Located right next to National Route 230, Kitakitai is well-known for its easy access by car. It is also a popular restaurant in Asahikawa and Chitose, and is known for its rare ingredients that are made possible by its network with fishing ports around the country, and the freshness of its ingredients, which can only be achieved by having them shipped directly from the source.

Look for the red sign. There is a private parking lot with space for 25 cars.

Kitakitai is a conveyor belt sushi brand of W Corporation, which also operates the yakiniku restaurant Bluestar and the tonkatsu specialty restaurant Katsukichi. They offer fresh seasonal ingredients sourced from fishing ports all over Hokkaido. It is a popular restaurant in Asahikawa and Chitose, but in 2024 it opened its first store in Sapporo.

In addition to sushi, they offer a wide variety of side dishes such as octopus zangi, homemade chawanmushi, and seafood tempura. In the conveyor belt sushi industry, where prices have been rising in recent years, they offer high-quality sushi at reasonable prices, hoping that "families can enjoy it."

Takumi Takahashi, the store manager with 10 years of experience as a craftsman, says, "Because these are things that can be found anywhere, we want to offer good quality products."

They have a network of middlemen in various regions, and they have a keen eye for seafood that has just been landed. As the seafood is delivered directly from the source, it doesn't take long to be transported. Innards, which are easily damaged, are pre-processed on-site, minimizing the loss of freshness. With the motto of "good quality at a good price," the middlemen carefully select the best seafood at the time. The excitement of waiting to come to the store to find out what the recommendation of the day will be is also fun.

"Shiraoi beef seared sushi" (638 yen). Premium taste using rare Zabuton cut.

The regular menu includes not only bluefin tuna, but also hand-peeled sweet shrimp from Haboro, and homemade marinated mackerel made from cold mackerel at its fattiest, all of which are appealing. The "Lake Shikotsu Chip (Shikotsu salmon)" is delivered directly from the Lake Shikotsu Fisheries Association. After persistent negotiations with local businesses, it is the only conveyor-belt sushi restaurant that is allowed to deliver directly. With overwhelming freshness, it is a premium dish that can only be enjoyed here.

"Lake Shikotsu Chip" 506 yen. Himemasu, a type of sockeye salmon that spends its entire life in freshwater

"Hokkaido Daisetsu Fresh Salmon" 506 yen. If you're expecting traditional salmon, you might be surprised.

Kitakitai also serves a slightly different version of the standard conveyor belt sushi, the salmon. The Hokkaido Daisetsu Raw Salmon is domestically produced raw salmon that has been raised using underground water from Mount Daisetsu in Asahikawa. The light fat has almost no distinctive odor, and the meat is firm and rich.

What's more, the restaurant is also surprising because it has a selection of delicious fish from all over Hokkaido, including "Nemuro Kinki" purchased directly from Nemuro, which is known as a high-quality fishing ground, and "Hachikaku" nigiri, a specialty of southern Hokkaido garnished with crispy fried skin.

"Hokkaido Hakkoku" - a white fish with a rich, sweet fat - 418 yen

"Shirayaki eel" matured for 10 days to lock in the flavor, 638 yen

A luxurious three-item platter "Gunkan Yamato" for 880 yen

Kitakitai also serves sake that pairs well with fish. They have rare brands such as Bijofu Kome Ichibu Sake Ichiteki and Ura Masayamaryu Kouka, and you can order by the glass, so you can enjoy it casually. They also have a wide variety of three-piece sets that allow you to enjoy several different types of sushi on one plate, such as Kaizanmai, which lets you taste the freshness of shellfish, and Gunkan Yamato, which comes with raw sea urchin, salmon roe, and snow crab. Many people combine these to enjoy a slightly luxurious "drink at a sushi restaurant."

"Hokkaido Shellfish Feast" 638 yen. A plate of Hokkaido's standard shellfish including surf clam, whelk, and scallops!

*All prices include tax. Ingredients may change depending on the season and date. *Menus and prices are current as of July 2025. Please check the official website or social media of each store for the latest information.

Conveyor belt sushi restaurant Kitakitai Yamahana branch

■Location: 1-18 Minami 19-jo Nishi 11-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo ■ Business hours: 11:00-21:00 ■Closed days: Open everyday Click here for details and map information for "Kaiten Sushi Kitakitai Yamahana Branch"

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