Photograph:みこしゃん
Sapporo is the central city of Hokkaido and a food lover's city blessed with fresh seafood and abundant ingredients. Onigiri (rice balls) made with Hokkaido-grown rice and fillings are loved as a simple dish that lets you enjoy the natural good taste of the ingredients. This article rounds up recommended onigiri shops to try in Sapporo by area.
Created: July 21, 2026
This article is based on1,992Tabelog reviews.
Table of Contents
Photograph:tamum1919
Located in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 5 of Susukino Station, Nigiri Meshi is an onigiri (rice ball) specialty shop in one corner of the lively Susukino Market that is Open 24 hours.
In addition to eat-in counter and table seating, it also offers Takeout. It is an easy place to drop by casually.
Photograph:笑楽食楽人生
For the onigiri (rice balls), you can choose either shio-nigiri (salt-seasoned rice balls) or shoyu-nigiri (soy sauce-seasoned rice balls) as the base rice.
Each onigiri is shaped by hand after you order, and is said to have a light texture and a gentle mouthfeel that almost falls apart in your mouth.
Photograph:はまゆう_hamayu
Tarako Butter is one of the popular menu items. This dish pairs plenty of tarako (salted cod roe) and butter with rice soaked in fragrant dashi soy sauce.
It has a rich flavor, and many people order it as a finishing dish after drinks. The photo shows an onigiri (rice ball) based on shoyu nigiri.
aitoyuuki
This is a very tasty onigiri (rice ball) shop that is open 24 hours a day. You can choose salt or soy sauce. I recommend soy sauce flavors like yama-wasabi natto (mountain wasabi fermented soybeans) and tarako butter (cod roe butter), as well as saba toro (fatty mackerel). The tonjiru (pork miso soup) is also very good, and whether you get Takeout or eat in, these onigiri are pure Manzoku!
Source:aitoyuuki's review
faa46159839
With so many different fillings, choosing is part of the fun. They shape the onigiri (rice balls) lightly, and the rice grains stay plump and tasty. You absolutely have to try the tarako (cod roe) butter! The warm onigiri warmed me right up on a cold morning.
Source:faa46159839's review
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Photograph:あかさ
About a 2-minute walk from Odori Station in central Sapporo. Onigiri no Arinko (rice ball Arinko) Aurora Town Ten is a specialty shop where you can easily enjoy freshly made onigiri (rice balls).
The clean interior, based on white tones, also has an eat-in space.
Photograph:ryoichi0102
The onigiri (rice balls) here are authentic Homemade onigiri made by hand without using molds. They are known for their carefully made triangular shape, designed so you get filling in every bite no matter where you start.
The photo shows the best-selling No.1 item, “Cheese Katsuo (bonito).” The cheese melts into the warm rice, and people say it goes really well with the savory flavor of bonito flakes.
Photograph:おじぽよ
The onigiri (rice balls) come in two sizes, regular and jumbo. Even the regular size is said to be plenty filling.
If you order one with Arinko tokusei (house special) tonjiru (pork miso soup) or miso soup, it makes for a Manzoku meal. The photo shows a regular size onigiri and tonjiru.
dokic!
While walking through the underground area of Odori, I found an onigiri shop that looked really good. I could have eaten inside, but this time I got Takeout with a mentaiko (spicy cod roe) onigiri and a salmon onigiri. Hand made onigiri really are great. The mildly spicy mentaiko and the salmon with just the right amount of salt were both very satisfying items♪
Source:dokic!'s review
keyログ
The rice is really delicious! It's hard to choose an onigiri (rice ball) filling, but you'll be satisfied no matter which one you pick♡ And I really want you to order tonjiru (pork miso soup) with it too! It was a great meal♡
Source:keyログ's review
194
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Photograph:Christa。
About a 5-minute walk from Susukino Station. Taishu Sakaba Han Tachinomidokoro Maikii in Chuo-ku, Sapporo, is an izakaya offering a lineup of a la carte dishes that pair well with drinks and local sake.
