Hokkaido travel blog — The fullest guide for a budget trip to Hokkaido, Japan

Address: 7-133 Kurokawacho | Nikka Kaikan 1F, Yoichi-cho, Yoichi-gun 046-0003, Hokkaido
Price: 8 dollars-13 dollars / dish.
Opening hours: 11 am to 4 pm.

Lamb Dining Okurayama Restaurant

Lamb Dining Okurayama restaurant serves Jingisukan (also known as Genghis Kahn BBQ) – the famous Mongolian grilled lamb, this is a very delicious food; especially, when you are freezing after skiing. This is also the spiritual food of Hokkaido. The restaurant offers a location with views of the snow jumping and city. Visitors can compare Hokkaido lamb with Australian lamb with Tabekurabe which has the cost is about 17 dollars.

Address: 1274 Miyanomori, Chuo-ku | Okurayama Jump Stadium, Crystal House 2F, Sapporo 064-0958, Hokkaido.

Shopping: Best places to shopping in Hokkaido

Wing Bay Otaru Shopping Center

Wing Bay Otaru is known as one of the largest shopping centers in Hokkaido, popular with many Otaru residents. This is not like a big city’s shopping malls, instead of giving the feeling of the suburbs. The shopping center provides direct access to the JR OtaruChikko train station via a short walking way. In addition to international brands, there are antique shops selling local items such as toys, snacks and utensils.

Address: 11 Chikko, Otaru 047-0008, Hokkaido
Opening hours: 10am – 9pm

Aeon Mall Asahikawa Ekimae

is an Aeon supermarket, pharmacy, and food store on the first floor, women’s fashion boutiques on the second floor, Daiso co-op supermarket and fashion store on the third floor, the top floor is the cinema and restaurant. Guests can park for free within 3 hours when shopping for 17 dollars at any stall.

Address: 7-2-5 Miyashitadori, Asahikawa 070-0030, Hokkaido.

Hokkaido Morning Market

If you want to feel the local atmosphere, this is a place you should not miss. This place looks like a miniature of the city. While salesmen are eagerly bargaining, local middle-aged women walk and shop on the stalls. The variety of items, especially seafood, along with the food stalls makes this place worth to visit, enjoy late breakfast, or lunch. Seafood and fresh fruit are also worth buying things.

Address: JR Hakodate Station, Hakodate, Hokkaido
Opening hours: 5 am

Sapporo Central Wholesale Market

You should visit the Curb Market, also known as the Sapporo Jyoga Ichiba Market, which surrounds the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market. There are about 60 stores selling seafood, fresh vegetables, meat, and wine shops. Many seafood stores have dining places at reasonable prices. In addition to seafood, guests can enjoy Hokkaido dishes such as curry soup, ramen noodles, or barbecue Genghis Khan, then you can relax at the Sakaeyu public bath at the open market at 2 pm.

Address: 21-2-3 Kita 11-Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0011, Hokkaido
Opening hours: From 6 am.

Accommodation: Best places to stay

Jozankei View Hotel

Jozankei View Hotel has 647 guest rooms in different rooms surrounded by lush green spaces. Guests will enjoy a great dining experience from Japanese cuisine to Chinese and Western cuisine. In particular, the hot spring (onsen) and the children’s playground Lagoon will bring the moments of fun, relaxation to help you recover energy after some tired days, even though this is not a new hotel with Modern facilities (it was built in 1985).

Address: 2 Chome Jozankeionsenhigashi, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 061-2302.
Price: From 144 dollars/room/night

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for Jozankei View Hotel on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

Art Hotel Asahikawa

Asahikawa Art Hotel, located in a prime location near major buildings and shopping malls in the city center, tourists only need to take a one-hour drive from popular destinations such as Daisetsu, Furano, and Biei. The hotel features 265 Western-style rooms, serves 3 breakfast brunches, a sauna and gym to provide comfort for both business and travelers.

Address: 6 Chome 7 Jodori, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 070-0037.
Price: From 54 dollars/room/night

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for Art Hotel Asahikawa on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

Grand Park Otaru Hotel

With multi-functional rooms ranging from 53 square meters to 682 square meters, this hotel promises to provide guests a comfortable space with western-style and Japanese-style with superb views of the mountains and ocean. Here, guests can enjoy Italian, Japanese or Chinese dishes in the 5 restaurants and bars, while enjoying views of Ishikari Bay and Otaru Bay. Staying at Grand Park Otaru as good as you will have the opportunity to shop at a huge shopping mall in the same building.

Address: 11-3 Chikko, Otaru, Hokkaido, 047 0008.
Price: From 24 dollars/ night.

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for Grand Park Otaru Hotel on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

Other hotels: Beside some hotels above you can find, check rates, reviews & availability for this hotel on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

EXCLUSIVES

Kaimeiro Music Box Store

It is located in an ancient stone building, it was a bank on the Otaru Canal in the past, Kaimeiro is the place to create unique music boxes with their own style now. Coming here, you can find many songs that are so hard to find it anywhere or even put music boxes designed according to your idea and favorite songs. Or you can choose your own box and decor, choose the song and create your own music box through the classroom of the store. Only with gentle changes, you can make your store’s music box into your style.

Address: Sakaimachi 1-20, Otaru, Hokkaido.
Opening hours: 10 am – 7 pm.

24K Leather Shop

Ezo Sika’s deerskin items can be a luxury souvenir to bring home from Hokkaido. Ezo sika deerskin products belonging to designer and skin designer Kiriko Takase are extremely delicate with the elegant shape, giving a soft feel. Contemporary design and premium leather, a bag can cost from 623 dollars to 712 dollars.

Address: 1F Museum, 6 Minami 3-jo Higashi 2-chome, Chuo-ku Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Opening hours: Full day

Letao Bakery

From Otaru, Hokkaido, LeTao has begun writing his cake story in 1998. The people who like double formage cake probably should not miss the opportunity to visit their main store. Two-layer cheesecake, made with grilled cheesecake, has a hearty cheese flavor and unleavened cheese pie with a mild flavor and a sweet-smelling flavor. Today this cake has been popular in over country and even around the world. Stores that sell frozen cake only need to defrost for 2 hours before eating for the perfect flavor.

Address: 7-16 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido, 047-0027.
Opening hours: 10am – 6pm.

KitaichiGlass Shop

Enjoy a cup of hot coffee or tea in a glowing space, watching the gorgeous and colorful glass products which create great moments of the day for you. At this point, you are not only a shopper but an artist who can make a creation by blasting the glass surface at a price of 8 dollars to 28 dollars or making yourself a Tonbonball globe at a cost of 9 dollars for 20 minutes.

Address: 7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027.
Opening hours: Daily from 8:45 am to 6 pm

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Sapporo & Hokkaido you can refer to

• Hokkaido Day Tour from Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Shirogane Blue Pond, and More
• Sapporo Highland Sightseeing Bus Tour with Meals
• Sapporo Private Day Tour with Local Licensed Guide
• Hokkaido Day Tour from Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Shirogane Blue Pond, and More
• Hokkaido Enjoy Pass
• Furano and Tomita Farm Day Tour from Sapporo
• Sapporo Afternoon Bus Tour
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (Japan Pick Up) for Japan
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Are you looking for more Sapporo travel guide and top things to do in Sapporo: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Sapporo travel blog — The fullest Sapporo city guide for a great trip on a budget for the first-timers.