Apia Underground Shopping Center

Apia is an underground shopping center on the south side of JR Sapporo Station. Here you can find a variety of fashion boutiques, souvenir stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, cafes, fast food diners, and Japanese restaurants.

Apia has just one floor but is divided into two main sections: Apia West and Apia Center. These two sections are divided by an underground passageway called West Avenue. Most of Apia’s dining facilities are concentrated in Apia West while Apia Center has mainly fashion boutiques selling clothes, shoes, bags and accessories. In this article we will introduce some of the main stores and restaurants in these two sections.

Apia Center

APIA Center has three passageways running east to west: Culture Walk, Fashion Walk and Market Walk. Floral Galleria runs north to south through the center. Taiyo Plaza is on the northwest side and Komorebi Plaza is on the northeast side. Coin lockers are available within the center, and its shops include fashion, health and beauty, character goods, household goods and cafes.

Kokumin is a drugstore on Culture Walk selling medicines, cosmetics, health foods and other health and beauty products.

3 Coins is a general goods store on Culture Walk with household, interior, fashion, mobile and children’s items. Its range is centered on 300-yen products, but prices vary.

Ginza Maggy is a ladies’ fashion boutique on the south side of Fashion Walk, selling a range of elegant outfits to suit both casual and formal occasions.

Sanrio is a character-goods shop on Market Walk with items featuring Hello Kitty, My Melody and other Sanrio characters.

Apia West

Apia West has two passageways running east to west which are called Joyful Walk and Food Walk. There is also an open area in the center of this section called Yasuragi Plaza and another on the far west side called Minori Plaza. Apia West has a great mix of inexpensive eateries serving everything from ice creams, burgers, sandwiches and simple pasta dishes to fine Japanese dining. Here are some of the highlights:

Ramen Horyu, on the north side of Joyful Walk, is a long established noodle shop in Sapporo serving Hokkaido-style miso ramen with lots of toppings such as corn, spring onions, and soft-boiled eggs.

Kurukuru Sushi is a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant on Joyful Walk serving a selection of seasonal seafood, daily recommendations and teppo-jiru soup.

Yebisu Bar on Joyful Walk serves several draft Yebisu beers with dishes designed to accompany them, including items made with Hokkaido ingredients.

Wanzhuji is a Chinese restaurant on Food Walk serving dishes such as fried rice, dandan noodles and gyoza.

Yoshinoya on Food Walk is a casual restaurant specializing in gyudon, beef served over rice.

Facilities & Services

APIA Information is on West Avenue B1F beside the lottery counter in the west underground passage toward the Namboku Line. It is open from 10:00 to 20:00 and handles facility inquiries, lost-property reports, lost children and public-address announcements, and wheelchair loans. Strollers can be borrowed from the Stellar Place information counter.

The ATM corner in APIA Center, beside Kaldi Coffee Farm, has machines for Hokkaido Bank, Hokuyo Bank, Japan Post Bank and Seven Bank. Hokkaido Bank and Hokuyo Bank operate from 7:00 to 21:00, while Japan Post Bank and Seven Bank operate from 8:00 to 21:00. Supported cards and language guidance vary by bank, so check the marks on the machine before use.

Major credit cards and prepaid IC cards such as Kitaca, Suica, PASMO and ICOCA are accepted at many APIA shops. Other electronic-money and QR payment services are also available at participating stores. Acceptance varies, so check the payment marks at each counter.

Free Wi-Fi

Free JR Tower Wi-Fi is available at Minori Plaza, Yasuragi Plaza, near Wakasaimo and near APIA Information in APIA West. In APIA Center, access points are near Mitsumoto Coffee, near McDonald’s and in Komorebi Plaza.

Select the network JR_TOWER_FREE_WiFi and agree to the terms of use. No password is required, but the network is unencrypted. Each connection lasts up to one hour and the service can be used four times per day.

Tax-Free Shopping

Participating APIA shops display the Japan Tax-Free Shop sign and complete their own procedures.

For purchases made through October 31, 2026, eligible nonresident visitors can buy qualifying general goods tax free when one day’s purchases at the same shop total at least 5,000 yen before tax. Consumables qualify when purchases at the same shop total from 5,000 to 500,000 yen before tax. Bring your passport and complete the procedure at the participating shop on the purchase day.

For purchases made from November 1, 2026, Japan uses a refund method. Shoppers pay the tax-inclusive price, carry the goods out of Japan within 90 days and obtain customs confirmation when departing. The shop or its refund provider refunds the consumption-tax equivalent after that confirmation. The minimum remains 5,000 yen before tax per shop per day, while the consumables category, special packaging and 500,000-yen ceiling are abolished. Ask the participating APIA shop how its refund will be delivered.

Location

APIA is part of JR Tower and is directly connected to JR Sapporo Station. It can also be entered from above-ground entrances on the south side of the station building. APIA West connects with the B1F level of Daimaru, while APIA Center connects with the B1F level of Stellar Place. Underground passages also lead to Sapporo Subway Station, with the Namboku Line at Exit 2 and the Toho Line at Exit 18.

Drivers can use JR Tower and partner parking facilities. Spending at least 2,000 yen at one participating APIA or Stellar Place shop provides up to two hours free when the parking ticket is processed at that shop. Purchases from different shops cannot be combined, and some shops, products and services are excluded.

Opening Hours

Shops: 10:00-20:00
Restaurants: 11:00-21:30

Some stores use different hours, and selected restaurants open from 7:00.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 04-Sep-2026.