Sometimes, the sound of the train clattering and clunking as it starts on a Saturday night, the alleyways connecting various shops sparsely populated, it seems they will soon come alive. I spent the evening with a set of three chef's choice dishes, six pieces of nigiri sushi, and a highball whiskey with a strong, sharp flavor and a distinct taste of the whiskey. The whitefish roe of the sea bream in ponzu sauce, the rolled omelet with a soft and moist texture, and the sweet dashi flavor lingering, the whitefish roe with a creamy texture and a slight hint of wasabi providing a stimulating flavor, all served as excellent accompaniments to the sake. The soft texture of the firefly squid, the creamy taste inside, and the easy-to-enjoy taste of ponzu soy sauce, the nigiri sushi of the sea bream marinated in kelp, the live octopus, the salmon, the pressed mackerel sushi, the sea urchin battleship, and the sweet shrimp battleship all showcasing delicious flavors. The sea bream marinated in kelp had a well-rounded flavor with a hint of salt from the kelp, the live octopus and salmon were both tender and flavorful, with the salmon's richness standing out. The sea urchin had a sharpness reminiscent of alum, which may be a bit harsh. The pressed mackerel was tasty, but a different type of pickled ginger might elevate the dish. Overall, the meal felt a bit pricey, so I thought it might be best to enjoy some light snacks and drinks a la carte. Location: 12th floor, 6-6 Kita 6-jo Nishi, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, under the JR Sapporo Station west exit viaduct. Sushi and Junmai Sake.

In April 2023, I casually strolled under the elevated tracks at Satsueki Station, reconnecting with the alleyway after a long time. The last impression was good, with a sushi bar serving beer starting at 650 yen for a medium-sized glass, now discounted to 539 yen. There were no appetizers, and the daily special menu was gone. The staff seemed to have some options in mind, but I'm not a mind reader. I played it safe with the "3-piece sashimi" for 879 yen, with a decent selection available upon request. The presentation was elegant, featuring small portions of tuna, scallop, and red sea bream. The freshness was decent, but the overall atmosphere felt a bit overpriced. The sushi prices started at 219 yen per piece, with a price increase of about 100 yen per piece compared to before. I tried the salmon and marinated mackerel (each 329 yen), finding the mackerel unexpectedly seared, resembling grilled fish. Concerned about the cost, I made a quick decision to leave after that. Thank you for the meal.

After listening to Yoko Sato's classical guitar recital at Fukinoto Hall, I left feeling eager to have a drink somewhere. I had my eye on "Tsunagu Yokocho," a place I had only been to once before due to conflicting schedules. It was Saturday at 6 pm, and while there were plenty of empty seats, the place was lively with voices. There were two customers already seated and two more came in after me. I took a seat at the end of the counter in a U-shape layout. I started with an Asahi Super Dry for 539 yen, which felt refreshing on my dry throat. While waiting for my sushi, I was asked if I wanted something to nibble on, but I politely declined (as I wanted to go to another place). The sushi arrived, ranging from 219 yen for red tuna, salmon, and scallop with soy sauce brushed on top and easy-to-eat cuts. The vinegar in the sushi rice and wasabi were just right. I also tried the natto roll for 329 yen, and it opened my eyes to the deliciousness of seaweed. The roll was filled generously with natto and was very tasty. I spent 30 minutes at the restaurant and paid a total of 1524 yen. I was satisfied to finally visit a place I had wanted to go to for a while. My stomach was slightly filled, so I decided to try another place. ♡

After strolling through the alleys connecting in October 2022 and drinking a lot, we ended up not eating much but just chatting. To finish off, I ordered a Dry draft beer for 490 yen. Everything seems to be more expensive in October (´Д`). There was no table charge or cover charge. Since the time for the JR train was approaching, I didn't order any side dishes, just some sushi rolls. I got the "fatty tuna roll" for 499 yen, which had crispy pickled radish and smooth minced tuna with green onions. I also added scallops and flounder, both of which melted in my mouth. The sushi was lightly brushed with soy sauce, which was slightly too much. It was a small and light meal, perfect for not feeling too full. It's a nice little restaurant that doesn't rotate sushi on a conveyor belt. Thank you for the meal (^ω^).

