- Isis Berns
- February 6, 2024
- 9:47 pm
- No Comments
The Sapporo Snow Festival is back in full swing with an estimate of over 2 million visitors gathering in the city to see the snow sculptures, and ice sculptures, and play in the snow. The 2024 festival dates are from Sunday, February 4th to Sunday, February 11th. Any longer, and the sculptures might be a hazard to the crowds. On Monday, the 12th, there’s even a breaking ceremony where the officials literally break down the massive snow sculptures with bulldozers at Odori Park. It reminds me of the Cherry Blossoms that also only last for such a short time… each day is precious to see these wonderful sights here in Japan!
For this article, I want to focus on a few recommended cafes in Sapporo to keep as a great escape just in case you get too cold wandering the snowy streets and need a nice roast to warm you up. The Sapporo Snow Festival spans from where the iconic red Sapporo TV Tower is at Odori Nishi 1 to Odori Nishi 11, so I’ll be sure to introduce plenty of cafes to visit along the way. Here’s a total list of 17 cafes and coffee shops you can visit in Sapporo during the Snow Festival: 8 local cafes, 6 Japanese-style cafes, and 3 chain cafes. For exact locations and specific open times, please be sure to check Google Maps, Instagram, or the official website of each location.
8 Local Sapporo Cafes / Coffee Shops
1. Shelter Cafe (Google Map)
Isn’t the name perfect for a place to escape to on a cold winter’s day? Closest to Odori Park Nishi 6, Shelter Cafe in Sapporo is an underground cafe that at first glance looks like a dried flower shop with so many flowers lining both the walls and ceiling you may even gasp in awe! But once inside, the cafe has many tables and chairs creating a cozy dim atmosphere that allows you to relax and enjoy some warm coffee, a full meal, baked pies, or lavishly decorated pancakes. (Photos by I.W.Berns, 2024)
1. Bandou Coffee (Google Map)
Closer to Nishi 11 Subway Station, the perfect goal to end your Odori Park walk through the Sapporo Snow Festival is this local home-roasted coffee shop. They serve delicious cakes made with local ingredients to match the coffee. There are only a few seats inside, but that petite atmosphere makes it all the more special. This is one of my good Filipina friends’ favorite cafes in Sapporo–even my husband and I had a couple of dates here. I like their creamy hot cocoa, too. (Photo by ミニ樽)
3. Johnson’s Tea Lounge (Google Map)
In terms of proximity to the Sapporo Snow Festival, located near Odori Nishi 6, this is often where my family and I escape from the cold when we’re with a larger group. This stylish interior design shop has a cafe that serves lunch and desserts with fancy tables, sofa seating, and even a kids’ play area at the back. Their Matcha Lattes are fantastic, and visually a lovely treat! (their official website)
4. Roquefort Cafe (Google Map)
I’m secretly wishing to keep this a hidden gem, but if you like small, old-fashioned cafes that seem to have stopped in time for several decades, then this a place you might enjoy. A bit north of Odori Park, near the Sapporo Clock Tower, at Nishi 3. When I want to read a book for an hour or have a quiet chat with a friend, I love ordering a coffee and a thick pizza toast here. The coffee comes out on a fashionable cup on a coaster, the style matching the wooden tables and chairs perfectly. The owner is a wonderfully kind gentleman who loves music and plays great tunes. Again, this shop has limited seating, so I only recommend it if you have four or fewer people. (Photos by I.W.Berns, 2023)
5. Saera Coffee & Sandwiches (Google Map)
Right in the center of Sapporo city, warm and underground by Odori subway station (Nishi 2). I crave these sandwiches every once in a while! If you want to try the thick Japanese soft bread sandwiches jam-packed with fruits, crab meat, or potato salad (you know, the most popular sandwich ingredients that everyone loves!) then this is the place you must visit in Sapporo! It’s a bit hard to find, but it’s beside Maruimai Department store underground. Although every time I come here, there’s a lineup to get in, the turnaround time is not so bad, so as long as the line isn’t to the top of the stairs, I decide to wait (it’s worth the wait!). There are dozens of fillings you can choose from, and they also have an English menu. Great service, always welcoming with a smile. (Photo by I.W.Berns, 2024)
limited seats / takeout only
6. BARISTART COFFEE (Google Map)
Located just south of Odori Nishi 4. High-quality roasted coffee and you can even choose which Hokkaido milk. The Baristart website has a great explanation, I recommend a quick read for coffee inspiration and details. I love the different milk options and their branding is very Hokkaido-style. (Photos by I.W.Berns)
limited seats / takeout only
7. THAT COFFEE STAND (Google Map)
In Tanuki Koji Nishi 7, so it’s a bit of a walk south from Odori Park, but it’s a nice casual coffee stand that even offers some local craft beer. The owner opened up shop hoping it could be a daily drop-by for locals. Look for a white wall and neon white sign with graffiti style “THAT.” I like this place, it’s cool, and the original blend roasted by Sato Coffee is good. (Photo by I.W.Berns, 2023)
limited seats / takeout only
8. Love Espresso (Google Map)
