In the Sea of Okhotsk in Hokkaido, where drift ice comes every year, hairy crabs with full flesh can be caught from around March when the drift ice returns. These crabs are called "drift ice hairy crabs." We will introduce the secret behind the deliciousness of this drift ice hairy crab, which even gourmets will be impressed with, and where you can enjoy it.

The secret to the deliciousness of "hairy crab after the drift ice breaks"

Drift ice breaker hairy crabs are caught in the Sea of Okhotsk between March and the end of April. These crabs spend the winter under the drift ice, waiting for spring. They live in an area with few predators, but eat plenty of plankton contained in the drift ice, which is why they are so full of meat. They are sweet and tasty, and packed with crab roe! Along the Okhotsk coast, they are a seasonal sight that signals the arrival of spring.

Where can you eat "hairy crab after the drift ice breaks"?

If you'd like to try it for yourself, visit a town along the Okhotsk coast in March or April. It is served as a seasonal menu item at seafood izakayas and hotels. There are also restaurants where you can boil the crab you selected after the drift ice is released and take it out, and some even serve the rare crab as sashimi. However, there are cases where they are not in stock depending on the day, so if you are visiting to try the crab after the drift ice is released, it is a good idea to call ahead to check.

Crabs flying in the sky?! A local event where you can taste hairy crabs after the drift ice is removed

We will also introduce an event where you can taste fresh seafood caught in the Sea of Okhotsk in spring, including hairy crabs after the drift ice is removed.

Omu Town Crab Festival (late April)

The Hairy Crab Festival held by the Yubetsu Fisheries Cooperative is an event where you can enjoy plenty of hairy crabs that have grown under the drift ice. At the venue, freshly caught hairy crabs are sold, and they also serve teppo-jiru soup with plenty of plump crab legs, and sea boiling is also available on the premises. In addition, "hairy crab fishing," a wild fishing for crabs in a large fish tank, is very popular with children.

Spring Crab Battle in Abashiri (late May)

This is an event where you can enjoy the flavors of Abashiri, including hairy crabs after the drift ice breaks. You can enjoy the flavors of Okhotsk to your heart's content with delicious boiled hairy crabs after the drift ice breaks, teppo-jiru soup, grilled seafood, yakiniku, desserts, and more. The event's signature "crab throw" is an exciting event where you can catch hairy crabs that fly through the air after the drift ice breaks and take them home with you. Seafood is also sold at market prices, so you might end up buying too much.

The end of the drift ice and the arrival of hairy crabs herald the arrival of spring in Hokkaido

When the drift ice starts to return, it finally marks the long-awaited arrival of spring in Hokkaido. The deliciousness of hairy crabs after the drift ice has cleared is at its peak. By the way, it is recommended to eat hairy crabs after the drift ice has cleared in the field, but you can also purchase them online. Hairy crabs are so delicious that they will change your perception of what you have of them, so please give them a try!

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