FAQ

Yes. We offer a selection of frozen seafood products suitable for sashimi, such as Salmon, Hon-Maguro (tuna cuts), Buri (yellowtail), Shime Saba (pickled mackerel) and more.

Please check our Sashimi collection.

If you are new to Hokkai Suisan or Japanese seafood products, we recommend starting with easy-to-prepare and popular items such as:

• Aji no Hiraki (Japanese dried horse mackerel)
• Shio Saba (salted mackerel)
• Gindara Misozuke (Black cod marinated in sweet miso)
• Salmon sashimi
• Hon Maguro (premium bluefin tuna) sashimi cuts
• Japanese seafood side dishes and snacks

These products are especially popular among Japanese customers living in Europe as well as people discovering Japanese cuisine for the first time.

Hokkai Suisan offers a combination of products made in our own facility in IJmuiden and carefully selected seafood products sourced from Japan and other regions.
Some products are processed locally using Japanese techniques and recipes to bring Japanese seafood culture to customers across Europe.

Please check individual product pages for more detailed product origin information.

Defrosting instructions may vary depending on the product. In general, frozen fish should be defrosted slowly in the refrigerator or according to the instructions on the product page.

For sashimi products, careful defrosting is especially important to enjoy the best texture and flavour.

When stored frozen, most products have a shelf life of approximately 6 months to 1 year. However, bluefin tuna products have a shorter shelf life of 3 weeks from the processing date. Due to its rich fat content and delicate nature, bluefin tuna may discolor over time. We recommend consuming it as soon as possible, even before the expiration date.

Hokkai Suisan offers frozen Japanese seafood products through our online shop to selected countries across Europe.

We sell a range of Japanese-style seafood products, including sashimi products, grilled fish, dried fish, seafood side dishes, and pantry items such as miso and soy sauce. Many products are suitable for enjoying Japanese meals at home.

Shipping is available to selected European countries. Please check the How to order page for the latest delivery information for your country.

Yes. Since 1993, Hokkai Suisan has offered Japanese seafood products and Japanese-style fish products for customers across Europe. Some products are made in our own facility in IJmuiden using Japanese techniques and recipes, while others are carefully selected from Japan and other regions.

Many Japanese customers living in Europe choose Hokkai Suisan to enjoy Japanese seafood culture and traditional Japanese-style meals at home.

Yes. The minimum order amount for delivery is €85, excluding shipping costs and after discounts are applied. There is no minimum order requirement for in-store pickup in IJmuiden.

Shipping costs vary depending on the destination country or region. Please select your country on the How to order page to view shipping fees and estimated delivery times.
There is no shipping fee for in-store pickup.

Orders must generally be placed at least 7 business days before the selected shipping (dispatch) date.

Please note that the selected date is the shipping date from our facility, NOT the delivery date.

To maintain product quality and reliable frozen delivery, the number of shipments we can process per shipping date is limited. Once the capacity for a specific date has been reached, that shipping date will no longer be available for selection.

Delivery times after shipment vary depending on the destination country and shipping method. Please refer to our“How to order” page for more detail.

The date selected in the cart is the shipping date, NOT the delivery date.

This means your order will leave our facility on the selected day. Delivery usually takes place within 48 hours depending on your country and courier service. Please refer to our “How to Order” page for more detail.

Orders cannot generally be changed or canceled once confirmed. However, if your order has not yet been shipped, adjustments may be possible. Please contact us as soon as possible.

An automatic confirmation email is sent once your online order is completed. Please first check your spam or junk mail folder.
If you still cannot find the confirmation email, the email address may have been entered incorrectly, or the payment may not have been completed successfully.

Please contact us with your name, and we will help confirm your order status.

Yes. You can select shop pickup during checkout. Once your order is ready, you will receive a confirmation email with pickup information.
Our IJmuiden shop may also carry seasonal or limited products that are not available on the webshop.

[Shop Information]
Hokkai Suisan Shop
Location: Egmondstraat 2, 1976 BR IJmuiden, The Netherlands
Open: Wed–Sat 12:00–19:00

Yes. Our IJmuiden shop sometimes carries seasonal products, limited items, or special arrivals from Japan that may not appear on the webshop. If you are visiting the area, we recommend stopping by the shop to discover additional Japanese seafood products and ingredients.

[Shop Information]
Hokkai Suisan Shop
Location: Egmondstraat 2, 1976 BR IJmuiden, The Netherlands
Open: Wed–Sat 12:00–19:00

We can provide a PDF gift card containing a discount code. Please let us know your desired amount, and we will design it and send it to you by email. You may then print it and use it as a gift. Please note that we do not issue physical gift cards.

Please refer to our “How to Order” page for detailed instructions.

We currently ship frozen Japanese seafood products to selected countries across Europe, including:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Shipping methods, delivery times, and shipping costs vary depending on the destination country.

Please visit our How to order page for the latest shipping information.

