Nothing beats a beer or wine savored under the blue sky during Hokkaido's short summer! We've handpicked a selection of must-see beer gardens and wine events happening across the island, in places like Sapporo, Otaru, Tomamu, and Furano. Use this guide to plan your sightseeing and outings for summer 2025.

1 Over 10,000 Seats! Japan's Largest Beer Garden: The "Sapporo Odori Beer Garden" (Sapporo)

Known as a quintessential Sapporo summer experience, this is Japan's largest beer garden. Spanning six blocks of Odori Park from Nishi 5-chome to 11-chome, each venue offers a unique atmosphere and selection of beers. From 5-chome to 8-chome, four major beer companies serve a variety of beers and food based on their own concepts. Additionally, you can taste beers from around the world at 10-chome and authentic German beer and cuisine at 11-chome.

2 Enjoy Beer, Meat, and Baseball at F Village: "The☆HOKKAIDO BEER GARDEN in F VILLAGE" (Kitahiroshima)

Hokkaido Ballpark F Village is hosting its first-ever beer garden. Enjoy the Hokkaido-exclusive Sapporo Classic beer while savoring delicious meat dishes from the concurrently held "Hokkaido Meat Festival in F VILLAGE 2025." You can also watch Fighters baseball games on the large screen at the venue.

3 "The Summer": A California-Inspired Open-Air Rooftop Beer Garden (Sapporo)

This beer garden on the rooftop of Sapporo PARCO offers a spacious, open-air atmosphere that feels like you're on the West Coast of California. Its appeal lies in the stylish, selectable atmospheres, such as the 'Waterside Table' for a resort-like feel, and the luxurious and elegant rooftop 'Vacances' area.

4 Popular Breweries Gather! The Only Craft Beer Event in the Kushiro Area: "CRAFT BEER RIVERSIDE ’25" (Kushiro)

Five carefully selected breweries from across Japan will participate, including Brasserie Knot from Tsurui Village and Hop Kotan from Kamifurano Town. Over the four days, you can enjoy a total of more than 50 handpicked craft beers. With a pleasant climate averaging 20 degrees Celsius even in summer, this is a beer event that will satisfy everyone from beginners to beer aficionados.

5 The Only Place in Odori Park to Enjoy Genghis Khan: "Sapporo TV Tower Beer Garden" (Sapporo)

The popular "Sapporo TV Tower Beer Garden," where you can grill and eat Genghis Khan (grilled mutton) in Odori Park, is running for an extended 109 days this year. Grill up some Genghis Khan and raise a glass of the Hokkaido-exclusive Sapporo Classic beer! Enjoying this truly Sapporo-style summer moment right under the TV Tower is an exceptional experience.

6 Enjoy Domestic and International Whiskies & Spirits at "HOKKAIDO WHISKY & SPIRITS FEST" (Sapporo)

This festival of whisky and spirits is expanding its scale from 2024. Numerous exhibitors, including distilleries, liquor stores, and bars, will participate. Their booths will be lined with countless bottles, available for free or paid tasting. Some booths will also offer food service. There will also be talks featuring popular distilleries.

7 Sample Takikawa's Local Beers at "Takikawa Craft Beer Festival 2025" (Takikawa)

When it comes to local beer in Takikawa, think Sorachi Ale, Sorachi Weizen, Sorachi Pilsner, and Apple & Dry from the Takikawa Craft Beer Brewery. You can enjoy these beers along with a variety of gourmet food from local restaurants.

8 A Three-Day Summer Celebration by the Chitose River: "CHITOSE RIVER CITY PROJECT × Chitose River Beer Festival" (Chitose)

A beer festival held along the Chitose River. Besides relaxing at the beer garden and open-air cafes, you can enjoy river rafting and various stage events, making it a full day of fun for family and friends. It's a spacious event unique to Chitose, blending nature with lively entertainment.

9 An Event That Ended in 2024 is Revived on Miyako-dori Shopping Street: "Otaru Wine Carnival in Miyako-dori Shopping Street" (Otaru)

The wine event, held at SL Square opposite the Hokkaido Wine headquarters until 2024, is restarting from 2025 at the Otaru Miyako-dori Shopping Street. At this new, easily accessible venue for both locals and tourists, you can enjoy a pleasant time strolling through downtown Otaru while savoring Hokkaido wines.

10 Cheers in Tomamu's Vast Farm Area! "Farm Beer Garden" (Shimukappu)

Set in a vast 100-hectare farm area, this event offers special beers you can only taste in Tomamu. The event features "MILK HOP," an original craft beer blending IPA and Tomamu milk, as well as "HOP CORN," a snack made with hops. Of course, non-guests can also enter for free and enjoy it as a day trip.

