2026 Sapporo Beer Festival | Odori Beer Garden Guide
I booked a trip to Sapporo with one goal in mind: seeing the lavender fields with a friend. Then, the day after we arrived, the famous Sapporo Beer Festival kicked off. With beer gardens stretching along Odori Park right in front of our accommodation, there was no way we could just walk past.
We ended up arriving at Odori Park around 5 PM on Friday, July 24. The spots we personally checked out were the 5-chome Suntory The Premium Malt’s Garden and the 8-chome Sapporo Beer Garden.
🍺 Stepping into a Summer Where Odori Park Became One Giant Beer Garden
The Sapporo Odori Beer Garden stretched from 5-chome to 10-chome of Odori Park, with different beer brands lining each section. Suntory took over 5-chome, Asahi occupied 6-chome, Kirin covered 7-chome, and Sapporo filled 8-chome.
There was also a World Beer Square in 10-chome and a German Village in 11-chome, so visitors could stroll through the park and pick the atmosphere and beer they liked best.
Sapporo Beer Garden entrance
Outdoor tables and tent seating set up beneath the park’s trees
When we arrived around 5 PM, finding seats wasn’t difficult. There was no separate admission process, no reservation requirement, and all we had to do was grab an available table.
By around 6:30 PM, though, everything had changed. Office workers started pouring in after work, and empty seats became hard to spot. If you’re visiting on a Friday, it’s worth showing up around 5 PM to secure a table.
The official guidance also recommended arriving early because weekdays after 4 PM and weekends or public holidays could get crowded. That matched exactly what we experienced.
There was still plenty of space around 5 PM.
🍕 Diving into Suntory with Easy QR Ordering
The first place we settled into was the 5-chome Suntory The Premium Malt’s Garden.
QR code and Suntory food and beer menu on the table
After sitting down, we scanned the QR code to browse the menu and place our order. Staff members brought both the beer and food directly to our table. On a hot day, not having to squeeze through crowds to pick up food was surprisingly convenient.
A glass of Suntory Premium Malt’s topped with a generous foam head
The draft beer menu listed a medium glass at 800 JPY and a large glass at 1,150 JPY. Actual card charges may vary depending on exchange rates and card fees.
The dish that stood out most here was the Margherita pizza, priced at 1,580 JPY.
Since it was pizza from an outdoor event, I didn’t expect much. But the menu claimed it was 30 cm across, and it really was bigger and better than expected. The generous cheese stretched nicely and paired perfectly with the tomato sauce. It worked incredibly well with beer. The crust was also the thin style I like, making it a great size for two women to share while drinking.
Because we didn’t have to leave our seats to order, the conversation kept flowing naturally. If you’re visiting with a group or prefer a smoother ordering process, the Suntory section could be a great fit.
🌳 Wandering Through Asahi with the Most Appealing Atmosphere
We drank beer in the Suntory and Sapporo sections, but we also walked through the Asahi Beer Park while moving between zones.
Asahi Super Dry Beer Park nestled among dense trees
The Asahi area seemed to have more shade than the others because it was surrounded by large trees. The lighting worked nicely with the black booth design, and the crowd felt a little younger and more energetic.
Asahi menu booth highlighted by red lighting and a black exterior
This was also the place that most captured the feeling of drinking right in the middle of the park. If I went back again, I’d probably grab a seat in the Asahi section.
It wasn’t just the beer brands that differed from zone to zone. The seating layouts, ordering systems, and overall crowd atmosphere felt noticeably different as well. Staying in one area for the whole evening worked fine, but first-time visitors might enjoy taking a lap around the park before choosing their favorite spot.
⭐ Enjoying Sapporo Beer Festival at the Busiest Sapporo Zone
Next, we headed over to the 8-chome Sapporo Beer Garden.
Since we were in Sapporo, plenty of people seemed eager to try Sapporo beer. Out of all the sections we explored, this one appeared to be the largest and most crowded. The huge star logo and brick-style design at the entrance also made it a great photo spot.
Large tent and outdoor seating with the Sapporo star logo prominently displayed
When we visited, ordering involved using a kiosk, paying by card, receiving a number ticket, and then picking up the food and beer ourselves. The kiosk supported Korean, which made ordering easy, but compared with Suntory’s table service, it felt a bit less convenient.
Sapporo ordering area equipped with kiosks and card terminals
The kiosks accepted cards and various cashless payment methods. The festival’s official information also stated that every zone supported both cash and cashless payments, so there was no need to stop by an ATM specifically for the event.
Two glasses of Sapporo Classic Frontier Memorial draft beer
We chose the limited-edition Sapporo Classic Frontier Memorial. The name sounded packed with every possible positive description, but the taste was genuinely clean and enjoyable.
Because it was served outdoors, it wasn’t the kind of ice-cold beer covered in condensation. Oddly enough, that didn’t bother me. The rows of tables in the park, glasses clinking everywhere, and the voices of people gathering after work all blended together and felt like summer in Sapporo itself.
It was the kind of drink you enjoyed as much for the atmosphere as for the beer.
👥 Planning Ahead for Crowds After 6:30 PM
The Sapporo section appeared to have the most seats, but it also attracted the biggest crowds. Long communal tables stretched throughout the large tent, and they filled up quickly as dinner time approached.
The Sapporo section packed with tables
At the peak period around 6:30 PM, newcomers were constantly walking around searching for seats. If you visit after Friday rush hour, you might end up waiting on a bench for someone to leave.
Sapporo Beer Garden filled with visitors
If you’re planning to visit without a reservation, arriving a little early and claiming a table first is the easiest approach. While one person holds the seats, another can place the order. That setup worked especially well in places like the Sapporo section, where guests had to pick up food themselves.
💡 Who Should Come Here?
People who want to experience the atmosphere of a local summer festival in Sapporo.
People who want to try a variety of beers, including Suntory, Asahi, Kirin Ichiban, and Sapporo, at one of the world’s three major beer festivals.
People who want to blend into the everyday after-work culture of Sapporo locals.
💬 Wrapping Up with Summer Vibes in Sapporo
The sight of all of Odori Park transforming into a massive beer garden was something ordinary beer halls and outdoor drinking spots couldn’t really replicate.
Suntory stood out for its convenient QR ordering, table service, and especially the pizza. Asahi had the atmosphere I liked most thanks to its tree-filled setting. Sapporo delivered the biggest crowds and felt like the energetic center of the festival.
If you’re visiting Sapporo in summer, it’s an experience worth trying at least once. You don’t even need to drink multiple beers. Sitting in the park with a friend, watching people pass by with a beer in front of us, became one of the memorable scenes from this trip.
The green scenery of Odori Park, the Sapporo Clock Tower, and a refreshing beer…★
📍 Visiting Information For a Smooth Trip
Location: Odori Park 5-chome to 8-chome and 10-chome to 11-chome (9-chome serves as a rest area)
Operating period: July 23, 2026 to August 18, 2026
Operating hours: 12:00–21:00, with different last-order times depending on the section
Price range: Draft beer from around 800 JPY for a medium glass, food roughly 600–1,600 JPY
Payment: Cash, cards, and mobile payments accepted
Parking: No dedicated event parking available
Other notes: All seats are non-smoking, and outside food is restricted
🚇 Getting There Through Odori Station
If you get off at Odori Station and exit through Exit 2, it’s convenient to access the 5-chome Suntory area. To walk from the Suntory section to the Sapporo section, simply follow the park from 5-chome toward 8-chome.
Around 5 PM, we still had plenty of time to walk around and choose seats. After 6:30 PM on Friday, however, empty tables were nearly impossible to find. Arriving before the after-work rush is highly recommended.
