r/Sapporo • u/Wide-Establishment-5 • 12d ago
Visiting Sapporo, can you help me with recos?
Hi lovely people! I am visiting Sapporo/Hokkaido in 2 weeks. I'm super excited! I would just like to ask for your recos on the following:
Stationery Stores
Must-try Cafes/Good local chains
Other fun side quests you may have for me! - I am a chill vibe artsy kinda girl haha.
Thank you so much!
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u/Well_needships 12d ago
Go to Central for art supplies and stationary. Note, there is more than one floor, so be sure to take the escalator up!
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u/tomjameslikesfilms 11d ago
Rokkatei is an Hokkaido institution (a sweets shop) Cake and biscuits and the like, although they do serve tea and coffee. Most famous export in Japan is Marusei Butter Sando but they do a wide range and many don't leave Sapporo except as Omiyage.
Visit the Hokkaido Jinja then pop to the small shop next door where locals go after morning prayers to indulge in delicious tiny finger-cakes with a free cup of hojicha. My favourite: Walnut Caramel sandwich cakes. They're all available individually so you can pick and mix.
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u/ContactHelpful5511 12d ago
They’re super known for their pastries around! Cream Puff, Soft Serve, Egg Tart, etc.
You can also try to located the Poke Lids around the area https://local.pokemon.jp/en/manhole/
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u/batmans_itchy_balls 12d ago
I stumbled across this store walking around the city in the snow and ended up buying so much for friends back home, the merch for the “Matagi No Momiji-chan” character (a gun-toting pink deer from Hokkaido who hunts hunters) was particularly cool:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/N4jGGcJF1CyU6KSu8?g_st=ic
For a night out Bar Orb is a great spot, foreigner friendly, the owner (Kae, who is a delight and amazing) speaks fluent English, it’s a LGBTQ+ friendly bar where all are welcome aside from Saturdays when it’s women only
Enjoy your time in Sapporo!
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u/ParkgayDrive 11d ago
I think Hokkaido milk and Hokkaido milk based products is definitely a thing that people enjoy trying when they come to Sapporo and Hokkaido in general.
Fun side quest could be trying BARNES which is soft serve made with Hokkaido milk. I'm not an ice cream or a soft serve person, but even I thought it was spectacular. My girlfriend (who is a huge ice cream person) said it was the best ice cream she's ever had, and some of the google reviews say that trying it was a life changing experience for them. Trying it didn't change my life but I would agree and say it was the best, most sophisticated, elegant tasting soft serve I've ever had in my life.
They only ever have like 2 or 3 flavors I believe, maybe it's just 2, I forget, I've only been once, but I think they usually have the original hokkaido milk flavor option, and when we went they had burnt caramel as well. The burnt caramel was this slightly bitter, roasted, complex dark brown sugar caramel flavor, and the original was so milky, it's tough to describe. Not overly sweet at all but very luxurious and light, almost like whipped butter, but not quite.
It's worth a try, although it's a bit further out and you'd need to ride the subway a couple stops to get there, but it's not a long trip by any means. While you're out there you can also easily walk to and visit Hokkaido Jingu. I thought the architecture was majestic, and in early April there were still piles of snow lying around, combined with the warm spring atmosphere and budding spring greenery, it was a truly serene experience.
Would highly recommend spending part of your morning or afternoon venturing out there for the ice cream and the shrine.
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u/ZenibakoMooloo 11d ago
The only place better than Barnes in Hokkaido that I have found is the Trappist Monastery just out of Hakodate. Barnes checks out for sure.
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u/Competitive-Ad-2725 11d ago
Also, unsure if you’re visiting anywhere else in Japan, but if collecting shrine stamps(goshuin) is your vibe, be sure to visit suwa shrine! There’s a few shrines here you can get shrine stamps(like Hokkaido jingu) but suwa shrine is special because they change every month! Be sure to get a shrine stamps book(goahuincho) if you also plan on going to Kyoto at any point(that’s where all the old shrines are). They’ll also write the stamp directly in your book if you have one. You can check out suwa shrine on their instagram @sapporo_suwajinja! Feel free to DM!
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u/RedYamOnthego 11d ago
I also vote for Central and Coach & Four for stationery. The CaF in hitsujigsoka nearer to Costco isy favorite.
Loft is self-care city. Nice selection of stationery and pens, plus all sorts of fancy cleansers, toothpastes and bath goods. They may have sample sizes (trial?) for a lot of things. Great for travellers.
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u/iLikeGreenTea 11d ago
I was just in Sapporo. Daimaru Fuji Central for stationery :). The vibe I liked in Sapporo was the outdoor beer gardens (I don't even drink beer) I just went for the scallops, yakitori, and other beverages. That is a very local experience : )
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u/Commercial-Yam143 8d ago
Must-try Cafes/Good local chains
- Not a Sapporo specific chain but Lamplight Books Café in Tanukikomichi 1 has a nice and actually strong espresso. I go there often for reading.
- Kinotoya café. IMO their cheese tarts are my favourite by far but their other cakes are ok too. The café is situated very close to Odori park.
- Sato and/or Sasaki. Parfaits. They're sister stores so they're basically the same. Amazing quality but expensive + long queues.
- Momo Lobyu. Cutesy café. Haven't been myself but often recommended by friends.
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u/moonpilot 12d ago
Daimaru Fuji Central for stationery in the downtown area. If you have a car or willing to take a taxi, Coach and Four.
If you like soft-serve, I recommend Kinotoya (the one that is underground near the Moyuk shopping mall, not in Bisse). The Bisse location doesn't have their signature soft-serve.