Now is the time to introduce my favorite 100 yen shop, Seria after posted two majors of 100 yen shop, Daiso and Cando more than a year ago. I finally found Seria, the Japanese second largest 100 shop chain at Sapporo central area when I stayed in Sapporo for new year holiday this year. Read More
Seria offers various selection of stylish goods to target especially for ladies. The shop looks like a cafe or a shop to sell interior goods rather than 100 yen shop, which has been attracting many female customers. Seria’s DIY goods, house decorating items and materials for hand-made are well known as quite useful and reasonable items among people who love something to do self customizing .
When I visited Seria at first time, surprised the quality of those products and cannot believe all of them are sold at 100 yen only. Above all, daily use products and kitchen items like dishes and cups with simple design would be never like products of 100 yen value. Seria is often introduced as a fashionable 100 yen shop chain in Japanese magazines. Mag cups in the picture below is especially recommended as the goods we should buy at Seria.
Some cosmetics which are sold at Seria have been also getting high popularity in Japan. Those are 100 yen (Exc. Tax) only as well, but the biggest cosmetics ranking website in Japan, @cosme appreciates the quality of some items. Especially, nail polish and concealer are known as highly-rated items.
Most of items sold at Seria are made-in Japan products, so it might be good place to buy casual souvenirs for your friends or colleagues. Foods are very limited at Seria while other 100 yen shops offer lots of choices. If you look for something to eat such as snacks, candy, chocolate, drinks and seasonings, etc, I recommend to go to Daiso or Cando.
100 Yen Shop Seria – 4 Chome Plaza Branch
Address: 4F, 4 Chome Plaza, Minami 1 Nishi 4, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo
Open: 10:00-20:30
Sapporo has the largest population in Hokkaido and even has 4th largest population in Japan. It is not such big city as Tokyo or Osaka, but you can surely enjoy shopping in Sapporo which has a lot of shopping spots as well.
In this post, I introduce 10 popular shopping places like shopping malls, department stores and outlet malls in Sapporo city and near Sapporo area.
1. Sapporo Stellar Place
Sapporo stellar Place is located at quite convenient place directly connected from Sapporo station. The shopping mall is composed by more than two hundred shops from apparel shops, cosmetics shops and movie theater to restaurants, which always attracts both local people and tourists. Sapporo Stellar Place is also linked to Daimaru department store and under ground shopping area such as ESTA and APIA. If you stay at JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo, you can easily reach Sapporo Stellar Place as well as JR Sapporo station.
By the way, I obtained valuable information regarding discount coupon for shopping at APIA, ESTA, paseo and STELLAR PLACE. “Welcome Coupon” is given to foreign tourists when they show their own passport or “JR pass” at each information counter. Please check JR TOWER WELCOME COUPON to see more details about it
– Popular shops in Sapporo Stellar Place-
– Shiro- Made-in-Japan natural skin care items
– ORBIS-Skin care items
– Diana-Shoes
– DIESEL-Clothes
– ADAM ET ROPÉ-Clothes
– HMV-CD, DVD
– Disney Store
– ABC Mart-Shoes
– Sanseido Book Store
– Sapporo cinema flonteer-Movie theater
– Hands Be by Tokyu Hands-Stationary and cosmetics
– Nemuro Hanamaru-Kaiten Sushi restaurant
– Basic information –
Address: Nishi 2-5, Kita 5, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo
*Directly connected from JR Sapporo station and subway Sapporo station
Official website: http://www.stellarplace.net/foreign
Open: 10:00-21:00(11:00-23:00 for restaurants)
2. Sapporo Factory
Sapporo factory is a shopping complex including more than 160 shops such as apparel shops, amusement zone, restaurants and hotel. Red brick building in Sapporo factory especially has a spot to sell souvenirs and locally originated items which is limited to be sold at this place. It is not a selling product, but the most famous attraction about Sapporo factory is a big beautiful Christmas tree appeared from Nov to Dec.
