Kotan Hachiman Shrine

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Kotan Hachiman Shrine was founded in 1856 and was officially named a township shrine in 1875. It was listed as a local shrine on the 28th of April 1911. The purpose of the shrine is to follow the great principles of the deity, Hondawake no Mikoto. Hondawake no Mikoto is also more commonly known as the Emporer Ōjin. Read More ....

Otaru Canal Museum & Information Center

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Otaru City General Museum Canal Museum has an extensive collection that introduces the history of Otaru City including information on the natural environment. The exhibition includes 20,000 objects and materials in its collection. The museum is located by Otaru Canal and can be found in the 'former Otaru warehouse'. Read More ....

Tokai Lavender Fields

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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. Read More ....

Urahoro Shrine

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During the Meiji Era, as the town of Urahoro (on the south east coast of Hokkaido) was being developed, the pioneers called for the construction of a shrine to serve as a spiritual centre. On August 15, 1896, a small shrine was erected, enshrining Amaterasu (goddess of the sun and the universe). Read More ....

Onnenai Visitor Center

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The Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, also known as the Kushiro Marshland is a sprawling national park to the north of Kushiro. There are half a dozen observation decks, museums, and walking paths that surround the park. The Onnenai Visitor Center is one of these museums and can be found on the western side of the marshland. Read More ....

Kushiro Shitsugen National Park

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The Kushiro Shitsugen National park (better known as the Kushiro Marshland) is a national park, located to the north of Kushiro on the eastern side of Hokkaido. The park is known for its wetlands ecosystems. 'Shitsugen' translates to wetlands in English. It was designated as a national park on 31 July 1987. The massive park covers an area of 268.61 square kilometres on the Kushiro plain and is well known for its wildlife and vegetation. Read More ....

Kushiro Marsh Observatory

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Perched at the top of a large hill, overlooking Kushiro Marsh, you can find the Kushiro Marsh Observatory. This is one of the most interesting buildings in Hokkaido. The exterior, and especially the interior, has a strange and unique design and is reminiscent of a cool sci-fi movie. The central hall of the museum is definitely a place to get some photos. Read More ....

Obihiro Shrine

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In 1881, a man named Benzo Yoda and others from Shizuoka Prefecture organized a pioneer group called the "Bansei-sha". This group and settled inShimo-Obihiro Village and started pioneering. During this time, they started holding festivals and later built a small shrine, though the connection with the current Obihiro Shrine is still not well known. Read More ....

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La Salamander

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Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person)	1500 - 5000 Yen
Opening Hours	Tuesday - Saturday 6pm to 3am Sunday 6pm to midnight
Closed	Mondays Every 2nd Tuesday Tuesdays following a Monday holiday
Contact	011-272-1557 (+81-11-272-1557) 予約可
Notes	-
Location / Getting There	7-6-2 Minami 2 Jonishi Chuo-ku Sapporo Hokkaido 北海道札幌市中央区南二条西 7-6-2 南2条ビル 1Ｆ

Sapporo has no end of tratorrias, bistros and pubs. If ambiance, flavor and comfort are what you seek, look no farther than La Salamander, located just around the corner from western end Tanuki Koji 7(狸小路７丁目), the covered arcade in downtown Sapporo. A French-styled bistro, this little shop is a cozy refuge from the throngs of holiday tourists and locals crowding the main thoroughfare shops.

The dinner menu offers a variety of reasonably priced appetizers, soups and entrée dishes. During our visit my wife and I started with Akeshi (an eastern Hokkaido town) oysters on the half shell, served with a tart vinegar relish. Spicy chorizo salami came next, which went well with our Pilsner Urquell beers. A thick slab of homemade pate arrived soon after, accompanied by warm bread crusts. I should note that La Salamander specializes in regional French wines, and has a limited selection of pricey beers.

A bottle of Alsace Sauvignon Blanc complimented our next dish: crab and shrimp croquettes served atop a shallow bath of zesty tomato puree. A hearty country soup followed, setting us up for the baked scallop and sea bream soufflé. By now, my wife and I were reaching the limits of our capacity for gastronomic goodness. Upon finishing the wine and our last dish, she ordered an herbal tea and I an espresso. For a final sendoff, I had a cognac and we shared a fudge brownie drowned in crème anglaise. It was sublime.

Being that it was my birthday, we splurged on our first visit to La Salamander. Had we trimmed our dinner by a dish or two and halved the alcohol, our bill wouldn’t have exceeded ￥10,000. One could easily swing in for an entrée and a glass of wine without exceeding ￥3,000. Whatever your budget, La Salamander is recommended to those seeking authentic, casual French cuisine in the heart of Sapporo, Japan. For more pictures, reviews and a map, please look here. Bon appétit!

Cozy and simple interior design.