A new hub for community development has been born in Sapporo's redeveloping Shin-Sapporo area. "sawa," which opened in September on the first floor of the Sunpiazza shopping center, is a "community living room" where people of all ages, from children to seniors, can casually gather, learn, experience, and connect through expression. It's a new community-building space that supports local residents in their desire to "give it a try!"

"sawa" opened on September 20, 2025

On September 20, 2025, Active Salon "sawa" opened on the first floor of the Sunpiazza shopping center in Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo. The name comes from "sawakai," a Japanese term for a casual tea gathering. Inside, the space resembles a café with an attached kitchen. It will host a variety of activities as a place for local people to gather, learn, connect, and take on new challenges.

Located right by the entrance near the Sapporo Science Center and Sunpiazza Aquarium

A free space that can also be used as a café

Here, local residents can hold workshops and culture classes, sell handmade crafts in rental boxes, and even run pop-up cafés. The space also serves as a multi-purpose venue for the community, available for meetings and presentations for local events.

It also has a kitchen, making it possible to hold cooking classes

Open to the public for free when not rented by the hour or for private events. A café menu is also available

Rental boxes where you can display and sell handcrafted items

The "Community Library" where neighbors can borrow and lend books

sawa is staffed mainly by students from Sapporo Gakuin University. They support interaction across generations and backgrounds while also being involved in planning and managing community activities. In the future, there are plans for area management human resource development in collaboration with the university, as well as practical experiments and joint research in urban development. It is gaining attention as a hub for a new regional model where students, residents, and businesses collaborate.

When we visited on opening day, we were treated to ice cream served at the opening party

An indoor home garden inside the space

"sawa" changes from day to day. On this day, a student was offering to draw portraits

When there are no events or workshops, the space is open for café use or as a workspace, aiming to become a familiar "community spot" where people can drop by気軽に. In the future, cross-generational programs such as yoga, exercise classes for seniors, and health consultation cafés are scheduled to be rolled out. True to its name "Active Salon," it is set to become a place where diverse activities and encounters are born.