The stylish wood-accented interior includes standing-drink counters and table seating. To finish off your drinks, you can also enjoy onigiri (rice balls).
Their signature “futomaki onigiri (thick rolled rice ball)” is made with custom nori (seaweed) from Ariake. There are 12 fillings in total, including “mentaiko (spicy pollock roe)” and “niku miso (meat miso).”
The photo shows the “shake (salmon).” It is said to be a filling item with a great balance between the aroma of the nori and the salt level of the rice.
Photograph:しろほや
Another specialty here is the "all-you-can-pile maguro (tuna) assortment." Limited to 15 orders a day, this is a 60-second challenge menu where it ends the moment you spill any.
For maguro lovers, this unique item is hard to resist, and if you take on the challenge, it is sure to get everyone excited!
First, order the specialty futomaki onigiri (thick sushi roll-style rice ball) (salmon JPY337). The aroma of the nori (seaweed) and the seasoning of the rice are spot on, and it is very filling. To finish or as a snack, it works either way.
Source:https://tabelog.com/en/hokkaido/A0101/A010103/1069182/dtlrvwlst/B521018914/
Sei.k
Looking past the counter, I spotted a refrigerator packed with Japanese sake! Looking at the menu, they had quite a wide selection.. Since I was there anyway, I had some Japanese sake from Hokkaido. ^_^ The staff were polite, and even though it is a standing bar, I ended up staying a long time! Definitely give it a try!
Source:Sei.k's review
90
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Photograph:best life partner
"Sakemabushi Omusubi Kametaro," about a 7-minute walk from Exit 3 of Maruyama Koen Station, is an onigiri (rice ball) shop where you can casually enjoy Hokkaido salmon.
On sunny days, you can relax and enjoy your meal in the outdoor eat-in space, and you can also shop next door at "Sake no Marukame Maruyama Honten."
Photograph:best life partner
All of this shop’s onigiri (rice balls) use "sake-mabushi gohan (salmon mixed rice)" and pair it with fillings focused on seafood. The rice is mixed with salmon, so you can really taste the saltiness and umami.
The onigiri are wrapped in logo printed film, making them easy for Takeout as well.
Photograph:☆流れ星
Their akisake (fall salmon) uses male autumn salmon from Hokkaido that is salted and aged for 100 hours using a method that has remained unchanged for over 80 years.
This is a luxurious omusubi (rice ball) generously filled with Marugame brand yakiyo-zake (salmon for grilling).
ちゃみしゅん
What sets these onigiri (rice balls) apart is that all of the rice is mixed with sake (salmon), something you only get at a salmon specialty shop. I bought the sujiko (salmon roe) onigiri! The sake and sujiko were both well balanced with the rice, and it was very tasty.
Source:ちゃみしゅん's review
s2sio
This onigiri (rice ball) shop is run by Marugame, a restaurant known for its fish. They have many kinds of onigiri, and choosing among them was a lot of fun. The rice was light and fluffy, and everything tasted great. I’d love to visit again.
Source:s2sio's review
37
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Photograph:ホーリーパパ
About a 1-minute walk from Nishi-Juitchome Station, Onigiriya Temari is an onigiri (rice ball) shop open only on weekdays and specializing in Takeout.
In addition to onigiri, they also offer side dishes and miso soup, making it a great spot for a quick breakfast or lunch.
Photograph:ますら王
The onigiri (rice balls) here are neatly shaped into beautiful triangles, and the wrapped nori (seaweed) is said to have a soft texture.
Along with standard options like "beni-shake (salted coho salmon)" and "ume (pickled plum)," they also offer a wide variety of choices, including unique items like the Yakiniku-filled "Rice Burger."
Photograph:辣油は飲み物
In the foreground of the photo, the "Gomoku" is an omusubi (rice ball) made with takikomi gohan (seasoned mixed rice) packed with ingredients like aburaage (fried tofu), shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and burdock root.
The rice has a nice mild sweetness, and the flavor is simple but satisfying. It works well not only as a snack or light bite, but also as something you can fully enjoy as a meal.
