Sapporo 5 Nights 6 Days Trip Day 4: Karaksa Hotel, Triton Beer Museum, Factory, 100 Yen Shop, Aiyo

Sapporo 5 Nights 6 Days Trip Day 4: Culinary Exploration, Shopping, and an Izakaya Night

Day 4 of our 5-night, 6-day trip in Sapporo was filled with delicious sushi and beer, shopping, and an authentic izakaya experience. After a hearty breakfast at the Richmond Hotel Ekimae where we stayed the previous night, we moved to the popular Karaksa Hotel, left our luggage, and officially began our day.

Delicious Sushi from Morning, Toriton Sushi Kōsei Branch

Our first stop for brunch was Toriton Sushi Kōsei Branch. We arrived early for the opening rush, but locals were already lining up, indicating its popularity. While waiting under the hot Sapporo sun, we explored a nearby market and sampled Yubari melon. Although we couldn’t find Furano melon, the Yubari melon was exceptionally sweet, exceeding our expectations and delighting our taste buds. Upon entering Toriton Sushi Kōsei Branch, it lived up to its reputation, offering a superb sushi experience. The eel sushi, in particular, was “so gorgeous” in both size and taste, an unforgettable treat. Even though my sister and I didn’t eat a huge amount, we were satisfied with the reasonable price.

Richmond Hotel Ekimae Breakfast — A hearty breakfast at Richmond Hotel Ekimae

Karaksa Hotel Check-in — We left our luggage at the Karaksa Hotel, where we would be staying for nights 4 and 5.

Coffee Takeout — A funny episode that happened while getting coffee to go

Street Scene — Street scene before the opening rush at Toriton Sushi

Market Exploration — Food found while exploring the market

Melon Tasting — We cooled off with a slice of sweet melon.

Toriton Sushi Kōsei Branch Exterior — Arrival at Toriton Sushi Kōsei Branch

Toriton Sushi Kōsei Branch Waiting Line — Toriton Sushi with a local waiting line already started

Sun Protection — We used sun patches to cope with the hot Sapporo sun.

Toriton Sushi Interior — Interior of Toriton Sushi Kōsei Branch

Toriton Sushi Food — Sushi ordered at Toriton Sushi

Enjoying Cold Beer at the Sapporo Beer Museum

After filling up on delicious sushi, we walked to the Sapporo Beer Museum. We explored the third-floor exhibition in the free-admission area and then headed to the tasting space in the basement to order and taste beer from a vending machine. While it wasn’t Sapporo Classic, the beer on the far right was my personal favorite. A cold glass of beer helped us momentarily forget the fatigue of our travels.

Sapporo Beer Museum Exterior — Arrival at Sapporo Beer Museum

Sapporo Beer Museum Interior — Exhibition inside Sapporo Beer Museum

Sapporo Beer Museum Tasting Area — Path down to the beer tasting area

Beer Tasting Vending Machine — Ordering beer from the vending machine.

Beer Tasting — The leisure of a cold glass of beer

Avoiding the Heat — I hid behind my sister to escape the heat on the hot day.

Shopping and Arcade Fun at Sapporo Factory Shopping Center

Sapporo Japan After about a 15-20 minute walk from the beer museum, we arrived at the Sapporo Factory Shopping Center. Here, with its impressive lush greenery, we took a moment to rest and enjoyed a refreshing drink at Tully’s Coffee. While browsing the 100-yen shop and various other stores, we discovered an arcade and took some purikura (sticker photos). The exaggerated eye-enlarging effect of Japan sticker photos made for a fun memory. I made a mistake by putting 1000 yen into what I thought was a coin exchanger but was actually a game coin machine, but with the help of a staff member, I was able to get a refund in yen. Please be careful when using coin exchange machines.

Sapporo Factory Exterior — Arrival at Sapporo Factory Shopping Center

Sapporo Factory Interior — The greenery-filled Sapporo Factory

Tully's Coffee — A refreshing drink at Tully’s Coffee

100 Yen Shop — Shopping at the 100-yen shop

Arcade — Taking sticker photos at the arcade

Sticker Photo Results — The characteristic effect of Japan sticker photos

Relaxation at Karaksa Hotel and Dinner at Aiyo Izakaya

On our way back to our accommodation, we enjoyed the Pure White corn we bought the day before, taking a moment to relax. The sweetness of the corn melted away our travel fatigue. Upon arriving at Karaksa Hotel, we rested briefly before heading out for dinner. Karaksa Hotel is well-equipped with hot spring facilities, making it convenient to use with the provided special attire and towels. The disposable facial cleansing products offered at the first-floor lobby and the bottled milk in the lounge are especially enjoyable perks. Disappointed that the nomihodai izakaya we originally planned to visit only accepted reservations, we quickly found Aiyo Izakaya on 스스키노 street. The Korean menu and QR code ordering system were convenient, and the all-you-can-drink highball, including a beer, was very satisfying. The appetizers were diverse and portioned well, allowing us to try various dishes. Although an unexpected visit, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner.