Sapporo's Tanukikoji Shopping Street (often referred to as Tanukikoji for short) is one of the oldest shopping streets in all of Hokkaido, founded in 1873.

In Japan's current address system, cities are divided into districts called "chome."

The Meiji government set up the Hokkaido Development Commission in Sapporo, which led to an increase in merchant houses, shops, and restaurants around Tanukikoji 2-chome and 3-chome (its current location).

Moving to 1958, Tanukikoji 2-chome and 3-chome became full-covered shopping streets. This later expanded all the way from 1-chome to 7-chome, with each chome fitted with a different design. The current design of Tanukikoji was installed in 1982.

Many shopping streets (or “shotengai”) across Japan have tended to become a little run down, with many vacant shops and relatively few visitors.

However, Tanukikoji Shopping Street is still the place to go for locals and travelers visiting Sapporo. The shopping street is frequently updated with new shops and restaurants to keep it fresh and up-to-date.

The latest addition of the food-complex Tanuki COMICHI, in 2022, is filled with some of Hokkaido’s unique dishes, attracting workers and students to relax and eat some delicious food. It highlights that Tanukikoji is still the place to go to eat, shop and have some fun.

Tanukikoji's location and accessibility
Tanukikoji Shopping Street is located between Odori Park and Susukino, Sapporo’s entertainment district. From Odori Park, it takes less than a five-minute walk. You can walk overground, enjoying the city’s scenery, or, if the weather is not great, you can make use of the underground walkways, which take you all the way from Sapporo Station to Tanukikoji!

What kinds of shops and establishments are found in Tanukikoji?
The shopping street has everything you could ask for and more. From vintage clothes and footwear shops to cute cafes and izakayas (Japanese-style pubs), it is the perfect place to do some shopping and eat some of Hokkaido’s local cuisine!

The shopping street stretches 1km from Tanukikoji 1-chome to 7-chome. From 1-chome to 5-chome, you can find a mix of restaurants, retail shops, and entertainment spots. 6-chome and 7-chome are dedicated more to dining, with a host of different restaurants, bars, and izakayas selling some of Hokkaido’s local cuisine and food from around the world.

Tanukikoji also has some of the essential shops you might need along your travels, such as drugstores and electronic shops. There are also numerous souvenir shops to pick up some Hokkaido goods before you leave!

Tanukikoji’s unique charm and appeal
One of the most special things about Tanukikoji is the variety of shops, both in size and genre. There is so much to see and do, such as arcades and karaoke, to small record shops and bars. You’ll find so many different styles of restaurants and small little alleyways to uncover hidden bars and places to eat. You are by no means spoilt for choice, so it makes each visit an exciting one!

Throughout Tanukikoji, there are several drugstores where you can find most of the medicines, cosmetics, and everyday products you will need. There are a few different types of stores, but here is one of our recommendations.

Sapporo Drug Store is the city’s local drug store brand, with 163 across Hokkaido. The shop sells medicines, daily necessities, and even in most cases, food and drinks. Along Tanukikoji are two Sapporo Drug Store shops, both located in 5-chome. One is a smaller, boutique-style drugstore, while the other is a two-floor shop that will have everything you need.

There are many trendy and stylish shops along Tanukikoji Shopping Street for all ages and styles.

For those that love vintage clothes, Tanukikoji has some of the best shops in the city. You’ll be able to find some unique and stylish clothes to add to your wardrobe. Make sure to explore the small alleyways and little shops along the shopping street, as some of the vintage shops are not easily seen. These are some of our select vintage shops.

WEGO is a street fashion brand that was born in Harajuku, Tokyo. There's lots of casual wear that you can wear daily, making it popular with younger people. The Tanukikoji shop has a wide variety for both men and women with some unbeatable prices!

If you are looking for shoes, ABC Mart is the go-to shop. It has two floors with a variety of sports shoes, casual and dress shoes.

When visiting Sapporo, you’ll most likely want to take home some souvenirs for friends, family, and even for yourself! There are a few different souvenir shops that offer some of Hokkaido’s famous souvenirs, such as Rokattei’s Marusei Butter Sand or Ishiya’s Shiroi Koibito. While many souvenir shops offer the same product, this is one of our recommended ones.

