Sapporo January 2026: Specialty Coffee & Ramen Adventure

Описание: We spent January 3rd exploring Sapporo, Japan during New Year's holiday—when most restaurants are closed or limited hours. Here's what we discovered about specialty coffee and ramen culture in Hokkaido's capital.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Node Brew It Specialty Coffee (Geisha Coffee Tasting)
1:00 Ganso Ramen Yokocho (Closed for New Year)
2:31 Long Lines & Disappointment
4:44 Sapporo New Ramen Street - Akarenga Ramen
6:20 Our Ramen Reaction (Miso Base, White Pepper, Butter)
8:47 Odori Park in Winter + Clock Tower
9:33 Marumi Coffee (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico Espresso)
12:04 Mermaid Coffee Roasters (Hot Lemonade)
15:17 Nakajima Park Exploration & Luxury Hotels
17:02 Ganso Ramen Second Visit (Still Closed)
18:21 Manryu Ramen Ekimae-Dori (TV Champion Ramen!)
21:03 Final Thoughts & Heading to Airport

📍 LOCATIONS FEATURED:

Node Brew It - Specialty Coffee Roaster
Location: 5 mins from Odori Station
Hours: 9am-5pm (closed Thursdays)
Specialty: Light roast, single-origin beans
Coffee tasted: Geisha, Colombia Aliso with Panama Harkman natural
Unique feature: Drum kit and music studio in basement

Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho - Historic Ramen Alley
Location: Susukino district (3 mins from Susukino Station)
Famous for: Birthplace of Sapporo miso ramen (est. 1950s)
Status on Jan 3: Many shops CLOSED (New Year holiday)
Lessons learned: Plan restaurant visits carefully during Jan 1-3

Sapporo New Ramen Street - Indoor Ramen Alley
Location: Building-based indoor alternative to old Ganso
Why we chose it: Less crowded, locals prefer quality
Shop tried: Akarenga Ramen
Success: Found alternative when original was closed

Odori Park - Central Sapporo Park
Size: 1.5km green space, 12 blocks long
Features: 4,700+ trees, fountains, TV Tower, clock tower
Winter experience: Snow-covered, peaceful, minimalist beauty
Activities: Walking, photography, Pokemon Go

Marumi Coffee - Specialty Coffee Brand
Founded: 2006
Owner's background: Traveled world studying coffee blends
Philosophy: Quality from farm to cup
Coffee tasted: Costa Rica (fruity/creamy), Guatemala (light/gentle), Mexico (grapefruit/solid body)

Mermaid Coffee Roasters - Specialty Coffee Shop
Signature drink: Hot lemonade (seasonal)
Returning visitor note: Same quality as ~2 years ago

Nakajima Park - Large Central Park
Size: 5,000+ trees
Features: Shobu Pond (frozen in January), museums, concert hall, Hokkaido Museum of Literature
Nearby: Luxury hotels
Winter activities: Peaceful walking, photography

Manryu Ramen Ekimae-Dori - TV Champion Featured Ramen Shop
Hours: 8am-8pm daily (OPEN on Jan 3!)
Famous for: TV Champion, miso ramen, cha shu (pork), ramen sets with gyoza & fried rice
Our experience: Perfect spice level, no additions needed
Verdict: Highly recommended alternative to crowded Ganso

🍜 RAMEN INSIGHTS:

First Ramen (Akarenga):
Type: Miso base with white pepper and butter
My bowl: Spring onion roast pork ramen
Wife's bowl: Beef butter corn ramen
Key flavor: White pepper elevates miso broth beautifully
Recommendation: Add white pepper BEFORE red pepper for best flavor

Second Ramen (Manryu):
My bowl: Spicy miso ramen (no additions needed)
Wife's bowl: Dandon ramen
Best feature: Natural spice level already perfect
Noodles: Perfectly balanced (not too hard, not too soft)
Recommendation: If you want to skip the long Ganso lines, Manryu is excellent

☕ SPECIALTY COFFEE CULTURE:

Sapporo has world-class specialty coffee—not just Tokyo/Osaka. We tasted:
Geisha (floral notes, bright acidity)
Colombia Aliso (fruity, complex)
Costa Rica (brown sugar, molasses, raisins, cherries—creamy mouthfeel)
Guatemala (light, gentle, sakura dessert pairing)
Mexico (grapefruit, cherry, solid body)

Each location had unique bean selections and detailed tasting notes—proof Sapporo's coffee culture rivals major cities.

💡 KEY LESSONS FOR SAPPORO TRAVELERS:

1. New Year holidays (Jan 1-3): Many restaurants closed. Plan ahead.
2. "New Ramen Street" = less crowded, high-quality alternative
3. Specialty coffee shops = must-visit for quality culture
4. Parks in winter = beautiful but cold; bring warm clothes
5. Unexpected closures = opportunity to discover hidden gems

🎬 GEAR USED:
DJI Microphone, Osmo 3

📱 FOLLOW FOR MORE:
Travel Instagram: @darryltravels
Coffee Instagram: @coffee.travel.coffee.travel


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