The 10 Best Restaurants in Sapporo, Japan

For the freshest seafood, Japan’s best dairy and more, visit the restaurants in Sapporo
For the freshest seafood, Japan’s best dairy and more, visit the restaurants in Sapporo | © VisualJapan / Alamy Stock Photo
Tom Smith

Surrounded by Hokkaido’s green fields and boundless seas, the kitchens of Sapporo are stocked with world-class seafood, Japan’s best dairy, mouthwatering meat and farm-fresh fruit and vegetables. And those local ingredients are what makes these restaurants must-visits.

Steaming bowls of barbecued crab. Sizzling skillets of juicy mutton. Smooth-as-silk ice cream. It’s all on the menu in Sapporo, the birthplace of beloved soup curry, some of the country’s best beer and chocolate, and rich miso ramen tailor-made for frosty winters. Whether pulling up a horigotatsu table for a high-end kaiseki ryori degustation or grabbing a stool at a tiny Susukino hole in the wall, chew on the 10 best restaurants in Sapporo, Japan.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Crab dishes are in abundance in Sapporo

Feast on Hokkaido’s famous seafood at Kaisen-Ichiba Kitano Gourmet

Restaurant, Seafood

Kaisen-Ichiba Kitano Gourmet has been part of the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market for more than 70 years, selling seafood so fresh it could almost swim back into the ocean. The restaurant in the back serves the seafood sitting in the shop out front, either raw, grilled or any other method on request. The kaisendon bowl is the first thing on the menu – crab, sea urchin, salmon roe and whatever else is in season on top of fluffy rice. Barbecue-charred king crab, botan shrimp and fatty slices of tuna are other favourite dishes.

Slurp up soup curry at Suage

Restaurant, Japanese

Sapporo is the birthplace of soup curry, a spicy dish with Indian and Chinese influences that evolved here in the 1960s and ’70s. While Sapporo’s famous soul food is different at every restaurant, it’s generally a meaty broth brimming with chunky vegetables, seasoned with spices and topped with a protein, such as chicken or pork. One block from Susukino station in the thick of Sapporo’s after-dark hotspot, Suage has been doing a delicious version since 2007. Choose from four soups (original, shrimp, squid ink and coconut), six levels of spiciness and many meat and vegetable toppings – Suage’s suggestions are crispy shiretoko chicken, braised lavender pork belly, maitake mushrooms and sweet inka no mezame potatoes.

Find out why Sapporo is Japan’s capital of crab at Kani Honke Sapporo station

Restaurant, Seafood

The restaurant Kani Honke at night in Sapporo, Japan.
© James Talalay / Alamy Stock Photo

The waters off Hokkaido are crawling with four main varieties of crab: the furry horsehair crab, the long-legged snow crab, the spiky red king crab and the even spikier hanasaki queen crab. Chew through all of them at Kani Honke, the century-old shellfish empire that spans 14 locations across Japan, including two in Sapporo: one at the central train station and the other in nightlife hub Susukino. A huge red crab hangs over the front door, but the timber interior is much more refined – a traditional backdrop to enjoy the kaiseki ryori experience, which presents a series of sophisticated seafood dishes degustation-style.

Grill your own Genghis Khan at Jingisukan Daruma Sapporo Main Shop

Restaurant, Japanese

As well as being a feared Mongol emperor, Genghis Khan (or jingisukan in Japanese) is a plate of grilled mutton and vegetables that’s unique to Hokkaido. Legend has it that Mongolian warriors would grill their meat using their helmets as a hot plate. These days, domed skillets are a much more modern way of preparing this meal, which is cooked by diners at their table, similar to a Korean barbecue. Jingisukan Daruma has delivered this dish across Japan since 1954, including at its main Sapporo branch in the heart of Susukino. The venue only really offers its one speciality: these thinly sliced strips of mutton sizzling on top of a bed of regional vegetables, just like the soldiers used to make.