Under the elevated tracks outside Zatsu Station in June 2022, the weather was bad with strong winds. You can easily get to "Tsunagu Yokocho" without getting wet. At the end, I stopped by a sushi restaurant with a counter and a few table seats. I ordered a small beer for 390 yen. The alleyway has cheap beer everywhere! The menu is limited, but there are many recommendations written on hanging strips. I ordered the "Seafood Miso Pickles" for 599 yen, which is various small sashimi mixed with miso. It's simple and may get monotonous, but you can order sushi by the piece like red tuna, salmon, homemade pickled mackerel (each for 199 yen), and small Otaru sea urchin (299 yen). The freshness is evident in the appearance, and they are served with soy sauce. They are delicious, especially the melt-in-your-mouth red tuna and flavorful mackerel. It's a great place for a quick bite. If you go there hungry, be careful with the bill! I ended the meal with some carbs. It was a good meal.

Sushi restaurant located in the Susukino connecting alley in Sapporo. It has a casual atmosphere where you can enjoy sake, sushi, and snacks. Start with an "Asahi Super Dry" (429 yen). There is no appetizer, so order what you like! The "Assorted Sashimi Plate" (879 yen) includes octopus head from Otaru, bluefin tuna from Tsugaru, and Aurora salmon. The freshness was better than expected. The Aurora salmon was fatty and the bluefin tuna was also quite good. Next, what should we have for a snack? I'm interested in the mackerel pickled in vinegar, but it's over 1,000 yen with tax. However, on this day, I received a "connecting ticket" worth 1,000 yen as a first-come-first-served offer (laughs). So let's order it! "Mackerel Pickled in Vinegar" (1,099 yen) ... they will fillet the mackerel on the spot. The mackerel is from Nagasaki. It is wrapped in plenty of pickled ginger. It also includes shiso leaves and white sesame seeds. The combination of fatty mackerel and pickled ginger is excellent. Should I have some sake? There is a sake specifically for pairing with mackerel. "Sake for Mackerel" (549 yen) ... a relatively dry and smooth sake, designed to enhance the flavor of the mackerel. Finally, let's finish with sushi. Order the "Tamago" (164 yen) and the "Kujyo Negi Gunkan" (219 yen). The firm sushi rice has a good texture in the mouth. It is served with a touch of soy sauce. Hmm, the sushi rice is on the smaller side. It's fine for drinking, but sushi enthusiasts might find it a bit small. I think it's a place where you can enjoy a casual atmosphere like a food stall!

Sapporo City Kita Ward / Connecting Yokocho Sushi and Junmai "Having a Light Drink with Street Sushi" Sapporo Connecting Yokocho drinking. The fourth stop is here. I have only used half of the Goto meal tickets for the first three stops. It's almost a thousand calories, a light drink. Having fun♪ Now, I sit in front of a young handsome craftsman and place my order. Order: - Highball x2 439 - Akami (lean tuna) x2 219 - Tamago (egg) x2 164 - Hotate (scallop) x2 219 - Toro Taku (fatty tuna) x2 549 - Ara Jiru (fish head miso soup) 274 - Tako Tako (octopus legs) x2 219 - Tako Atama (octopus head) x2 219 - Homemade Shime Saba (marinated mackerel) 219 - Asahi Yamashita Dry Sake 549 Total: 4527 Impressions: It's fun to decide the order while consulting with the craftsman. The rice is Koshihikari from Niigata. Is it a commitment not to use Hokkaido rice intentionally? Toro Taku. Negitoro and pickled radish rolls. First, I enjoy these while leisurely drinking. Next, I receive the Ara Jiru (fish head miso soup). Today's fish head miso soup is made from red snapper. The broth is very strong and delicious. When I tell the craftsman, he looks happy and tells me, "The broth is made from bonito, scallop, kelp, and clams." In addition to the seaweed and red snapper, the flavor is irresistible. I can drink sake with the soup. Sushi is placed on a sushi platter. The shari (sushi rice) is made with red vinegar, small and fluffy. It is carefully molded to unravel in the mouth. Akami has a hidden knife cut and is finished with nikiri (soy sauce reduction). Beautiful♪ Edomae-style hotate (scallop), tamago yaki (egg omelet) are also placed. I take a photo and then eat it. Delicious♪ The scallop and egg are delicious. I like them so much that I decide to add more. I receive recommendations for several types of sake, so let's match them with Niigata rice! I receive Asahi Yamashita's chilled sake. It is a hard dry sake of honjozo. It is also delicious. The next sushi includes Nagasaki-shi (marinated mackerel). Hokkaido octopus legs and octopus head are also included. The craftsman talks about the situation of octopus head from outside Hokkaido while making sushi. The friendly and familiar customer service is nice. The sake is good and the sushi is delicious. I must come back again to enjoy it slowly. Thank you for the meal. Thank you very much♪

