Tag: Southern Hokkaido
Starbucks

| 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.
Mister Donut

| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥200 - ¥500 per item ¥400 - ¥800 per drink |
| Opening Hours | 09:00 - 21:00 generally |
| Closed | |
| Contact | https://www.misterdonut.jp/ |
| Notes | Donut store, coffee, pizza and hot dogs |
| Location | Multiple locations in all major cities and towns in Hokkaido. |
The history of Mister Donut goes back to 1955 and was originally under the name ‘Dunkin Donuts’. It is the brain child of Harry Winokur and William Rosenburg. When the partnership split, Mister Donut was created with stores mainly in Asia and Dunkin Donuts staying in North America. The first Mister Donut opened in Osaka in 1971. Since then there are close to a thousand Mister Donut stores throughout Japan. In Hokkaido you can find a Mister Donut in every major city and most towns. Obviously the main product here is donuts and the prices range is from about ¥180 to ¥300. These donuts are delicious. Coffee is also served as well and this makes Mister Donut a very popular place in Japan. Since then, they also serve savory items which makes up for a better lunch or meal for customers. You can get hot dogs, pies and pizzas here now. Other drinks include fruit drinks, teas, and soda drinks. There is always seating available and so Mister Donut is a good store to visit.
McDonalds

| 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.

Kentucky Fried Chicken

| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥600 - ¥1200 depending on meal |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 21:00 generally |
| Closed | |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Fast food store, multiple locations throughout Hokkaido, take out, drive through, delivery available, credit card accepted |
| Location | Multiple locations in every major city and town in Hokkaido. |
Kentucky Fried Chicken first came to Japan in 1970. The franchise began from an experimental store that opened up in March 1970. The first Kentucky Fried Chicken store opened officially in Nagoya in November of the same year. Since then the franchise has opened 1200 stores nationwide. The system is the same as other countries with dine in or take away options. There is also a drive through option with a lot the stores. You can enjoy your favorite meals here. The taste is the same and you can pay via cash or card is now accepted. In Japan, Kentucky Fried Chicken is hugely popular with Christmas and is the go to Christmas Eve dinner for most families. You can find a Kentucky store in every main town throughout Hokkaido. The ordering is simple and the menu will have an english translation with each picture. Since 2024 the stores have introduced a self ordering system on a touch panel in the store making it even easier for tourists. Even here in Japan, you can enjoy the original taste of Kentucky as you did back in your home country.
Yellow Hat

| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 19:00 generally |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | https://www.yellowhat.jp/ |
| Notes | Multiple locations throughout Hokkaido, car goods, tyres, car cleaning products |
| Location | There are at least a couple of Yellow Hats in every main city in Hokkaido. To narrow down a location, click on the Yellow Hat website. |
There are hundreds of Yellow Hats throughout Hokkaido. You can find at least two or three Yellow Hats in every main city and town throughout Hokkaido. This chain is nationwide and was founded back in 1960. There are around eight hundred stores nationwide. Yellow Hat caters to automobiles and offers services in car repairs and car goods. If you are looking for anything to upgrade your car or any goods for your interior, you can find it all at Yellow Hat. If you go to their website then you can search for your car model and find items that will fit to that particular model. They have an extensive collection of spoilers, rims, bumpers and tires. If you are looking for brand new tires then this is a good store to take a look at.
A lot of the goods are interior goods for you car as well, such as screens, phone holders, and other gadgets to improve your interior look. The store accepts credit card as well as cash. The teams at each store are professional and will cater to your needs. A lot of people use Yellow Hat to change over their winter tires, for oil and window washer to name a few. All the Yellow Hats are open from around 10:00 to 7:00pm in the evening though you will need to check the individual store’s opening and closing times.
Sukiyaki

| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥600 - ¥1000 |
| Opening Hours | Depending on store. Open for lunch at late night generally |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | https://www.sukiya.jp/ |
| Notes | Gyudon fast food chain, cheap prices, multiple locations throughout Hokkaido, take away available, drive thru, parking available |
| Location | Multiple locations throughout Hokkaido, there are at least two or three Sukiya restaurants in every major city in Hokkaido. Check our map link. |
Sukiya is a huge chain of restaurants throughout Hokkaido. They are the equivalent to a fast food chain. But instead of hamburgers and french fries you can enjoy a beef bowl with salads and miso soup. The food here is good and cheap! the beef bowl known as ‘gyudon’ consists of thins strips of beef on a steamed plain rice in a bowl. In Japan, if you are looking for a cheap place to have a quick lunch or dinner, you probably won’t find anywhere cheaper than Sukiya. Due to the cheap price and food quality, there are around fifty restaurants throughout Hokkaido. Just look for the red and yellow Sukiya sign!
Ordering here is efficient and easy. There is a touch pad that has English, Korean, and Chinese so there is no problem if you don’t speak Japanese. Simply go through the menu on the touch screen and press on what you want to order. The dishes ordered will be out to you in about five minutes. There is table seating for small groups plus counter seating as well. Lunch sets are particularly good as you can get a salad and a miso soup with it. If you want a cheap and quick meal while on your travels, or on your lunch break, look no further than Sukiya.