11 Orion Beer Also Available During the Okinawa Fair: "The Fun & Refreshing Beer Festival: Beer Garden 2025" (Sapporo)

At the Sapporo Excel Hotel Tokyu, near Nakajima Park, the beer garden that livens up Sapporo's summer is back again this year. Refresh yourself on the spacious garden terrace with a cold draft beer in hand. Every Monday in July, the 1-pound steak is half price! Also, during the "Okinawa Fair" held from Saturday, July 19 to Thursday, July 31, Orion beer will be added to the all-you-can-drink menu.

12 Popular for its Unique Areas Where You Can Enjoy Fireworks or Spend Time with Your Dog: "Park Garden" (Sapporo)

This annual summer beer garden is held at the Sapporo Park Hotel near Nakajima Park. It features unique spaces such as the "Tent Area" for a glamping experience, the "Dog-Friendly Area" where you can spend time with your pet, and the "Fireworks Area" where you can enjoy fireworks with your children.

13 A Luxurious Hotel Beer Garden to Savor Hokkaido's Seasonal Best: "Beer Garden 2025 Chef’s Table “Fresh from Hokkaido”" (Chitose)

This beer garden at ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Chitose allows you to enjoy dishes made with an abundance of seasonal Hokkaido ingredients. In addition to a variety of menu items perfect for drinks, such as the campfire-style "Baked Cabbage with Meat Sauce" and "Hime-Hokke Acqua Pazza," you can also enjoy "Jamón Serrano" carved by the chef right before your eyes. The drink menu is also extensive, featuring beer, wine, the original Chitose Highball, and homemade craft cola.

14 Themed After Southern France in an Elegant Hotel Courtyard: "La Terrasse du Provence" (Sapporo)

The venue is a terrace space set up in the courtyard of Mercure Sapporo. The food menu features a "Meat Plate" with Hokkaido roast beef and duck confit, and a "Provencal-style Hors d'oeuvres Buffet" with ratatouille, moules frites, and escabeche. The drink selection is extensive, including red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines, as well as draft beer, cocktails, and soft drinks.

15 Featuring Wineries from Mikasa and Gourmet Food from the Sorachi Region: "Shin Mikasa Wine Festival 2025" (Mikasa)

This event allows you to enjoy specialty wines and gourmet food from the Sorachi area, featuring Mikasa wineries such as Yamazaki Winery, Takizawa Winery, and Hamada Vineyard. Various activities will be held, including gourmet food trucks, live music, and a crafts market.

16 Enjoy Kirin Beer from the Chitose Brewery & YOSAKOI: "2025 Sky Beer & YOSAKOI Festival" (Chitose)

This event allows you to enjoy passionate performances by YOSAKOI teams from all over Hokkaido, along with Kirin Beer from the local Chitose brewery and other gourmet food. The Chitose Tournament of the YOSAKOI Soran will be held on Sunday the 20th. Other performances include Fighters Girl on Saturday the 19th and the dance and vocal group "ambitious" on Monday the 21st.

17 Savor Sapporo's Local Wine & Gourmet Food at Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill: "Sake, Snacks, and Sweets FES" (Sapporo)

An event where you can enjoy local Sapporo wines, represented by Hakkenzan Winery and Sapporo Wine, along with food unique to Sapporo. Held at the Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill with a panoramic view of Sapporo, this event is recommended not only for tourists but also for Sapporo citizens, who receive a special discount.

18 The Southern Hokkaido Craft Beer Tasting Set is a Hit: "2025 SUMMER Donan Craft Beer Garden in Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station" (Hokuto)

This annual summer outdoor beer event brings together popular breweries from the Donan (Southern Hokkaido) region in front of Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station. The "Donan Craft Beer Tasting Set," featuring beers from Endeavour (a brewery in Hakodate's Yunokawa Onsen), Onuma Beer, Ozigi Brewing, and Hakodate Beer, is a crowd favorite. With food and stage events also available, it's two days of heaven for beer lovers in Southern Hokkaido.

19 Fully Enjoy Sorachi-Made Wines at "Sorachi Wine × Wine Festa 2025" (Takikawa)

You can fully enjoy Sorachi-made wines with tickets for a wine tasting comparison from wineries like "Ebeotsu Wein" in Takikawa, as well as talks by producers, jazz performances, and a lottery with deluxe prizes.

20 A Festival Celebrating the Furano Wine Grape Harvest: "Furano Wine Grape Festival 2025" (Furano)

This is Furano's autumn festival celebrating the grape harvest for Furano Wine. You can enjoy the internationally acclaimed Furano Wine, as well as rich grape juice and the festival's famous cheese fondue.

21 'Run While You Savor' the Bounties of Niki: "Niki Fruit & Wine Maranic 2025" (Niki)

This is a "maranic" event—a combination of a marathon and a picnic—where you can "eat, drink, and run," a rare concept in Japan, allowing you to fully enjoy the fruits and wines of Niki Town. Along the course, which winds through the town's rich nature, aid stations will offer local fruits and Niki-produced wine and juice.

*All information is current as of July 2024.
*Event details are subject to change or cancellation. Please check the official websites for the latest information before attending.