| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1200 - ¥2200 |
| Opening Hours | 10:30am - 6pm |
| Closed | Wednesdays |
| Contact | 0123-21-3750 |
| Notes | Need a car to get here! Japanese speaker needed |
| Location | 〒069-1181 Hokkaido Prefecture, Chitose, Higashioka, ９２０ |
Lots of room!
This BBQ spot is a little hidden paradise for BBQ lovers, and if you have access to a car, its a must! Think of This is an old school place that has its own unique layout that has been around for long time! The set up is simple, 2 long pits down the middle of the room heated with embers. Surrounding these is seating enough for up to 80 people. Its a great spot for small groups. The restaurant is family owned and their English ability is low, and as the menu is ALL in Japanese. The restaurant can get busy during peak times so the staff don’t have time to translate the menu so its strongly advised to have some Japanese ability!
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BBQ goodness
The main item on the menu is chicken, in large cuts. Side dishes of cabbage, rice and pickled vegetables are also available. After ordering your chicken the waitress will place it on a grate over the fire and season it to perfection. The rest is up to you! Cook your piece as it roasts in its own juices, delicious. Though be warned, it does get smokey and your clothes will smell of BBQ after and it can get hot from the embers but its all worth it! And while your eating to your hearts content, you can wash it all down with a bottle of beer that are available in the fridge. They have tea, and water for non drinkers, or for the designated driver.
Outside, there is a small lake so its a nice spot to walk around and stretch your legs after filling up on BBQ’d chicken, beer and vegetables. This place has a really great atmosphere, from the sooted rafter down to the heated pits running the length of the building.There’s something very satisfying about getting back to basics and sharing a meal around a fire like in the old days. Highly recommended!
| 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!
| 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.
Irashaimase!
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | 2000 Yen |
| Opening Hours | Open 7 days a week: Monday – Thursday: 5:30pm – 1am (Food and Drink last order: 12:30am) Friday, Saturday, Days preceding a holiday: 5:30pm – 2am (Food and Drink last order: 2am) Sunday: 5:30 – midnight (Food and Drink L.O. 11:30pm) 定休日 月-木、祝日: 17:30-翌1:00 （料理L.O. 翌0:30 ドリンクL.O. 翌0:30） 金、土、祝前日: 17:30-翌2:30 （料理L.O. 翌2:00 ドリンクL.O. 翌2:00） 日: 17:30-翌0:00 （料理L.O. 23:30 ドリンクL.O. 23:30） 17:30～翌1:00迄 |
| Closed | December 31 – January 3 |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | ￥300 charge for otooshi (お通し), a small dish of food / seating charge Capacity: 50 |
| Location / Getting There | Sapporo, Chuo-ku, South 6 Jyo, West 3 Choume Daiichi Susukino Building 3rd floor. 北海道札幌市中央区南６条西３第1すすきのビル3F |
Japan is an expensive country. But like all expensive countries, there are opportunities to enjoy the local fare on the cheap. One such chance to fill your belly is by having a meal at HANAYAGI, a small izakaya (traditional Japanese restaurant) located in the southeastern corner of Susukino.
Proudly serving Yebisu beer!
HANAYAGI has everything you’d expect a bare bones izakaya to have: something from the pickle jar, the deep fryer, the grill, the fish cooler and the fry pan. And a really, really cheap all-you-can-drink menu (nomihoudai/ 飲み放題). Enter through a corner door and you’ll be greeted by the chef busy doing what he does best. Shed your shoes and choose from one of the low tables situated on the hardwood floors. HANAYAGI only employs one other staff, so get your order in quickly. By 8pm the restaurant fills for a frenetic few hours with hungry 20 somethings. The drink menu is pretty standard: Yebisu beer on tap, bottled Heartland and a handful of premixed cocktails. As for food, consider your eating needs covered. With a wide variety of items listed on both the menu and on the walls, you’re guaranteed to find something to satisfy your hunger…providing you can read Japanese!
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Besides the chef, HANAYAGI only employs one other staff, so get your order in quickly. By 8pm the restaurant fills for a frenetic few hours with hungry 20 somethings. The drink menu is pretty standard: Yebisu beer on tap, bottled Heartland and a handful of premixed cocktails. As for food, consider your eating needs covered. With a wide variety of items listed on both the menu and on the walls, you’re guaranteed to find something to satisfy your hunger…providing you can read Japanese!
Just ask, and the staff will do their best to accommodate your illiteracy.
HANAYAGI is perfect for a busy night. You can be in and out in an hour, satisfied with a belly full of great local cooking. Or if you’re agenda is on the boozy end of the spectrum, consider this your best deal to prime the motor cheaply (think 2 hours of all the beer you can drink for under $10…). For the price, this place has it all: good food, good vibes and good value all in one place. Just remember to give your compliments to the chef directly – he’s a salt of the earth Sapporite, happy to serve the people.
