Discover Sapporo at night, where there’s something for every type of night owl. Maybe you’re looking for a revelrous few hours of partying and pachinko parlors (a cross between pinball and slot machines) in nightlife hub Susukino, Sapporo’s own “Little Tokyo”, or perhaps slurping up Hokkaido ramen in a tiny noodle bar, watching the world go by, is more your scene. You could drink draft beers and crunch through zangi chicken at your host’s favorite izakaya, see lit-up art installations at Moerenuma Park after dark, or head to the famous Mt. Moiwa Ropeway for a viewpoint that’s officially been listed as one of the best night scenes in Japan (when you see the millions of twinkling lights for yourself, you’ll know why.) What do you choose?

In central Sapporo, you’ll have a memorable night no matter what you decide to do – assuming you keep your intake of Sapporo beer to a reasonable amount, that is! And it might be a bigger challenge than you think, because beer is a huge part of the city’s nightlife. You could take an early evening tour of the Sapporo Beer Museum, then stroll a mile east to the city’s central park, Ōdōri, to watch the city’s neon lights crackle into life from the Sapporo TV Tower Observation Deck. Perhaps you’ll amble 10 minutes south to entertainment district Susukino to get swept up with salarymen ducking between tiny restaurants and karaoke bars, or maybe you’ll opt for a peaceful evening west in snow-capped mountains at the famous Jozankei Onsen Hot Springs.