Shopping in Sapporo

Shopping in Sapporo is definitely not as exciting as major cities like Osaka and Tokyo. While there are a few shopping malls near our hotel at JR Sapporo, the range of merchandise available is rather limited and designs are not as trendy.

Still, I manage to get these at Daimaru. The branded towels are cheap in Japan and it is something I never fail to buy. The towel pouch is useful for small cosmetics items like compact powder and lipstick withouth adding bulk to our handbags.

Celine hand towel, Laura Ashley towel pouch 

Got the tissue holders and Hello Kitty pen at souvenir shop at JR Sapporo station. The candies with the Chinese name is made of herbs and very soothing for the throat !

Snacks. Most notable is the cheese scallops. Yummy! 

Don't forget to try the Sapporo Beer. Hokkaido is the birthplace of beer in Japan and Sapporo Beer is one of the oldest and most popular beer brands in the country.

Along the way to various places of interest like the farm, we had the opportunity to try more of the local fares. I would strongly recommend having the Sapporo corn and potatoes. They are so sweet and fresh.

Usually available at the rest stops between trips and at Farm Tomita. 

Potatoes in butter. Simple dish but you got to try it to know how good it tastes! 

It was Summer when we visited in August and the season for melons. So we had a lot of melon stuff. 

Melon juice with real melon bits 

Melon Pudding 

Another area to shop is at Susukino, the Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade, Sapporo's oldest shopping area. Most of the shops sell goods made in China.

Shopping alley

There is a large sourvenir shop selling Hokkaido snacks. And our favourite 24/7 store Donki is here too. Here's what I bought :

Tiramisu Chocolates - our favourite ! 

Green Tea Kit Kat - tasty !

The Green Tea Kit Kat is not too sweet and rather addictive. I just learnt that it is also available at NTUC Finest at S$5.90.

Kit Kat Passion Fruit. Interesting but not unforgettable.

Sapporo is well-known for its diary products as well as potatoes and vegetables. Don't forget to bring these instant soup home. They are really creamy. 

A visit to Japan is not complete without cosmetics and skincare shopping. I found Matsukiyo, one of the largest drugstore chain in Japan at Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade. There are a few drugstores but I feel Matsukiyo still offers the best value.

I simply love Yuskin A handcream

Yuskin A moisturiser is one of my must-buy items when visiting Japan. It is super moisurising and keeps my hands smooth and soft. Downside is that it has a slightly waxy smell. Very popular with Taiwanese too. Check our their Taiwan website.

Another must-buy product - the eye mask that heats up to 40 degree celcius to relax your eyes

Other things I would recommend buying will include Jill Stuart and Laduree cosmetics as they are not available in Singapore.

It is possible to walk back to the JR Sapporo area from Susukino as there are many underground linkways as well. This is excellent for the winter season when it gets too cold to walk above ground. We were surprised to see this.

Surprised to see Kuan Yin on top of the building. Apparently it is a shop selling Buddhist prayer supplies.

We took a stroll back and passed by the Odori Park, as well as Sapporo Clock Tower, which is the symbol of Sapporo.  It’s in downtown Sapporoand stretches 1.5 km from east to west in 12 blocks. 

Sapporo Ramen

Sapporo is famous for its ramen and there are two famous ramen places in Sapporo. When we first for to the hotel, we were so hungry and headed straight to the Sapporo Ramen Republic at the 10th floor of Esta shopping east of the JR Sapporo station's south entrance.

Sapporo Ramen Republic

There are eight ramen restaraunts here.

We settled for this restarant as we were too hungry to shop around

Overall, the ramen is better than the ones in Singapore but we were not bowled over.

And here's our review of the Sapporo Ramen Yokocho （元祖さっぽろラーメン横丁）in Susukino, and known as the birthplace of miso ramen.

How to get to Susukino:

Map of Susukino

We had the most delicious ramen at "Teshikaga" famous for seafood broth! It is just a simple place with counter and stools to have a quick meal. Just put your coins into the vending machine and choose the ramen of your choice. Value-for-money with each ramen set costing around Y1000 only.

Crab Ramen, absolutely yummy with thick broth and fresh crab and scallops. Thick broth to go with it! 

Crab Feasting at Kani Shogun Sapporo

Ok, the next series of posts will be devoted to all the tasty food we've had in Sapporo. Yummy !

The highlight of the trip was the crab set meal at Kani Shogun. The restraurant has prominent frontage with a giant 'crab' hanging outside. You can't miss it when you get to the Susukino area. Here's the website.

The 10 course set meal cost about S$65 and was absolutely delectable !

Tourist-oriented restaurant with English and Chinese menu

Appetiser with very fresh raw queen crab. Trully unforgettable !

Crab au gratin was cheesy and simply heavenly 

The soup with the hot-pot queen crab was divine.

Crab sushi was average. I am not a sushi fan to begin with.

Jozankei Hot Springs

We took a day trip to the Jozankei Hot Springs, about 1 hour from Sapporo. You can take the package which comprises round trip tickets wtih bath entrance at 750Y (S$9.50). You can buy the tickets from Sapporo Station bus terminal, information desk in front of platform 12. 

Brochure on the package tour to Jonzankei Hot Springs

Details on the different hotels. The two circled ones were recommended by the hotel.

We got to the Daiichi Hotel around 11am. We were told that the hot spring is undergoing cleaning and not ready. So we took a stroll around the area.

Prayer area with Kuan Yin around the hotel

Stream where the hot spring water flows

Buddhist monk Bizen Jyozan, who found a hot spring here in the 19th century. 

One can also take free foot bath here.

The hotel recommended that we try out the hot spring at Jozankei Dai-ichi Hotel Suizantei. And it turned out to be a remarkable experience with the marvellous open-air hot spring. We can't take photos on-site but you can check out the tripadvisor photos here.

After the hot spring, we had a most comfortable massage on massage chairs at the lounge area. Don't miss these massage chairs. Best of all, no charges !

Exterior of hotel

And now it's lunch time ! We had the most delicious cold noodles ever ! Apparently it is made of special wheat produced in that area.

Yummy tempura

Cold noodles made with special wheat

Soon it is time to go back to Sapporo. The bus stop is directly opposite the hotel and there is a schdeule of bus arrivals.

Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya Tour

Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya Tour

We booked a day tour with Chuo Bus to to the Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya. Chuo bus has multi-lingual audio headphones so this made the tour much more interesting. Here's the link to find out more about this tour : Day Tour to Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya

Our Chuo Bus is big and comfortable

Our first stop was at Lake Shikotsu. This is Japan's second largest caldera lake, formed some tens of thousands of years ago in a massive volcanic eruption. We took the optional cruise around the lake for Y1,100 (SGD$14). 

Scenic cruise around the lake

Explanation of the different kinds of fishes on board the cruise

Fishes underwater

Those who prefer may take the duck rides around the lake rather than the cruise

After the cruise, we headed for lunch at Toyako Manseikaku Hotel for salmon lunch. There is some time after lunch for a nice stroll around the area and take in the beautiful view of pristine Lake Toya and its crystal clear waters.