– Popular shops in Sapporo factory –
– Toko Store-Supermarket
– United Cinema-Movie theater
– Namco-Gaming place
– Nike Shop
– The North Face Plus
– Mont-bell Factory Outlet
– Beer Keller Sapporo Kaitakushi-Beer Hole
– Seria-100 Yen Shop
– Sapporo Drug Store-Cosmetics, medicines
– Basic information –
Address: Higashi 4, Kita 2, Chuo Ku, Sapporo
*3 minutes walk from Subway Bus Center Mae station
Official website: http://sapporofactory.jp/foreigin/english/index.html
Open: 10:00-21:00(11:00-23:00 for restaurants)
3. MITSUI OUTLET PARK SAPPORO KITAHIROSHIMA
MITSUI OUTLET PARK SAPPORO KITAHIROSHIMA is one of the biggest outlet mall in Hokkaido. It is not located at Sapporo but located at Kitahiroshima city. More than 170 shops including domestic and international brand shops are offering items with special discounted price. Not only clothes, but accessories, watches, glasses, cosmetics and kitchen items are also sold at MITSUI OUTLET PARK SAPPORO KITAHIROSHIMA. Spacious places are offered for shopping and you can also enjoy eating at food coat and restaurants.
– Popular shops in MITSUI OUTLET PARK SAPPORO KITAHIROSHIMA –
– Jimmy Choo
– United Arrows
– Micheal Kors
– Dunhill
– UGG
– COACH
– See By Chloe
– GLOBAL WORK
– FURLA
– Folli Follie
– CITIZEN
– SEIKO
– ASICS
– NIKE
– Ray-Ban
– Crocs
– LUPICIA-Tea shop
– GODIVA-Chocolate
– Combi-Kids Items
– Matsumoto Kiyoshi-Cosmetics & Medicines
– Basic information –
Address: 7-6, 3 Chome Omagari Saiwai Cho, Kitahiroshima
*20 minutes by bus from JR Kitahiroshima station, 50 minutes by bus from JR Sapporo station,
Official website: http://www.31op.com/sapporo/english/
Open: 10:00-21:00(11:00-21:00 for restaurants)
4. CHITOSE OUTLET MALL RERA
140 shops are gathering and offering popular brand items at CHITOSE OUTLET MALL RERA. Free shuttle bus runs from New Chitose airport, so you can directly reach there on the day of your arrival. CHITOSE OUTLET MALL RERA is just located next to JR Minami Chitose station, so the access would not be so inconvenient even though it is not situated in Sapporo city.
– Popular shops in CHITOSE OUTLET MALL RERA –
– Gucci
– Coach
– POLO RALPH LAUREN
– MAX＆Co.
– Samsonite
– Beams
– Levi’s
– Seiko
– Tasaki- Accessories
– Lego-Toy
– Laox- Electrical Appliances
– Sapporo Drug Store-Cosmetics, medicines
– ABC Mart-Shoes
– Basic information –
Address: 2-1, 1 Chome Kashiwadai Minami Chitose
*10 minutes by free shuttle bus from New Chitose Airport, 3 minutes walk from JR Minami Chitose station
Official website: http://www.outlet-rera.com/english/
Open: 10:00-19:00
5. ESTA
ESTA is directly linked to JR Sapporo station. From B2 to 10F, you can enjoy shopping at local sweet snack shops, 100 yen shop, Uniqlo and big camera etc… . These ESTA’s wide varieties of shops attracts local people as well. There is a special zone named as “Ramen Kyowakoku” gathering many Ramen shops on the 10th floor.
– Popular shops in ESTA –
– Can Do-100 Yen Shop
– Bic Camera-Electrical Appliances
– Uniqro-Clothes
– Loft-Stationary, Interior items
– Nitori-Interior items
– Global Works-Clothes
– ABC Mart-Shoes
– GU-Clothes
– Namco-Gaming place
– Ramen Kyowakoku-Ramen shops
– Basic information –
Address: Kita 5 Nishi 2, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo
*Directly connected from JR Sapporo station and subway Sapporo station
Official website: http://www.sapporo-esta.jp/foreign
Open: 10:00-21:00(11:00-22:00 for restaurants)
6. DAIMARU
DAIMARU Saporo branch, the department store directly linked to JR Sapporo station, is the best place to buy luxury brands goods in Hokkaido. Not only clothes and accessories, I also recommend foreign tourists to go to the basement floor which is selling delicious local foods from fresh seafood to sweet snacks. Some of them would be good for souvenirs.
– Popular shops in DAIMARU –
– 4℃-Accessaries
– G-SHOCK
– Ｍ・Ａ・Ｃ-Cosmetics
– ALBION-Cosmetics
– Armani
– Helmes
– Cultier-Accessories
– GUCCI
– COMME DES GARCONS
– Shu Uemura- Cosmetics
– Tasaki-Accessories
– Tiffany & Co.