ロティ男
These are umeboshi (pickled plum) and mentaiko (spicy cod roe)! Both were packed with fillings, and the rice was hefty too, so they were nothing like the light ones you find at convenience stores. So I ended up completely full! And they tasted great too! It turned into a very filling lunch.
Source:ロティ男's review
辣油は飲み物
This onigiri (rice ball) shop with a nice old-school feel is located outside the ticket gates of Nishi-11-chome Subway Station. I visited for breakfast. This is what I had this time. Beni-shake (salted salmon) JPY300. Gomoku (mixed ingredients) JPY250. The nicely salted salmon is a classic onigiri filling. It makes for a great boost both nutritionally and mentally first thing in the morning.
Source:辣油は飲み物's review
38
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Photograph:札幌 食べ歩き
Onitoko Maruyama Ten, about a 2-minute walk from Maruyama Koen Station, is a specialty shop for onigiri (Japanese rice balls) that are shaped by hand to order.
The fluffy onigiri are available at the table seats inside the shop as well as for Takeout. They also offer bento boxes and Rice bowls, making it an easy place to stop by for a meal.
Photograph:best life partner
The onigiri (rice balls) at this shop are made with rice purchased directly from a farm in Tobetsu-cho (Tobetsu), Hokkaido.
One of the most popular is the “sake butter shoyu (salmon with butter and soy sauce),” the onigiri shown on the left in the photo. The richness of the butter and the toasty aroma of the soy sauce come together to bring out the good flavor of the salmon.
Photograph:グルメハンター・酔いどれ天使
From limited-quantity onigiri (rice balls) to standard flavors, they always offer more than 30 varieties.
The photo shows the standard kombu kelp. It is packed with plenty of thinly sliced kombu kelp, and the simple flavor is one you will never get tired of.
kisuke5
Freshly made, piping hot onigiri (rice balls). When you take a bite, the delicious rice gently falls apart with just the right firmness and salt level. I chose the popular sake bata shoyu (salmon with butter and soy sauce) filling. The butter and soy sauce soak into the rice and make it even better〜.
Source:kisuke5's review
かず4295
I had today’s lunch at Onitoko Maruyama Ten. I ordered tonjiru (pork miso soup) and onigiri (rice balls) with ume (pickled plum) and tuna miso. They make them to order after you ask. They have quite a few kinds. The ume was tasty and not too sour. The tonjiru also had plenty of ingredients.
Source:かず4295's review
50
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Photograph:best life partner
About a 10-minute walk from Oyachi Station. Onigiriya-san in Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo, is a shop where you can enjoy onigiri (rice balls) made with ingredients unique to Hokkaido.
The compact interior also has counter seating, and besides onigiri, they offer deli side dishes and set meal options.
Photograph:呑み過ぎ痩せ過ぎ
This is a zangi (Hokkaido-style seasoned fried chicken) rice ball made with Hokkaido's classic dish "zangi."
Zangi is Kara-age made with chicken seasoned with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and other flavors. The juicy zangi is said to go perfectly with rice.
Photograph:おーんぷ
The onigiri (rice balls) at this shop can also be changed to a larger size for an additional fee.
The photo shows the larger-size okaka (bonito flakes). The okaka has a gentle flavor that brings out the taste of the ingredients, and it goes well with hot tea.
美～味し食之介
At the restaurant, I ordered sujiko (salmon roe) (JPY400) and yama-wasabi tuna (mountain wasabi tuna) (JPY300). They were ready in about 5 minutes. When I opened the cute paper bag, I could really smell the nori seaweed. The rice was cooked on the firm side, and I could taste its natural sweetness. The yama-wasabi tuna had the familiar tuna flavor with the added aroma of mountain wasabi. The sujiko soaked into the onigiri was unbelievably good.
Source:美～味し食之介's review
chmc
I ordered the sake (salmon) onigiri rice ball and zangi (Hokkaido-style fried chicken) set. You really can’t go wrong with this combo. The staff shape the onigiri after you order. Freshly made onigiri is so good, isn’t it. The salt level is just right.
