| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Viewing times | July & August |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Car needed, small parking area, festival in mid July |
| Location / Getting There | Located at Tokai School campus. It's a 30 minute drive from central Sapporo. Head south along Ishiyama Road and turn right onto route 82. Public transport, take the subway to Makomanai Station (Nanboku line). From here take the bus 24 to Tokai Highschool. 1 Chome-1-1 Minamisawa 5 Jo, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-8602 |
On the Tokai Sapporo School campus the grounds really comes alive with lavender. It is said that the south district of Sapporo, where the campus is located, is known as the birthplace of lavender cultivation in Japan. The lavender field here has been planned since 2002 and now it has 3,600 lavender plants that create a beautiful scene from late June to mid August. There is a festival held here annually in mid July. This includes a “lavender concert” which is performed by the brass band of the school here (noted as the best school brass band in Japan).
During the festival a ‘Yosakoi Soran’ dance is also performed by the students. The festival has become an annual event not only for the students but also for the whole community. The fields are accessed easier by car. There is a large parking lot right near the campus grounds and this parking is free. For those taking the bus, the bus stop is directly in front of the school. These lavender fields are pleasant to walk around. They have a few benches on which to rest. The backdrop of the new modern school is also nice. These small lavender fields are not well known so for those traveling you can experience a very local and non touristy sightseeing spot!
| 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.
| Height | 1,023 metres |
| Length | 10km round trip |
| Hiking Time | Summer - 3 hours to summit |
| Notes | Hiking trail, popular ski field in winter, car access |
| Location / Getting There | To hike the trail during summer. Drive to Heiwa no Taki (peace waterfall). This drive is a 30 minute drive east from central Sapporo. From the shrine near the waterfall you can find the trail head. During winter, it is a 1 hour drive from central Sapporo. The easiest route is to get on route 5 and then turn left onto the road that leads up to the mountain top. Heiwa, Nishi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 063-0029 |
Mt Teine is a very popular mountain on the western outskirts of the city of Sapporo. The mountain has an elevation of 1,023 meters, or 3,356 feet. This mountain is busy during summer as well as winter. During the winter months Mt Teine serves as a ski resort which sees thousands of locals and visitors enjoying the ski slopes whether it be skiing, or snowboarding. Mt Teine was one of the sites of the first Winter Olympics held in Asia, in 1972. This mountain hosted the giant slalom and slalom events in alpine skiing.
During the summer months there are hiking trails that lead to the summit of the mountain. For those who don’t wish to hike the trail (which takes about 2 hours to the top), there is an access road which can be used to drive up where you can enjoy the views over Sapporo and Ishikari Bay. The trail head can be found at Heiwa no Taki (peace waterfall). There is parking here and you can find the trail next to an old shrine here. Along the path you can see the Nunojikino Falls, a small waterfall, plus along the path you can pick wild vegetables including mushrooms. The trail turns into a rocky slope near the top so be sure to wear suitable foot wear.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥5000 |
| Opening Hours | 11: 45 - 15: 00 (last order 14:00) 17: 00 - 24: 00 (last order 21:00) |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-552-2929 https://www.sapporo-steak.jp/ |
| Notes | Teppanyaki restaurant, seating 32, private room 4 - 7 people, credit card accepted, no smoking, paid parking 110 spaces (free for first 2 hours), steak restaurant, reservations preferable |
| Location | This restaurant is located in central Sapporo. It is directly on route 36 on the basement floor of the 'Sapporo Tokyu Rei Hotel'. It is only a 1 minute walk west from Susukino the subway station. Head to the basement floor of the hotel. 5-1 Minami 4 West, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido, Sapporo Tokyu REI Hotel Restaurant Brother Sapporo B1 |
If you love steaks, this place is a must. This restaurant is a fantastic place to celebrate a special occasion, or if you are traveling to Japan, then this a great Japanese experience to enjoy and remember. This is a ‘teppanyaki’ restaurant which means you get to watch your own personal chef working their magic. Everything is cooked right in front of you and there is a certain flair to the dishes so make sure to bring your camera! There are various set dishes to order that include a meat cut plus vegetables and dessert.
These set meals are not cheap but the cost is worth it. The meat here (especially the steaks) are succulent and melt in your mouth. The beef here is Tokachi black beef and has been carefully selected. The steaks here have beautiful marbling and you won’t find a better steak. These can be enjoyed with salt, wasabi, or a handmade mustard. The seats each come with a single chef so you need to book in. Private rooms fit up to seven people. This restaurant is definitely high on the list of dining experiences. There is parking within the hotel (free for the first 2 hours), or the restaurant is not a far walk from Susukino subway station.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥5000 |
| Opening Hours | 11: 45 - 15: 00 (last order 14:00) 17: 00 - 24: 00 (last order 21:00) |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-552-2929 https://www.sapporo-steak.jp/ |
| Notes | Teppanyaki restaurant, seating 32, private room 4 - 7 people, credit card accepted, no smoking, paid parking 110 spaces (free for first 2 hours), steak restaurant, reservations preferable |
| Location | This restaurant is located in central Sapporo. It is directly on route 36 on the basement floor of the 'Sapporo Tokyu Rei Hotel'. It is only a 1 minute walk west from Susukino the subway station. Head to the basement floor of the hotel. 5-1 Minami 4 West, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido, Sapporo Tokyu REI Hotel Restaurant Brother Sapporo B1 |
This bar and dining restaurant is one of the best places to enjoy some high quality food and alcohol. It is all located conveniently in town and with seats outside on route 36. This road is a main road that dissects Susukino and Odori. With outside seating (although small), as well as inside seating you can wine and dine while watching the many revelers walking along the sidewalks. In the summer this is a perfect spot. The food here is flawless and the menu has so many great dishes, you won’t be dissapointed!
They have some great little side dishes such as a cheese plate, or olives and prosciutto. Other dishes include succulent meats, salads, and pasta dishes. There is such a great choice here. To go with the food, there is a good selection of wines. If you want to enjoy just a simple beer, then they have that too! There is also sake, and non alcoholic drinks. Osteria is perfect for small parties with the upstairs seating, or its a great date spot with small tables and counter seating on the ground floor. This restaurant is highly recommended.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥600 - ¥1000 |
| Opening Hours | 10:30 - 19:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-221-1007 |
| Notes | Coffee shop, no parking, seating 16, alcohol served |
| Location | The restaurant can be found in the Tanukikoji Shopping arcade on the first block, in Sapporo. There is no parking but there is paid parking around the area. Via public transport, the restaurant is a 3 minute walk from Odori subway station. 〒060-0063 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Minami 3 Jonishi, 1 Chome-12, 1-chome South Tanukikoji |
Gaccha is a small cafe on the first block of the Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade. It is the very first store on the corner as you make your way through the entrance to Tanuki Koji. The coffee shop, being on the corner faces Soseigawa Park. This coffee shop is a cool little place in a convenient spot that is close to a lot of well known places in Sapporo. The layout is open and the walls are lined with bits and pieces, ornaments and other interesting collectibles.
The coffee here is pretty good but that’s not all that is sold here. They have alcohol on the menu as well. There is wine and beer as well if you are looking for something a little stronger than coffee. There is also a little food here on the menu but it is just small. If you are looking for a large lunch or evening meal, Gaccha probably won’t be enough. They excel in mainly coffees and drinks. There is outside seating in the warmer months as well.
