The community market "Yao Café" will be held at the Sapporo City University Art Forest Campus. Run mainly by students, this market provides a warm space where local people can connect with "things, events, and people" through a morning market, playground, health consultations, stage performances, and more. The first event of the year will be held on Sunday, May 18th. Check out the schedule for all six events and points of interest.

"Yao Cafe" is an initiative that began as a class at Sapporo City University. Planning began in 2021, the first event was held in 2022, and it has been held every year since. The student circle "Yao Cafe Student Executive Committee" is at the center of the operation. Students from the Faculty of Design and Faculty of Nursing, as well as faculty members, medical and welfare workers, and local residents also participate in creating the event.

The venue is the square in front of the Sapporo City University campus in Sapporo Minami-ku Art Forest. Anyone can easily participate and set up a stall, and it is an open space where local residents and children naturally gather. The venue is decorated with colorful garlands, and the handmade atmosphere is also attractive.

What kind of initiatives are actually being undertaken at the Yaoyo Cafe? Here is an overview.

Morning market in the forest / Booths set up by local residents and students

The "Mori no Asaichi" (Forest Morning Market), which has been running in the Art Forest area for over 10 years, brings together farmers and local shops, and sells fresh vegetables, seedlings, fish, roasted sweet potatoes, miscellaneous goods, processed foods, etc. In addition, goods designed by students from the Sapporo City University Faculty of Design are sold, and works by children attending free schools are sold and set up at stalls, so anyone can set up a stall, regardless of whether they are adults or children.

Multigenerational exchange "Viva"

It is a playground and learning space where students propose events that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to adults. A variety of events are held every time, such as teaching each other how to draw or do cat's cradle, or trying out Mölkky or Boccia.

Forest Health Consultation Center

This "Forest Health Consultation Room" is run mainly by students from Sapporo City University, which has a nursing faculty. Doctors, faculty members and students from the nursing faculty of Sapporo City University provide health consultations and health tests. In addition, those who fill out their health notebooks can exchange them for coupons that can be used at Yaoyo Cafe. You can get great deals on shopping at the event while also being mindful of your health.

Stage Performance

There is also a stage where local residents and students perform music and dance. Sometimes people participate in concerts where they play and dance together. It creates fun experiences and exchanges that serve as an opportunity for local people to connect with each other.

A major feature of the Yaoyo Cafe is that it is planned and run by the students themselves. The Student Executive Committee is in charge of everything from preparation to running the event, with teams organized around specific roles such as PR, vendor management, stage management, and health consultations.

"Memory Closet" sells and remakes second-hand clothes

Tabi no Shiori sells book-related goods

The baked confectionery we developed, "Shimaenaga no Shippo" (the tail of the long-tailed tit)

Official character "Yaomaru" merchandise

An Kitamori, member of the Yaoyo Cafe Student Executive Committee

Regarding this year's event, we received a comment from Kitamori An of the Yaoyo Cafe Student Executive Committee.

"Yaoyo Cafe" is a place where you can enjoy interacting with various people and experiences while purchasing delicious local foods and having lots of fun using your body. In 2025, the first event will be held on Sunday, May 18th, and a total of six events are planned. The venue is the square in front of the Sapporo City University Art Forest Campus (indoors in case of rain). This is an opportunity to connect with local people in a relaxed manner. Why not get up a little early and head to Art Forest?

Art Forest Marche Yahya Cafe

■Dates: May 18th (Sun), June 1st (Sun), July 6th (Sun), August 3rd (Sun), September 7th (Sun), October 5th (Sun) 2025 ■Time: 9:00-12:00 (Indoors in case of rain) ■ Venue: In front of the Sapporo City University Art Forest Campus (1-chome Art Forest, Minami-ku, Sapporo) ■ Admission: Free For details and maps of "Art Forest Marche Yahyaku Cafe", please click here.