Katte Don is a unique local specialty of Kushiro in eastern Hokkaido that lets you create your own original seafood rice bowl. Rather than ordering a fixed menu item, you start with a bowl of white rice and then choose your favorite seafood from the many vendors inside Washo Market.
The name “Katte Don” can be understood as a “make-it-yourself rice bowl.” The experience is part of the appeal: you walk around the market selecting seafood little by little and have the ingredients placed directly onto your rice until you have created a bowl that suits your taste.
Katte Don is said to have originated when a traveler with limited money visited Washo Market. Market vendors reportedly suggested that the traveler first buy a bowl of plain white rice, then add small portions of seafood from the shops in the market. This simple idea eventually developed into the distinctive dining experience known as Katte Don.
The story reflects the friendly atmosphere of Washo Market, where travelers can enjoy fresh local seafood without having to commit to a large, predetermined seafood bowl.
After purchasing a bowl of white rice from a prepared-food shop in the market, visitors can explore the various seafood vendors and choose their toppings. Depending on the season and availability, options can include shrimp, sea urchin, salmon roe, and other fresh seafood.
You can select just a few ingredients or combine many different kinds to create a colorful and luxurious bowl. Because the ingredients are chosen individually, every Katte Don can be completely different, reflecting the preferences of the person eating it.
Washo Market is located west of JR Kushiro Station and is one of Kushiro’s well-known traditional markets. In addition to seafood, its shops sell vegetables, dried foods, meat, clothing, medicines, household goods, and other everyday products.
The market’s lively atmosphere is an important part of the Katte Don experience. Moving from one seafood shop to another, looking at the day’s selection, and deciding which ingredients to add makes the meal feel more like exploring a local food market than simply eating at a restaurant.
One of the memorable aspects of Katte Don is the interaction with the market vendors. As you choose your toppings, you can ask about the seafood and decide how much of each ingredient you would like. The source also highlights the enjoyment of negotiating prices with individual vendors, adding a playful market-style element to the experience.
The result is a seafood bowl that is both a meal and an experience. Instead of simply being served a finished dish, you take part in creating it from the beginning.
Katte Don offers a particularly enjoyable way for visitors to experience the seafood culture of Kushiro. Fresh seafood, warm white rice, and the lively atmosphere of Washo Market come together in a simple but highly personal meal.
For travelers exploring eastern Hokkaido, building your own Katte Don is an opportunity to taste the region’s seafood at your own pace while enjoying the character of one of Kushiro’s traditional markets.