– Paul Smith
– Pokemon Center
– Max Factor/SKⅡ-Cosmetics
– Basic information –
Address: NIshi 4-7, Kita 5, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo
*Directly connected from JR Sapporo station and subway Sapporo station
Official website: http://www.daimaru.co.jp.e.md.hp.transer.com/sapporo/index.html
Open: 10:00-20:00(11:00-22:00 for restaurants)
7. Ario Sapporo
Ario Sapporo is located at residential area which is still not far from JR Sapporo station. The nearest station is JR Naebo station and you can get to Ario Sapporo by approximately 10 minutes walk from the station. There is Sapporo beer garden neighborhood, so you can enjoy both shopping and drinking there! A big supermarket, Ito Yokado and more than 100 shops are situated in Ario Sapporo.
– Popular shops in Ario Sapporo-
– Ito Yokado-Supermarkt
– Tower Record-CD&DVD
– XEBIO Sport-Sports item
– HABA-Cosmetics
– Uniqro
– ABC Mart-Shoes
– Cando-100 Yen Shop
– Ainz-Cosmetics&Medicines
– Akachan Honpo-Baby Items
– Basic information –
Address: Higashi 9-2-20, Kita 7, Higashi-Ku, Sapporo
*10 minutes walk from JR Naebo Station
Official website: http://www.ario-sapporo.jp/web/en/
Open: 10:00-21:00(11:00-22:00 for restaurants)
8. PARCO
PARCO has been attracting young people for long years. Many apparel shops, MUJI, interior goods shop and hair salon are located in PARCO. Restaurants offering nice foods with cozy atmosphere on 8th floor are getting high reputation from local people. As the 8th floor is open until 23:00, you can enjoy food and relax there after shopping.
– Popular shops in PARCO –
– LUSH-Cosmetics
– Cath Kidston
– Samantha Thavasa
– Onitsuka Tiger
– MUJI
– United Arrows-Clothes
– DIESEL–Clothes
– LABLISS-Kimono
9. AEON Sapporo Soen Shopping Center
The core tenant of AEON Sapporo Soen Shopping Center is AEON supermarket. Because AEON Sapporo Soen Shopping Center is situated just next to JR Soen staion, its access would be very convenient for tourists. The number of shops in the shopping mall is not many, but it is attractive that the large scale supermarket is unusually located in Sapporo city center.
Popular shops in AEON Sapporo Soen Shopping Center
– AEON Supermarket
– Seria-100 Yen Shop
– Miraiya Book Store
– Claire’s-Accessories
– Donguri-Bakery
– Sazae-Japanese snucks
– Roman Tei-Cake shop
10. Marui Imai Sapporo branch
Marui Imai Sapporo branch is directly linked to Subway Odori station and it is very close to Sapporo TV tower, one of the major sight seeing spots in Sapporo. Marui Imai Sapporo branch has been offering books, clothes and furniture, etc…for many years as a local department store. Basement floor selling delicious local foods is most attractive for me. It is surely good place to buy souvenirs, in addition that, is also fun place to check many variety of local foods as well.
-Popular shops in Marui Imai Sapporo branch-
– GUCCI
– CELINE
– Chloé
– Fendi
– MIKOMOTO
– TASAKI
Not only Hokkaido local companies, Japanese major beverage companies also sell area limited products in Hokkaido. Drinks introducing here are all available at supermarkets or convenient stores, so you can enjoy them at the hotel room during travel or even bring back to your home country as one of souvenirs.
Sapporo Classic by Sapporo Breweries Ltd.
Hearing the words “Sapporo”, not a few people may come up with Sapporo beer first. Though it is named as “Sapporo”, most Sapporo beer brand products are sold all over Japan, even seen many places in the world. The exception is Sapporo Classic and you can only buy it in Hokkaido. Sapporo Classic is a beer produced from 100% malt and not including auxiliary ingredients, which especially matches made-in-Hokkaido foods such as fresh seafoods and vegetables.
Convenience stores in Sapporo are keeping this product as ordinary items, so you can easily get them.
Katsugen by Megmilk Snow Brand
Who knows Katsugen? Anyone knows what Katsugen is? People excepting those who are from Hokkaido would have no idea about this drink, but it is very familiar to Hokkaido local. Many people say the taste is similar to Yakult, but it still has original fragrance and flavor along with bit sournesss and sweetness. The taste with not too sweet has been attracting many fans. We can find Katsugen at supermarkets and convenience stores in Hokkaido.
