| Dates | First weekend of July |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 18:00 |
| Cost | ￥3000 per ticket (includes cup + drink ticket) |
| Contact | 011-391-7775 http://www.sapporo-craft-beer-forest.com/enjoy/ |
| Location / Getting There | Located at Bankei ski field. Access via bus from Maruyama bus terminal. Taxis are also available. 410 Bankei, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 064-0945, Japan |
Cheers
As Hokkaido begins to warm up in the summer months, the Sapporo Craft Beer Forest has become an increasingly popular spot to enjoy a huge selection of craft beer from local sellers. There are over twenty-five different craft beer stalls at this event, each selling a selection of their hard work. You can sample beers from all over the world at this event, and find a variety of beers ranging from light and flavorful pale ales, sweet and malty blonde ales, flowery or spicy pilsners, to smooth & creamy dark lagers and everything in between. The Sapporo Craft Beer Forest has something for everybody.
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Beer stalls
Upon on entry, and paying for your ticket, you will receive a cup (which you need to keep all day) plus two beer tickets. For further beer tickets, simply buy them at the ticket stall inside the venue. It is possible to get advance tickets for ￥3000. The premium advance ticket includes an event glass and six drink tickets. The normal advance ticket will get you seven beer tickets for the same price. Across from the beer stalls, there are food stalls set up. You can enjoy a selection of meats such as mutton, ribs, and sausages. There is also pizza, curries, and some Jacksonville Hamburgers. Besides the stalls, there are tables set up to grill your own!
As there is no outside seating, be sure to bring a mat to sit on the grass and any gear to make the day comfortable. Inside the Bankei building itself there is inside and a couple of stalls selling souvenirs. If you don’t have your own transport, or do and want to drink (of course), there are taxis that will cost around ￥2000 yen one way. There is also a free shuttle bus that will leave from Maruyama bus terminal which is across from the Maruyama subway station.
| Shuttle bus | Leaves from Maruyama bus terminal to Bankei ski field |
| Times | Leaves every 8 minutes |
| Cost | Free |
| To Bankei ski field | 11: 00 - 15: 00 |
| To Maruyama bus terminal | 17: 00 - 19: 00 |
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1000 - ¥2000 |
| Opening Hours | 11:00 - 23:30 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-213-5151 http://r.goope.jp/oneills |
| Notes | Irish pub Foreign beers English menu |
| Location / Getting There | 2 minute walk from Sapporo station. Located at Paseo West Dining 〒 060-0806 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Kita Ward, Kita 6 Jonishi, 4 Chome-3-1 1F in Paseo |
Beef lunch set
Irish Pub O’Neill’s is a great pub located in Paseo West Dining at Sapporo Station. If you like some good foreign beer, or some good hearty food, then this is a great spot to have some lunch, or dinner. O’Neill’s is good for sharing a drink with friends, taking in some sports on the screens, or having a nice quiet beer. The lunch menus of steak or sausages come as a set with a salad, bread and a soup. The dinner menu has some delicious options of lamb, chicken steaks, Irish stew, fish and chips, and of course, sheperd’s pie!
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Counter seating
Apart from the extensive food menu, O’Neill’s has a great selection of world beers. As you can expect from an Irish bar, they have Guinness, and Kilkenny. Local beers include, Sapporo Classic, Yebisu Creamy Top, and Edelpis. If you’re looking for something with a bit more bite, then there are some whiskeys (Irish, scotch & bourbon) to sample. For groups, there are all you can drink plans that come with food. The ‘all you can drink’ plan goes for 120 minutes. If you are looking for an Irish style bar, then O’Neill’s is a good spot to check out.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥2000 - ¥3000 |
| Opening Hours | 15:00 - 2:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-561-3533 http://bb5613533.webcrow.jp/index.html |
| Notes | Darts Party plan Seating 40 |
| Location / Getting There |
Spicy chicken wings
Beer Bar Basil Basil is a popular bar to grab some good food, and some good beer, and have a night out with some friends. It is located on the southern end of Susukino, the night life district of Sapporo. It is not on the main street but one block across from the main drag. Opening in 1999, Basil Basil focuses its menu on a good selection of Japanese beers plus some European ales. To go with the beer, there is a good selection of bar food that will please any customer!
