Local Guide
6 recommended izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) that you must visit in Sapporo

When it comes to izakaya in Sapporo, most people may visit the downtown Susukino district. However, there are many popular izakaya and hole-in-the-wall restaurants around Sapporo Station and Odori Station, one step away from the bustling and glittering neon lights of the Susukino district. There are a wide variety of izakayas (Japanese-style pubs), soba noodle stores, sake stores where you can enjoy drinking standing up, yakitori restaurants with stylish atmosphere, and craft beer stores. Here are six izakaya that we highly recommend visiting in the city of Sapporo.

Izakaya near Sapporo Station, famous for its potatoes simmered in butter.

Potatoes simmered in butter
Potatoes simmered in butter" 770 yen. This limited menu item is available only if you make a reservation by the day before and come by 7:00 p.m.

These izakayas have been in business near Sapporo Station since the end of the Showa period (1926-1989), and you can enjoy seasonal Hokkaido delicacies and sake. The most popular menu item is "Potato stewed in butter". Hokkaido potatoes and make-in are simmered in bonito broth and butter for about five hours, and this dish was once featured in a gourmet cartoon. The golden broth contains the whole make-in and is so soft that it can be easily scooped out with a spoon. The rich flavor of the butter melds into the superb broth, giving it a very elegant taste.

Enjoy about 35 brands of sake and snacks.

In addition to tables and small seating areas, there is also counter seating, making it easy to use the restaurant even if you are alone.
In addition to tables and small seating areas, there is also counter seating, making it easy to use the restaurant even if you are alone.

The restaurant offers a wide selection of dishes that make the most of Hokkaido's ingredients, including sashimi, grilled, deep-fried, and simmered seasonal fish. Among them, "Oysters and Gorgonzola in Oil" and "Oysters and Crab Uchiko (Crab Ovary) in Oil" are especially popular as they go well with sake.
A variety of alcoholic beverages are available, including beer, sake, and shochu, but sake is ordered by more than 80% of customers. We always have about 35 brands of sake from various regions of Japan, including "Niseko" and "Chitose Tsuru," local sake from Hokkaido. Why not find your favorite flavor?

Local Guide Comment
As this is a popular izakaya, it is better to make a reservation in advance before visiting. Potatoes simmered in butter is a must-try specialty.
Aji Hyakusen
  • Address B1F Miyazawa Bldg. 4-4-2 Kita 7-jo Nishi, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido MAP
  • Direction 2 minutes walk from JR Sapporo Station
  • Business hours 16:30-22:00 (L.O.21:30)
  • Closed Sundays, Holidays *Closed irregularly
  • TEL 011-716-1000
  • Parking None

Enjoy craft beer directly from the brewery

Beers from the front: Upopo, Nonno, and Hashikapu, each 700 yen (310 ml), and Fish & Chips, 1,200 yen.
Beers from the front: Upopo, Nonno, and Hashikapu, each 700 yen (310 ml), and Fish & Chips, 1,200 yen.

This craft beer specialty store has its own brewery in Kamifurano-cho, where you can enjoy 12 different kinds of beer at any given time. The brands change daily, but there are always three popular brands shown in the photo. All are made with hops grown in Kamifurano-cho. The pilsner type "Upopo" has a refreshing hop aroma and clean taste. The ale type "Nonno" has a mellow citrus aroma and deep flavor with a good balance of aroma and bitterness, while the fruit ale type "Hashikapu" is a beer made with Furano-produced Haskap and has a light sour taste that is addictive.

A wide variety of food items to enjoy pairing with a wide variety of beers

Beer taps are lined up in the back of the restaurant with table and counter seating.
Beer taps are lined up in the back of the restaurant with table and counter seating.

Beers are basically ordered individually, but there is also a limited "BEER FLIGHT" drinking set available from Monday through Thursday. You can choose three of your favorite brands (200ml each), so this is recommended for those who want to taste a variety of beers in small quantities.
The restaurant also offers a full lineup of food items that make the most of Hokkaido ingredients. Popular menu items include "fish and chips" made with seasonal fish and Matilda potatoes, and "pork sagari," grilled pork offal from Kamifurano Town. Each dish is hearty and satisfying, and tastes great with a beer.

Tap Room BEER KOTAN
  • Address 3F Parade Bldg., 13-2, Minami 2-jo Nishi 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido MAP
  • Direction 3 minutes walk from Odori Subway Station
  • Business hours 17:00-23:00 (L.O. food 22:00, drink 22:30)
    Open from 12:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays
  • Closed Year-end and New Year holidays *Special holidays apply.
  • TEL 011-221-2505
  • Parking None

Excellent sashimi of seasonal seafood

Image of the sashimi platter. The number of items and pieces can be adjusted to meet your needs (prices vary depending on the number of items and the availability).
Image of the sashimi platter. The number of items and pieces can be adjusted to meet your needs (prices vary depending on the number of items and the availability).

