Ungyō
Chuo-ji is a Buddhist Temple located in downtown Sapporo, in Susukino (the entertainment district). It is not a big temple in regards to temples in Japan but its a good temple to go and check out and experience a little of the Japanese culture. The entrance is framed by a two story gate. The gate, as typical with most Buddhist temples, is guarded by the Nio or Kongōrikishi. These two muscle bound guardians are carved from wood and according to Japanese tradition, travelled with Gautama Buddha to protect him. These two characters, named Agyō and Ungyō, together symbolize the birth and death of all things. The entrance is a nice spot to take some photos.
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Chuo-ji practises ‘zazen’. Zen is the belief that every human being is born with clear minds and the capacity to live in an open-minded way. Chuo-ji is free to enter but they do offer Zen classes for a fee of ¥500 which is held in the Temple Zazen Hall. This is held on Sundays and they offer this course in English! The program is 3 hours and runs until midday, so why not try something new AND relaxing!
| 8:20 am | Zazen instruction (for newcomers) |
| 9:00 am | Zazen begins |
| 9:30 am | Kinhin (walking meditation) |
| 9:35 am | Teisho (dharma talk) 2nd zazen session |
| 10:05 am | Kinhin (walking meditation) |
| 10:10 am | Fukanzazengi chant |
| 10:20 am | Zazen Hall cleaning period |
| 11:10 am | Tea and discussion |
| 11:50 am | Zazenkai ends |
Tax counter
Daimaru department store was opened in 2003 in connection with Sapporo station and JR Tower. Daimaru is a high end department store and contains 8 floors and 4 basement floors, including parking. It has wifi, Chinese interpreters, store information & signage in English, Chinese, Thai, Korean, and Japanese. China Union Pay, VISA, JCB, Master, Amex, and Diners cards are accepted.
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| Floor Guide | |
| 8th Floor | Restaurant area, Pokemon Center Sapporo Stationery, Office supplies, Glasses, Art gallery |
| 7th Floor | Japanese and Western tableware, Kitchenware, Japanese arts & crafts, Lifestyle & Interior goods, Kimonos Tax Refund Counter |
| 6th Floor | Men's clothes, Men's shoes, Haberdashery, Gentlemen's bags, Golf wear, Traveling gear ATM |
| 5th Floor | Women's wear, Jewelry, Clocks and watches |
| 4th Floor | Women's wear, Women's underwear, Baby & Children's' Clothes, Toys |
| 3rd Floor | Women's wear Prayer Room |
| 2nd Floor | Women's shoes, Handbags, Women's clothing, Women's wear |
| 1st Floor | Special Boutique, Cosmetics, Accessories, Women's clothing Interior Information Desk, Cloakroom |
| B1 Floor | Food items, Hokkaido made souvenirs, household dishes, Japanese and Western sweets Japanese and Western liquors, beers |
| B2 - B4 Floor | Parking |
Japanese cuisine
The restaurants are open longer than the shops and close at 10 pm. There are many restaurants to choose from. Soba, eel, udon, sushi, okonomiyaki, tempura, yakitori (grilled meat on sticks) and other Japanese style restaurants can be found here. Other restaurants include Chinese, hamburg (grilled meat patties), Italian, fried pork cutlet, and a popular buffet style restaurant are located here.
The tax free counter is located on the 7th floor, just follow the signs! The tax refund amounts to 6.9%. You will need to bring your passport, the receipt, and the purchased good. Any items purchased over ¥5400 in total for that days spending is available for a tax refund. When you purchase your goods, the staff will ask if you have your passport for this service.
| Admission | – |
| Opening Hours | 10:30am - 8:00pm |
| Closed | – |
| Contact | 0120-866-201 |
| Notes | - |
| Location / Getting There | Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Minami 1 Jōnishi, 3 Chome, 南1条西3丁目LA GALLERIA 2 minute walk from Odori Station |
Let’s go shopping! H&M has a few stores dotted around Japan and it wasn’t until 2013 that it opened its doors to the Sapporo public. H&M has been and is a popular retail store for many Japanese and overseas travelers alike. H&M Sapporo is located in the heart of the city. It’s a short walk from Odori station which makes it convenient to get to. It takes up 4 floors and covers apparel for men, women and children.