All deliveries are made through delivery companies.
Deliveries within the Netherlands and Belgium are usually made by refrigerated truck.
For other countries, delivery is made using standard vehicles. To maintain frozen conditions, the package contains slab dry ice and/or pellet dry ice. Please do not touch the dry ice with bare hands or put it in your mouth.

Because frozen seafood is perishable, please make sure someone is available to receive the package on the scheduled delivery day.

Delivery times depend on the destination country and shipping method.

For nearby countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, orders are usually delivered the next day after shipment. For other European countries, delivery may take longer depending on the courier route and local delivery conditions.

Depending on the destination country and shipping method, frozen products are shipped using suitable methods such as temperature-controlled transport, insulated packaging, cooling materials, or dry ice to help maintain product quality during delivery.

Because the products are frozen and perishable, we strongly recommend keeping your schedule flexible during the shipping week and checking tracking updates regularly so you can receive the package promptly upon delivery.

Please visit the How to Order page to check the estimated delivery time and shipping cost for your country.

You will receive an email from the shipping company with a tracking number before and/or after dispatch. You can use this number to track your shipment. If you have not received the email by the morning after the shipping date, please contact us.

Please first check the tracking information provided by the shipping company using your tracking number.

Delivery times may vary due to traffic conditions, courier routes, customs procedures, or local delivery situations.

If the tracking information has not been updated for a long time or the delivery status is unclear, please contact the shipping company or our customer support team. Because the products are frozen and perishable, we kindly ask you to continue checking the delivery status until the package arrives.

Currently, Hokkai Suisan works with different delivery companies depending on the destination country and shipping method.

For nearby countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium, refrigerated delivery services are used, while other European countries are served through international courier services.

Please check our “How to order” page for information about the delivery company used for your country.

In the past, some deliveries in certain regions were handled directly by Hokkai Suisan. However, deliveries to all countries are now handled through delivery companies.

As our products are perishable goods, the statutory right of withdrawal (cooling-off period) does not apply once the goods have been delivered, except where otherwise required by law. Therefore, we do not accept returns of food products. Please check our Refund Policy for more information.

If you receive an incorrect or defective item, please contact us as soon as possible after delivery, and no later than 4 hours after delivery completion. Please provide your order number and clear photos showing the product and its packaging condition.

If notification is delayed, compensation may not be possible. We will respond fairly and in good faith in accordance with applicable consumer protection laws. Please check our Refund Policy for more information.

Some of our products are delivered vacuum sealed. However, due to product shape, time, or impact during transportation, vacuum leakage may occur and is sometimes unavoidable. Therefore, products with vacuum leakage are not eligible for refunds.

When dry ice is used, bags or trays may become frozen and more susceptible to damage during transport.

If the damage is significant and the product is inedible, we will review the situation and respond accordingly. However, if the product quality is not affected, it will not be eligible for a refund.

Please remove the product from the damaged container or bag, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and store it in the freezer. We appreciate your understanding.

We accept several secure payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, iDEAL, Apple Pay, and other local payment options depending on your country.

The available payment methods will be displayed during checkout.

Payments may be declined for several reasons, such as incorrect payment information, card restrictions, insufficient funds, or verification issues from your payment provider. If your payment was unsuccessful, please try again or contact your payment provider for more information

Please contact us via the contact form or by email atinfo@hokkai.com.

Our business hours are Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays), 9:00–17:00 (Netherlands time).

Please note that we are unable to respond to urgent inquiries during weekends or outside business hours. We handle inquiries in the order received. Depending on the nature of your inquiry, a response may take some time.

If you have not received a response within one week, please kindly contact us again.

Hokkai Suisan organizes seafood sales events in various locations in Europe from time to time. Event schedules and locations may vary depending on the season and year.

Please check our website Event page, newsletter, or social media channels for the latest event information and announcements.

Our physical shop is located in IJmuiden, the Netherlands.

In addition to products available on the webshop, the shop may also offer seasonal arrivals, limited products, and other Japanese food items.

[Shop Information]
Hokkai Suisan Shop
Location: Egmondstraat 2, 1976 BR IJmuiden, The Netherlands
Open: Wed–Sat 12:00–19:00

Hokkai Kitchen is our Japanese restaurant located next to the Hokkai Suisan shop in IJmuiden.

The restaurant focuses on Japanese seafood dishes, sushi, and seasonal ingredients, using knowledge and products connected to Hokkai Suisan’s seafood business.　Please visit Hokkai Kitchen website for more information.

Yes. The Hokkai Suisan shop and Hokkai Kitchen restaurant can be visited separately. You are welcome to visit the shop even if you do not have a restaurant reservation.

[Shop Information]
Hokkai Suisan Shop
Location: Egmondstraat 2, 1976 BR IJmuiden, The Netherlands
Open: Wed–Sat 12:00–19:00

Yes. We regularly share Japanese food ideas, cooking inspiration, and product recommendations through our website recipe page, newsletter, and social media channels.

Many of our products are easy to prepare at home and can be enjoyed as part of everyday Japanese-style meals.