Located within walking distance of Sapporo Station and Odori Station, this izakaya specializes in fresh fish. It offers a variety of dishes using seasonal seafood, mainly from Hokkaido, that the president buys directly from the market every morning. Sashimi is the best way to experience the freshness and quality of the fish. In addition to excellent tuna and fresh herring, sashimi includes live whelks, hokki-gai, scallops, and other shellfish, as well as hokke (depending on availability). Sashimi can be ordered separately, but if you would like to enjoy a small selection of various types of sashimi, we recommend the assortment.

Enjoy delicacies and gourmet Hokkaido specialties with local sake

The restaurant has a total of 90 seats, mostly at tables. There are counter seats in front of the kitchen and by the window.
The restaurant has a total of 90 seats, mostly at tables. There are counter seats in front of the kitchen and by the window.

Along with sashimi, the most popular dish is gororouibe, a half-frozen sashimi made by wrapping squid entrails in squid meat. It is an exquisite delicacy with the rich flavor of squid and goes well with beer or sake. In addition to seafood, you can also enjoy Hokkaido's famous gourmet specialties such as "zangi," a deep-fried chicken dish, and "ramen salad," a salad with Chinese noodles.
A full range of alcoholic beverages is available, including beer, shochu, and whiskey. Among the sake, there is a large selection of local Hokkaido sake such as "Kunimare" and "Hokuto Zuisho". There are 11 brands of Sapporo sake alone.

Local Guide Comment
The grilled hokke (hokke) and herring that are dried overnight in the company's factory are popular for their surprisingly large fish. Counter seating is also available, making it easy to use even for a solo traveler.
Izakaya Furusato Sapporo Main Branch
  • Address Sapporo Chuo Bldg. 4F, Kita 1-jo Nishi 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo MAP
  • Direction 3 minutes walk from Odori Subway Station
  • Business hours 17:00-23:30 (~22:30 on national holidays, L.O. 30 minutes prior)
  • Closed Year-end and New Year's holidays
  • TEL 011-233-3311
  • Parking None

We recommend the "Soba Dinner Set" that includes sake, snacks and soba noodles.

Evening set
Evening set" for 1,980 yen. The side dishes include seasonal tempura and itawasa (the menu is subject to change depending on the season).

Founded in 1889, this buckwheat noodle restaurant has long been located in close proximity to the Raccoon Alley shopping street in the center of Sapporo. You can enjoy the izakaya menu along with homemade soba noodles that have been passed down from generation to generation since the establishment of the restaurant. We recommend the "Evening Drinking Set. The set is available only from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., but it is popular as an early supper with a glass of local sake or shochu with sobayu (Japanese liquor) at a reasonable price.

Soba noodles made daily and served with soba-tsuyu (buckwheat sauce) made with traditional kaeshi (a Japanese sweet red-bean paste).

The restaurant has tables for 4 and 6 people, creating an atmosphere where you can enjoy your meal without feeling self-conscious.
The restaurant has tables for 4 and 6 people, creating an atmosphere where you can enjoy your meal without feeling self-conscious.

The homemade soba noodles are made with a combination of stone-ground "Kitawase" buckwheat flour from Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido, and Hokkaido-grown wheat. The soba noodles are launched every day and served after being boiled to order, so you can fully enjoy the firmness and aroma of the soba noodles.
The soba sauce is also homemade, using traditional kaesuyu (buckwheat paste), which has been passed down from generation to generation since the establishment of the restaurant. It has a crisp, yet mild flavor with a hint of bonito broth. Other dishes, such as tempura and omelet, are also available to accompany your drink.

Local Guide Comment
Located near the Raccoon Alley shopping street, which is crowded with both locals and tourists, this restaurant is easy to visit. It is also recommended for lunch as it serves soba noodles as well as ita wasabi and soba dengaku (buckwheat pancake).
Sake & Soba Maruki
  • Address Cadre Building 1F, Minami 2-jo Nishi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido MAP
  • Direction 4 min. walk from Odori Subway Station or Hosui-Susukino Station.
  • Business hours 11:30-19:30 (L.O. 19:00)
  • Closed Monday, Obon, New Year's
  • TEL 011-221-4328
  • Parking None

The rare Nera egg Tsukumi-Tsukune and rice with egg are superb!

Nera no Tamago no Tsukumi-Tsukune (Tsukimi Tsukune with Nera's Eggs)
Nera no Tamago no Tsukumi-Tsukune (Tsukimi Tsukune with Nera's Eggs)" for 400 yen and "Hitotsubu Gohan (Bite of Rice)" for 110 yen.

