Sapporo Drinking Guide 2025: Enjoy Susukino’s Best Bars, Clubs & Late-Night Eats
Sapporo, the central city of Hokkaido, attracts numerous tourists from both Japan and abroad. Known as one of Japan's premier culinary destinations, it offers Hokkaido-specific delicacies including fresh seafood, Genghis Khan (Japanese style grilled mutton or lamb BBQ), and soup curry.
Beyond its culinary excellence, Sapporo is also renowned for its vibrant nightlife where visitors can enjoy exquisite food paired with drinks. The Sapporo drinking district scene in 2025 has evolved to offer even more diverse experiences while maintaining its traditional charm. With numerous areas filled with izakayas (Japanese pubs) and bars, you're certain to discover your perfect spot.
In this article, we'll introduce Sapporo's drinking districts, their unique features, and how to enjoy them. Use this as your guide to experiencing Sapporo's nightlife.
Three Drinking Areas Beloved by Sapporo Locals
Sapporo features three primary drinking areas cherished by locals as relaxation spots. Let's explore each area in detail.
Susukino
Susukino offers a variety of izakayas, including wine bars, jazz bars, and retro establishments that preserve the atmosphere of the Showa era (1926-1989).
Particularly unique are Japanese snack bars—small, Japan-specific bars run by female proprietors called "Mama" where you can casually interact with local regulars and enjoy karaoke.
Here you can experience authentic Japanese nightlife rarely found in typical tourist destinations.
Susukino Zero Banchi (Lively After Dark)
Source:Google Maps
Susukino Zero Banchi (Susukino's No.0 district) is Hokkaido's oldest underground dining area, established in 1971. Visiting feels like time-traveling 50 years into the past with its retro and distinctive ambiance.
Most of the 31 establishments—including cafes, Italian restaurants, and bars—are small, independently owned shops. Many feature counter-only seating, enabling warm, intimate interactions with proprietors and regular patrons.
Tanukikoji
Tanukikoji Shopping Street is among Hokkaido's oldest shopping arcades, having celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023. This approximately 900m covered arcade houses about 200 shops.
While Hokkaido experiences heavy snowfall, Tanukikoji Shopping Street's covered design allows for comfortable exploration regardless of weather conditions.
2-chome Area with Numerous Izakaya Districts Nearby
Tanukikoji 2nd Street features a dining district that modernizes traditional "Yokocho culture," where you can enjoy drinks while hopping between various establishments. "Yokocho" refers to areas with clusters of small businesses like izakayas, bars, and sushi restaurants.
My recommendation is "Tanuki Comichi," a dining facility recreating the Yokocho experience. With nine restaurants gathered in one area, you can easily sample Hokkaido specialties and beverages including sushi, lamb dishes, and craft beer.
It's perfect for those wanting to enjoy diverse cuisine through food hopping without traveling between multiple locations.
The 7th Street Area: Retro Charm with Modern Additions
Tanukikoji 7th Street is located slightly away from the main tourist areas and is known as a "deep area beloved by locals." Its distinctive feature is the abundance of intimate, family-run establishments rather than chain stores.
7th Street offers numerous venues where you can enjoy meat dishes such as Genghis Khan (grilled lamb) and Yakitori (Japanese grilled chicken skewers).
If you want to enjoy meals and drinks away from tourist spots, be sure to visit 7th Street, which has become an essential part of the Sapporo drinking district 2025 experience.
The 8th Street Area: A Collection of Authentic Hidden Gems
Tanukikoji 8th Street, affectionately known as "Tanuhachi," is an area popular among locals as a gourmet spot featuring unique and distinctive establishments.
In my opinion, the greatest charm of Tanuhachi is how historic izakayas, stylish restaurants, cafes, and bars exist like hidden treasures within old buildings. There's a joy in discovering your favorite places, almost like a treasure hunt.
This area is perfect for those who want to enjoy nightlife away from the tourist bustle in a district where locals gather.
Around Sapporo Station
The area surrounding Sapporo Station serves as the hub for both tourism and business, attracting many visitors. With numerous tourist facilities and shopping malls, this area features many easily accessible izakayas for travelers.
The commercial facilities and underground shopping areas directly connected to Sapporo Station offer plenty of izakayas you can visit between shopping and traveling. Hokkaido specialties such as Genghis Khan, seafood, and ramen are concentrated in this area, allowing visitors with limited time to efficiently experience Sapporo's nightlife.
Many establishments offer English menus and cashless payment options, which is a welcome feature. Even first-time visitors to Hokkaido can enjoy meals and drinks with peace of mind.
For Bar-Hopping in Sapporo, Consider Joining a Local Guide Tour
Why not experience Sapporo's nightlife with a local guide who knows all the secrets of the Sapporo drinking district 2025?
On this tour, you'll spend approximately three hours visiting three different izakayas with your guide. Don't worry about unfamiliar menu items or ingredients. Your guide will recommend dishes and drinks based on your preferences, allowing you to experience Sapporo's izakayas with confidence.
