The capital city of the northern island of Hokkaido, and home of some of the most interesting events in all of Japan, including the Sapporo Snow Festival, Sapporo is also home to a number of excellent LGBTQ+ watering holes. So even in the coolest place in the country, you can still find the hottest bars.
Bar Orb
A small but very inviting joint, Bar Orb is known for its extensive range of spirits and cocktails, as well as for affordable yet classy bar food. Owned by two queer women, the hostesses greet guests with their famed welcoming attitudes, second perhaps only to the regulars. Visitors from abroad also deeply appreciate how one of the owners, Kae, is an excellent English speaker, making the experience of an evening here as smooth as one of their cocktails.
Bar Orb is welcoming to everyone, but is especially well known among the LGBTQ+ community for being a go-to drinking spot for lesbians and other queer women. Indeed, every Saturday is women-only, so if you want a space to relax in the company of your like-minded lady fellows, there’s no better place to be.
Bar Sign-Oh
A mix shot bar, Bar Sign-Oh is open to all, but is best known for catering to gay men. Those who are regulars in Shinjuku Nichome will almost certainly feel at home, as it was started over a decade ago by alumni of The Annex and Arty Farty. It has a similar intimate vibe, and the bartenders can create over 40 different cocktails for guests.
While the staff’s English ability is not quite up to the level of some other locations, it is renowned as a place where many local gay men gather, so it is a terrific place to practice your Japanese and make friends. It also plays fresh and classic pop music, so if you’ve an urge to gt your groove on, shimmy on over to Bar Sign-Oh.
Condor
Founded in 2010, Condor is a semi-mixed bar: there are days when it welcomes everyone, but its primary clientele are gay men, and as such there are days of the week that specifically and exclusively allow gay men to enter.
Visitors from overseas rave about the friendliness of the staff, and how accommodating the bar is to foreign guests. Be aware that there is a ¥1,300 charge per person, but those who frequent Condor unanimously agree that it is worth the price for the friendly chat in an intimate atmosphere.
Banana Bar
A cheeky name for a fun bar (and a cool palindrome in katakana), Banana Bar bills itself as, “Not A Girl’s Bar, But a New Half Bar” (”New Half” being Japanese slang for transgender). The “more feminine than women” hostesses are keen listeners, and pride themselves on being able to talk with any customer about any subject.
As an incentive for first-time visitors, a two-hour beer all-you-can-drink nomihodai is only ¥3,500. So you can let the lovely hostesses pour your beer while you pour your heart out.
le couer
While this is a men-only bar, within that gender the owner and staff strive to be open to tourists, businessmen, and locals alike to have fun in a relaxing atmosphere. There’s a ¥1,500 charge per person, and regulars can make use of their keep-bottle service for an additional ¥4,500, so that they always have something waiting for them.
Customers rate the staff highly for their friendliness and helpfulness, and also consider it to be good value for money compared with other bars in Sapporo. It is noted by many as a “must visit” watering hole for gay men visiting Hokkaido, with an excellent atmosphere and an entertaining owner.
Final Thoughts
Sapporo is a delightful city, steeped in history, filled with beautiful sites, and populated by open and accepting people. And for LGBTQ+ people, there are many places to go to get your fill of fun, friendliness, and unforgettable evenings.