Enjoy yakitori that takes full advantage of Hokkaido's ingredients, along with wine and sake. You can enjoy skewers and straw-roasted meats made from high-quality Hokkaido meat, such as Nakasatsunai Wakadori chicken, Shintoku Jidori chicken, and Yoichi Mugi Pork. The "Nera no Tamago no Tsukumi-Tsukune" (Nera's Egg Tsukumi-Tsukune) is a must-try dish. Nera is a rare egg-and-meat breed of chicken in Japan, and its eggs in particular are more nutritious than those of ordinary chickens, with a rich flavor and a hint of sweetness. After dipping the tsukune in the yolk, we recommend that you pour the leftover egg over the optional "Hitotsubu Gohan" (rice with a bite of rice) for a superb tamago kakegohan (egg over rice).

Enjoy sake carefully selected by sommeliers and sake connoisseurs

Open the heavy wooden door in the basement of the building and you will find yourself in a sophisticated and beautiful space.
Open the heavy wooden door in the basement of the building and you will find yourself in a sophisticated and beautiful space.

Despite its location in the city of Sapporo, the restaurant is in the basement of a small building, giving it the atmosphere of a hideout. The restaurant is run by a French restaurant, so the quality of the food and the atmosphere of the restaurant are of high quality.
In addition to yakitori, the restaurant offers smoked and fried dishes, and most of the ingredients are produced in Hokkaido. The main alcoholic beverages are wines and sake carefully selected from Japan and abroad. If you let them know your preferences and requests, such as whether you want a strong flavor or a light flavor to go with the food, they will select the best sake for you. Please enjoy the pairing of food and sake.

Local Guide Comment
The restaurant is popular as a high-class yakitori restaurant, and you can enjoy your meal in a relaxed atmosphere. Note that during the daytime, the restaurant becomes a ramen store operated by another company, so please visit or inquire after 5:00 p.m.
Yakitori, wine, sake, Q
  • Address B1F Rindo Building, 3-1 Kita 1-jo Nishi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido MAP
  • Direction 2 min. walk from Odori Subway Station
  • Business hours 17:00-23:00 (~23:30 in summer)
  • Closed Closed on Sundays, year-end and New Year's holidays *Open irregularly once a month
  • TEL 011-212-1499
  • Parking None
  • Memo Phone inquiries and store visits are available only after 17:00

Enjoy a kaku-uchi (corner bar) at a liquor store in front of the station

The
The "Three Kinds of Sake Comparison" is 600 yen and the "Salted Potato Butter" is 550 yen. Sake at the corner shop starts at 300 yen per cup.

You can enjoy kaku-uchi (standing drinking inside a sake store) at a sake store in front of Naebo Station, the first stop on the JR line from Sapporo Station. Kaku-uchi offers more than 10 kinds of sake, mainly Japanese sake. The Staff/staff member will tell you which sake you prefer if you are unsure about the taste or anything else. There is also a "Sake 3 Kinds Drinking Comparison," which includes a set of the store's most popular sakes, and is recommended for those who want to try various types of sake or for those who are completely unfamiliar with sake. Sake and wine purchased at the store can also be drunk in the restaurant. You can also take home any leftover sake in bottles.

Taste the snacks and develop a taste for your favorite sake

Kaku-uchi tables are lined up in the center of the store with a wide selection of Japanese sake. Payment is cash-only.
Kaku-uchi tables are lined up in the center of the store with a wide selection of Japanese sake. Payment is cash-only.

The store stocks and sells sake from all over Japan and craft beers, gins, and wines from Hokkaido, mainly direct from the brewery. Based on the concept of proposing sake that goes well with meals, we started a corner store in 2018 to encourage customers to taste before they buy. In addition to sake from Hokkaido, we offer a large selection of local sake, mainly from western Japan, with about 80 brands available.
A popular snack is "Shiokara Jaga Butter," fried potatoes from Kutchan Town served with Hakodate City's salted squid. The potatoes' crunchy texture and the salted squid's slimy texture go perfectly together, and the richness of the butter is complemented by the salty-salty flavor, making it a tasty snack that will make you want to drink more alcohol.

Local Guide Comment
Although it is a little far from downtown Sapporo, Direction is very convenient as it is located in front of the station next to Sapporo Station. Since the restaurant is open from daytime, why not experience the ultimate in sake here before heading out into the night?
KOKAI SHOTEN
  • Address 11-23, Kita 2-jo Higashi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido MAP
  • Direction Approximately 1 minute walk from JR Naebo Station
  • Business hours Weekdays 15:00-21:00 (Store open from 10:00)
    Saturday 12:00-18:00 (Shop open from 11:00)
  • Closed Sunday, Holidays
  • TEL 011-241-6045
  • Parking None
  • Memo May be open on national holidays (when open on national holidays, hours follow Saturday hours)

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The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.