Things to do in Sapporo：Susukino

North’s great entertainment district, famous throughout the country

The largest entertainment district north of Tokyo, located south of Odori, stretches north and south from South 4th to 8th Streets and east to west from Nishi 2nd to 5th Streets. The neon street, famous for its Nikka Whiskey signboard, is known as one of Japan’s three major entertainment districts and is a well-known spot nationwide.

 

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Miz / 北海道・札幌スイーツ＆カフェ(@mustichas)がシェアした投稿

It began as a red-light district around 1870 during the period of the Kaitaku-shi, and around 1920, the red-light district was moved to Shiroishi. Restaurants and other establishments lined the site, forming the foundation of today’s neon district.
Susukino, a city that never sleeps and is said to have a population of about 80,000 people at night, is characterized by its large number of stores. There are said to be around 3,500 shops concentrated in this area, and on weekends there is a steady stream of customers until dawn.

 

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あや・ひろ【北海道カップル・札幌グルメ・旅行・観光スポット】(@mogmogrume)がシェアした投稿

It is packed with a wide variety of shops that cater to a variety of needs, including local restaurants, izakayas, clubs, bars, karaoke, show pubs, ramen shops, and hotels.
Various events are held here, such as the summer Susukino Festival, where the courtesan journey is recreated, and the Susukino Ice World, where ice sculptures are lined up during the snow festival. The bustling city becomes even more exciting.

 

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きたごはん️ 札幌グルメ 隠れた名店探し(@kitagohan_insta)がシェアした投稿

About Susukino

Susukino is a nationally famous entertainment district. However, strangely, no matter which map of Sapporo you look for, you won’t find it as an official place name. At most, it is the name of a subway or streetcar station. Whether its name is “Susukino” or “Usukino,” it still somehow feels like Susukino, making it a very mysterious town.

 

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札幌食べっ子(@moogu._)がシェアした投稿

What makes Susukino unique is not only the number of stores it has, but also the fact that it is spread out three-dimensionally among a group of high-rise buildings. In one building, there are restaurants, entertainment establishments, hotels and related facilities next door, and almost every type of business you can think of is crowded together. It is truly a dream city, a Japanese version of the Arabian Nights.

 

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すきな居酒屋さん【札幌居酒屋】(@suki.sapporo.izakayasan)がシェアした投稿

The nighttime population of Susukino, the city that never sleeps, is approximately 80,000. Another feature of Susukino is its safety. It is a rare entertainment district in Japan where it is safe even if you drink all night with young women, and it is a perfect example of Susukino’s character.

 

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(@sapporo_0910)がシェアした投稿

Perhaps it was the open-mindedness of the people of Hokkaido, or the efforts of local people, but this is where the pride and confidence of the northern entertainment district lies. However, there are some unscrupulous establishments that charge unreasonable fees to tourists, so be sure to get information from locals, taxi drivers, and hotel staff before you go. is a good idea.

Link：Hokkaido official tourism website