| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1200 - ¥2500 |
| Opening Hours | 11:00 - 22:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0139-42-2525 |
| Notes | Seafood shop seating 30, parking English menu available |
| Location / Getting There | Central Matsumae. 5 minute walk from Matsumae Castle & in Yano Onsen 温泉 049-1512 Hokkaido, Matsumae-gun, Matsumae, Fukuyama, 123 Hot spring inn Yano |
Come in for a bite
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Fantastic ‘Tuna Dinner’ set
Matsumae is a popular tourist spot for local and for tourists abroad. Yano caters to both, as their menu comes in Japanese and in English. It also has pictures of its dishes so its easy to order. Yano has some great seafood sets such as a tuna set, a fried shrimp set, or the crab cream croquette set. Other dishes include a spaghetti dish, curry set, or a hamburg set.Their crème de la crème though is the ‘Specialty of Matsumae’ set which has an assortment of local seafoods. The drink menu has soft drinks, teas & coffees, and beer.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0139-42-2449 |
| Notes | Photography spot |
| Location / Getting There | 6 hour drive from Sapporo or 2 hour bus ride from Hakadote. Matsujo, Matsumae-cho, Matsumae-gun, Hokkaido, Japan 049-1511 |
Peaceful
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Graveyard of the Matsumae Lords
Walking among the stone pathways and moss covered gardens is a real treat. Another feature of this area is the graveyard of the local Matsumae Lords. The trees surrounding the headstones and tombs make for a fantastic setting, with which to wander and take the quiet beauty of the graveyard. There is also a fantastic 200 year old Kechimyaku Sakura (bloodline cherry). The temples are especially beautiful during late April and early May, as the cherry blossoms (with which Matsumae is famous) are in full bloom. Make sure to bring your camera as you stroll through the historic buildings and paths.
| Admission | ¥360 Adults / ¥290 Group ¥240 Students / ¥190 Group Children free *Groups of 10 or more |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 17:00 April 10 to December 10 |
| Closed | Winter |
| Contact | 0139-42-2216 |
| Notes | Wheelchair access April & May busy, need early reservations for hotels, weeks in advance |
| Location / Getting There | 6 hour drive from Sapporo or 2 hour bus ride from Hakadote. Matsujo, Matsumae-cho, Matsumae-gun, Hokkaido, Japan 049-1511 |
Sunset on the hill
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Great spot for photos
The castle is most popular during the months of April & May due to its vast array of stunning cherry blossom trees, during which the Matsumae Sakura festival is held. The castle is located in Matsumae Park. The park boasts 10,000 cherry blossoms of 250 different kinds of varieties. Many of these cherry blossoms descend from a 200 year old Kechimyaku Sakura (bloodline cherry) also found on the grounds. The castle is a great spot to visit, as there is a lot to see and do in the area. The seashore town of Matsumae is also steeped in history.
How to get there
Matsumae is a town located at the very bottom of Hokkaido and from Sapporo, it takes a while to get there. Having your own transport is the optimum means of getting there. To rent a car would be the cheapest and fastest way. For those who can only take public transport, train and then bus are your options.
| From Sapporo to Hakadote | Super Hokuto Limited Express Super Hokuto 12 (platform 4) 3 hours and 30 minutes | ¥8,830 |
| Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station to Kikonai Station | Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen Hayabusa Hayabusa 34 towards Tokyo (platform 11) 12 minutes | ¥3,250 |
| Kikonai Station to Kikonai Ekimae Bus Stop | Walk 5 minutes | - |
| Kikonai Ekimae Bus Stop to Matsushiro (Matsumae) Bus Stop | 6:20, 7:38, 9:00, 11:10, 12:10*, 14:52, 15:20, 16:50*, 17:55*, 19:15 90 minutes | ¥1370 |
| Matsushiro Bus Stop to Matsumae Castle | Walk 400 meters 5 minutes | - |
How to get back
| Matsumae Castle to Matsushiro (Matsumae) Bus Stop | Walk 400 meters 5 minutes | - |
| Matsushiro (Matsumae) Bus Stop to Kikonai Ekimae Bus Stop | 5:22*, 6:21, 7:20*, 8:44, 9:50*, 10:37, 12:34, 14:22, 15:52, 18:03 90 minutes * to Hakodate | ¥1,370 |
| Kikonai Ekimae Bus Stop to Kikonai station | Walk 5 minutes | - |
| Kikonai Station to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station | Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen Hayabusa Hayabusa 23 towards Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 12 minutes | ¥3,250 |
| Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station to Sapporo | Hokuto or the Super Hokuto Limited Express on the Hakodate Line. 3 hours 30 minutes | ¥8,830 |
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Contact | 011-221-4100 management |
| Notes | Events & festivals at the park run throughout the year |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute walk from Odori subway station & Susukino subway station. 1 block east from TV tower & Odori park 1 Chome Minami 3 Johigashi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0053 |
The statue of Otomo Kametaro at Sosei Bridge
Soseigawa Park can be found in central Sapporo, and runs from north to south, for 820 meters. It’s a pleasant place to take a stroll along the narrow river that runs through the centre of the park. The Sosei bridge crosses through the centre of the park, and is said that the history of Sapporo started at the very foot of this bridge. A statue of Otomo Kametaro, who first excavated the canal in 1869, can be found here. The park was redesigned and completed in 2011 with amenities, grass area, sculptures, and an underpass was put in.