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Salad
The beer menu has Sapporo Classic, a nice Yebisu on tap, a Yebisu black stout, Edelpils (a German Pilsener style beer) plus some foreign beers. These include Hoegaarden, a bass pale ale, and a Guinness. The food menu has plenty of dishes to match the beer, such as pizza, spicy chicken, sausages, oysters and shrimp, tortillas and beans, pastrami and sauerkraut. For those looking for group specials, Beer Bar Basil Basil has party plans. Six dishes plus an all you can drink for an hour and a half plan, will put you back at ￥3800 per person. An all you can drink plan, for an hour and a half will cost ￥2800 per person. You can reserve tables for 10-14 people, 20-26 people, or you can hire the whole 40 seats including the counter area!
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ￥500 per drink *cost of entry depending on live show |
| Opening Hours | 17:00 - 24:00 |
| Closed | *days depending on live shows |
| Contact | 011-223-3554 http://vinnies.info/ |
| Notes | Live music venue Bar Recording studio |
| Location / Getting There | 10 minute walk from Naebo station 12 Chome-316 Kita 1 Jōhigashi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 060-0031 |
Grab a beer
Vinnie’s bar is a small live music venue that often has live bands playing very week. The stage is reasonably large and there is enough seating for about 30 people plus standing room. The bar area sells beer on tap (Suntory), plus a variety of cocktails, non-alcohol beers, and non-alcohol cocktails. All drinks are ￥500 each. There is also a food menu that has some pastas and finger food. The live house has a good sound system and the music played is well mixed by the owner. For local bands, this is not a bad place to have a gig! 
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The Vinnie’s bar sign
Vinnie’s bar is slightly out of downtown Sapporo (it’s about a ￥1000 taxi fare), but this bar is part of a music studio, and it is also located underneath a bowling alley, so there is there is quite a lot do in this building. The bowling alley is called ‘Sapporo Olympia Bowl’ and is a good spot to get your bowling shoes on. There is plenty of parking for those driving. The music studio operates in tandem with the bar, and many bands that practice at the studio will often have a live show. For upcoming events at Vinnie’s bar please check the calendar on their site (in Japanese).
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ￥500 - ￥1000 |
| Opening Hours | 19:00 - 3:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-215-1124 |
| Notes | Lounge bar Menu in Japanese only Smoking Sit down charge |
| Location / Getting There | Located on route 36. 5 minute walk from Susukino station Sapporo-shi, Chuo-ku, South 4, West 2 14-2 Central S4 building 6F |
Bar Grab is a nice quiet bar located in Susukino. It is perfect for the start of a night out, or at the end of the evening. It’s numerous couches also make it a good spot for a large group of friends. Along with couches there is a center bar area that has seating for 8 people. This bar is located up on the 6th floor and has some nice views of Susukino as it overlooks Route 36 (one of the main streets through Sapporo).
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The bar with its floor to ceiling windows gives this bar a nice ambiance in which to sit and have a drink. This bar has the usual alcohol on the menu, with beer on tap and a wide variety of spirits to choose from. The menu is only in Japanese, though you will find most drinks have the same names in English as they do in Japanese.There are also snacks and some small dishes to choose from as well. Located very close to many of the central hotels, this is not a bad place to grab a drink.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ￥500 per drink ￥450 - ￥600 food |
| Opening Hours | 18:00 - 3:00 |
| Closed | Sundays |
| Contact | 011-531-3222 |
| Notes | English menu Counter Seating 10 Table Seating 15 Small casual bar |
| Location | 10 minute walk from Susukino station along Route 36. 4 minute walk from Mercure hotel. Sapporo-shi Chuo-ku Minami 5 Azuma 2 - chome 12 - 4 |
Counter action
Sapporo has some really interesting, cool bars hidden around its streets, and it’s just a matter of finding them! Micci’s is a great little bar that is well worth a visit. The walls are covered with posters, trinkets, toys, and photos that give Micci’s its great character. It is not a huge bar by any standards, but it’s cozy and great for small groups for up to 4 people. There is counter seating, as well as a couple of small tables. It is located only 5 minutes east from the Mercure hotel along route 36, which is a major road running east to west through Susukino (entertainment district).
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Micci’s spicy chicken
Micci’s has a selection of bottled beers, whiskeys, spirits and Japanese sake. The staff are super friendly and can speak English. The menu is also in English, if needed, so it’s easy to order. For something to nibble on, the food menu has small finger food, and small dishes to share. There are some salads, deep fried foods (the spicy chicken is recommended), dumplings, some tofu dishes, and some egg dishes. The prices are very decent and the food is delicious. Micci’s is a great little bar to visit.