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Peruse at your leisure
H&M clothing is a popular brand, especially with the younger crowd as its prices are quite affordable. The biggest draw card though, for the H&M store is its SALES. Every time an eager shopping enters its doors there always seems to be a sale on. Prices for many items can drop as far as ¥300 for an item. Don’t be surprised to see a winter coat or summer dress have its price slashed from around ¥5000 to ¥500! And, after your shopping spree, there are a dozen coffee shops close by to sit back, rest your feet, and relax.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | 1200 yen - 1500 yen |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 15:00 & 17:30 - 23:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | http://samurai-curry.com/ 011-272-3671 |
| Notes | Menu available in English |
| Location | 〒060-0063 Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Minami 3 Jōnishi, 6 Chome, 南3条西6丁目1-3 ティアラ３６ |
Choice selection
Samurai Soup Curry Sakura is the one of best soup curries in Sapporo. There are 4 stores located around Sapporo, and each serves up a delicious soup curry, time and time again. This soup curry chains’ philosophy is to put its focus and appreciation into 5 disciplines; the soup, the rice, the vegetables, the atmosphere, and the customer service. The thing which differs this soup curry restaurant from other soup curries is its extras that can be added which really makes this one the top soup curry restaurants around.
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Fresh vegetables
The menu offers the usual ingredients, chicken, chicken and vegetables, pork, vegetables, and sea food dishes though Samurai Soup Curry has its unique style. Most of the ingredients are Hokkaido grown and are absolutely delicious. What makes Samurai unique is its offers extras to its menu. The chicken can be normal or crispy (a personal favorite), or you can select the special local Shiretoko chicken which is more juicy and succulent. The vegetable dish can be upgraded to a selection of 20 vegetables in season, which are locally produced and adds so much to the flavor.
Chicken & 20 Vegetables
The biggest feature is the option of coconut milk which really adds to the flavor. All these options require and extra 300 yen added to the bill but they’re definitely worth the extra investment!The stores aren’t huge so smaller groups are recommended. As with other soup curry restaurants, be prepared to wait a while especially around dinner time. And “a while” can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. Still, soup curries are awesome, especially having one in a nice warm, cozy restaurant out of the winter chill. Samurai Soup Curry Sakura is one of the best in Sapporo and well worth the visit!
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | 1000 - 2000 Yen |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 22:30 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011 211 8554 |
| Notes | English menu available |
| Location | 4-17-1 Minami 3 jo Nishi. Chuo-ku Tanuki Koji Arcade 4 |
A succulent lunch
Love meat? For those of you who do, Beef Impact offers a vast array of beef cuts at reasonable prices. Beef Impact is located in the centre of Sapporo and is in the Tanuki Koji arcade so its easy to find! As the name suggests, Beef Impact specializes in one main ingredient, beef, and lots of it! Beef Impact offers 4 kinds of beef. The Australian ‘Beef Impact’ sirloin cuts which range from 250 grams to a whopping 900 grams. There is the American Angus Beef Steak, which is slightly cheaper at 5 yen a gram.
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Welcome!
Also on the menu is the thick and juicy Australian fillet steak which will cure any meat cravings. Finally, and if you have the cash, there is the famous Japanese Wagyu steak. The Wagyu beef (Wagyu meaning Japanese beef), is a delicious marbled cut and is a must try for steak lovers. All these cuts range generally from 200 grams to 600 grams, and are priced accordingly, on the type of steak you order. And what better to accompany your meal then a nice bottle of wine. Red or white are both on the menu.
Local red & white wines
Still, if you don’t have a big budget you can still enjoy a thick steak that’s on the lunch menu. For 1,000 yen you can get a pretty delicious thick steak which is not common in Japan. Comes with a serving of corn, onions, rice, and miso soup. Garlic slices on top are optional. Choose your degree of succulence from rare to well done and let the chef seer your cut to perfection. And for only an extra 300 yen, the curry bowl side order is highly recommended, with real steak chunks in a delicious curry sauce over a small rice.
Comes with rice & miso
Curries are also an option with 3 or 4 different selections of beef chunks in a curry sauce. Last, and definitely not least is the special menu of two types of Japanese steaks. The first being the marbled Tokachi Saibi Beef Rib Steak. Tokachi is a province in central Hokkaido and the cattle are raised on high vitamin C enriched feed which makes this a prize steak. And, saving the best till last, there is the Japanese Black Beef Fillet. As the name suggests, this comes from the Black Breed which is found in the region of Kobe. Kobe beef is THE prized beef in Japan and is rarely seen in restaurants in other countries. At 7000 yen for 200 grams this is the ultimate in prime steak fillets.
| Admission | Free admission |
| Opening Hours | 7:00 - 22:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-790-1231 |
| Notes | Parking available, Bicycles for hire, French restaurant in pyramid, Art gallery, Photography spot, Kids play area, Picnic spot, Water park, Wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | Take bus from Sapporo. Details see below. 1 Moerenumakōen, Higashi-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 007-0011, Japan |
View of the park from the hill
This magnificent park design is owed to the master planning by Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) , a Japanese-American artist, sculptor and landscape architect. Construction started in 1982 and was completed in 2005. It was built over a vast waste treatment plant and covers a huge 1.89 square kilometers. Sculptor Isamu Noguchi created the basic design based on the concept of “the whole, being a single sculpture”. The park is a must see and fuses together contemporary design with nature.
