| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥4000 |
| Opening Hours | 18:00 - 03:00 17:00 - 05:00 Friday & Saturday |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-206-0162 |
| Notes | Mutton grill restaurant, all you can drink option, lemon sour cocktails, outside seating, need phone to order, credit card, no parking, group seating, reservation required |
| Location | This open grill & bar is found in central Susukino, the bar is only a 3 minute walk from Susukino station. It is easily accessed and easily recognizable with its outside seating. 〒064-0805 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Minami 5 Jonishi, 4 Chome-5-4 City Cabin Susukino 1F |
This is a popular ‘jingisukan’ restaurant in central Susukino, Sapporo. Jingisukan is mutton that is cooked on an open grill by the customers. You can find an assortment of meats, plus vegetables to cook as desired. What makes this place unique is included in the name of the restaurant, and that is the lemon sour drinks that are served. The lemon sour cocktails can be ordered through a ‘nomihodai’ (all you can drink) option. Nearly everyone goes for this option as it is unbelievably cheap at ¥600 per person for 90 minutes! Each table is set up with its own keg on tap that can be poured by the revelers.
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There are different kinds of ‘all you can drink’ options. These include the cheapest lemon sour, or a strawberry sour option, plus other fruits to mix. Ordering food is not super simple as it should be. To order food you need to use the QR code that is given to you to access the menu. From there you can order from the link. This is a little laborious. After ordering the waitperson will bring out your food where you can cook it on the grill that they set up for you. This is a great place to because they have outside seating which isn’t often found in Susukino. There is also inside seating. If you do want to sit outside you will need to make a reservation well in advance so fingers crossed for good weather!
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Notes | Beach, camping area, paid parking, BBQ spot, swimming spot, small bars in the summer |
| Location / Getting There | Otaru dream beach is about a 40 minute drive north west from Sapporo. A car is preferable. For those taking public transport, you need to take a train (Hakodate Line) to Otaru and get off at Hoshioki station. From there it is a 50 minute walk so a taxi would be better. Alternatively, the bus near Hoshioki station is No.81, and that is 5 stops, and from then it is a 30 minute walk to the beach. 3, 70 Zenibako, Otaru, Hokkaido, 047-0261 Japan |
There are two main beaches that the locals of Sapporo go to during the summer. One being Aso Beach Ishikari and the other is Otaru Dream Beach. Ishikari Beach is a quieter and more relaxing place to spend a summer day, where as Otaru Dream beach is a busier spot with more of a party atmosphere. This is mainly due to the fact there are more beach bars that line the sand. These bars serve as small places that serve food and BBQ supplies plus offering tables for beach goers to cook their own food. They also serve alcohol for those to enjoy.
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The ‘beach bars’ are slightly run down and serve only as temporary bars and eateries for a couple of months. They are open until the evening and sometimes kick on until late at night. There is also the occasional beach party event. There is no real accommodation around this long beach but there is a camping ground on the beach. This costs around ¥1000 but if you come late, then you can avoid this. Also parking for cars is about ¥500 for the day. There are signs and collectors near the entrance. This beach is mainly for a younger crowd who enjoy the BBQs and although it is not a particularly clean beach, it is a fun beach. If you are looking for something quieter, Then Ishikari Beach is a better option.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥3000 - ¥5500 |
| Opening Hours | 17:00 - 02:00 Susukino & Kitano store 17:00 - 23:00 Motomachi 17:00 - 00:30 Obihiro, Riverside, Aso, and Kotomi store |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | For numbers please check the Gaja website http://gajafan.com/store/ |
| Notes | BBQ style dining, all you can eat plan, all you can drink plan, party plan, good for groups |
| Location | Various locations throughout Hokkaido. The Susukino location in Sapporo is a 4 minute walk south from the Susukino subway station and can be found in the Cyber Building. Please see the maps below for Sapporo location and at the end of the article for locations in Hokkaido. |
They have party plans that range from ¥3500 to ¥5500 and obviously the more expensive the more you get for your buck. They also have a ‘viking’ plan which is basically an all you can eat plan that costs around ¥4000 for around two hours. You can have yourself a nice little BBQ in the comfort of a restaurant. And what goes well with cuts of meat but beer. Here they have an all you can drink plan as well. So this place is good for parties and groups where the drink and food flows all round.
