Aki Nagao

Hokkaido is one of most naturally rich parts of Japan. Here you can find waters teeming with the freshest seafood, mountains and forests housing a wide range of wild game, and farms producing some of the best crops in the country. It’s no wonder that Aki Nagao, the eponymous owner-chef of this French restaurant in Sapporo, chose to place such emphasis on local ingredients. After training in Tokyo and France throughout his youth, he decided to return home to found his own restaurant in 2010. The antique blue bricks of his establishment were imported from Europe and inside is one of the most ultramodern kitchens in the city. The contrast between old and new is also embodied in the dishes, which bring modernity to the classics. A healthy selection of natural wines is available, sourced from around Hokkaido and France. Top dishes include classics such as beef with red wine sauce, and incredible oysters cooked in seawater.