A recommended sports bar in the Sapporo Station area is a 1-minute walk from the JR Sapporo Station North Exit. Stepping inside you will find an atmosphere reminiscent of old-time America. It is a fun space, decorated with flags, uniforms, record jackets, toys and other retro goods throughout the store.

Five large screens show domestic soccer and baseball games every day making this a popular place for sports fans in Sapporo to gather. Projectors are also used to broadcast international games like the World Cup. During the Rugby World Cup, all games being played during the bar's open hours will be broadcast.

The large selection of beers is certain to catch your eye when you open the menu which is also in English. It offers a selection of over 30 types of beer from around the world including Japan, USA, Mexico, Belgium, and England.

The popular item on the menu is fish & chips (photograph, 900 yen including tax). The white fish is filleted, boned, and fried with careful attention. You have a choice of tartar sauce, ketchup, or malt vinegar made from barley and corn to go with it.

Also on the menu are buffalo wings, deep-fat-fried chicken wings in a spicy sauce (photo, 700 yen including tax) and crispy vegetable sticks (photo, 500 yen including tax), which all definitely go really well with alcoholic beverages.

JUNKIES, in Susukino, is a stylish Spanish sports bar with glittering chandeliers and leather sofas. It also broadcasts sports games mainly of domestic soccer and baseball, and it is very popular with sports fans in the Odori and Susukino areas.

One reason for this Sapporo bar’s popularity is being able to enjoy authentic Spanish cooking while watching sporting events. The most popular is the seafood paella (photograph, 2,000 yen including tax) loaded with lots of delicious seafood. Typical dishes from Spain are plentiful, such as the Gambas al Ajillo (800 yen with tax), the shrimp plump and juicy.

The bar offers a wide selection of alcoholic beverages, including over 20 types of wines from Spain, more than 60 kinds of cocktails, beer, whiskey, shochu, and fruit liquor.

Including the counter, all the seats are sofas where you can leisurely relax and enjoy a meal while watching a game.

This last Sapporo sports bar is especially recommended for rugby fans. It opened in 1995 and is the first Irish pub in Hokkaido. The owner is a former rugby player and the events shown are mainly rugby matches. Most of the staff also played rugby at one time or another. There are two of these kinds of bars in Sapporo and the Minami 3-jo bar is only a minute’s walk from Susukino Station. Some of the staff speak English.

In addition to casual snacks, other items on the menu also include meals for those with a hearty appetite.

Rich Black Hayashi Rice (photograph, regular 780 yen including tax, half size 480 yen including tax) has been a popular item on the menu since the store opened. Made with lots of onions and beef from Hokkaido, it has a deep rich flavor that is loved by all age groups. Two of the bar's signature dishes we recommend are the beef that has been stewed in Guinness (photo, 900 yen including tax) and the fish and chips made with Hokkaido cod (780 yen including tax).

Drinks include Guinness on tap, Kilkenny, and Sapporo Classic draft beer. There is also Irish whiskey, cocktails, and wine. During the happy hour between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday beer (pint size) is 200 yen less.

Text : minna no kotoba sha