It's just past 3:30 pm, and after work, I'm meeting my wife at Sapporo Station for a casual drink. We couldn't decide on a nearby place, so we decided to try "Sapporo Tsunagu Yokocho" under the Sapporo Station overpass. The place opens at 4 pm, so we waited for about 5 minutes. We looked around and noticed that some shops had changed since the last time we were here. We ended up at "Sushi to Junmai," where we ordered two beers and a sashimi platter for 879 yen. The sashimi included salmon, red tuna, and scallops. The sushi set for 1,650 yen had red tuna, sea bream, salmon, sweet shrimp, and squid. The rice was slightly firm with a mild vinegar taste, and the fish was decent but not exceptional. We also found out later that there was a 100 yen beer promotion at all the shops in the alley, which we missed out on because it wasn't mentioned to us. Overall, we probably won't be returning to this place.

I went to a new sushi restaurant in the shopping district. It's a hidden gem in the back, perfect for early dining before it gets crowded. I ordered a sashimi platter, tuna, salmon, uni, negitoro, and more, along with a beer. The sushi was delicious, with small vinegared rice balls and fresh ingredients. The atmosphere was cozy with a young couple running the place. I would definitely go back again when it's not too busy. It was a great dining experience!

Hello everyone! After eating tempura and Rossini-style dish, how about some sushi? Let's go to "Sushi to Junmai" in Tsunagu Yokocho. I want to have sake with sushi, but it's a bit of a walk to Sapporo Station from here, so I'll settle for beer. I'll have the chef's choice 7-piece nigiri set for 999 yen and Umeshu for 439 yen. First, let's start with the beer. The chef from the neighboring "Ton Toco Buta" is the one making the sushi. The set includes Thai, mackerel, octopus head, scallop, engawa, squid, and seared medium fatty tuna. The sushi looks beautiful and the vinegar in the rice is just right for a tipsy person like me. The quality of the fish is good too. I'll also order extra lean tuna and saltwater sea urchin. The only downside is that the nigiri pieces are a bit small, making the balance off when you put them in your mouth. The price is reasonable and it's a good place for sushi at a food stall in the alleyway. I'll have another beer, totaling a little over 3000 yen. Thank you for the meal!

Visited on 4/10/2021, the fourth and final stop of the day was at this restaurant, "Sushi to Junmai." It is a sushi and sake establishment. The sushi pieces are on the smaller side, making them perfect for pairing with alcohol. It seems just right for women. The prices are reasonable, with options at 99 yen, 149 yen, 249 yen, and 399 yen per piece. The 399 yen option is only for botan shrimp, while the majority of the menu falls within the 149 yen and 249 yen range. It feels safe to order here. They also offer a wide variety of sake, with 15 different types available on the day of the visit. I ended up trying five cups (laughs). It was a great way to finish the day by enjoying the atmosphere reminiscent of a food stall. Thank you for the meal.

After having a few drinks, let's grab some sushi on the way home! That was the plan, but the atmosphere at this alley lacked excitement due to being a bit stingy since opening. The sushi rice was just the right size and the delicious lean tuna was great! As it was close to closing time, there weren't many customers. The system at this alley requires each person to pay separately, so it can be a hassle when you want to try a variety of dishes. It's different from the system at the bustling food stall villages of the past. A bit underwhelming...(-.-) It feels like an area with many easy-to-enter specialty shops, right?

