatting with the friendly owner. Be sure to check it out!

In addition to the greengrocers selling fresh local vegetables, the egg wholesaler, the fruit shop, and the butcher, Nakajima Renbai offers a wide variety of ingredients that grace the tables of Hakodate citizens. The more you walk around, the more interesting the market becomes.

The shopkeepers are all kind and friendly. If you have any questions or need to know what you're looking for, they'll gladly help you. The warm, friendly atmosphere of Hakodate's bargain shops is sure to become a wonderful memory of your trip.

So, in this article, we introduced Nakajima Renbai, the kitchen of Hakodate citizens.

Nakajima Renbai Market offers a wide variety of shops, including fresh seafood, that you won't find in other markets. Its locally-focused, low prices are also a major draw.

Another great thing about Nakajima Renbai is the opportunity to interact with the shop staff, something you can't experience in commercial facilities like supermarkets.

When you visit Hakodate, why not try some local-style shopping at Nakajima Renbai?

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