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Good photography spot
The park contains many sculptures and has many features throughout. Its a great place to visit with family, with friends or for a date out. Cherry blossoms bloom in the spring, and the fountain and wading pool facilities are open in the summer. The Autumn brings out the beautiful changing colors , and there is cross-country skiing and sledding across the snow-covered landscape during winter. The park has attractions for all seasons. Rental bicycles are available from late April to early November for 100 yen per hour.
| Access From JR Sapporo Station | |
| 1. | Take the subway Toho Line (blue line) to Kanjo dori higashi station (25-min. ride) From Kanjo dori higashi station take the Chuo Bus [higashi 69] to Ainosato kyoikudai eki. Get off at “Moerenuma koen higashiguchi (east entrance) or From Kanjo dori higashi station take the Chuo Bus [higashi 79] to Nakanuma Shogakko dori, get off at “Moerenuma koen higashiguchi (east entrance) |
| 2. | From subway Namboku Line (green line) to Kita sanjuyo jo Toho line “Shindo higashi” (30min. / 20min. ride) Chuo Bus [Higashi 76] to “Shogakko dori”, get off at “Moerenuma koen Nishiguchi (west entrance)* |
| 3. | The seasonal bus service to Moerenuma Park in the summer runs to all parts of the city, including “Bus Center”, “Asabu”, and others. |
| *The west entrance (Nishiguchi) is closed during snowfall. | |
HIDAMARI
From the rooftop of the pyrmaid
One of the main structures and the symbol of the park is the glass-walled pyramid. This beautiful building serves as an art gallery. Exhibitions are held throughout the year by prominent artists. Prices vary on the exhibition. The Hidamari Pyramid also contains a delicious French restaurant, a gift shop, an ice cream shop and small take out lunch shop, plus an information center and has a viewing platform overlooking the park and the outlying areas. The viewing platform at the top of the pyramid is open from 9:00 until 20:00 during summer, 19:00 in Spring and Autumn, and until 17:00 during the winter months. It’s a good idea to check out this platform first, so you can plan out what areas you want to see in the park!
MOUNT MOERE
Long walk up
Standing at 62 meters this man made mountain offers the best view of Moerenuma Park and the surrounding areas. There is a long winding track up, or a long flight of stairs straight to the stop. So if you’re also into fitness it’s a good work out! In winter, visitors can enjoy sledding and skiing on the mountain, making this feature one of the main attractions for visiting the park in winter. From this hill you can see all the way to Sapporo, and out over Hidamari. It is a good spot to get some photos!
MOERE BEACH
There is a shallow water park open from June to mid September. The paved pond is only a couple of feet deep which is great for young kids to play and splash around in. There are 3 water fountains in the pond as well so its also a popular area in the heat of summer. Ample grass space surrounding the pond is used for setting up tables and tents.
Open: Jun.13 – Sep.2. 10:00-16:00
Closed: Every Thursday
SEA FOUNTAIN
Surrounded in a copse in the middle of the park is the ‘Sea fountain’ which has a showtime at various times during the day. The giant fountain shoots up to 23 metres and was created to show the ebb and flow of life. At night the show is illuminated in time with the water.
| Operating Period April 29 - October 20 |
| Timetable for Weekends and National Holidays April 29 - May 31 10:30 - 10:45, 13:15 - 13:55, 16:00 - 16:15, 18:30 - 18:45* |
| June 1 - August 31 10:30 - 10:45, 13:15 - 13:55, 16:00 - 16:15, 19:15 - 19:55* |
| September 1 - October 20 10:30 - 10:45, 13:15 - 13:55, 16:00 - 16:15, 18:30 - 18:45* |
| Weekdays 10:35 - 10:45, 13:15 - 13:55, 16:00 - 16:15* |
| *Service may stop or the timetable may be shortened due to weather conditions, such as winds or heavy rain. |
FOREST OF CHERRY TREES
There is a large forest area interwoven with paths and play equipment which is great for the kids. The play equipment was also designed by Isamu Noguchi and really captures the imagination. These equipment pieces also serve as sculptures in their own right. There are 7 of these pieces hidden throughout this wooded area and not only are they fun to play on but its also fun to walk around and find whats around the corner.
TETRA MOUND
The Tetra mound is a triangular pyramid which is 13 meters in height. It is composed of stainless steel columns, two meters in diameter, and mounted on a grassy mound. The stainless steel surface was completed to resemble Isamu Noguchi’s fountain works in Detroit.
AQUA PLAZA
During Sapporo’s hot summers the Aqua Plaza offers a nice place to cool off. The 150 meter shallow canal flows through a section of the park. The water springs forth from a large sculptural basin. The stream is a great place to walk along, in or sit down and dangle your feet in the water. Isamu Noguchi’s water piece, garden area and stone square surrounded by two large mountains is often viewed as the symbolism of Sapporo.
