Michelin Releases 2012 Guide to Hokkaido, Japan

Michelin's first ever Hokkaido guide was released in Japan today (stars were announced prior to that), and the area is now home to four three-star restaurants: Nukumi and Sushi Tanabe, both sushi restaurants in Sapporo, Moliere, a Sapporo French restaurant, and Michel Bras Toya Japan in Toyako. Twelve restaurants were awarded two stars, and fifty were awarded one.

This announcement is not without controversy, though: Japan now has 36 three-star restaurants, compared to France's 26 and a paltry 10 in the US. The star gap raises some eyebrows, including those of Japan-born Paris chef Kei Kobayashi, who tells the AFP, "Is it too easy to get three stars in Japan?" Possibly, maybe.

· Michelin Puts Hokkaido on the Gastronomic Map [AFP via @akaltinsoy]
· Is It Too Easy to Get a Michelin Star in Japan? [RelaxNews]
· All Michelin Coverage on Eater [-E-]