Japan Food Series: Nemeru Hanamaru at Cocono Susukino – A Conveyor Sushi Experience Worth the Wait

Reviewed by Tastes of Ottawa

Nemeru Hanamaru – Restaurant Overview

Japan, Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Minami 4 Jonishi, 4 Chome−1番 1 ココノススキノ地下1階

Nemeru Hanamaru is a very popular conveyor-belt sushi restaurant located inside Cocono Susukino, and popularity is the first thing you’ll notice. When we arrived, there was already a long lineup, and it ultimately took about 30 to 45 minutes to get in. That said, the waiting system here is handled exceptionally well.

Instead of standing around in front of the restaurant, there’s a tablet at the entrance where you take a number. That number links to a webpage that updates you in real time and notifies you when it’s almost your turn. This made the wait far more tolerable, as we were able to walk around the mall, browse shops, and explore Cocono Susukino instead of hovering in a crowded hallway. It’s a small operational detail, but it made a big difference in overall experience.

Nemeru Hanamaru operates as a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, serving a wide variety of sushi that circulates continuously while also allowing you to order directly. For anyone unfamiliar with this style of dining, pricing is handled by plate colour and design. Each plate corresponds to a price category, and at the end of the meal, staff simply count the plates to generate your bill. Some conveyor sushi places even use scanners for this, and while this one relied on manual counting, the system was smooth and efficient.

This restaurant is located in the same building as Rojiura Curry Samurai and Teppan Spaghetti, both of which I’ve reviewed separately. If you’re planning a visit to Cocono Susukino, it’s worth checking out those posts as well to compare very different dining experiences within the same complex.

Would return? Yes.

Atmosphere & Pace

Once seated, the atmosphere is lively and busy, but not chaotic. Plates are constantly moving, staff are attentive, and there’s a steady rhythm to the dining experience. This is not a quiet or intimate sushi meal- it’s energetic, social, and clearly built to handle volume.

Despite the pace, nothing felt rushed. Orders arrived promptly, and the quality of the sushi didn’t feel compromised by the high turnover. Given how busy it was, that alone is impressive.

Seared Engawa Nigiri

This was one of the standout pieces of the entire meal at Nemeru Hanamaru. Engawa, the fin muscle of flounder, is known for its richness, and this version delivered. Lightly torched, it had a smooth, oily texture that practically melted in the mouth. The mouthfeel was excellent, and the flavour was deep without being heavy. Easily one of my favourites here.

Order again? Yes.

Negitoro Maki Premium Tuna

Minced fatty tuna mixed with green onion and rolled in seaweed and rice. This is a classic combination, and it worked very well. The fatty tuna had that unmistakable rich flavour, while the green onion added freshness and balance. Always a pleasure to eat, and this was done properly.

Order again? Yes

Hotate Nigiri

Hokkaido is famous for its scallops, and this showed why. The hotate nigiri from Nemeru Hanamaru was very sweet, soft, and meaty, with a clean flavour that didn’t need embellishment. I genuinely loved eating these. They were tender, fresh, and showcased the ingredient perfectly.

Order again? Yes.

Mackerel Nigiri

I was expecting a stronger, more assertive flavour from the mackerel, but it turned out to be quite mild and very enjoyable. Balanced rather than fishy, it surprised me in a good way.

Order again? Yes.

Salmon Nigiri

A very solid salmon nigiri. The salmon itself was fresh and flavourful, and the wasabi amount was spot on – present but not overpowering. This is exactly how salmon nigiri should be.

Order again? Yes.

Cucumber Sushi Roll

Simple, refreshing, and effective. The crispness of the cucumber provided a nice palate cleanser between richer sushi pieces. Nothing complex here, but it served its purpose well.

Order again? Yes.

Scallop with Spicy Cod Roe

This was a very interesting piece and not something I’d had before. The sweetness of the scallop paired nicely with the spice and saltiness of the cod roe. It was a creative combination that worked better than expected.

Order again? Yes.

Two Styles of Tuna

This dish featured lean tuna (akami) on one side and fatty minced tuna on the other, topped with green onion and a shiso leaf. The contrast between the two styles was excellent. The shiso leaf added a refreshing herbal note that tied everything together and made this feel lighter than expected.

Order again? Yes.

Fatty Minced Tuna

Fatty minced tuna wrapped in seaweed and topped with green onion and shiso leaf. This is always a highlight for me. Rich, flavourful, and not something that’s easy to find back home in Ottawa. A real treat.

Order again? Yes.

Salmon Roe Nigiri

I loved the texture here. The salmon roe had that satisfying pop when you bit into it, releasing a briny flavour that worked very well with the rice. Texture is everything with ikura, and this was done right.

Order again? Yes.

Surf Clam Nigiri

Another piece where I expected a stronger flavour, but instead got something more subtle and pleasant. It was enjoyable and balanced, with a nice chew.

Order again? Yes.

Udon

The udon was exactly what you’d expect—nothing fancy, nothing remarkable, but perfectly fine. A neutral, comforting option if you want something warm alongside sushi.

Order again? Yes.

Final Thoughts

Nemeru Hanamaru is busy for a reason. While the wait time of 30–45 minutes might sound daunting, the excellent queue system makes it manageable and far less frustrating than traditional lineups. Once inside, the restaurant delivers a high-energy conveyor sushi experience with a wide variety of options and consistently good execution.

The sushi quality ranged from solid to excellent, with real standouts like the seared engawa, hotate nigiri, and various tuna preparations. The ability to try many different pieces in one sitting is a big part of the appeal here, and the plate-based pricing system makes it easy to experiment without overthinking each order.

As part of my Japan Food Series, Nemeru Hanamaru represents one of the better conveyor sushi experiences I had in Sapporo. When compared to other options in Cocono Susukino, it clearly stands out more than Teppan Spaghetti, and while it’s a very different experience from Rojiura Curry Samurai, it complements the food court well by offering variety.

If you’re visiting Cocono Susukino and willing to wait a bit, Nemeru Hanamaru is worth your time—especially if you enjoy trying many styles of sushi in a lively, well-run setting.