It’s no exaggeration to say that Hokkaido is famous for its salmon, which is one of the prefecture’s most familiar foods. The presence of salmon-related festivals, such as the Ishikari Salmon Festival and the Atsuta Furusato Akiaji Festival, is telling of just how important and familiar salmon is to Hokkaido as a food. The sight of salmon swimming upstream to spawn is typical of Hokkaido in the autumn, but did you know that you can even see salmon swimming upriver in downtown Sapporo? There are also a number of traditional foods only found in Hokkaido that await, including preserved foods like pickled salmon roe and aramaki-zake salmon made with salt and freshly caught autumn salmon, as well as Ishikari-nabe (hot pot), in which salmon plays a starring role. If you’re looking for a souvenir or gift, look no further than stores such as Sato Suisan and Sake no Marukame salmon specialty store that sell traditionally processed salmon products.

Autumn is the time of year in Hokkaido for harvesting agricultural crops and catching seafood. In Sapporo, the city plays host to the year’s largest food event, which Sapporoites wait all year to attend. Sapporo Autumn Festtakes place annually at Odori Park from the beginning of September to the beginning of October. Here, you will find a compilation of local favorites from regions across Hokkaido, popular menu items from famous eateries, and freshly prepared foods made with seasonal ingredients by Sapporo city’s French and Italian chefs. The festival is packed daily with throngs of Sapporo locals because it offers the chance to drink Hokkaido beer, wine and sake, along with tasting foods that you’d have to otherwise travel long distances to find. The festival is most crowded during weekends and in the evenings after work, so visitors might want to check it out for lunch on weekdays to avoid the crowds. Definitely drop by if you want to taste freshly prepared foods from across the prefecture while bathing in the refreshing breezes of autumn.

When you think autumn, don’t forget about Hokkaido-grown fruit. One of the appealing parts of Hokkaido-grown fruit is that fewer pesticides are used because Hokkaido’s cool climate is inhospitable to pest insects. Located right next to nature, Sapporo has a number of orchards. In Minami Ward, which is along the way from downtown to Jozankei Onsen, the orchards are filled with ripening plums, prunes, apples, pears, and grapes from early September to late October. Jozankei Farm, located close to Hoheikyo Dam, famous for its fall foliage, offers an all-you-can-eat fruit plan (early September to late October) where you can pick fruit in the orchard and eat it onsite within the alloted time limit. Why not enjoy picking and eating your very own fruit? In the surrounding area, you’ll find the Hakkenzan Winery, too, which makes cider and wine from local fruit. Be sure to check it out!