Sapporo is a city that eats late and eats well, and the small izakaya of Susukino and the lanes behind it are where much of that happens. An izakaya is a Japanese pub where food arrives in a steady stream of small plates meant for sharing, and a good one can be hard to spot for a visitor: the signs are in Japanese, the counters are tiny and many places fill with regulars who book their seats. This guided evening tour solves that problem. A local guide leads a small group through several venues in an evening, with ten dishes and drinks included, so that you taste a range of Hokkaido cooking without having to decide where to sit or what to order. Expect grilled skewers, fresh seafood, regional vegetables, fried snacks and the kind of simple dishes that locals order with a cold beer, since this is the home of one of Japan's best-known brands. The tour is built for people who like to eat, who are curious about how Japanese drinking culture works, and who would rather spend an evening with a guide than stand outside a doorway trying to translate a menu. It runs in the evening, so it fits neatly after a day of sightseeing, and it finishes in the middle of the city so that you can walk back to your hotel or carry on to a late bowl of ramen, which is a Sapporo tradition in its own right.
Why do this tour
The biggest barrier to enjoying Japanese pub food as a visitor is confidence. Many izakaya have no English menu, charge a small seating fee, expect you to order drinks first and only then food, and operate on unwritten rules that are easy to break by accident. A guided tour removes all of that. Your guide handles the ordering, explains each dish, shows you how the sharing works and tells you why Hokkaido ingredients such as scallops, crab, corn, potatoes and dairy taste the way they do.
You also learn the small etiquette points that make a night out smoother, from pouring drinks for your neighbour to the polite way to call for the next round. The result is a relaxed evening where you taste more than you could manage alone and leave understanding the culture around the food.
What the evening looks like
The group meets at a central point in the early evening and walks to the first venue, usually within the Susukino area. At each stop you sit down together, share a few plates and a drink, then move on. Moving between venues keeps the pace lively and lets you see the neon streets, the narrow side lanes and the little yokocho alleys that tourists often miss.
Because there are about ten dishes in total across the evening, most people find it a full dinner rather than a snack, so go hungry and skip the late afternoon sweets. Vegetarian and other dietary needs are worth raising when you book, since fish and pork are central to the local cooking and the guide will need notice to arrange alternatives.
Making a plan
This tour works best on your first or second night, because it gives you a map of the neighbourhood and a list of places to return to. It suits couples, friends and solo travellers, since a small group at shared tables is easy to join alone. It is not designed for young children, as the venues are bars and the evening runs late.
Winter evenings are especially atmospheric, with snow on the lanterns and steam rising from kitchens, although you should dress warmly for the walk between stops. If you want to finish with the classic Sapporo ending, a bowl of miso ramen at one of the late counters is a short stroll away. Book ahead for weekends and for the busy weeks around the Snow Festival, when groups fill quickly.
What to expect
The experience
A small-group evening walk between several izakaya and street-food counters in and around Susukino, with ten dishes and drinks shared along the way.
Best time
Early evening, any night of the week, with weekdays a little calmer and the winter months the most atmospheric.
How long
About three hours, ending in central Sapporo.
Tips
Arrive hungry, tell the organiser about dietary needs when you book, and dress warmly for the walks between venues.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Food lovers and first-timers who want to understand Japanese pub dining.
- Families
- Better for adults and older teens, since the venues are bars and the evening runs late.
- Couples
- A shared, relaxed dinner with plenty of conversation and a walk through the neon streets.
- Pair with
- Nijo Market the same morning, then a late bowl of ramen.
- Time needed
- Allow three and a half hours including the meeting point.
Good questions
What is an izakaya?+
An izakaya is a Japanese pub where small plates are shared with drinks. The food arrives gradually through the evening, so it works well for tasting many dishes.
Is this enough for dinner?+
Yes. With about ten dishes across several venues, most people find it a full dinner, so arrive hungry.
Can vegetarians join?+
Fish, pork and meat broths are common in the local cooking, so tell the organiser about dietary needs when you book so alternatives can be arranged.
Where does it take place?+
In and around Susukino, the main entertainment and dining district of central Sapporo, which is easy to reach by subway.
Is it suitable for children?+
It is designed for adults and older teenagers, because the venues are bars and the tour runs in the evening.