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One of four works by Yasushi Yasuda
Soseigawa Park runs by the Nijo Ichiba Fish Markets and also the TV Tower at the eastern end of Odori park. There are around thirty different lilac trees planted throughout the park, twenty kinds of ‘Day Lilies’, and thirty seven German lilies. Along the walkways, you can find sculptures by three Japanese artists, Yasushi Yasuda, Yasuzo Nishino, and Eiki Danzuka. Throughout the year, Soseigawa Park is home to numerous festivals and events especially during the spring and summer. These events are a great spot to unwind and take in the beauty of Soseigawa park.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥800 - ¥1080 |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 15:50 lunch 17:00 - 00:45 dinner |
| Closed | Tuesdays |
| Contact | 011-272-9898 |
| Notes | Ramen shop seating 8, no parking Japanese menu only Smoking |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute walk from Susukino subway station 1 Chome Minami 3 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0063 |
Front entrance
“Yamarashi KuroTora” which translates, impressively, into “Mountain Storm Black Tiger” is a nice little ramen restaurant that can be found in central Sapporo. It can be found one block south from the shopping arcade known asTanuki Koji. It is one of three of the ‘Yamarashi ramen’ chains, the other two also being in Sapporo (see below). The restaurant only has seating for eight. Once inside you can find a vending machine on your right with which to order your ramen. Unfortunately, this is only in Japanese. the menu is pictured but for information on the kanji, read below.
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Choose from one of six flavors
There are six different flavors, though each has the same basic ingredients of pork, spring onion, noodles, and nori (dried seaweed). Each flavor has a slightly different nuance. 白 is the basic ramen which is salt flavored, or you can try 味噌白 which is the same with but seasoned with miso. 黒 is ramen with soy sauce added, and 海 is a seafood flavored ramen. For something a little spicier, you may prefer the red ramen 赤 or 味噌赤 which is the miso version. Whatever your pick, the ramen here is delicious! The miso and soy sauce ramen being the most popular. For a little extra yen, you may add toppings to your dish. For two other locations, read below.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥800 - ¥1080 |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 15:00 lunch 17:00 - 22:00 dinner |
| Closed | Mondays |
| Contact | 011-815-3030 |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute walk from Hiragishi subway station (Nanboku subway line) Hiragishi 1 9-chome 6-1, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo |
Tenjo Tenge Ryuga Dokuso
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥800 - ¥1080 |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 15:00 lunch 17:00 - 22:00 dinner |
| Closed | Mondays |
| Contact | 011-592-0005 |
| Location / Getting There | Located along route 230. 30 minute drive from Sapporo Sapporo City Minami-ku Fujino 3-jo 2-1-52 |
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥700 per hour - darts & billiards (weekdays) ¥800 per hour - darts & billiards (weekends) ¥4000 per hour - Golf simulation |
| Opening Hours | Mon to Fri - 15:00 to 5:00 Weekends - 13:00 to 5:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-290-6302 https://www.sugai-dinos.jp/sports/norbesa/darts/ |
| Notes | Golf simulator, billiards tables, electronic darts Credit cards accepted, Smoking, ATM, Wi-fi, Party plan, all you can drink available Booking ahead recommended for weekends |
| Location / Getting There | 2 minute walk from Susukino station. Top floor of Norbesa building, under the ferris wheel. 6th floor Hokkaido, Sapporo-shi Chuo-ku Minami 3-jo Nishi 5-Chome 1-1 NORBESA 6th floor |
Indoor golf simulator
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Clean break
There are two kinds of party plans, the first being a ‘darts & all you can drink plan’ for ninety minutes which will cost ¥2600 per person. The other being the ‘billiards & all you can drink plan’ for ninety minutes. This course will cost each person ¥2700. It is wise to book ahead, especially for the billiard tables as there are only three of these. The drink menu includes beer on tap, Coronas, and Carlsberg. There is a whiskey menu that accompanies this. There is also a cocktail menu and for shots, Jägermeister!