Fire milk taste limited in Hokkaido by Kirin Company
When I went to Asahikawa, found a Hokkaido limited edition of popular brand canned coffee in the vending machine at Sapporo station. Fire milk taste limited in Hokkaido looked as usual types of canned coffee sold everywhere, but it was actually described as Hokkaido limited on the can. Sugar and milk added into the coffee are made-in-Hokkaido and the canned coffee is sold only in Hokkaido. Milk produced in Hokkaido is used in various tasty products and even seen them in other countries, meanwhile, sugar produced in Hokkaido is not as popular as milk. In addition to rich taste of Hokkaido milk and fresh cream, the mildly sweet sugar are making the nice taste. Fire milk taste limited in Hokkaido is a mild taste milk coffee, so those who don’t like the bitter taste of coffee could even try it.
There are a lot of famous cakes, cookies, chocolates and other types of confectionaries in Hokkaido. Among them, NAMA CHOCOLATE by Royce and SHIROI KOIBITO by Ishiya are bought by tourists as souvenirs of Hokkaido or as one of the most popular Japanese snacks.
Compared to NAMA CHOCOLATE and SHIROI KOIBITO which are sold in other areas in Japan, some snacks with tasty and famous for local people are only sold in Hokkaido. Introduceing here is such local special snacks. Those are eaten by local hokkaido people as familiar snacks for long years, on the other hand, would become suitable souvenirs for tourists as Hokkaido’s specialities
Marusei butter sand
Marusei butter sand is a cookie produced by Rokkatei which is one of the famous confectionary shops in Hokkaido. You can enjoy the taste with rich butter cream and raisins sanded by moist cookies. It has been always ranked in top 10 of the most popular snacks, in other word, “must-buy snacks” sold in new Chitose airport.
Marimo Yokan (Marino shaped sweet bean past jelly)
Marimo Yokan is mainly sold at shops around Lake Akan and some shops in Hokkaido area are also dealing with it. It’s shape is resembling Marimo, one of the nationally protected species in Japan. The taste is similar to traditional Yokan, but this unique shape attracts many tourists. As Marimo Yokan is covered by transparent thin rubber, you need to pierce it by a toothpick as if breaking balloon when you take inside out to eat it. This interesting process for eating is also attracting many people.
Introducing here is some Hokkaido local food we cannot get even other areas in Japan.
Those food only available in Hokkaido is very popular for local people with certified taste, so may be reasonable souvenir to your friends as well as eating by yourself.
Dried Komai fish（むしりこまい）
Komai fish is written as 氷下魚 in Chinese character, which means fish under ice. It lives under cold sea , so is common fish for Hokkaido local people though it would not be popular for most Japanese people. The taste of grilled Komai fish is similar to grilled cod fish as both of them belongs to same classification of fish. By the way, this dried Komai fish is often eat when we drink alcohols as the tast mathes Japanese sake or even beer.
Not a few local people like to dip mayonnaise on it. If you have a chance to get dried Komai fish, I recommend to enjoy both original taste and the taste with mayonnaise!
Dried salmon（鮭スティック、とば）
Dried salmon is also very popular snack in Hokkaido, but uncommon food for most Japanese people. If you like seafood especially love raw salmon, try the dried salmon as well! As you see, the colour of salmon between dried one and raw one is different, so you may not notice the dried one is made by salmon at first sight.
The texture of dried salmon is hard, but the more you bite, the better it tastes!
Both dried Komai fish and dried salmon are sold at convenient stores and supermarkets in Hokkaido.
There are a lot of popular ramen shops in Sapporo. Among them, I introduce “Ebisoba Ichigen”, one of my favorite Ramen shops recently. “Ebisoba Ichigen”‘s central branch is located in Sapporo city center, and a branch shop is even located in Tokyo, however the most convenient branch for travellers to Hokkaido would be New Chitose airport branch.
If you come to the international terminal in New Chitose airport, you need to move to the domestic terminal which has the shopping zone and restaurants area. Reaching 3rd floor of the domestic terminal, you could find “Hokkaido Ramen Dojo” many popular ramen shops are gathering. “Ebisoba Ichigen” is just standing very close to the entrance of it.
By the way, the characteristic of ramen by “Ebisoba Ichigen” is the noodle soup made of prawn just as the shop name implies. (Ebi in Japanese means prawn). You can select a favorite taste from three kinds, Ebi shoyu, Ebi miso and Ebi shio, and also choose the thickness of each soup such as Sonomama, a standard prawn soup, Hodohodo, a prawn + pork based Tonkotsu soup and Ajiwai which is much thicker taste of Hodohodo. The shop has the menu in English, Chinese and Korean, so it is easy to order any ramen for people who don’t understand Japanese too.
