Things to Do in Sapporo Chūō Ward | Best Views, Ramen, Markets & Hotels | MK Travel

Sapporo, Japan’s great northern city — known worldwide for the beer that bears its name — didn’t start with neon and ski jumps; it began with humble grit in the Meiji era, a frontier that felt a little like the wild, wild West of America, where opportunity, danger, and adventure called to the brave and the desperate alike. This is Ainu land, and even the name tells you what mattered first: Sapporo—“an important river flowing through a plain.” In 1857, there were seven souls here, the entire population standing against a barren landscape, winters that bite, and summers that — by Japanese standards — are a Godsend: bright, clear, mercifully humidity-free.

Today, the city, roughly the size of Hong Kong, holds about 1.95 million residents and has earned its confidence the hard way. Sapporo stepped onto the world stage with the 1972 Winter Olympics, the same year Chūō Ward was named — Chūō, as in “central,” the heartbeat, where the currents of commerce, food, and entertainment all converge. It’s the perfect base, a proper gateway to the city: miso ramen scent drifting through the air, seafood that locals romanticize (rightly), that famous beer poured cold, and winter sports humming in the background like a promise.

Chūō is Sapporo in a concentrated form — an amalgam of the best the city offers — spilling outward to mountain trails for the nature-leaning, shrines for the spiritually curious (a peek beyond the veil), and enough skiing and snow play to satisfy the true believers. All of it wrapped in neon nights that buzz and ooze with atmosphere and character. MK is here to guide you to the finer things: high-class gourmet and alleyway ramen, counter-seat sushi and crab feasts, and the most comfortable place to lay your head after a day of exploring and, let’s be honest, feasting. Let Chūō Ward be your tether to Sapporo’s soul before you branch deeper into the frontier that Hokkaidō alone can offer. Without further ado — let’s begin.

Top Things to Do in Sapporo (Chūō & Close By)

Landmarks, Views & City Rhythm

• Horomitoge Lavender Garden — 幌見峠ラベンダー園 — A hillside lavender field with sweeping city views—best from early to mid-summer.

• Hokkaido Prefectural Government Office — 北海道庁旧本庁舎 — The red-brick “Akarenga” landmark—Meiji-era grandeur, gardens, and free exhibits.

• Okurayama Viewing Point — 大倉山展望台 — A historic Olympic ski jump with one of Sapporo’s incredible panoramas.

• Mt. Moiwa Ropeway — 藻岩山ロープウェイ — Night views that turn the city into constellations.

• JR Tower Observatory T38 — JRタワー展望室T38 — Sleek 38-floor observatory and a perfect weather-proof vantage.

• Sapporo TV Tower — さっぽろテレビ塔 — Odori Park’s timekeeper — retro charm, clean views.

• Sapporo Clock Tower — 札幌市時計台 — A tender icon from Sapporo’s early days.

• Nikka Whiskey Sign — ニッカウヰスキー看板 — Neon heritage in Susukino — part landmark, part mood.

• Odori Park — 大通公園 — The city’s green spine: festivals, flowers, and winter lights.

• Hokkaido Jingu — 北海道神宮 — A cedar-scented sanctuary in Maruyama Park.

  (Deep dive here: Hokkaido Shrine Sapporo)

Markets, Shopping & City Life

• Nijo Market — 二条市場 — Morning seafood bustle — crab legs, uni, ikura, and local chatter.

• Tanukikoji Shopping Street — 狸小路商店街 — Covered arcade for rainy days and nostalgic nights.

• Daimaru Sapporo — 大丸札幌店 — Station-side luxury, food halls worth lingering in.

• Sapporo Stellar Place — 札幌ステラプレイス — Brands, bites, and an easy hub when you’re in motion.

• Akarenga Terrace — 赤れんがテラス — Polished urban terrace—cafés, dining, after-work glow.

• Sapporo Factory — サッポロファクトリー — Heritage brick meets modern shopping and events.

• Rokkatei Sapporo Main Store — 六花亭札幌本店 — Hokkaido sweets royalty—souvenirs to win hearts.

• Marui Imai Sapporo Honten — 丸井今井札幌本店 — Classic department store with a gourmet core.

• AOAO SAPPORO Aquarium — AOAO 札幌水族館 — Contemporary, family-friendly, quietly mesmerizing.

• Sapporo City Maruyama Zoo — 札幌市円山動物園 — A wooded zoo in the park — gentle, educational, green.

Dining in Sapporo: Bowls, Crab, Jingisukan & Beyond

Sapporo is the birthplace of miso ramen, where crab is celebrated, and where jingisukan (grilled lamb) energizes winter spirits. The city eats with enthusiasm — and joy.