Enjoy Hokkaido's unique cuisine and drinks in hidden establishments not found in tourist guides.
This tour is perfect for those who want to experience the authentic atmosphere of Sapporo from a local perspective.
- Meeting point: Under the giant NIKKA Sign outside of Susukino station
- Tour area: Susukino, Sapporo
- Start time: 18:00
Characteristics of Each Area in Sapporo and Recommended Visitors
Characteristics of Susukino
Susukino is Sapporo's largest entertainment district, densely packed with various nightspots including izakayas, bars, snack bars, and Yokocho (narrow alleyways lined with small eateries and bars).
In Hokkaido, there's a unique culture called "Shime Parfait," where people enjoy parfaits as a way to end their evening after dining. Especially in the Susukino area, there are many cafés and parfait specialty shops that stay open until late at night. Ending your day with a "Shime Parfait" is my recommended way to enjoy Sapporo's nightlife in the vibrant Sapporo drinking district 2025.
Don't miss the large neon sign that says "NIKKA" in Susukino. NIKKA is a renowned Japanese whisky maker that originated in Hokkaido, and this sign is beloved by people as a symbol of Sapporo.
Please experience the unique nighttime charm of Susukino for yourself.
Susukino is Recommended for These People
Susukino is the perfect place for those who want to enjoy Hokkaido's representative cuisine and drinks. With a diverse range of establishments gathered in one area, even if you haven't decided on a specific restaurant or dish yet, you're sure to find a place that suits your taste.
In Japan, there's a saying called "Ichigo Ichie." It's a phrase that expresses the Japanese value of "cherishing an encounter that might happen only once in a lifetime."
In Susukino, visited by many people from both Japan and abroad, as well as locals, you can truly experience a moment of Ichigo Ichie.
Characteristics of Tanukikoji
Tanukikoji is an area where you can easily stroll around while enjoying shopping, with not only restaurants but also souvenir shops and general stores.
It's connected to Sapporo Station via an underground passage, which is a pleasant feature as it allows comfortable access even on days with bad weather.
Also, remnants of the past still strongly remain in this area. For example, in Japan around 1955, people needed personal seals (hanko) to receive their salaries, and many long-established seal shops that have been operating since then are still in business in Tanukikoji today.
When you stroll around with knowledge of such historical background, you'll be able to feel the charm of Tanukikoji more deeply.
Tanukikoji is Recommended for These People
Tanukikoji is recommended for those who want to spend their evening in Sapporo in a relatively calm atmosphere, enjoying shopping and street exploration.
The shopping street of Tanukikoji, with over 150 years of history, is a part of daily life for local people. While stylish new stores have been increasing in recent years, there are still many long-established shops that have continued for decades, and strong traces of those times remain.
If you want to experience a local atmosphere where newness and nostalgia intermingle, please visit this historic area of the Sapporo drinking district 2025.
Characteristics of the Sapporo Station Area
Sapporo Station is an area with exceptional accessibility as a hub for tourism and transportation, always bustling with locals and tourists. There are many commercial facilities and department stores, making it a rich spot for shopping and gourmet experiences.
The high-rise buildings, including the JR TOWER Observatory T38, host numerous bars and restaurants with excellent views. You can enjoy Hokkaido's unique cuisine and drinks while taking in the beautiful night scenery.
Sapporo's streets intersect in straight north-south and east-west lines, arranged neatly like a chessboard. When looking down at the entire city from a high place, you can see the orderly cityscape at a glance, giving you the feeling of looking at a futuristic city.
The Sapporo Station Area is Recommended for These People
The area around Sapporo Station is recommended for those who want to efficiently enjoy Hokkaido gourmet food or those seeking a relaxed atmosphere for dining.
Since it's located at a transportation center, even those who can't spend much time traveling can easily stop by and enjoy a meal.
It's also convenient for smoothly accessing other areas if you want to move elsewhere for a second round of drinks.
This area has an elegant atmosphere where time flows leisurely, allowing you to spend relaxing moments even when tired from sightseeing or shopping.
Local Spots Where You Can Enjoy Nightlife Around Susukino
Kotoni
Kotoni features many homey izakayas and bars where locals gather, allowing you to experience Sapporo's local atmosphere that's difficult to find in tourist areas.
As we look ahead to the Sapporo drinking district 2025 developments, Kotoni remains a hidden gem with great access—only about 10 minutes by subway from central Sapporo—and the charm of having many cost-effective establishments compared to the center.
Kotoni is also a popular residential area locally, so if you stroll around the neighborhood, you can glimpse the daily lives and routines of local residents.
Kita 24 Jo
Source:Wikipedia
Kita 24 Jo is a local area still largely unknown to tourists where many locals gather.
Deep izakayas, snack bars, and regular bars that retain the atmosphere of the Showa era (1926-1989) are abundant, giving you the feeling of having time-slipped.
If you want to spend time away from the bustle of tourist areas or enjoy nightlife that blends into the daily lives of locals in a homey izakaya, Kita 24 Jo is definitely worth visiting as an authentic spot within the broader Sapporo drinking district 2025 landscape.
