{"id":1721,"date":"2015-09-07T00:00:23","date_gmt":"2015-09-07T00:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/hipster-things-to-do-in-sapporo\/"},"modified":"2022-07-11T17:38:53","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T17:38:53","slug":"hipster-things-to-do-in-sapporo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/destinations\/hipster-things-to-do-in-sapporo\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hipster Side to Sapporo"},"content":{"rendered":"

All you intrepid travellers on the lookout for hip cities with a vibrant culture, local shopping and\u00a0indie\u00a0cafes\u00a0and restaurants to unearth, it\u2019s time to add Sapporo<\/a> to your bucket list. The capital city of Hokkaido exudes a cool, understated vibe that belies a wealth of hidden finds, which is sure to charm even the most travel-weary hipster.<\/p>\n

Food, Glorious Food<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Chilled<\/a><\/p>\n

Chilled crabs at Nijo Market<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Upon arriving in Sapporo, it is imperative to seek out a caffeine perk-me-up. Luckily, the slow coffee movement is alive and well in the city, with just about every local joint taking exceptional pride in their brew. It is only here in Sapporo that one can walk into a random train station\u00a0cafe\u00a0\u2013 as a rule of thumb, pick the dimmest, grungiest looking\u00a0cafe\u00a0you can find \u2013 and end up lingering for an hour to savour the thick, strong brew and soak in the genteel atmosphere of customers perusing the newspapers or having a quiet chat.<\/p>\n

Hokkaido Cafes<\/h4>\n

I fell hopelessly in love with\u00a0Kotobuki\u00a0Coffee<\/a>, a tiny java joint across the road from the bustling\u00a0Nijo\u00a0Market. The\u00a0barista\u00a0barely spoke a word of English, but that just added to the slightly disorienting appeal of any trip to Japan. He did, however, speak the language of coffee eloquently by offering a well-curated\u00a0menu of single origin and\u00a0specialty\u00a0beans. Every drink order is hand-measured and brewed with love. He refused to serve me my drink until it had cooled to an appropriate temperature. If\u00a0artisanal\u00a0craftsmanship and honest to goodness, authentic java is your thing, you may want to move into this\u00a0cafe.<\/p>\n

Nijo Market<\/h4>\n

Speaking of authenticity, one of the best ways to eat as the locals do, is to make a stopover at the aforementioned\u00a0Nijo\u00a0Market (1\u00a0Chome\u00a0Minami\u00a03\u00a0Johigashi,\u00a0Chuo\u00a0Ward), which is famed for its fresh seasonal catch, such as sea urchin (uni<\/em>) in the winter and crabs (kani<\/em>) in the summer.<\/p>\n

Drop by one of the food stalls within the market for a freshly prepped seafood rice bowl, or if the weather permits, get a takeaway bento\u00a0for a picnic in the park.\u00a0Gung-ho travellers, keep a lookout for a small stall selling freshly made noodles. The slightly grumpy stall owner won\u2019t sell the noodles to tourists unless you intend to consume them within the next few days, but I was allowed to buy a bottle of her flavourful, smoky homemade\u00a0dashi<\/em>\u00a0– a Japanese soup concentrate made of kelp and bonito fish \u2013 as a souvenir. Score!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Shop Till You Drop<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Space<\/a><\/h6>\n

Space 1-15. Credit: Karen Tee<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

This city is also a shopper\u2019s paradise, but with a difference. The denizens of Sapporo are an individual lot when it comes to self-expression and it shows in the shopping\u00a0options available in Sapporo \u2013 ranging from mainstream department stores, mass brands and smaller, independent shops and boutiques.<\/p>\n

Be sure to spend time at the historic\u00a0Tanukikoji<\/strong>, a 900-metre long shopping arcade, which is home to an eclectic selection of shops, beer halls, hotels and even an antique marionette clock, as well as a shrine.<\/p>\n

Vintage Shopping<\/h4>\n

Fashionistas, do check out the various vintage and preloved fashion stores along this street for some fantastic, well-priced finds. If you\u2019re visiting between mid-July to August, there is also the annual\u00a0Tanuki\u00a0Festival<\/strong>, with many shops offering discounts and a general atmosphere of good cheer and congeniality to enjoy.<\/p>\n

Siren Call of the Shopping Gods<\/h4>\n

For one-of-a-kind finds, check out the artsy\u00a0Space 1-15<\/a>, an old apartment block that has been converted into a retail space for independent designers and craftspeople. Just like any hipster hangout worth its salt, this unassuming block located a short bus ride from the city centre is a little difficult to spot, but once I found it, I felt like I had uncovered a hidden treasure that only those in-the-know have access to.<\/p>\n