Seafood Bowls & Market Meals

• Donburi Chaya — 海鮮丼茶屋 — Nijo Market stalwart—kaisendon piled high.

• Nijo Market Sapporo Seafood Donbe — 札幌海鮮丼どんぶり屋本舗 二条市場店 —Casual, generous uni/ikura/crab bowls — happy chaos.

• Kitano Gurume — 北のグルメ — Market + restaurant; customize your perfect donburi.

• Ohiso Nijo Market – Main Store — 大磯 二条市場本店 — Early-morning kaisendon and grill plates.

• Teishoku Meshiya — テイショクメシヤ — Market-side set meals, bright salt ramen, honest comfort.

• Hyousetsu No Mon — 氷雪の門 — Crab temple: king, snow, hairy—done every way.

Ramen: Sapporo’s Bowled Poetry

• Aji no Sanpei — 味の三平 — The birthplace of miso ramen — culinary history in a bowl.

• Teshikaga Ramen — 弟子屈ラーメン — Ramen Alley classic — deep miso broths, Hokkaido grains.

• Yukikaze — 麺屋雪風 — Rich, modern miso — cozy, queue-worthy.

• Ebisoba Ichigen Main Shop — えびそば一幻 本店 — Shrimp-driven ramen—aromatic, unforgettable.

• TSUKEMEN ICHI — つけ麺 一 — Dipping-noodle devotion; bold, concentrated flavors.

• RAMEN ICHI — ラーメン イチ — Hearty, straightforward, always welcome.

Jingisukan & Meat

• Hige no Ushi — ひげのうし — No-frills lamb heaven—bold sauces, hot plates.

• Korega Jingisukan — これがジンギスカン — Charcoal sizzle, Hokkaido authenticity, lively nights.

• Sumiyaki Jingisukan Ishida Sapporo Honten — スミヤキジンギスカンイシダサッポロホンテン — Fresh, smoky, satisfying.

• Sapporo Genghis Khan (Main Shop) — さっぽろ ジンギスカン 本店 — Counter grills; personal, hands-on feast.

• Daruma Main Shop — だるま 本店 — The cult classic — mutton mastery since forever.

• YUKIDARUMAHONTEN — 雪だるま本店 — Lively, old-school, deeply local.

• THE MEAT SHOP — ザ・ミートショップ — Local steaks, burgers, and Americana touches.

• Katsura Steak House — ステーキハウス 桂 — Teppan precision, premium cuts, quiet luxury.

• Seafood & Wagyu Teppanyaki 21CLUB — シーフード＆和牛鉄板焼き 21CLUB — Wagyu meets the sea on a gleaming grill.

• Miyama — 美山 — Teppanyaki with city views; celebratory and sleek.

Sushi, Kaiseki & Fine Dining

• Kokon Yamahisa — 古今 山久 — Michelin-starred kaiseki—season as philosophy.

• L’Auberge de l’Ill Sapporo — オーベルジュ・ド・リル サッポロ — Alsatian grace, Hokkaido terroir.

• Le Musée — ル・ミュゼ — Artistic French—modern, minimal, luminous.

• Moliere — モリエール — The city’s legend of inventive French cuisine.

• Mikuni Sapporo — ミクニ サッポロ — Haute cuisine with Hokkaido’s finest.

• Restaurant MINAMI — レストランMINAMI — Japanese-French on a rooftop—elegant, composed.

• Nadamansaryo — 札幌 (なだ万茶寮) — Classical kaiseki, quietly grand.

• Nadamangaden Sapporoten — なだ万雅殿 札幌店 — Kaiseki with city views; serene formality.

• LE GENTILHOMME — ル・ジャンティオム — Refined French, seasonal and precise.

• Elm Garden — エルムガーデン — Japanese cuisine in a gardened retreat.

• YANAGI TePPaN UNBORN GASTRONOMY — YANAGI Teppan アンボーン ガストロノミー— Experimental teppan — playful and polished.

• RISTORANTE CANOFILO — リストランテ カノフィーロ — Italian fine dining, Hokkaido ingredients.

• Semina — セミーナ — Northern Italian comfort, intimate and warm.

• Kowari — 小割 — Fusion done with restraint—Italian, French, Japanese threads.

• Aki Nagao — アキ ナガオ — French-Japanese dialogue; seasonal and sincere.

• Tempura Kobashi — 天ぷら こばし — intimate counter, batter as lace.

• Araki Tempura Restaurant — 荒木 天ぷら — Crisp, feather-light, quietly exacting.

• Tempura Masa — 天ぷら 成 — Seasonal tempura, measured grace.

• Komatsu — 日本料理 こまつ — Classic Japanese with contemporary polish.

• Himeshara — 姫沙羅 — Seasonal kaiseki; subtle, assured.

• OSHIDORI — オシドリ — Refined Japanese in intimate quarters.

