Nightlife · Sapporo · Japan
Sapporo nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Sapporo, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nikm, Public domain
Quick answer
Susukino is the centre of Sapporo's nightlife, with several thousand bars, izakaya, karaoke boxes and late-night ramen counters packed into a few blocks. Evenings tend to move from dinner to drinks to a final bowl of ramen or a parfait. The main areas are Susukino, Tanukikoji and Odori and Sapporo Station area.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 3
- Stay near the action
- Susukino
- Local drink
- Sapporo Classic
Where to go out
Susukino
Multi-storey buildings full of tiny bars, izakaya and karaoke around the Susukino crossing, open late into the night.
Tanukikoji and Odori
Quieter craft-beer bars, whisky bars and izakaya between Odori and Susukino.
Sapporo Station area
Restaurant floors in the station buildings and izakaya on the streets to the south, good for an early evening.
Nightlife tips
- Ignore street touts in Susukino and choose bars with prices displayed; some hostess and 'girls' bars overcharge.
- The subway stops running around midnight, so plan a taxi if you stay out late.
- Many small bars charge a seat or cover fee; it is normal and usually posted at the door.
Evening sights
Park · Odori
Odori Park
Walk the length of the park from the TV Tower westwards; the Snow Festival sculptures are best seen after dark when they are lit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- After dark
Viewpoint · Odori
Sapporo TV Tower
Go up in the early evening during the Snow Festival or the White Illumination for the view of the lit park below.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- After dark
- Iconic
Viewpoint · Minami-ku
Mount Moiwa Ropeway
Take the streetcar loop line to Ropeway-iriguchi and the free shuttle to the base station, then time your ride for sunset to see the city lights come on.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- After dark
- Couples
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Street · Susukino
Ganso Ramen Yokocho
Come early in the evening to avoid queues, and pay at the ticket machine or counter as each shop directs.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
What to drink
- Sapporo Classic — A crisp lager brewed by Sapporo Breweries and sold only in Hokkaido, a point of local pride; the city's beer story begins with a government brewery founded in 1876.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. August has the warmest evenings, with lows around 19°C (66°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 16:24 | -7°C (19°F) | 18 |
| April | About 18:17 | 3°C (37°F) | 9 |
| July | About 19:12 | 17°C (63°F) | 8 |
| October | About 16:52 | 8°C (46°F) | 12 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Nationwide IC cards such as Suica and Kitaca work on the subway, streetcar and JR trains.
- Walking — Chi-ka-ho, the underground pedestrian space from Sapporo Station to Odori, and the Pole Town and Aurora Town malls on to Susukino let you walk about 2 km under cover.
- Tram — The single streetcar loop line runs from Odori through Susukino to the Mount Moiwa ropeway stop and back, a useful link for the night view.
- Bus — Buses get slow in heavy snow; allow extra time in winter.
- Taxi — Taxis are plentiful outside stations and hotels and are useful on cold nights or with ski gear.
Late-night bites
- Zangi — Izakaya across Susukino and convenience-store hot counters.
- Grilled corn and potatoes — Carts along Odori Park in the warmer months and at the summer and autumn festivals.
Staying safe at night
Sapporo has low crime. The main hazards are winter ice and snow falling from roofs, so wear shoes with grip and watch for signs warning of roof snow. Bears occasionally appear in forested hills on the city's edge; check local warnings before hiking.
- Emergency number
- 110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Susukino
Susukino is one of Japan's largest entertainment districts north of Tokyo: blocks of izakaya, crab restaurants, karaoke and bars, plus the narrow Ganso Ramen Yokocho alley. It is also good value for hotels and sits on the Namboku line, one stop from Odori. The covered Tanukikoji arcade runs just to the north.
- Good
- Late-night food everywhere; Good-value hotels; Snow Festival ice sculptures in February
- Watch out
- Noisy and busy late at night; Some streets have hostess bars and touts
- Nearby
- Ganso Ramen Yokocho, Tanukikoji, Nakajima Park
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Sapporo?
Susukino, Tanukikoji and Odori and Sapporo Station area. Multi-storey buildings full of tiny bars, izakaya and karaoke around the Susukino crossing, open late into the night.
+Which area of Sapporo is best for nightlife?
Susukino: Neon-lit eating and drinking district with Ramen Yokocho and thousands of bars.