Susukino is Sapporo’s main entertainment area, so many of Sapporo’s best restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs, cinemas, karaoke parlors, and hotels are located here. However, it is also the home of Sapporo’s red-light district with many “adult-entertainment” establishments. For this reason, if you want to avoid any embarrassing experiences, it is a good idea to know exactly where you are going when you visit this area, rather than just wandering around and seeing what you can find. In this article we will focus on attractions unrelated to the red-light industry.
A view of Nikka Whisky’s “King of Blenders” sign at Susukino Crossing
Susukino is not an official area name, so it is hard to say exactly where it starts and ends. However, as you walk south from Odori Park, shopping streets and department stores will gradually give way to buildings filled with restaurants, bars and clubs – all with brightly colored signage. The heart of the district is Susukino Crossing which is located at the intersection of Sapporo Ekimae Street (which runs north to south from Sapporo Station) and Tsukisamu Street (which runs east to west). This intersection is famous for the bright lights of its neon signage among which is the famous Nikka Whisky sign on the Susukino building which is backlit with changing colors. This is a popular photography spot for sightseeing tourists and instagrammers.
Dining in Susukino
Sapporo is famous for its fresh seafood, its miso ramen noodles, and for “Genghis Khan” style lamb barbecue. Some of the best restaurants for these three specialties can be found in Susukino. Below are our recommendations.
The entrance to Ganso Ramen Yokocho
Miso Ramen
In Sapporo, ramen noodles are typically made with a pork broth flavored with miso paste and topped with bean sprouts and pork slices. A variety of other toppings are also available in different noodle shops. Two of the most popular locations for ramen noodles in Sapporo are Ganso Ramen Yokocho (“Original Ramen Alley”) and Shin Ramen Yokocho (“New Ramen Alley”). Both locations consist of narrow alleys packed with ramen shops. Ganso Ramen Yokocho traces its origins to 1951 and opened at its present location in 1971, while Shin Ramen Yokocho opened in 1976. Both alleys are very close to Susukino Station. Here is a map for Ganso Ramen Yokocho and here is map for Shin Ramen Yokocho.
Sushi & Seafood
For sushi, try Sushizanmai Susukino, a 1-minute walk from Exit 1 of Susukino Station. There are counter seats, tables and private rooms. Open every day from 10.00 until 7.00 the following morning, with last orders at 6.30. Here is a map of their location.
For crab, try Sekkatei. This crab specialty restaurant is located a short walk from Susukino Station and among many dishes serves delicious fresh snow crabs shabu shabu style. Open from 17.00 – 22.00, with last orders at 20.30 for courses and 21.00 for individual dishes. Closed on irregular days. Here is a map of their location.
Genghis Khan Barbecue
For lamb barbecue try the restaurant Itadakimasu. This restaurant is just 3 minutes south of Susukino Station and takes great pride in its reasonably-priced Hokkaido raised lamb and mutton. Lunch is served from 11.30 – 14.30, with last orders at 14.00. Dinner is served from 16.00 – 23.00 Monday to Saturday, with last orders at 22.30, and from 16.00 – 22.00 on Sundays, with last orders at 21.30. Closed on December 31st and January 1st. The restaurant may close early if the meat sells out. Here is a map of their location.
The covered shopping arcade of Tanukikoji looks inviting on a rainy day
Shopping in Susukino
Susukino Crossing can be accessed via the Pole Town underground shopping arcade which runs between Odori Subway Station in the north and Susukino Subway Station in the south. This leads directly to the Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade, the Arche shopping mall which includes a Mega Don Quijote store, the Sapporo Parco department store and the Mitsukoshi department store. At Susukino Crossing, COCONO SUSUKINO is directly connected to Susukino Subway Station and has shops, restaurants and a cinema.
