Top 10 Restaurants in Sapporo

Fine Dining in Sapporo

Hokkaido, a vast island surrounded by pristine waters, is a food lover's paradise. Its seafood, meat, and vegetables are highly prized by Japanese gourmets who frequently visit the region. Sapporo, as Hokkaido's central city, is a hub where ingredients from all over the island converge, making it home to some of the finest restaurants in not just Hokkaido, but all of Japan. Michelin has recognized this culinary excellence by publishing special editions featuring Hokkaido's restaurants in 2012 and 2017. This article introduces recommended restaurants in Sapporo across four categories: sushi, French cuisine, kaiseki, and tempura, including some featured in the Michelin guide.

1. Ryoriya So (料理屋 素) / Japanese

A two-star Michelin restaurant in both 2012 and 2017. The name "So" means both "essence" and "simplicity." Chef Takashi Anezaki personally forages for mushrooms and wild vegetables to ensure the highest quality ingredients. Popular dishes include bamboo shoots in spring, wild eel in summer, and Ezo deer (a Hokkaido specialty) from autumn to winter. They also offer a carefully curated selection of sake from across Japan.

2. Himeshara (姫沙羅) / Sushi

A two-star Michelin restaurant and one of Japan's top 100 sushi restaurants. They offer only omakase (chef's choice) courses, featuring a unique structure of sushi, small dishes, and more sushi interspersed with individual dishes. Owner-chef Akira Tanaka's specialty is the "ebi no zenbu nose" (all parts of the shrimp), a visually stunning dish that fully captures the umami of shrimp.

3. Santokurokumi (三徳六味) / Japanese

A one-star Michelin restaurant in both 2012 and 2017. The name refers to traditional Japanese culinary techniques and principles. Chef Ryosuke Ohata's specialty is the soup course, featuring carefully prepared dashi (Japanese soup stock). From November to March, regulars favor the limited suppon nabe (softshell turtle hotpot), available with a three-day advance reservation.

4. TATEOKA TAKESHI (タテオカ タケシ) / French

Earned a Michelin star in 2017, just one year after opening. Chef Takeshi Tateoka, trained in France and experienced as a fish chef in a three-star restaurant, creates French cuisine using Hokkaido's finest ingredients. His vegetable dishes, presented on wooden plates resembling Hokkaido's landscape, impress even seasoned French cuisine enthusiasts.

5. Kokonyamahisa (古今山久) / Japanese

A one-star Michelin restaurant in 2017. True to its name Kokon (old and new), it offers innovative Japanese cuisine blending traditional and contemporary elements. They offer two seasonal courses that change monthly. The restaurant boasts an extensive sake selection from across Japan, served in stylish ochoko (small sake cups) chosen by the chef to complement each dish.

6. Tachiguizushi Akira Sapporo (Branch) (立喰い寿司 あきら 札幌店) / Sushi

A standing-only sushi bar, this is the Sapporo branch of a popular Tokyo sushi chain recognized in Michelin's Bib Gourmand category. It offers high-quality sushi at accessible prices, with shari (sushi rice) seasoned with red vinegar. Customers can order individual pieces, including some Hokkaido specialties not available at the Tokyo locations.

7. Oikawa (おい河) / Japanese

Offers creative Japanese cuisine. The chef trained at the Michelin-starred Wakamatsu Ryokan in Hakodate. The restaurant uses carefully selected ingredients from Hokkaido and across Japan. Reservation-only with omakase courses, they can sometimes accommodate special requests for fugu (pufferfish) or suppon (softshell turtle). They offer both wine and sake, with a sommelier available for pairing advice.

8. Restaurant MiYa－Vie (レストランミヤヴィ) / French

A hidden gem popular among Sapporo's food connoisseurs, awarded one Michelin star in 2017. Chef Masaaki Yokosuka, trained in several three-star restaurants in France, offers a unique French cuisine that incorporates Japanese traditions, food culture, and Hokkaido's rich ingredients.

9. Nihonryori Ruka(日本料理 潤花) / Japanese

Serves traditional Japanese cuisine. Chef Jun Nakata trained for 10 years in Kyoto and Osaka. The restaurant features a "dish gallery" showcasing the carefully selected tableware. Courses conclude with kamameshi (pot-cooked rice) made with Hokkaido-grown Nanatsuboshi rice, sometimes served in pots crafted by famous potter Ippentoు Nakagawa.

10. Tempura Araki(Sapporo) (天ぷらあら木(札幌)) / Tempura

1. MICHELIN (2017): Two Stars

A two-star Michelin restaurant also ranked in Japan's top 100 tempura restaurants. Chef Yoshiyuki Araki, trained at the three-star Aoyama Esaki in Tokyo, offers omakase courses alternating between tempura and individual dishes. The tempura, incorporating Hokkaido ingredients, offers a unique taste experience distinct from Tokyo-style tempura.

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