Genghis Kahn , a lamb barbecue named after the Mongolian warrior, is unique to Hokkaido and especially popular at beer halls throughout the city, many with their own original sauces in which the lamb is either marinated or dipped after grilling. Beer is the beverage of choice to accompany this dish and Sapporo is the spiritual home of Japanese beer. No street or block in Sapporo is complete without a ramen shop, the internationally acclaimed noodles in miso , soy, or salt- flavoured soups. Indeed some streets have nothing but ramen shops like the famous Ramen Alley, where signatures of past and present celebrities adorn the walls of the shops that line either side of the narrow passageway. Freshly grilled corn on the cob are sold from stalls along Odori Park throughout the spring, summer, and autumn months.
Summer sees the harvest of the various types of melon grown in the area.
Hokkaido is the home of vegetables in Japan and locally grown potatoes, onions, and asparagus add their natural flavours to any local dish. The long history of dairy farming in and around Sapporo has produced a legacy of first class butter, milk, and ice cream products. Known throughout Japan as the largest entertainment district north of Tokyo, this area around the Susukino subway station, approximately 1sq.kilometer in size, houses no less than 4,000 bars, restaurants, and clubs catering to every need imaginable. Despite the nature of some of these rather adult-oriented establishments, the area is in no way seedy. Indeed it is safe for anyone to walk around at any time of the day or night.