Gaja is a very popular chain of yakiniku restaurants throughout Sapporo and with another location in Obihiro as well. Yakiniku is a unique dining experience where the clientele grill (yaku) their own meats (niku) to their desired taste. The food is cooked on small hot grill that is heated via hot coals. Each grill is located in the center of the tables with an exhaust fan above (so the customers don’t get smoked out). These restaurants are popular for two reasons. First there is a large selection of meat that can be chosen. Different cuts of beef, plus pork, chicken and vegetables. Rice and a variety of sauces are also available.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0133-62-4611 |
| Notes | Beach, swimming spot, jogging spot, sunset views, paid parking available, car needed |
| Location / Getting There | The beach is located to the west of Sapporo. It is a 55 minute drive from central Sapporo 〒040-0034 Hokkaido, Hakodate, Omoricho, 22, Unnamed Road |
There are two main beaches that Sapporo locals head to for a summer suntan, swim or BBQ. One being near Otaru called Zenibako Beach, and the other being Aso Beach at Ishikari. Whereas Zenibako has more of a party vibe to it with the small shacks selling booze with tables and BBQ spots, Aso Beach is a lot more serene with less people. The surf itself is very calm and quiet and not very deep. It is best to bring some form of shade as there are no trees around and the beach can get quite hot in the summer.
The beach is open to camping and it must be said, that the sunsets here are absolutely beautiful. There are stores or camping supplies so make sure to bring all you own gear. There are paid parking spots that cost about ¥500 for the day and not a far walk from the beach. Other places of note include Hamanasu No Oka Park, and the Ishikari lighthouse. For bird watchers too, this area is bustling with wildlife. There is also an Onsen hotel nearby. Aso Beach is a tranquil beach and offers view of the whole of Ishikari Bay.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Contact | 011-681-3940 |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot, parking available, walking spot, jogging spot, park golf, baseball ground & football ground available to rent, picnic area, cherry blossoms, photography spot |
| Location / Getting There | Get off at 'Kita 24jo Station' on the Namboku Subway Line. At Kita 24jo Bus Terminal No. 1, take the Chuo Bus Kita 72 bound for Maeda Forest Park and get off at Maeda Forest Park Entrance. For those driving, it is 30 minute drive north from Sapporo Station. Take route 125 and head north. 591-4 Teinemaeda, Teine Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 006-0829 |
Maeda Forest Park began construction in 1982 and was finally completed ten years later. This park has beautiful landscaping and paths to access, plus half the park is made of forest area. The main feature of the park is the long shallow canal that runs in line with a view of Mt. Teine on the horizon. The canal is 600 metres in length and 15 metres wide, and is lined with 240 Poplar trees. The views from the observation lounge are really amazing so be sure to bring your camera. The design of this area in particular has a very European ambience and photos could easily be mistaken as a foreign postcard from distant lands.
The canal is the perfect backdrop to go running, jogging, or even for a stroll. You can enjoy the four seasons. The summer activities, the cherry blossoms in spring, and the beautiful changing leaves in the autumn. The park has numerous paths and spaces that can be used recreationally. The soccer field, baseball ground can be hired out (contact through the website), plus there is a park golf course as well. During the warmer seasons there are numerous flowers and fauna that can be observed, including lilacs and wisteria. You can make a day of it as well by making use of the BBQ area. In the winter, there is a large hill for sledding and snowboarding. Maeda Forest Park is one of the best parks to visit in Sapporo!
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Notes | Beach, jogging spot, BBQ spot, swimming spot |
| Location / Getting There | Located in Hakodate. The closest tram station is Matsukaze-cho Station. It is a 7 minute walk east from this station. 〒040-0034 Hokkaido, Hakodate, Omoricho, 22, Unnamed Road |
Ōmori Beach is a beach located on the eastern side of the main headland that makes up the city of Hakodate. The beach runs or about three kilometers with a majority of the rural housing running alongside it. The beach is your typical beach in Hokkaido. The sands are not pristine but it is a popular spot during the short summer months on the northern island. There is no official parking spot but there are plenty of places to park on the side streets that run adjacent to the beach.
This beach is good for taking a stroll with views along the coast to Mt. Hakodate in the south. For those wanting for more of a fitness kick, it’s also a good beach to run along. In the summer, there are places to have a picnic or a small BBQ with friends. Unfortunately, there are very little restaurants or cafes along this beach. There are a couple of hotels close by. The beach is a short walk from the streetcar station, Matsukaze-cho Station. The beach also offers up some nice sunset views to enjoy at dusk.