Sapporo shopping: Tanukikoji and underground walkways

Compare the covered Tanukikoji shopping street with the underground passage between Sapporo and Odori subway stations, including walking routes and shop-hour limitations.

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  • Hokkaido
  • Sapporo
  • Shopping
  • Souvenirs

When shopping in Sapporo (), it helps to distinguish two kinds of space: a covered street mainly visited for shops, and an underground passage used to move between central stations. Using official Sapporo Tourism Association information (checked 2026-10-28), this page introduces Tanukikoji and the underground pedestrian passage between Sapporo Station and Odori, explaining how shopping and movement can be planned separately in rain or snow. Store-specific opening hours and product prices that have not been verified are not provided. For itineraries, see the Sapporo travel guide and Hokkaido travel overview.

Key points

  • The covered Tanukikoji shopping arcade () extends through Nishi 1-chome to 7-chome, a main tourist shopping area of about 900 metres.
  • The Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway connects Sapporo and Odori subway stations and is an option for moving between stations in poor weather.
  • A roofed shopping street and an underground walkway are different types of space. The first is a shopping area; the second is primarily a pedestrian passage.
  • Confirm business operations for individual shops. A whole street should not be treated as a shopping centre with uniform opening hours.

Comparing main shopping and pedestrian spaces

Space Confirmed geographic extent Planning use What to check separately
Covered Tanukikoji shopping street Nishi 1-chome to 7-chome; main tourist area about 900 metres Plan a section of shopping in a covered street Whether target shops are open and their actual block locations
Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway Between Sapporo and Odori subway stations Plan a subterranean walk between stations Required exits and onward routes above ground

“Nishi 1-chome to 7-chome” refers to the covered part of the shopping street, not a requirement to walk the entire street. Selecting sections by the shops or blocks of interest makes the itinerary easier to check than simply writing “visit Tanukikoji”.

The underground walkway serves a different purpose. It provides a walking section between Sapporo subway station () and Odori Station (). It can be part of a station-to-station route, but its existence alone does not prove that any particular store connects directly to the passage.

Planning shopping routes in rain or snow

Travel purpose Official information available Planning approach
Explore a covered shopping street Tanukikoji has a roofed arcade from Nishi 1-chome to 7-chome Identify the block where your target shop is, then plan entry and exit
Reduce surface walking between Sapporo and Odori stations An underground passage connects the two stations Identify underground entrances and exits before connecting to shopping
Combine shopping and travel in one day The two spaces serve different functions List time spent shopping separately from movement between stations
Compare each shop’s opening hours No uniform, shop-by-shop verified data Check the relevant store’s announcements for the day

The walkway supports the fact that an underground route exists between the two stations. It does not establish that the full route from that walkway to Tanukikoji is sheltered from the outdoors. In rain or snow, consider the shopping street, station exits and street-level sections separately.

What to check first for different shopping goals

Goal Information to find first Do not assume
Buy souvenirs Target shops and their blocks in Tanukikoji Every shop sells the same types of products
Walk along a covered street Covered area from Nishi 1-chome to 7-chome All shops are open at every hour
Walk between Sapporo Station and Odori Underground walkway and exits Every shopping facility connects to the underground passage
Compare shopping budgets Actual products and individual shop information Average prices can be inferred from the shopping district alone

Keeping the questions separate prevents confusing a “covered street” with a street where every store has the same year-round hours, or assuming the presence of an underground walkway means every destination can be reached entirely indoors. Confirm the district first and then the shops, rather than deciding an unverified total shopping time in advance.

Notes

Opening hours vary between Tanukikoji stores. This article does not list individual shop names, prices, operating days or rankings. Underground passage access and shop arrangements can change, so check relevant official information before departure. For Japan’s tax-free shopping rules, see Japan tax refunds and departure tax. Those rules are not repeated here.

Further reading

Sources