• Sushidokoro Keiji — すし処 稽司 — Thoughtful nigiri, calm room.

• Sushi Sohei — 鮨 惣平 — Edomae craft, Hokkaido catch.

• Sushi Shinonome — すし東雲 — Precision and poetry.

• Sushi Tanaka — 鮨 田中 — Intimate counter; mastery in motion.

• Sushi Shota — 鮨 しょう太 — Seasonal subtlety, relaxed elegance.

• Susukino Sushikin — 鮨金 — Omakase with confidence.

• Sushisai Wakichi — 和喜智 — Revered omakase; book ahead.

• Sushi Miyakawa — 鮨 宮川 — Michelin-starred sanctum of sushi.

• LES BOIS — レ・ボア — French inside THE KNOT — refined and intimate.

• Cheese & Cafe Caprino — チーズ＆カフェ カプリーノ — Euro cheeses, local coffee—civilized pauses.

• JYOTI The Door to India — ジョーティ ザ ドアー トゥ インディア — Vegetarian-friendly, cocktails, long chats.

• Sapporo Noah’s Ark (Arca di Noe) — 北の海鮮炙り ノアの箱舟 — Seafood in a statement building — Nigel Coates’ design.

Bars, Izakaya & Late

• Bar OWL&ROOSTER — バー アウル アンド ルースター — Dim whisky den with curated pours and old-school charm.

• Jizake Sumiyaki Sakanaya — 地酒 炭焼 肴や — Charcoal grill + rotating local sake —Susukino comfort.

• Tachibana — 海鮮橘 — Obanzai warmth, seafood focus, private rooms.

• Spiedino Fuggi — スピエディーノ フッジ — Italian spiedini, wine-first, tucked-away basement.

• Meshiya Inasuke — めしや 因すけ — Private rooms, playful plating, party-friendly plans.

• DAEBAK KITCHEN — デバクキッチン — High-energy Korean izakaya—tableside pork and soft-serve fame.

• Hamakko Odori Tokeidai — 浜っ子 大通時計台店 — Lively seafood izakaya — live oysters, hokke, venison hot pot.

• Beer Bar NORTH ISLAND — ビアバー ノースアイランド — House brews on a high floor — modern and mellow.

Where to Stay in Sapporo (Chūō Focus)

Evenings in Sapporo feel crisp — snowlight in winter, onsen steam in shoulder seasons, neon tracing Susukino. Choose a base that fits your rhythm.

• Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Sapporo — ソラリア西鉄ホテル札幌 — Contemporary comfort near the sights.

• SAPPORO STREAM HOTEL — 札幌ストリームホテル — Lifestyle-leaning, Susukino views, modern pulse.

• Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo — 温泉旅館 由縁 札幌 — Urban ryokan with natural hot springs—Noboribetsu source, city heart.

• JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo — JRタワーホテル日航札幌 — Station-linked luxury, sweeping views.

• Karaksa Hotel Sapporo — からくさホテル札幌 — Family-friendly, modern, central.

• Sapporo Park Hotel — 札幌パークホテル — Classic comfort by Nakajima Park.

• Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo — 京王プラザホテル札幌 — Business-smart, leisure-easy, near the station.

• Sapporo Grand Hotel — 札幌グランドホテル — A Sapporo institution — heritage with polish.

• Premier Hotel Nakajima Park Sapporo — プレミアホテル中島公園 札幌 — Tranquil park views, refined interiors.

• Sapporo Prince Hotel — 札幌プリンスホテル — Tower views, full-service ease.

• Sapporo View Hotel — 札幌ビューホテル — Spacious rooms, city convenience.

• The Knot Sapporo — ザ・ノット札幌 — Chic boutique vibe; style without fuss.

• Cross Hotel Sapporo — クロスホテル札幌 — Contemporary lines, excellent location.

• UNWIND HOTEL&BAR SAPPORO — アンワインド ホテル&バー 札幌 — Lodge-like coziness, rooftop bar, central.

• Hotel Sosei Sapporo MGallery Collection — ホテル ソウセイ 札幌 — Boutique luxury, attentive service.

The MK Take

Chūō Ward is Sapporo in a nutshell: ramen steam, red-brick pride, snow-edged skies, and a neon hum you feel in your bones. It’s a city built on frontier spirit and northern warmth. Saunter. Eat with purpose. Let the views reset your perspective.

Let MK GUIDE you through the city’s vibrant heart — from mountain sunlight to market stalls, from fine dining to the quiet happiness of a well-earned bowl.

Image Credits

• Nryate, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• LR0725, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• "Sapporo Ramen Alley Susukino" by MIKI Yoshihito. (#mikiyoshihito), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• Image courtesy of Prince Hotels Sapporo