Guide to the Festival
Sapporo Autumn Fest occupies most of Odori Park, with offerings concentrated in 1-chome, 4-chome–8-chome, 10-chome, and 11-chome. Each area has a distinct atmosphere and a different focus. Around two hundred stalls are open on any given day, and new ones appear throughout the festival.
1-chome: Oktoberfest
The German-style beer festival under the Sapporo TV Tower is an outgrowth of the close and longstanding sister-city relationship between Sapporo and Munich. Live bands playing traditional German music provide an authentic Munich atmosphere to accompany the microbrews from Germany and Hokkaido. Sausages and other German cuisine are on the menu, along with various Hokkaido specialties.
4-chome: Sapporo Welcome Park
This is the entrance to Autumn Fest. A number of stalls offer cuisine showcasing seasonal ingredients from Hokkaido, with meat and seafood dishes dominating the menu. There is a wine bar, and cocktails, champagne, and sake are also available, all of which can be enjoyed at seating surrounding the large fountain at the center of the park.
5-chome: Ramen Fest and Kuidaore Square
Hokkaido is well known for ramen noodles made with wheat grown in Asahikawa. This is a great place to sample those noodles in different varieties of ramen dishes from all over the island. Fruit and soft-serve ice cream are another point of interest in this block. The huge trees in 5-chome and their falling leaves provide an atmospheric place to wine and dine, and there is a full lineup of stage events during the day.
6-chome: Restaurants
Many of the most popular restaurants in Sapporo set up temporary locations here during the festival. There is ample dining space at tables set up under the large trees in this section of the park.
7-chome: Bar
This block features the wines of Hokkaido, as well as vintages from overseas, along with an array of cheeses, grilled oysters, and other foods that pair well with wine. There are many shops selling wine, hard cider, whiskey, and Japanese shochu distilled spirits.
8-chome: Hokkaido Market
Local delicacies from more than 100 towns in Hokkaido are on offer, and it’s possible to sample specialties from the whole island in one block. Maps of the island pinpoint the exact locations of the towns that are represented, enhancing the sense of taking a virtual tour.
10-chome: Oh! Dori Farm
This block is dedicated to meat and game, with a huge selection of venison, pork, lamb, chicken, and beef on offer. Famous Hokkaido wild game shops also set up their stalls here.
11-chome: World Cuisine
Chefs of iconic restaurants in every corner of Sapporo serve up their specialties. Many of these dishes come from ethnic and international cuisines, and there are wines and beers from all over the world to round out the menus in this block.
