| Dates | First weekend of August (3 days) |
| Opening Hours | 18:00 - 22:00 |
| Contact | 011-518-2005 |
| Location / Getting There | In Sapporo, get off at Susukino subway station and the festival is directly in front, on the main straight. 〒064-0804 Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Minami 4 Jōnishi, 4 Chome |
Shrines carried down the main street
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Beer flowing and BBQ sizzling
The final day sees a fitting end to the festival with portable shrines (Mikoshi) being carried down the main street by hundreds of locals. The traditional music and the chanting is a true spectacle and is a great opportunity to get some great photos. While all this is going on, the local bars and restaurants open up stall on the side streets. It is here you can enjoy some beer and some grilled food cooked up by the local owners. It does get crowded here and along the main street, so an early start is advised!
| Dates | First weekend of August (3 days) |
| Opening Hours | 18:00 - 22:00 |
| Contact | 011-518-2005 |
| Location / Getting There | In Sapporo, get off at Susukino subway station and the festival is directly in front, on the main straight. 〒064-0804 Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Minami 4 Jōnishi, 4 Chome |
Shrines carried down the main street
During the summer at the start of August, the annual Susukino Festival can be seen. Starting in the late afternoon and continuing through until late evening, the festival runs for three days. The streets are closed off for parades, and for (of course) eating and drinking. On the first day of the festival you can see the Taiko drums which gets the festival underway. The second day you can enjoy local and international dance performances that move down the main street and really livens things up.
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Beer flowing and BBQ sizzling
The final day sees a fitting end to the festival with portable shrines (Mikoshi) being carried down the main street by hundreds of locals. The traditional music and the chanting is a true spectacle and is a great opportunity to get some great photos. While all this is going on, the local bars and restaurants open up stall on the side streets. It is here you can enjoy some beer and some grilled food cooked up by the local owners. It does get crowded here and along the main street, so an early start is advised!
| Dates | 1st weekend of June (3 days) |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 22:00 |
| Contact | kagai@academic.hokudai.ac.jp |
| Notes | Alcohol not permitted, no parking |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute walk from Sapporo station. Take the north exit from the station, head one block north. The university is on the left hand side 5 Chome Kita 8 Jonishi, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0808 |
International food festival
One of the cosplayers
Besides the International Food area, there are further stalls set up along the road. These stalls sell Japanese cuisine, and include games and events. There are student performances on stage, a rock festival, haunted house, and a cosplay event. Simply take a long stroll down the main road that runs through the campus and take in the sights and smells. The stalls run for a few hundred meters so there is a lot to see! The event starts during the first week of June and runs through the weekend. If you are in Sapporo around that time, make sure to put the Hokkaido University Festival into your schedule.
| Podcast time | Every Thursday from 10:00 |
| Contact | voicesinjapan@gmail.com |
| Website access | http://podcast.voicesinjapan.com |
| Notes | Podcast is in English |
Tune in
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The masters, Ben & Burke
The podcast is great for those living in Japan (or thinking about it), traveling to Japan, or even for anyone who wants to practice their English listening skills! The podcast can be accessed on their site http://podcast.voicesinjapan.com. For more information on Voices in Japan, you can access them at https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan, https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/, and on their instagram account https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/. So, to learn more about Japan and to get some perspective on its deep culture, take a listen to Voices in Japan!
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥750 - ¥1200 |
| Opening Hours | 11:00 - 16:00, 17:00 - 21:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-211-1792 |
| Notes | Ramen store, English menu available, seating 22 |
| Location / Getting There | Located in Maruyama Class shopping centre 2nd floor. 5 minute walk from Maruyama subway station. West Sapporo 27 Chome-1 Minami 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0801 |
Entrance
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Counter area
Sapporo Ramen Jikidenya also has a spicy ramen option with soy sauce or miso. The side dishes or toppings that go with your meal are cheap and can enhance the flavor. You can also upgrade your bowl to a larger size. Smaller dishes include a pork rice bowl with soft boiled egg, rice bowl with seasonal cod roe (fish eggs) and butter, spicy tofu, and boiled gyouza (dumplings). Juice and beer is available to drink plus the free water that comes with each table. Sapporo Ramen Jikidenya is a non smoking restaurant.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥700 - ¥2000 |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 18:00 |
| Closed | Winter (due to snow) Sundays, Mondays |
| Contact | 011-676-5860 |
| Notes | Coffee shop, Seating 12, no smoking, need own transport or taxi to get there, small parking area |
| Location / Getting There | Located up in the mountains of Maruyama area, Sapporo. 20 minute drive from central Sapporo. 2 Chome-20-8 Maruyama Nishimachi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0944 |
Nice coffee set
The area of Maruyama, located in west Sapporo, is a beautiful hilly suburb that leads up into the mountains. Throughout the residential there are some unique and cozy coffee shops that are the perfect place to enjoy tea, coffee & lunch in a nice atmosphere. Maruyama Cafe Saka Noue is one of the highest coffee shops up in the hills of Maruyama and has some nice views down over the area. Due to its location, the best way to get there would be to drive, or take a taxi from Maruyama subway station. 
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A delicious quiche
Maruyama Cafe Saka Noue has some delicious lunches on its menu. The menu is only in Japanese though there are pictures to help you choose. The lunch menu has a quiche set, a prosciutto and avocado muffin set, a keema curry, and a seafood gratin set. The coffee menu is extensive, as is the tea menu. With at least half a dozen teas to choose from, you can really enjoy a quiet cuppa. The lunch set comes with a salad and a drink which includes a tea or coffee or soft drink, which is well presented with an artistic flair.