Gorge on bottomless beer and meat at Sapporo Beer Garden

Restaurant, Japanese

An even more atmospheric place to eat jingisukan is also the historic home of Sapporo’s most exported culinary creation: beer. Occupying a mini-city of red-brick buildings, the Sapporo Beer Garden contains a museum dedicated to the amber liquid as well as five different beer halls to sample the product. The favourite for foodies is Kessel Hall, a bierkeller that wouldn’t look out of place in Bavaria thanks to its soaring ceilings, original brick-and-timber fit-out and shiny copper kettle used to brew the beer that ends up in your glass. This restaurant offers all-you-can-eat jingisukan and all-you-can-drink beer for ¥4,100 (£31) – a bargain for those with the appetite of a famished Mongolian warrior.

Try Sapporo’s signature ramen at Sapporo Ramen Republic

Food Court, Japanese

Ramen Alley, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
© Lucas Vallecillos / Alamy Stock Photo

Susukino is also home to Ramen Yokocho (Ramen Alley) – a narrow row of cosy shops scooping up generous bowls of Sapporo’s trademark miso ramen. And Sapporo Ramen Republic recreates that bustling atmosphere on the 10th floor of the ESTA shopping mall above Sapporo station. This place is a theme park dedicated to the Japanese classic, bringing together eight of the city’s top ramen restaurants under the one roof. Shirakaba Sanso, Misono, Yoshiyama Shoten and Sora are the four stores that specialise in local miso ramen – a rich variety that’s perfect for Hokkaido’s brutal winters.

Sample Hokkaido seafood sushi at Nemuro Hanamaru

Restaurant, Japanese

On the eastern tip of Hokkaido, 430 kilometres (267 miles) west of Sapporo, the port of Nemuro is renowned for its fisheries. That’s where Hanamaru opened its first sushi store before expanding all across the island, including this one on the sixth floor of the Stellar Place shopping mall above Sapporo station. Nemuro Hanamaru is a kaiten-sushi restaurant, meaning dishes whizz along the benches on a conveyor belt while diners grab whatever they fancy. Plates are colour-coded to indicate price, and the seafood is particularly affordable given the quality. Try the fatty tuna for a taste of Nemuro’s seas, as well as the savoury egg custard.

Squeeze into a pint-size oyster bar at Gotsubo

Food Stand, Seafood

A tsubo is a Japanese unit of measurement worth about three square metres (32 square feet), or two tatami mats. The name of this oyster bar is Gotsubo, meaning five tsubo – and you don’t have to be a mathematician to figure out that makes this oyster bar very, very small. And the small size is a big part of its charm. Only a handful of stools and even fewer tiny tables fit inside, while the takeaway hatch serves Susukino’s party animals until 2am, seven nights a week. Gotsubo sources plump, juicy oysters from Akkeshi – another port just down the road from Nemuro – that it then boils, grills or serves fresh with a slice of lemon.

Go full Willy Wonka at Ishiya Chocolate Factory

Tea Room, Dessert

Ishiya chocolate factory Sapporo
© Artur Gora / Alamy Stock Photo

The Ishiya Chocolate Factory isn’t a restaurant per se, but it’s impossible to talk about food in Sapporo without mentioning the city’s favourite edible souvenir. Shiroi Koibito – a slice of white chocolate sandwiched between two crispy langue de chat biscuits – are produced in the foothills of the Sapporo Teine ski resort on the northwestern outskirts of town. The timber-framed building that houses the factory could have been torn from the pages of a German fairytale, churning out sweet treats to match. The gift shop is loaded with Ishiya chocolates, which are also showcased in dozens of desserts in the factory’s opulent tea room.

Taste Japan’s best ice cream at Hokkaido’s farmers’ market

Farmers' Market, Ice Cream

Hokkaido produces the vast majority of Japan’s dairy, but they keep plenty of milk on the island to satisfy their ice-cream addiction. Residents lick soft serve 12 months a year – even during Sapporo’s brutal winters – from parlours pumping out inventive flavours such as lavender, cherry blossom and melon. A few kilometres south, though, the Hokkaido Agricultural Technical College Farmers’ Market is only open from April to November, swirling cones of additive-free ice cream made from milk from cows who only eat organic feed. The market is next door to Hakko Gakuen, a flower garden that blooms with 100,000 iris blossoms over summer.

culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article