At Odori Station, Pole Town connects with the Aurora Town underground mall which runs east to the Marui Imai department store and to Sapporo TV Tower. It also connects here to the underground walkway that runs north all the way to Sapporo Station. Although this underground network is convenient on rainy days, walking the full distance between Sapporo Station and Susukino Station will take around 20 minutes.
Toyokawa Inari Temple
Toyokawa Inari Temple is considered the spiritual guardian of the Susukino district. This temple, surrounded by love hotels and night clubs, can be found toward the southern end of the Susukino district on the west side of Sapporo Ekimae Street.
Toyokawa Inari Temple
The official name of the temple is Toyokawa Inari Sapporo Betsuin. Betsuin means it is a sub-temple of the original Toyokawa Inari Temple which is a major Soto Zen temple in the city of Toyokawa, Aichi Prefecture. Both temples venerate Toyokawa Dakini Shinten, a Buddhist guardian deity associated with prosperity and commonly known as Toyokawa Inari. The Sapporo temple has longstanding ties with Susukino’s businesses and entertainment district.
In this corner is a memorial stone dedicated to children lost before birth and also for the sex workers of Susukino’s red light district
Although its name and torii gates may suggest a Shinto shrine, Toyokawa Inari is a Buddhist temple. Its tradition centers on the Buddhist guardian deity Dakini Shinten. There are many different statues around the temple including those of the Seven Lucky Gods, Jizo the guardian of children, and Kannon the goddess of mercy. The fox statues are associated with Dakini Shinten, who is depicted riding a white fox.
A statue of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, and below her a small shrine to the lucky gods Ebisu and Daikokuten
The Sapporo branch of this temple was built in the late 19th century thanks to efforts of a local sake brewer, Hatano Yosaburo. Hatano had deep connections with the hanamachi or “flower district” of Susukino and so was able to raise funds from local business such as geisha tea houses, restaurants, and theaters. Building began in 1895 and the temple was opened in 1898. The names of the original donors are carved on the outside fence and gate posts.
The entrance to the temple
Requests for prayer services are accepted daily from 13.00 – 16.00. Here is a map showing its location.
Sapporo Snow Festival
Susukino is one of the three main sites for the annual Sapporo Snow Festival along with Odori Park, and the Tsudome Community Dome. The festival takes place each February and usually runs for eight days. During this time, beautifully carved ice sculptures can be seen along Sapporo Ekimae Street near Susukino Station. The sculptures are illuminated at night, and there is also an ice sculpture competition. The display area and activities can change from year to year, so check the festival programme before your visit and only touch sculptures where this is expressly permitted.
The Mercure Hotel in Susukino
Susukino Hotels
The Susukino area is a good place to stay as it is convenient for the shops and tourist attractions in the Odori Park area and has easy access to public transport facilities. It is also a good place to stay if you are staying for the Snow Festival or want to be close to the city’s entertainment facilities.
Recommended mid-range hotels in and around the Susukino area include the Dormy Inn Premium Sapporo, the Dormy Inn Sapporo Annex, Richmond Hotel Sapporo Odori, Hotel Vista Sapporo Odori, and Daiwa Roynet Hotel Sapporo Susukino. Daiwa Roynet Hotel Sapporo Susukino has renovation work scheduled from September 24th, 2026 to January 31st, 2027. Noise and temporary restrictions on some shared facilities are possible during this period. Construction opposite Richmond Hotel Sapporo Odori’s main entrance may cause noise and vibration, so check the works schedule with the hotel before booking.
Good tourist hotels include Mercure Sapporo and Sapporo Tokyu Rei Hotel. Sapporo Tokyu Rei Hotel is scheduled to end hotel operations after checkout and breakfast on August 31st, 2027.
Location
Susukino Crossing can be accessed directly via Susukino Station on either the Namboku Subway Line or the Sapporo Shiden streetcar network. Hosui-Susukino Station on the Toho Subway Line is located a 3 minute-walk to the east of Susukino Crossing.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 11-Sep-2026.
