Shopping · Sapporo · Japan
Shopping in Sapporo
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: The original uploader was K. Takeda at Japanese Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Shopping in Sapporo centres on the station complex, Odori's department stores and the covered Tanukikoji arcade, and most visitors leave with boxes of Hokkaido sweets and dairy treats. Best souvenirs: Shiroi Koibito, Rokkatei butter sandwiches and Royce' chocolate.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Shiroi Koibito
Where to shop
Sapporo Station complex
Daimaru, Stellar Place, Apia and the JR Tower shops, with a large souvenir and food hall.
Odori department stores
Mitsukoshi, Parco and other stores around Odori Station, linked by underground passages.
Tanukikoji
Covered seven-block arcade with drugstores, souvenir shops, electronics and secondhand stores.
Markets
Nijo Market
Central fish and produce market for crab, sea urchin and dried seafood, with shops that ship purchases within Japan.
Central Wholesale Market outer market
Rows of seafood shops and breakfast restaurants beside the city's wholesale market, west of the centre.
What to buy
Shiroi Koibito
White-chocolate langue de chat biscuits, Sapporo's best-known edible gift.
Rokkatei butter sandwiches
Raisin and white-chocolate cream biscuits from a Hokkaido confectioner.
Royce' chocolate
Hokkaido-made nama chocolate and chocolate-covered potato chips; keep them chilled.
Sapporo Classic beer
The Hokkaido-only lager, sold in gift packs at the station and airport.
Dried seafood and kombu
Hokkaido kelp, dried scallops and salmon flakes from the markets.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Odori
Nijo Market
A compact block of fishmongers and small restaurants a few minutes from Odori Park selling Hokkaido crab, scallops, sea urchin and salmon roe.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Shopping
Street · Susukino
Tanukikoji Shopping Street
A covered shopping arcade running for seven blocks between Odori and Susukino, with drugstores, souvenir shops, old-style kissaten coffee houses and restaurants.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Free
- Food
Street · Susukino
Ganso Ramen Yokocho
A narrow alley in Susukino lined with tiny counter ramen shops, each seating a handful of people.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Zangi, Soft-serve ice cream, Late-night parfait and Sapporo Classic. Izakaya across Susukino and convenience-store hot counters. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo Station area | $$$ | Transport hub with JR Tower, department stores and direct trains to New Chitose Airport |
| Odori | $$$ | Central park strip, TV Tower and the Snow Festival's main site |
| Susukino | $$ | Neon-lit eating and drinking district with Ramen Yokocho and thousands of bars |
| Nakajima Park | $$ | Quieter residential area south of Susukino around a boating pond and concert hall |
| Maruyama | $$$ | Leafy west side with Hokkaido Shrine, the zoo and independent cafés |
| Jozankei Onsen | $$$ | Hot-spring town in a river gorge about an hour south-west of the centre |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in JPY. Tipping is not practised in Japan and can cause confusion. Some hotels and ryokan add a service charge, and higher-end restaurants may add a percentage to the bill.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in March–April and November; the busiest months are February.
- February: Sapporo Snow Festival — snow and ice sculptures in Odori, Susukino and Tsudome (usually early February, about a week)
- May: Sapporo Lilac Festival in Odori Park (usually late May)
- June: Yosakoi Soran Festival — team dance parades (usually early to mid-June)
- June: Hokkaido Shrine Festival (usually mid-June)
- July: Sapporo Summer Festival beer gardens in Odori Park (usually late July to mid-August)
- September: Sapporo Autumn Fest food festival in Odori Park (usually September)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and shopping
Sapporo Station area
Transport hub with JR Tower, department stores and direct trains to New Chitose Airport
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Sapporo?
Shiroi Koibito, Rokkatei butter sandwiches, Royce' chocolate and Sapporo Classic beer.
+Where is the best shopping in Sapporo?
Sapporo Station complex: Daimaru, Stellar Place, Apia and the JR Tower shops, with a large souvenir and food hall.
+What are the best markets in Sapporo?
Nijo Market and Central Wholesale Market outer market.