Day Trips from SapporoUrokotei in Wakkanai: Octopus Shabu-Shabu by the Port
By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published 
Quick answers
- Octopus shabu-shabu, Wakkanai's specialty: set meal 3,000 yen in 2026
- Thin slices of giant Pacific octopus, swished briefly through broth
- Open 10:30–15:00 and 17:00–21:00; usually closed on Sundays (a weekday in summer)
- Facing the port; free parking for about 30 cars
Urokotei is a seafood restaurant facing the port in Wakkanai. It has a long seafood menu, but the dish to order is Wakkanai's specialty, octopus shabu-shabu.
Octopus shabu-shabu
Wakkanai's giant Pacific octopus is juicy and springy, and it is sliced thin, so it is not chewy like octopus sashimi can be. Do not cook it too long: swish it briefly through the hot broth and it stays tender.
When I went, the octopus shabu-shabu set meal was 2,300 yen, and 2,000 yen on its own without rice and miso soup; on the 2026 menu they are 3,000 and 2,500 yen.
Fried surf clams
I also had the fried surf clams (800 yen when I went; check it is still on the menu). Downstairs, the Uroko-ichi shop (9:00–17:00) sells local seafood and souvenirs.
Hours and parking
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 10:30–15:00 (last order 14:30) and 17:00–21:00 (last order 20:30) |
| Closed | Sundays, but from May to September it usually opens on Sundays and closes on a weekday instead; see the business calendar (in Japanese) |
| Payment | Cards, IC transit cards and PayPay accepted |
| Parking | Free, about 30 cars |
How to get there
From Sapporo: over 300 km; about five and a half to six hours straight there, or a full day with stops along the Ororon Line.
In Wakkanai: Wakkanai Airport has rental cars if you fly in. Urokotei is in central Wakkanai, facing the port, 5–10 minutes on foot from Wakkanai Station.
Near Urokotei
Sapporo to Wakkanai by Car: The Ororon Line Coast Road to Cape SoyaDriving from Sapporo to Wakkanai up the Ororon Line, the Sea of Japan coast road, from a Sapporo local who did it: the stops, the closest view of Rishiri Island, sunset at Cape Noshappu, and Cape Soya and the White Road the next morning.
Cape Noshappu: Sunset Over Rishiri and Rebun in WakkanaiA local's guide to Cape Noshappu in Wakkanai, where the Ororon Line ends: the view of Rishiri and Rebun islands, sunset times by month, what to wear, and how to drive there from Sapporo.
Hotel Meguma in Wakkanai: Onsen, a Finnish Sauna and Day BathingA local's guide to Hotel Meguma in Wakkanai: Wakkanai Onsen water, an original herbal bath, a snow-hut outdoor bath and a Finnish sauna where you pour your own löyly, open to day visitors for 2,000 yen with towels; parking and views of Cape Noshappu.
FAQ about Urokotei
Q1. What is octopus shabu-shabu?
Thin slices of octopus swished briefly through hot broth, a Wakkanai specialty.
Q2. How much is it?
The set meal was 2,300 yen when I went, and 3,000 yen in 2026.
Q3. Is there parking?
Yes, free, for about 30 cars.