Ramen offered by “Ebisoba Ichigen” may not like traditional Hokkaido Ramen, but once you try it, may be addicted it like me! Unfortunately, the chance we can eat it is only on the occasion we stay in Japan because “Ebisoba Ichigen” has no overseas branches, however it offers packed ramen which enable us to get at the supermarkets in Sapporo. If you buy it, can also try the authentic Ebisoba Ichigen Ramn at your own country. I actually get some when I go back to Sapporo and bring them back to China where I currently live in. The process to cook this packed ramen is different from ordinary instant noodle as noodle and soup need to be boiled separately, and noodle type used is fresh type rather than dry type like normal instant noodle. It takes more time consumed to prepare a bawl of ramen than normal instant noodle, but the taste is much close to the one we try at the actual ramen shop.
I also recommend the packed ramen as a souvenir for friends who especially like Japanese food.
From cosmetics, daily goods and clothes to foods, various kinds of items are available at low price in “Don Quixote (ドン・キホーテ)”
There are a few branches in Sapporo City. I especially recommend tourists visit to “Don Quixote Sapporo branch(ドン・キホーテ札幌店) ” which is located in popular shopping spot, Tanuki Koji arcade.
Very popular goods for foreign tourists or goods they should buy in Don Quixote are as follows.
Foods: Snacks, especially green tea flavored “Kit Kat” or any Matcha tast snacks. Baby goods: Diaper, milk powder Electric appliances: Rice cooker, electric shavers, beauty appliances, particularly “Hitachi hada clie”, and any products made in Japan. Health related goods: Healthcare supplements, eye drops such as ” Sante FX” etc. Beauty care goods: Eyelash, cleansing oam such as “Shiseido perfect whip”. Others: Japanese language T shirt, pet products etc.
Not a few shops except restaurants or bars are close before 9:00 pm at Sapporo city center. I often hear tourists who plan to go shopping after the dinner are disappointed to the situation of night shopping in Sapporo. In this point, Don Quixote is the suitable place for them. It is open 24 hours, so very convenient for most travelers who have limited time for shopping. As you can see above goods selection, Don Quixote is dealing variety of goods like shopping mall. Once enter the shop, you may find all what you want are sold at this shop. Don Quixote Sapporo branch is not very big, but wide variety of items are compactly arranged at selling space. (The arrangement of goods at Don Quixote is very unique and not like other shops in Japan)
Since some goods sold at Don Quixote are much cheaper than supermarkets or drug stores, many local people also often visit here to buy daily goods.
Don Quixote Sapporo branch Address: 3-6 Nishi, Minami 2 Jo, Chuo ku, Sapporo Tel: 011-219-4811
*Entrances are facing to Tanuki Koji side and Ekimae Dori side
Daiso Sapporo chuo branch located near Tanuki koji arcade holds 5 floors for selling space with various kinds of items. It looks like department store! This spacious shop keeps enough supply and you may be able to get what other 100 yen shops don’t deal with.My favorite section is the floor selling cosmetics or those related goods. Daiso’s cosmetics often become very popular among Japanese ladies, as those goods quality is much higher than expected even though all goods are only JPY 108. Some items such as Japanese Sake skin toner, “Sake Shizuku(酒しずく)”, make-up sponge detergent, and diluting liquid for mascara are often sold out.
Other than above goods, nail related items and make-up tools are also sold at same floor.
Right-make-up sponge detergent, Left-Diluting liquid for mascara
Variety of stationery, kitchen items, interior goods and foods etc. can be found at Daiso Sapporo Chuo Branch as well. As there are sections to sell Macha snacks and Japanese style fancy goods at this shop, it would be suitable for travelers to buy souvenirs for friends.
Daiso(Sapporo Chuo Branch)
Address: 1 F Togashi building, Minami 2 Jo Nishi 2 Chome, Chuo Ku, Sapporo
Open: 10:00-21:00
Ramen offered by “Ebisoba Ichigen” may not like traditional Hokkaido Ramen, but once you try it, may be addicted it like me! Unfortunately, the chance we can eat it is only on the occasion we stay in Japan because “Ebisoba Ichigen” has no overseas branches, however it offers packed ramen which enable us to get at the supermarkets in Sapporo. If you buy it, can also try the authentic Ebisoba Ichigen Ramn at your own country. I actually get some when I go back to Sapporo and bring them back to China where I currently live in. The process to cook this packed ramen is different from ordinary instant noodle as noodle and soup need to be boiled separately, and noodle type used is fresh type rather than dry type like normal instant noodle. It takes more time consumed to prepare a bawl of ramen than normal instant noodle, but the taste is much close to the one we try at the actual ramen shop.
