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Hakata Motsunabe Yamanaka Akasakaten: Where to Eat Motsunabe in Fukuoka, Japan

A specialty of Fukuoka prefecture, motsunabe is a hot pot stew made with beef or pork offal. Innards like beef intestines and tripe are allowed to simmer in a soup base seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and chili pepper. If you’re visiting Fukuoka and like offal, then you need to try this dish.

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Korombia Izakaya: Where to Have Yakitori & Chicken Sashimi in Sapporo, Japan

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, an izakaya is a type of gastropub in Japan. It’s the Japanese equivalent of an American bar (like Cheers) or an Irish pub. They’re informal and unpretentious establishments where office workers would go to loosen their ties and get a quick drink after work.

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Shirakaba Sansou: Where to Have Sapporo’s Signature Miso Ramen in Ramen Alley

When doing research for this trip, I saw many locals refer to Ramen Alley as a tourist trap, a place to steer clear from if you were serious about miso ramen. They warned of the ramen restaurants in downtown Sapporo that served them with sweet corn (gasp!). Sweet corn in ramen is for tourists they said, and something to avoid at all costs.

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Takinami Shokudo: Where to Have Overflowing Bowls of Kaisendon in Otaru, Japan

Otaru is a small port town less than an hour away by train from Sapporo. It’s a lovely town known for its beautifully preserved canal, its wealth of dairy shops, and the freshest seafood. Some say that the best seafood in Hokkaido can be found right here in Otaru.

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Gotsubo: Where to Have Plump, Juicy Oysters for Cheap in Sapporo, Japan

We visited Nijo Market a few days before and oysters there were priced at JPY 150-200 apiece. At Gotsubo? Just JPY 105 each for a minimum order of five. If that isn’t enticing enough, the owner throws in an extra oyster or two if he likes you. Just kidding. He does it for everyone.

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Sapporo Beer Museum: Beer Tasting and Jingisukan (Genghis Khan) in Sapporo, Japan

The red brick of the Sapporo Beer Museum is a striking sight, especially in winter when it’s framed against the whiteness of the snow. Sapporo is one of the oldest beer brands in Japan and has been brewing here in Hokkaido since 1877.

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