The rice portion is a large serving but it's a bit on the smaller side, about one and a half cups with a free refill. The amount of side dishes is overwhelming, leaving the rice barely enough. With 2 pieces of fatty mackerel and 3 pieces of chicken zangi (about 50-60g each), priced at 990 yen, it's a good value with a satisfying volume. I'm also curious about the horse tendon curry...

We tumbled into Sapporo Tsunagu Yokocho for a second round with my work colleagues. This hot spot was created under the JR overpass with 15 shops gathered together. There are no partitions between the shops, allowing for free movement and giving off a lively atmosphere similar to a food stall village in Osaka. Just stepping into this alley makes you excited. We had already had quite a few drinks at the first place, so I'll write while looking at the photos to jog my memory. We started with a sushi platter. There were 12 pieces in total, but we shared them, so I had 4 pieces. Masuko, saltwater sea urchin, premium fatty tuna, and house-made cured mackerel. The masuko looked like salmon roe but was actually smelt fish roe. It was delicious with a nice popping texture. The saltwater sea urchin was simply amazing, with no impurities and bursting with pure umami flavor. The premium fatty tuna melted in the mouth. The cured mackerel had the perfect light curing, loaded with fat, sweet, and melty. Hokkaido fish is truly delicious. We also had the fire-grilled dried firefly squid for 750 yen, which was fragrant and perfect as a drinking snack. We wanted to try other places, so we just had this quickly. Sushi is the best for an easy meal. Hokkaido is so much fun. Now, onto the next shop. Thank you for the meal!

I visited the popular "Tsunagu Yokocho" that opened recently. I was feeling a bit hesitant at first, but since the train was stopped due to an accident, I decided to take a peek. The facility was well-prepared, with even the phone number displayed, which is not common. With so many meat restaurants around, I was in the mood for something light, so I decided to snack at "Sushi to Junmai". The place was not crowded, so I ordered: - Drink comparison set 599 yen - Saba gari 399 yen - Tekka hosomaki 499 yen - Tax 159 yen I enjoyed a tasting of three types of sake: Kappa, AKABU, and Yukiotoko, along with the refreshing saba gari. The portions seemed a bit small for the price, but it was still a good experience. Kappa was my favorite for its dry taste. The hosomaki was a good snack and a nice way to finish the meal. Although I wasn't in the mood for meat, I left the facility satisfied. It might be fun to use this place as a starting or ending point for a bar crawl. Thank you for the meal!

"At 'Tsunagu Yokocho', thorough measures are currently being taken against COVID-19. The lively and somewhat chaotic atmosphere when it first opened is a thing of the past. 'Hey, let's go to the next place!' 'Okay! I feel like having sushi.' 'Chicken wing boss.' For our third stop on our daytime drinking adventure, we were dramatically recommended and pushed to this place by a concierge-like man at the facility. Hmm? Is it really good, or just a strategic move by the establishment? Well, let's give it a try. ■Beer & Shochu Highball each 480 yen ■Tuna red meat 149 yen each ■Homemade pickled mackerel ■Scallop ■Salmon ■Squid ■Squid fin ■Egg 99 yen ■Hokke kelp-shime sashimi 499 yen The service is good... Cheers in a tipsy mood... Drinking in the daytime feels so good! The sushi is small, vinegar rice type, served in bite-sized pieces... Oh? The airy sushi is skillfully made, fresh and cohesive... It's quite delicious for a street food village. The additional egg was also delicious according to my partner. However, the hokke sashimi was not great. I fish for hokke myself and have experience with sashimi. If you want hokke sashimi, I recommend 'Nebokke' in Hakodate. It was delicious and fun. We were already thinking about the next place to go, with sharp eyes and a sense of purpose... (laughs) It's okay to enjoy a little tipsy. Let's all have fun drinking together soon. Now, where to next!?"

It was located in a corner of a space with various shops on the second floor of Tsunagu Yokocho. The atmosphere was lively and chaotic. They mainly serve Japanese sake, and we were able to eat sashimi and small sushi rolls at a reasonable price. The service was polite and I had a good impression.

Day 5 is amazing, from the break.