With more than 20 retailers offering a diverse array of wares, from clothing made with kimono fabrics to handcrafted jewellery and understated ceramics, I could not help but submit to the siren call of the shopping gods.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Fun Things to do in Sapporo<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Odori<\/a><\/p>\n

Odori Park | Credit: Japan National Tourism Organization<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In between all that shopping and eating, recharge with a breath of fresh air at Sapporo\u2019s Odori Park<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This green lung in the city centre is a popular hangout among the city\u2019s youth, especially in the summer. The park hosts the\u00a0Sapporo Summer Festival<\/a>\u00a0from 22 July to 20 August, featuring Japan\u2019s largest beer garden with more than 13,000 seats and plenty of events, including traditional North Sea\u00a0Bon\u00a0Festival Dance performances and bazaars.<\/p>\n

Music in Sapporo<\/h4>\n

For some alternative entertainment, head to block three of\u00a0Odori\u00a0Park<\/strong>, where many of the city\u2019s hip-hoppers congregate to show off their grooves. These guys could give\u00a0Jagger\u00a0a run for his money, so head on over to get schooled in some of the best freestyle hip-hop R&B smooth moves.<\/p>\n

Drinks in Sapporo<\/h4>\n

For a grand end to a Sapporo sojourn, I headed to one of the city\u2019s most enduring institutions, the\u00a0Sapporo Beer Garden<\/a>. You will have to jostle for space with many other diners, but the promise of a traditional Genghis Khan-style mutton barbecue buffet set in a historic Meiji era government building makes it sufficiently cool in my book. My best advice: arrive hungry and be prepared to smell like a Mongolian warlord after a bacchanalian feast by the time your meal is over. Now that\u2019s as authentic an experience as it gets!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[tabs]<\/p>\n

[tab title=”Best Time to Visit Hokkaido<\/strong>” icon=”entypo-light-up”]In general, the weather in Hokkaido is cooler compared to the rest of Japan, with less humid summers, Siberian winters and lots of snowfall. Expect sub-zero temperatures and blizzards from December to early March before it gets warmer from late May to September. To enjoy the city at its best, time your trip during the\u00a0Sapporo Snow Festival<\/a>\u00a0in February, or the\u00a0Sapporo Summer Festival<\/a>\u00a0from July to August.[\/tab]<\/p>\n

[tab title=”Where to Stay<\/strong>” icon=”entypo-suitcase”]Sapporo has a wide variety of hotel options, ranging from the high end\u00a0Sapporo Grand Hotel<\/a>\u00a0to the mid-range\u00a0Hotel\u00a0Sunroute\u00a0New Sapporo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[button style=’blue’ url=’https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/Sapporo-Hotels.d6054145.Travel-Guide-Hotels’ icon=’entypo-suitcase’ fullwidth=’true’]Hotels in Sapporo[\/button] [\/tab]<\/p>\n

[tab title=”Getting There<\/strong>” icon=”entypo-address”]Singapore to Hokkaido:<\/strong> \u00a0Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways\u00a0fly to Sapporo\u2019s New Chitose<\/a>\u00a0Airport<\/a> (CTS), with one stopover in Tokyo\u2019s\u00a0Narita\u00a0(NRT) or\u00a0Haneda\u00a0(HND) airports. [\/tab]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Feature Image: Sapporo Beer Garden. Credit: Japan National Tourism Organization<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Image Credits: Getty Images<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

All you intrepid travellers on the lookout for hip cities with a vibrant culture, local shopping and\u00a0indie\u00a0cafes\u00a0and restaurants to unearth, it\u2019s time to add Sapporo to your bucket list. The capital city of Hokkaido exudes a cool, understated vibe that belies a wealth of hidden finds, which is sure to charm even the most travel-weary… Continue reading The Hipster Side to Sapporo<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,70,25,89,66,45],"tags":[277,148,156],"authors":[242],"class_list":["post-1721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-activities","category-asia","category-destinations","category-japan","category-mari-kita-makan-foodie-tips-trips","category-shopping-style-spa","tag-hipster","tag-hokkaido","tag-sapporo","authors-karen-tee","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGuide to Sapporo for Hipsters | Expedia Singapore<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"On the lookout for hip cities with a vibrant culture and indie cafes? 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