Outside Ottawa

Maruki is a traditional soba restaurant located in central Sapporo, tucked into the ground floor of a modest building just off one of the city’s busy shopping and dining streets. From the outside, it doesn’t try to stand out. There’s no flashy signage, no modern design elements, and nothing that signals trendiness. Instead, it feels like a place that has existed quietly for years, serving customers who already know what they’re there for.

Nemeru Hanamaru is a very popular conveyor-belt sushi restaurant located inside Cocono Susukino, and popularity is the first thing you’ll notice. When we arrived, there was already a long lineup, and it ultimately took about 30 to 45 minutes to get in. That said, the waiting system here is handled exceptionally well.

Teppan Spaghetti is a small pasta-focused restaurant located inside the Cocono Susukino food court in central Sapporo. Unlike full-service restaurants elsewhere in the building, this spot operates firmly in food court mode: compact menu, quick service, and an emphasis on hot, freshly prepared dishes rather than presentation or atmosphere.

Panda-ya is a small Chinese restaurant located in Sapporo’s Kita Ward, near Hokkaido University. This is not a tourist-oriented spot and doesn’t feel designed to appeal to casual diners unfamiliar with spicy food. Instead, it comes across as a neighbourhood restaurant aimed at students and locals who are specifically seeking bold, spice-forward Chinese dishes.

Espresso D Works is a modern café in Sapporo that feels noticeably different from many of the traditional food spots I visited during this trip. Where ramen shops, sushi counters, and bakeries often lean heavily into Japanese tradition or regional specialties, Espresso D Works feels more contemporary and international in style. It’s the kind of café you could easily imagine in a large North American or European city, but executed with Japanese attention to detail.

Donbe is a seafood restaurant located inside Nijo Market, one of Sapporo’s most well-known food markets. The restaurant specializes in sashimi rice bowls (kaisendon), a style of dish that highlights raw seafood served generously over rice. Like many market-based eateries in Japan, Donbe is focused on freshness, speed, and quality rather than atmosphere or presentation flair.

Otaru Fuku Sushi is a traditional sushi restaurant located in the coastal town of Otaru, a short train ride from Sapporo. The restaurant fits naturally into Otaru’s slower, more nostalgic atmosphere. It’s not flashy or modern, and it doesn’t feel designed for social media or tourists chasing trends. Instead, it presents itself as a classic sushi restaurant—formal enough to feel like a proper sit-down meal, but still approachable.

Misogin is another ramen shop located inside Ramen Alley, one of the most famous ramen destinations in Sapporo. By this point in the trip, Ramen Alley had already become a familiar place—narrow, atmospheric, and packed with small ramen stalls, each claiming its own take on Sapporo-style ramen. Misogin fits perfectly into this environment: compact, focused, and clearly centred around miso ramen, the style that made Sapporo famous.

Hanamaru Sushi is a well-known sushi chain in Hokkaido, and its location inside Sapporo Station makes it one of the most convenient and popular sushi spots for both locals and travellers. Being situated in a major transit hub means it sees a constant flow of customers throughout the day—people grabbing a quick meal before boarding a train, commuters stopping by after work, and tourists looking to fit in one last sushi meal before leaving the city.

Onsen Ichiba is a seafood-focused restaurant located in Noboribetsu, a town best known for its hot springs rather than its dining scene. The restaurant feels intentionally tied to the area’s tourism culture – welcoming, casual, and clearly designed to showcase Hokkaido’s seafood in a way that’s accessible to visitors. One of the first things you notice upon entering is the presence of live seafood tanks inside the restaurant. Seeing live fish and shellfish swimming just steps away from the dining area immediately sets expectations around freshness.