5 Best Breakfast Spots to Enjoy in Otaru! Make the Most of This Historic Canal Town!

When you think of Otaru, many charming tourist attractions come to mind, but for many visitors, one of the biggest joys of sightseeing in Otaru is the food. Since you’re already in this beautiful port town, why not start your day with a delicious breakfast that highlights Otaru’s culinary delights?
Especially when visiting Hokkaido, you can't miss out on the fresh seafood. There are breakfast spots where you can buy fresh seafood at the market and have it prepared on the spot—enjoy it as sashimi, grilled fish, or simmered fish dishes.
In this article, we have carefully selected and will introduce some of the best breakfast spots in Otaru to start your day off right.

1. Kita no Donburiya Takinami Shokudou

Otaru is famous for its sushi and other delicious seafood dishes, but there aren’t many breakfast spots open early in the morning. “Kita no Donburiya Takinami Shokudou” is one of the most popular breakfast spots in Otaru, well-known for its fresh seafood and visited by both locals and tourists alike. Located inside the Sankaku Market, just steps from Otaru Station, it offers a variety of Hokkaido’s local seafood including sea urchin, salmon roe, and crab.
Their top recommendation is the “Wagamama Don,” a customizable bowl where you can choose 3 to 4 toppings from the shop’s most popular ingredients. Photos of the dishes are posted all around the restaurant, both outside and inside, making it easy and fun to choose what you want to eat by sight instead of just reading a menu.
The salmon roe, known as the “jewel of the sea,” is seasoned to perfection and served generously over rice in their signature Ikura Don. The dishes are both bold and delicate in presentation, with generous portions at reasonable prices. With a hearty breakfast like this from one of Otaru’s top breakfast spots, you’ll start your day full of energy. If you’re looking for a breakfast spot in Otaru, this place is a must-visit.
Thanks to being directly operated by a fishmonger, the donburi here is exceptionally fresh and extravagant. You can enjoy picking your own ingredients, and even the à la carte dishes are impressively large. It’s a popular place, often crowded during peak hours, but it’s one of the best breakfast spots in Otaru.

2. Ichiba Shokudou Ajidokoro Takeda

A top-notch breakfast spot in Otaru, “Ichiba Shokudou Ajidokoro Takeda” is a popular restaurant frequently featured in media. The menu includes a variety of seafood rice bowls loaded with fresh toppings, as well as an array of sashimi and grilled items. Prices are reasonable, making it a standout breakfast destination in Otaru. One particularly popular dish is the “ANA Don,” developed in collaboration with ANA, which is a heaping bowl of crab, salmon roe, and more.
In addition to table seating, the shop also features a raised tatami area. It is the largest restaurant inside the Sankaku Market, capable of accommodating large groups. Since it is directly connected to the market and run by a fresh fish shop, the seafood is incredibly fresh! For breakfast, the “Shun no Omakase Don” (Seasonal Chef’s Choice Bowl) with around 12 kinds of toppings is especially recommended. For those arriving early, set meals are also available for around 600 yen—perfect for anyone seeking a solid breakfast spot in Otaru.
Located near Otaru Station, it’s convenient not only for dining but also for picking up souvenirs afterward.

3. Oshokujidokoro Non-Non (Rinyu Morning Market Branch)

Otaru’s “Rinyu Morning Market” has two eateries: “Ajidokoro Misaki” and the featured “Oshokujidokoro Non-Non.” Both restaurants open as early as 4:00 AM. With the arrival of the Shin Nihonkai Ferry at 4:30 AM, it's very convenient to grab breakfast after disembarking.
If you’re visiting Otaru and want a breakfast buffet with freshly caught seafood, this is the place to go. Few establishments in Otaru serve seafood this early in the morning, making “Oshokujidokoro Non-Non” a highly recommended breakfast spot.
It’s a small shop with one four-person table in the center and a few counter seats along the wall. Depending on the time of day, it can be full and hard to get a seat, but it remains a valuable breakfast destination in Otaru. Their sister restaurant “Robatayaki Non-Non” is located in Otaru’s Hanazono area and operates from 5:30 PM, offering fresh and delicious seafood dishes for dinner as well. Prices are also wallet-friendly.

4. Tomokazu no Pan (Tomokazu’s Bakery)

Located near Otaru Station, "Tomokazu no Pan" is a nostalgic neighborhood bakery that has long been loved by the locals. Established in 1952, this long-standing shop offers a wide selection of sweet breads such as melon pan and anpan, as well as savory options like croquette bread, sausage bread, and egg salad rolls.
The croquette bread, filled with cucumber and thinly sliced boiled egg, is especially popular for its generous portion. An egg salad on the side pairs wonderfully with any bread. The an-donut, coated in granulated sugar, has a unique texture, and the sweet bean paste inside is mild in sweetness, offering a simple, nostalgic taste. Although bread might not immediately come to mind for breakfast in Otaru, these old-fashioned flavors and looks, along with a simple egg salad and sweet coffee, make for a surprisingly delightful combination.

5. Gohanya

As Otaru is a well-known tourist destination across Japan, the spots featured in guidebooks tend to get very crowded. Most information focuses on fresh seafood, especially sushi. While that’s the typical image of Otaru’s markets, there is also a market called the “Public Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market.”
Inside the premises, within the “Tarui Shokuhin Wholesale Center,” is a simple diner called “Gohanya.” Not widely known among tourists due to its location and lack of publicity, this makes it a hidden breakfast spot in Otaru. The "ankake yakisoba" (fried noodles with thick sauce) made with fish sausage ham perfectly fits the atmosphere of the eatery. Prices are very reasonable, offering excellent value. There’s even a mysterious menu item called “Donkake Ramen”—for the curious, it’s worth trying!
“Gohanya” opens from 6 AM, making it a great breakfast option in Otaru. The modest interior includes only four 4-person tables, giving it a humble feel and attracting mostly local regulars. While seafood tends to dominate Otaru’s breakfast image, this diner is one of the few places where you can enjoy a different kind of nostalgic morning meal.

◎ Summary

Otaru, a city steeped in history and known for its picturesque canals, is one of Hokkaido’s top tourist destinations. The stone warehouses lined along the Otaru Canal create a nostalgic atmosphere that draws visitors from all over the world. While we introduced some breakfast spots in Otaru here, there are also charming cafes and Italian eateries offering unique breakfast experiences. Some of the food can only be enjoyed in Otaru, so be sure to discover your own memorable breakfast spot in this beautiful canal city.

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5 Best Breakfast Spots to Enjoy in Otaru! Make the Most of This Historic Canal Town!