Local youngsters readying for a big night out.
Grilled chicken breast with sinus-melting wasabi.
Fried oysters and mayonaise – heart attacks never tasted so good!
Grab a seat at the counter if the tables are taken.
は – HA, な – NA, や – YA, ぎ – GI = HANAYAGI in Japanese:
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | 1100 – 1500 yen |
| Opening Hours | Lunch 11:30 – 15:30 Dinner 17:30 – 23:30 (last order 23:00) |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | This soup curry is amazingly popular. Peek times may require up to 1 hour wait to be seated. |
| Location / Getting There | South 3 West 2 |
Nice design
Hokkaido is famous for its food, especially its seafood and ramen (Chinese noodles) AND its soup curries which originated in Hokkaido. Soup curry, as the name mentions, is a delicious bowl of a spicy soupy broth with a mix of vegetables and a selection of either chicken, pork, or vegetables. It also comes with a side dish of steamy rich. Soup curry is popular in Hokkaido and though many have their own favourite soup curry restaurant everyone can agree there is nothing like a good soup curry, especially on a chilly winter evening.
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English menu
GARAKU Soup Curry is one of many soup curries around Sapporo and is located, conveniently, in the middle of Sapporo. The delicious soup curry aroma hits you as soon as you assail the narrow stairs that leads down to GARAKU. It offers the standard, chicken, pork, mushroom, vegetable, and cheese with bacon and tomato dishes. GARAKU can claim to offer the highest spice levels in Sapporo which ranges from 1 – 5 for the normal diner, 6 – 19 for those who like the heat, and 20 – 40 for those who enjoy the pain! There is a menu in English but the spice level only goes up to 5 on this so be aware that you CAN order up to 40 if so desired. Also offered on the menu is a selection of spirits, beer and lassis, plus fried chicken. At the register, soup curry sets are available for around 500 yen a box, so its possible to take the experience home!
Fried chicken
The head chef at GARAKU is well renowned for his culinary skills and this is a popular place so be warned, be prepared to wait!! The restaurant is not a huge place and seats up to around 50. Depending on the times and days, around 6pm you can expect to find a table almost straight away. Around 7pm however, especially on the weekends, don’t be surprised to see a line of people flowing out and up the stairwell. The wait can be from anywhere from 30 minutes to 50 minutes but if you don’t mind the wait, the fine feast at the end is well worth it!
| Admission | – |
| Opening Hours | 10am – 8pm 7 days a week. |
| Closed | – |
| Contact | – |
| Notes | Weekends can be very busy Membership required to enter store & food court |
| Location / Getting There | 9-3-1 Utsukushigaoka Ichijo, Kiyota-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido |
The well known U.S warehouse retail branch first opened up its first branch in Japan in 1999 and now has 24 locations nationwide. Hokkaido’s first and currently only Costco hit the scene in 2008 and has been very popular, especially among restauranteurs and expats looking for a little taste of home. Costco has it all. It is basically a warehouse size supermarket selling food in bulk at cheap rates. Consumers generally frequent Costco for its range of produce. It has a large vegetable and fruit section. Its meat section contains large cuts of steaks. Most Japanese supermarkets meat sections don’t stock thick steaks so Costco is a welcome establishment to the city of Sapporo. Roasted chickens are also made hourly and are well worth the 800 yen. You name it, Costco has it…..in BULK! Pork, sausages, frozen foods, dairy, blocks of cheese, seafood, huge pizzas, sushi, pallets of coffee, cereals, condiments, chocolates, pastas, sauces, juices, wines from all over, beer, spirits and more! Simply pile it all into the giant shopping trolleys!
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Not only is food on the menu, but Costco has medicines, toiletries, an electronics section, appliances, hardware goods, outdoor furniture, cheap clothing, school supplies, summer gear, sporting gear, cleaning goods, the works. Why buy a couple of rolls of toilet paper when you can stock up with 2 dozen! If you are a first time shopper you will need to get your yearly membership card. There are two kinds of membership at Costco. There is Gold Star Membership at 4000 yen and there is Business Membership at 3500 yen which is available to all licensed businesses. To get the yearly membership you need to be 18 years or older. Once you are a member you may use your membership card anywhere in the world at any location and you may also bring up to two guests. ID is needed to get membership, and it may also be gotten online through the Costco website.
Getting to Costco is a bit tricky if you don’t have your own transportation. Using public transport, take the Toho subway line (blue line) to Fukuzumi station and then from across the road at bus stop no. 8 take the Route Fuku 97 or 96 bus and get off at Sanrizuka Elementary School. From there its a 3 minute walk. As you will most probably buying large quantities of groceries it is highly recommended you get your own wheels. Its a 40 minute drive from the centre of town along route 36. Costco will be on the right hand side.
