| Closed | Open everyday |
| Contact | https://www.gyomusuper.jp/english/ |
| Notes | Supermarket, cheap, multiple locations, overseas goods available |
| Getting There | There are many locations in Sapporo. Most are only accessed via car. For public transport, can go to Odori subway station. Take the exit and it is a 5 minute walk to Tanuki Koji shopping arcade. A Gyomu Super is on the second block. |
Gyomu Super is a very popular chain of supermarkets all over Japan. Gyomu Super first opened its doors in 2000. Since then, the chain has grown to over seven hundred locations in Japan. In Hokkaido these locations are found in Sapporo and the outlying suburbs. In 2025 there are about twenty Gyomu stores and counting. What makes these supermarkets so popular? They are different to your main stream supermarkets. They are very cheap but what makes them so special is that they sell many overseas items and they are sold in bulk. You can find many overseas items (especially from Asia), making it a very convenient store. You will find here, frozen goods, dried goods, canned goods, condiments and an array of vegetables and fruits. With so many locations in Sapporo, it isn’t hard to find. the most common Gyomu is in the Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade. Take some time and check out these supermarkets, though you will find most are accessed by car.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥500 - ¥1000 per coffee |
| Opening Hours | Depends on store though most stores open from around 07:30 until 22:00 as a general rule |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | https://www.starbucks.co.jp/ |
| Notes | Coffee store, no smoking, internet, power sockets, food available, english menu, card accepted |
| Location | There are 57 locations throughout Hokkaido, in every major city. |
Starbucks first entered the Japanese market in August 1996 with a store in Tokyo’s Ginza district, marking its first international expansion outside of North America. Due the rapid success, a large number of stores opened nationwide. Starbucks has tuned in with Japanese culture adapting to local tastes with seasonal drinks, unique merchandise. Starbucks first ventured into Hokkaido in 2010 with the opening of a Starbucks in Hakodate, in the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse area. Since then there are 57 stores throughout Hokkaido. You can find one in every major city and large town. The menu is simpler in Japan. Most of the staff can speak English and for those traveling, Starbucks offers free internet if you need it. With power sockets in their stores, Starbucks has created a very useful space for travelers. Plus, they have coffee, tea, and shakes to enjoy. Prices are reasonable and they also have many food items. Starbucks also sells items and accessories unique to Japan which can make for a good souvenir.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | Restaurant ¥1000 - ¥2000 |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 22:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-758-8758 |
| Notes | Soup curry restaurant, card accepted, no parking, seating 30 |
| Location | Soup Curry Cocoro is located on the northern side of Sapporo. It is near Hokkaido University and it is just a 4 minute walk from Kita Juhachijo subway station (North 18 station). 〒001-0015 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Kita Ward, Kita 15 Jonishi, 4 Chome-2-23 City Heim N15 Building |
Cocoro Soup Curry is in a very busy area for restaurants and coffee shops. It is located on the northern side of Sapporo Station and is by Hokkaido University. There are a few other soup curry restaurants around and this one is right near the Asian Supermarket. Every soup curry restaurant has its on signature dish or special recipe tto set it apart from other soup curry restaurants. At Cocoro Soup curry restaurant, they have boneless chicken as an option with their chicken and vegetable dish. Other dishes include ‘natto and chicken curry’, and ‘ravioli & gnocchi curry’ which are unique to Cocoro. Extra toppings can be added ffor an additional ¥200. The spice level ranges from one to thirty one (thirty one being manic on their menu). Level three is a medium and suits most diners. Rice comes with each soup curry. Drinks include lassis, teas, and soft drinks. This restaurant is large and there are plenty of seats for groups so there is no lining up. This is good if you are keen to get some lunch or dinner quickly. Many other soup curry restaurants require a line up usually!
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥300 - ¥900 |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 21:00 generally |
| Closed | |
| Contact | https://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/ |
| Notes | Fast food store, multiple locations throughout Hokkaido, take out, drive through, delivery available, credit card accepted |
| Location | Multiple locations in most major cities and towns in Hokkaido. |
McDonald’s history in Japan goes all the way back to 1971. The first McDonald’s restaurant opened its doors to the public in July 1971, in Ginza at the ground floor of the Ginza Mitsukoshi department store. On the menu at that time was the Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Flit-O-Fish, Big Mac, French Fries, Apple Pie, and the McShake. Since then, there are thousands of restaurants all over Japan. It is one of the main fast food restaurants in Japan, along with KFC, Lotteria, Mos Burger, and Burger King. In Hokkaido, you can find a McDonalds in every major city, with the exception of Nemuro, …. and ….. . There are only two that are open 24 hours with one being in Shin Sapporo and the other in Kitami (see google maps below). McDonalds offers a small taste of home for some travelers, who are maybe looking for respite from Japanese cuisine and want something cheap and familiar. Most of the McDonald restaurants have power sockets for charging, and a clean and quiet place to sit and relax, which is helpful to those traveling. Most of the meals are around the ¥700 mark and they do have drive thru and card is accepted. You will also find that some of the cashiers have some level of English which is a bonus.
Daimaru Department store is a large shopping centre connected to Stellar Place and Sapporo station. The supermarket here is on the basement one floor and it is here you can find many Japanese food goods and souvenirs. Half the area is your typical supermarket in Japan selling meat products, dairy, fresh fish, liquor, and fruits and vegetables. Though, what makes this supermarket different from your usual run of the mill supermarkets is that has a bit more range, including some hard to find items, and higher quality produce. These higher quality items come with a price and you will find this supermarket more expensive than most. Here, is particularly handy if you are hosting or attending a dinner party and can produce some lovely food dishes. Also on this floor they sell Hokkaido based food souvenirs and many items that can only be found in Hokkaido. This floor also has an abundance in confectionary stores. If you have a sweet tooth, then definitely drop in. Parking is available at this department store but if you are using public transport, then its an easy quick walk from either the train station or the subway station.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1000 |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 21:00 Shin-Sapporo Sunpiazza 09:00 - 23:00 Shiroi-shi 09:00 - 20:00 Otaru station 10:00 - 22:00 Obihiro 10:00 - 21:30 Kushiro |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | https://www.burgerking.co.jp/home |
| Notes | Fast food store, parking, card accepted |
| Location | There are 6 locations in Hokkaido. 2 in Sapporo, 1 at Otaru train station. 1 in Kushiro, 1 in Aeon Mall in Asahikawa, and 1 in Obihiro. Check the maps in the article. |
Burger King not a super well known fast food chain in Japan but it is spreading. This chain serves as a guilty pleasure for those expats living in Hokkaido, or maybe as a rare escape from Japanese food for those traveling from abroad. There are only six Burger King stores currently in Hokkaido as of 2025, so finding one is a little rare. The easiest Burger King to find is in Otaru as it is at the very exit from the station. The others are a little out of the way and require a car to get there. Burger King first arrived in Japan in 1993 and has continued to spread across the country. The menu keeps the same with the brand being the home of the ‘Whopper’ and you can find your favorite items on the menu. All these stores have parking, and a couple of them have drive through. Most meals are around the ¥1000 mark so if you are looking for a quick bite and want something that reminds you of home, Burger King is a good fast food option.
