20 splurge places in Sapporo, editor-picked. tasting menus and the full big-night-out treatment in Sapporo. All Sapporo food.

Sushi Miyakawa ★ 4.9

maruyama · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0824, Japan

Sapporo's only three-star Michelin sushi room. Chef Masaaki Miyakawa works Hokkaido seafood across two seatings at a seven-seat Maruyama counter.

Tip: Reservations open the first day of each month for the month two months out; book through Tableall or call 011-215-0120. Closed Wednesdays.

Sushi Miyakawa ★ 4.9

maruyama · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0824, Japan

Three Michelin stars in the 2017 Hokkaido guide, the only sushi at that tier in Hokkaido. Seven seats, two seatings (17:00 and 19:30), omakase only.

Tip: Reservations open through Tableall the first day of each month for the month two months out; closed Wednesdays.

Sushiya no Saito ★ 4.7

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0806, Japan

Chef Akira Saito's Ezomae-style sushi counter at the south edge of Susukino, working only Hokkaido catch into Kiwami and Miyabi omakase courses since 2000.

Tip: Counter only; reservations essential. The Miyabi course is the slightly shorter option for first-time visitors.

Sushiya no Saito ★ 4.6

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0806, Japan

Ezomae omakase counter since 2000 at the south edge of Susukino. Two course menus, Kiwami and Miyabi, both lean on Hokkaido seafood with light aging.

Tip: Book direct through the operator site; counter only, no private rooms.

Sushi Hidetaka ★ 4.5

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0807, Japan

Chef Hidetaka trained at Sapporo's Michelin-starred Sushi Zen before opening this eight-seat cypress counter. Located in Susukino. Priced at ¥¥¥¥.

Tip: Counter only; reservations open six weeks ahead. Cash-or-card and bring time to talk.

Sushi Hidetaka ★ 4.5

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0807, Japan

Chef Hidetaka trained at the Michelin-starred Sushi Zen before opening this eight-seat cypress counter in Susukino. Led by chef Hidetaka Yamada.

Tip: Counter only; reservations open six weeks ahead. Cash or card accepted.

Kowari ★ 4.5

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0063, Japan

Five-seat counter in Susukino mixing Italian, French and Japanese techniques on Hokkaido produce. Around ten dishes including four amuse-bouche, pasta.

Tip: Book via Tableall four weeks ahead; pairings double the bill.

Sushi Tanaka ★ 4.5

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0806, Japan

Chef Yasutomo Tanaka opened this Susukino counter in 2017 at age 30 and switched to all-nigiri omakase on the fourth anniversary. Priced at ¥¥¥¥.

Tip: Reservations via Tableall; counter only.

Yakiniku Gurumans Ito ★ 4.5

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0063, Japan

Manager Kazuo Ito's high-grade yakiniku room opened 2011, one minute from Susukino subway. Priced at ¥¥¥¥. Tasting menu ¥6,000-15,000. Book 4 weeks ahead.

Tip: Reservations via autoreserve.com; walk-in only after 22:00. Closed Wednesdays.

Sushi Zen Daimaru Sapporo ★ 4.4

sapporo-station · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0005, Japan

The Daimaru branch of Sushi Zen, the Sapporo sushi house founded 1971 whose Maruyama honten earned a Michelin star in the 2017 Hokkaido edition.

Tip: Lunch sets are the steepest discount on the omakase progression. The honten in Kita 1-jo Nishi 27 is the Michelin counter.

Sushi Saiko ★ 4.4

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0806, Japan

A Susukino omakase counter opened 2012, ten seats, using nearly all-Hokkaido seafood. A short walk from Hosui Susukino subway; quiet room, omakase only.

Tip: Counter only; book through Tableall; reservations open about six weeks ahead.

Sushi Saiko ★ 4.4

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0806, Japan

A Susukino omakase counter opened 2012 using nearly all-Hokkaido seafood. Ten seats at a single cypress slab, a short walk from Hosui Susukino subway.

Tip: Book through Tableall; reservations open four weeks before the date.

Sushi Zen Daimaru ★ 4.4

sapporo-station · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0005, Japan

The Daimaru branch of Sushi Zen, the Sapporo house founded 1971 whose Maruyama honten earned one Michelin star in 2017. Located in Sapporo Station.

Tip: Lunch sets are the most accessible price point on the omakase progression.

Semina ★ 4.4

odori · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0061, Japan

Chef Toshifumi Tanaka's rustic northern-Italian dining room, opened 2017 on the Odori central avenue. Priced at ¥¥¥¥. Tasting menu ¥15,000-22,000.

Tip: Reserve in advance; the Friuli-Venezia Giulia influence shows in the antipasti.

Himeshara ★ 4.4

maruyama · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0808, Japan

Chef Akira Tanaka's Maruyama-area sushi counter, opened 2003, with a nine-seat single-plank hinoki bar from 500-year-old Kiso cypress. Priced at ¥¥¥¥.

Tip: Counter only; reservations only through the restaurant's official website.

Sapporo Sushi Yokota ★ 4.3

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0005, Japan

The Sapporo outpost of the Azabu-Juban one-Michelin-star Tenpura Yokota, opened as a sushi-and-tempura counter on Susukino's Daimex Plaza. Priced at ¥¥¥¥.

Tip: Counter only; reservations open three weeks ahead.

Sapporo Kani Honke Honten ★ 4.2

sapporo-station · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0003, Japan

The seven-storey Honten near Sapporo Station, the city's reference crab restaurant since 1964, working all three Hokkaido crabs across course menus.

Tip: The Susukino branch closed in 2022; the Honten is now the principal Sapporo address.

Hokkaido Kani Shogun ★ 4.2

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0805, Japan

Susukino's other heavyweight crab house in Sapporo. Six floors of course menus across king, snow and hairy crab, plus a third-floor sushi counter.

Tip: Tax-free service for international visitors; reserve a window table on floor 5.

Sapporo Kani Honke Honten ★ 4.1

sapporo-station · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0003, Japan

The city's reference crab restaurant since 1964, seven floors south of Sapporo Station. Course menus across king, snow and hairy crab, tax-free service.

Tip: Susukino branch closed 2022; Honten is the principal Sapporo address now.

Hokkaido Kani Shogun ★ 4.1

susukino · Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0805, Japan

Susukino's other heavyweight crab house. Six floors, course menus across all three Hokkaido crabs plus a third-floor sushi counter and private tatami rooms.

Tip: Tax-free service for international visitors; window tables on the fifth floor face Susukino.