Just a handful of seats inside, so it’s good if you need a quick caffeine fix and love espresso, as the name suggests, since they put a lot of effort into the quality of their espresso coffee! At Nishi 5, a couple of blocks south of Odori Park. (Photos by I.W.Berns, 2022)
6 Japanese Style Cafes in Sapporo
1. Sapporo Niikuraya Main Shop (Google Map)
At Nishi 6 in Tanuki Koji. Highly recommend this cafe for traditional Japanese sweets like the iconic Dango (sweet rice dumpling balls on a stick with many flavor toppings). There’s also soft cream, toast, and to warm you up on a cold day, I recommend the “Oshiruko” warm red bean dessert. The atmosphere here is cozy with old school diner seating as well. (Photo by 新しあマレー)
2. Matcha Cafe & Sweets RIQ (Rikyuu) (Google Map)
What a menu, no wonder they have 3 shops in Sapporo already! But only the shop in Tanuki Koji Shopping Street Nishi 5 offers Matcha green tea, creamy-delicious Hokkaido cheese teas, colorful crepes, and tapioca. For their Matcha (powdered green tea), they “use the finest Japanese green teas from Marukyu Koyamaen, a long-established teahouse in Kyoto that has won awards at numerous competitions.” – quoted from their website. (Photo by RIQ)
3. Nana’s Green Tea (in Parco shopping mall, Google Map)
Matcha tea, Matcha parfait, Matcha cake, whatever you’re craving, I’m sure you’ll find your match-a! … okay, that was bad (sorry, not sorry). Located just south of Odori subway station on Ekimae Street Nishi 3, on the 5th floor of Parco shopping mall (the 1F has a Starbucks by the way, and the B2 floor has a delicious Italian gelato shop). The parfaits are delicious with creamy soft cream, and you can choose from “shiratama mochi” with a fun chewy texture or the “Matcha Nama Chocolate” melt-in-your-mouth soft cubes for toppings! I’m drooling just typing this… and I like the cornflakes they put in their parfaits for another fun crispy texture! (Photo by Ying ToNic)
limited seating / takeout only
4. Gyokusuien (Green tea shop with soft cream! Google Map)
This was the first real green tea shop I was lucky enough to discover in Sapporo City, just a couple of blocks southeast of the Sapporo TV Tower at Higashi 1. Boasting over 90 years in business! The shop only has a taste-testing area for seating, so it’s not a cafe to lounge in. But they answer all of your tea questions while they hand-pour you a glass from their steaming hot pot, as they patiently explain different types of green tea you could choose from, with different ingredients, different tea leaves, and different benefits for your body! One of my recommendations is to eat their Matcha Soft Cream which they make from green tea daily at the shop, on a handmade green tea cone. Then, warm up with a nice cup of hot green tea served especially for you. Lastly, buy some Omiyage (souvenirs) for friends! (Photo by P.Hoboth)
souvenirs only
5. Yukinoen Annaka Tea Stall (Google Map)
Buy green tea and tea pots here! Located in Tanuki Koji Shopping Street Nishi 3. Open since 1927. Classic green tea shop with gorgeous pots and cups to buy a set to bring back home with you. No eat-in space, this is more for buying souvenirs or green tea to drink yourself in your hotel room! But if you love green tea or tea ceremony, you’ll love this shop. (Photo by Yk Lk)
limited seating / takeout only
6. “d:matcha Kyoto Sapporo” (Google Map)
A new matcha shop opened in Sapporo! Reservations are required for EAT-IN. Taste the difference between three green teas in a taste-testing set, or enjoy a nice warm or cold Matcha Latte. They even serve Matcha Tiramisu and Matcha cream cheesecake! Serving the highest quality Uji Tea from Kyoto and rich tea sweets from tea farms in Wazuka under the concept of “Farm to Table.” (Photo by Amy Lee)
3 Chain Cafes in Sapporo (besides Starbucks*)
*Don’t get me wrong, I love Starbucks, and Sapporo has multiple Starbucks locations. But I thought I’d give a list of other cafes for any visitors looking for a change. By the way, Starbucks at the Sapporo Chitose Airport has a limited edition drink only available there!
1. Komeda’s Coffee (Google map)
At Nishi 6, a couple of blocks south of Odori Park, this is a great cafe chain that has delicious thick toast! People often spend hours here relaxing. That’s their aim as a cafe: to become a place customers could call their second living room. The heartful welcome and service by each staff member is a great example of Japan’s ‘Omotenashi.’ (Photo by Tazdingo)
2. Tully’s Coffee (Google Map)
Underground Odori Park is a long underground shopping mall called ‘Aurore Town’ with plenty of cafes and restaurants to rest and warm up in–there are a couple of staircases at Odori Park that read ‘Aurore Town.’ At Nishi 2, Tully’s Coffee is a personal chain favorite of mine, as I love their seasonal drinks, hot dogs, large soft cookies, and chai tea latte. (Photo by Ritsuko)
3. Doutor Coffee (Google Map)
Two shops are located right by Odori Park Nishi 3 on both the 1F and underground by Odori Subway station. You can see the yellow, black, and white signage for “Doutor” from the Snow Festival, and what I like about the above-ground location is they have 2F seating at the window where you can enjoy the view. If you love sweet lattes, I recommend the Honey Cafe Latte at Doutor. Their Milano sandwiches are also delicious with cold-cut meats in hard baguette-style bread. (Photo by C Koba)
That’s my list of recommended cafes to warm up indoors after a walk outside at the beautiful Sapporo Snow Festival! I hope this keeps you cozy. Enjoy your travels in Hokkaido’s winter paradise!