9 Best Markets in Sapporo

Nijo Market, dating back to the early Meiji period, is an absolutely essential gourmet spot for tourists to Sapporo. About 15 seafood vendors line the shelves of the market with their wares, offering a wide variety of seafood from Hokkaido, including special types of crabs and scallops that can be bought as souvenirs or eaten raw or grilled on the spot.

Dried and processed seafood products are everywhere. There are also plenty of melons, corn, and other farm produce for which Hokkaido is famous, and some of these items are available for tasting. At Noren Yokocho next to Sosegawa River, bowls of rice topped with sea urchin, crab, salmon roe, and other delicacies attract the foodies. Also popular are shops where you can grab a drink with sushi or sashimi.

Sapporo Crab Market is a direct sales store operated by Kanikosen, a sales company that delivers crabs landed in Nemuro. The wide variety of beautiful crabs in various sizes is quite spectacular. Payment can be made with cash, credit card or PayPay.

Your purchases can be shipped as gifts direct from the store. The reasonable prices and reliable quality provided by the company's own factory in Sapporo keep many customers returning for more.

Sapporo City Wholesale Market is a megamarket bringing in products from all across Hokkaido. It’s not open to the public, but tours are available if you make a reservation in advance. The early morning auction, where you can see the work of professionals from an upstairs corridor, is a true highlight of sightseeing in Sapporo. You can also learn more in the exhibition and reference rooms.

You can enjoy shopping for souvenirs, tasting food, and eating at the outside market, where many locals as well as tourists come to visit. From king crabs to Yubari melons, the market has something for everyone, offering a wide variety of Hokkaido's delicacies at reasonable prices.

Hakko Gakuen Farm Market has a secret: soft-serve ice cream so delicious and at such a low price that the locals want to keep it to themselves! The rich, milky taste is second to none. Enjoy it while sitting on a bench and admiring the typical Hokkaido farm scenery.

Other dairy products that make great souvenirs include milk, yoghurt, and (non-soft-serve) ice cream. Only raw milk from cows on the farm is used in all of these products. The market also sells vegetables and handmade processed goods delivered every morning from local farmers, but note that these popular items quickly sell out.

Sacchu Oroshi Centre is located off-site of the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market, serving as a "kitchen" for the citizens of Sapporo. There are plenty of fresh items from Sapporo Central Wholesale Market here, as well as fish dishes that are rarely found in supermarkets, such as nakaochi (leftover flesh on the spine of tuna) and kama (tuna meat around the gills).

Souzai (side dishes), atsuyaki tamago (thick omelettes), and bento boxes are popular and reasonably priced. Ohgane Chikusan, a butcher’s shop, is especially famous for its croquettes, minced pork cutlets, gyoza (dumplings), and Hokkaido's famous zangi (deep-fried chicken).

Golden Market is an indoor flea market organised by Television Hokkaido. Held in spring and autumn, it’s the largest market of its kind in northern Japan. Known by its abbreviation GORUMA, this is a hugely popular event in Hokkaido. With stalls from professionals and companies, you can grab great deals in a wide range of categories.

Other highlights include stage performances by celebrities and entertainers with ties to Hokkaido. Besides shopping, there are also excellent food stalls and events for children.

At Sapporo Morning Market, fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables, meat, and processed foods are available at wholesale prices to both vendors and general customers. Many Sapporo citizens shop here for high-quality ingredients at restaurant and hotel grade at low prices.

The market’s restaurants are also popular among tourists for their reasonably priced sushi and seafood bowls, with crowds gathering here every breakfast time. For souvenirs, try fresh Hokkaido seafood such as crab, atka mackerel, salmon, and sweet shrimp. Items can be shipped directly to other parts of Japan.

THE KURASHI STORE OF HOKKAIDO is a select shop in Ario Sapporo featuring a variety of gifts from Hokkaido. The shelves are filled with items that are both unique to Hokkaido and novel. If you want to shop for souvenirs that are a bit different from the rest of the crowd, this is the place for you.

The craftsmanship of the people behind the products here is pretty impressive, including items such as products made in cooperation with local artists and craft beers. You’ll also find unique products such as soup made with Kitami onions.

The Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo is a held in Sapporo's Odori Park before Christmas. Here you’ll find many items made by local studios and creators, mainly from Hokkaido, just like an authentic European Christmas season.

Here you can enjoy illuminations decorating the entire venue, a Christmas music stage, photo opportunities with Santa Claus, German workshops, picture book readings, and much more. This event promises fun for all ages.