Where Sapporo drinks local: brewpubs, taprooms and the new wave.
Taprooms, brewpubs and the local beer scene in Sapporo worth taking a tram to.
The Sapporo Brewery's brick complex from 1890 now houses the Beer Museum and Beer Garden. Tastings of Sapporo Classic and limited Hokkaido-only labels.
TipMuseum free, the paid tasting tour with three pours is around 1,000 yen.
Directly run by the North Island brewery on the outskirts of Sapporo, with six house craft beers. The brewer joins the bar Fridays for guest pour shifts.
TipFriday is the brewer's own staff night; the four-tap sampler runs 1,800 yen.
Moon and Sun opened 2014 as Sapporo's downtown brewpub with in-store brewing equipment. House beers from 100-percent Hokkaido hops, seasonal fruit one-offs.
TipOrder a tasting flight to test the rotating lineup; pizzas pair well.
The Otaru Beer brewery's Sapporo outpost, pouring its German-style craft lagers and pilsner direct from kegs trucked in daily from the Otaru brewhouse.
TipThe dunkel and the pilsner are the menu's reliability tests; pretzels at the counter.
A Susukino IPA-led tap-room with 12 rotating taps. Hokkaido craft brewers dominate the list alongside Sapporo's local hop-forward house labels.
TipFriday IPA cellar nights bring out the rarer Hokkaido brews; cash preferred.
A craft beer stand inside Sapporo Station underground concourse, pouring eight Hokkaido craft taps to the commuter and pre-train crowd in the evening.
TipWalk-up only; the standing counter is sized for 15-minute pre-train pints.
The Kaitakushi-kan beer hall inside the Sapporo Beer Garden complex. Pours the historic Kaitakushi label alongside jingisukan and the brewery's flagships.
TipThe Kaitakushi label is the museum-only pour; available only at this hall and the brewery in Eniwa.
A Hokkaido fruit-led craft brewery's tap-room near Odori. Six house taps with seasonal Hokkaido fruit beers (haskap, blueberry) and a small bar snack menu.
TipClosed Mon-Tue; the haskap saison is the menu's quiet hero Tap list rotates weekly.
Guided tour · 8h 30m
Discover the highlights of Otaru on a guided tour. Stroll along the canal, visit the Kitaichi Glass Factory, the Otaru Music Box Museum, and the Germain Beer Brewery.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Explore Sapporo’s beer scene with a local guide. Taste 10 craft beers across 3 breweries, discover the stories behind the brews, and enjoy a stress-free evening.
Guided tour · 2.5 hours
Discover the flavors of Hokkaido on a guided tour of Sapporo's Nijo Market. Taste fresh seafood, enjoy a sushi brunch, and explore local specialties and history.