Asari Honten

Restaurant Details

Ask any local in Hakodate for their recommendation on sukiyaki, and they'll point you to Asari Honten, a celebrated eatery by Houraicho tram stop running since 1901 that still serves affordable A5 kuroge wagyu meal in a samurai-style dining room. 

The restaurant, so interwoven in the city's history that they're emblazoned into its canon of hospitality, started as a butcher shop on Asari Hills and has since blossomed into an institution that welcomes Hokkaido society and out-of-town travelers.

Asari Honten's ridiculously marbled wagyu is grilled on the table by the staff, who first season the pan with beef tallow before adding the vegetables. Following Hokkaido tradition, onions are layered first, followed by a large slice of wagyu draped over them to aid the steaming process. Chicken stock is then added, along with a light warishita sauce crafted from premium soy sauce, sake, and sugar.  

The sukiyaki course menu includes various wagyu cuts, from A5-grade female wagyu to A3-ranked sirloin. Extra meat portions are available for an additional fee to satisfy larger appetites. And while you're there, don't miss their famous freshly fried croquettes

Complete with tatami floors and raised alcoves, this restaurant is a quintessential experience where you should arrive with an appetite for tradition. It is a piece of Hakodate's heart, here to stay for another century.

Michelin Guide accolades:

2012 - Michelin Bib Gourmand

2017 - Michelin Bib Gourmand

Asari Honten Access Info

• Asari Honten is a 15-minute drive from Hakodate Station or a 1-minute walk from Horaicho tram stop.

Asari Honten Phone Number

Asari Honten Business Days

Asari Honten Address

10-11 Horaicho, Hakodate-shi, Hokkaido 040-0043

Asari Honten Cancellation Policy

Cancel your reservation at least 1 week before the dining start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.