If you are looking to grab a bargain, there are a few second-hand shops to try your luck. 2nd Street offers a wide variety of electronics, clothes, and miscellaneous items. There are two 2nd Street shops along Tanukikoji, so visit both to see if you can find any bargains!

Aside from shopping, there are many spots to pass the time, whether it is singing along to some karaoke or playing at an arcade. There are several different arcades, including JOY LAND and TAITO STATION. There are also gachapon (coin-operated toy dispensers) stores, where you can pick up some small toys and trinkets of your favorite Japanese anime characters and such.

The TAITO STATION located in 2-chome is the largest arcade with many UFO catchers, racing games, and taiko drum games.

For those on a budget, Don Quijote is a great option to do some shopping. The MEGA Don Quijote Sapporo Tanukikoji Honten has 4 floors filled with everything you could imagine. From beauty products and clothes to games and household electronics, if you ever need something urgently, Don Quijote will most probably have it. While there are some branded products, there are also many bargains available throughout the shop. Not to mention, the supermarket on the basement floor is extremely cheap, so it is a great option to pick up some food, snacks and drinks. It’s also open 24 hours!

Tanuki COMICHI is a food complex containing popular restaurants from across Hokkaido, that opened in 2022. You can enjoy a variety of foods such as kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers), jingisukan (mutton and lamb BBQ), and some of Hokkaido’s famous seafood. The tightly packed food complex has the atmosphere of a food market, with many of the restaurants having countertop-style seating, making it a great place to connect with the chefs, staff, and other diners. Throughout parts of Tanuki COMICHI, you can also see pictures of how Tanukikoji used to look in the past!

Miso ramen is one of Sapporo’s most popular local dishes. The rich, creamy, and umami-packed miso broth, combined with the thick and chewy noodles, is irresistible, and Tanukikoji is just the place to try it. One of our recommended shops is Ramen Sapporo Akahoshi, where you can indulge in a bowl of delicious ramen. They also have shio (salt) ramen and shouyu (soy sauce) ramen, as well as a host of other side dishes.

Along your shopping trip, you will undoubtedly want to take a little break. THAT Coffee Stand is the perfect stop to grab a coffee and some small sweets. As it is a coffee stand, there are only small bench seats around the counter, where you can enjoy drip coffee as well as espresso-based coffee.

Whether you are looking for a juicy burger, a steak, or yakitori, Tanukikoji has you covered. One must-try dish is jingisukan, a Hokkaido specialty. Mutton and lamb are grilled on a dome-shaped grill, with a variety of vegetables grilled at the bottom. The lamb is also often grilled over charcoal to give a beautiful smoky aroma and taste. There are several spots to enjoy jingisukan, with some restaurants offering outside tables in the warmer months, to enjoy the atmosphere of Tanukikoji Shopping Street.

Tanukikoji is a fantastic spot to grab a drink and some snacks if you want to enjoy Sapporo's nightlife. There are several bars and izakayas where you can sit down and enjoy some delicious food and drinks. Until late in the evening, Tanukikoji is still busy, full of locals enjoying their night out, adding an exciting and fun atmosphere. Bear Foot Bar is a fantastic option to enjoy drinks, ranging from beers and cocktails to sake, all accompanied by some Western-style bar food such as fish and chips and burgers.

After exploring all the shops along Tanukikoji, you might be craving something sweet to get those energy levels back up. There are numerous shops selling crepes, fruit sandwiches, and tapioca drinks, but one of our key recommendations is La Giostra GELATERIA. Here, you can enjoy many different gelato flavors, varying from season to season. The gelato's creaminess, sweetness, and richness make the perfect dessert or sweet snack! It is also open late in the evening so that you can grab some gelato after your night out.

Whether shopping for clothes, picking up some of your holiday essentials, or grabbing a bite to eat, Tanukikoji is the place to go. It is also a fantastic place to enjoy some of Hokkaido’s local cuisine and a great place to spend the night out, filled with food, drinks, and games. Be sure to explore all the nooks and crannies of the shopping street to uncover all the smaller shops and restaurants you might not initially see.

If you’re looking to experience Sapporo’s vibrant shopping scene, delicious food, and electric nightlife, Tanukikoji is definitely the place to visit along your travels.