Source:chmc's review
66
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Photograph:best life partner
CAFE TONTON is about a 7-minute walk from the west exit of Atsubetsu Station, and it is a spot where you can enjoy onigiri (rice balls) and cafe dishes.
The simple and stylish interior has counter and table seating, so you can relax and spend your time comfortably.
Photograph:take0104
The onigiri (rice balls) here use "Fukkurinko" rice from southern Hokkaido. They offer a wide range of options, from classics like "natural salmon" to unique choices like the "Kakuni (braised pork belly) onigiri."
The photo shows Today's onigiri, the "grilled tarako (cod roe) butter."
Photograph:wakamecalpis
In addition to A la carte onigiri (rice balls), they also offer set menus.
The photo shows the "B Set," which comes with the restaurant's specialty, "Buta no Torotoro Kakuni (meltingly tender braised pork belly)." It also includes the chef's carefully made house-made pudding, "Tonton Purin (pudding)," and a drink.
マツタケスケモン
What I ordered A la carte were 2 onigiri (rice balls) and the C Set (your choice of onigiri + tonjiru (pork miso soup) + buta no kaku-ni (braised pork belly) or chicken Kara-age + drink + Ton Ton Purin). You can choose the size of the onigiri and whether you want white rice or genmai (brown rice). The onigiri are shaped very gently, so soft they almost fall apart. The rice is cooked to just the right softness without being too soft, and it tastes great.
Source:マツタケスケモン's review
76dbbb84805
The yaki-onigiri (grilled rice ball) hitsumabushi (rice with toppings and broth) set meal was nice and fragrant even when eaten as just the rice balls, and it also had a gentle, tasty flavor when broth was poured over it and made into hitsumabushi. The tonjiru (pork miso soup) that came with it was also Manzoku, with a nice sweetness from the pork fat and plenty of ingredients in it!
Source:76dbbb84805's review
39
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Photograph:best life partner
About an 8-minute walk from Sapporo Station. Hokkaido Onigiri Style Kai, located in Kita Ward, Sapporo, is a cafe-style shop.
Surrounded by greenery, the interior has sofa seating, table seating, and terrace seating. You can relax and spend time inside, and they also offer Takeout.
Photograph:ぐるめ天使
Speaking of this shop's onigiri (Japanese rice balls), their square shape is the standout feature.
They offer two types: the "Kaku" style, which lets you simply enjoy the good taste of rice from Hokkaido, and hearty meal-style onigiri filled with side dishes that pair well with rice from Hokkaido, so you can choose based on your mood and taste that day.
Photograph:ケプロ
The popular Otona-sama Lunch (grown-up kids' lunch), which also gets great reviews, is a one-plate menu packed with plenty of vegetables.
The colorful vegetables make it look bright and appealing as well. Since only a limited number are available, they recommend making a reservation before visiting.
brax3
I ordered the tonjiru (pork miso soup) set. It came with a plate piled with several deli sides, one onigiri (rice ball), and tonjiru. I added one more onigiri and had two: salmon and Omurice. The deli sides were packed with vegetables. There was a great variety, and everything was tasty. The onigiri were light and fluffy, with plenty of filling inside.
Source:brax3's review
charlie03457
I ordered the bulgogi-style Rice bowl. The bowl looked cute and small at first, so I wondered if it might be too little, but it was quite deep and had a pretty good amount of rice. The vegetables on top of the Rice bowl were also gently seasoned and tasty. The tonjiru (pork miso soup) warmed me up, which I really appreciated.
Source:charlie03457's review
51
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Photograph:DGD
About a 2-minute walk from Exit 3 of Miyanosawa Station. Shizen Saibaimai Onigiri Cafe178 Miyanosawa is an onigiri (rice ball) cafe located in a corner of a residential neighborhood in Nishi Ward, Sapporo.
The interior is a warm and cozy space where you can relax and enjoy onigiri.
Photograph:南幌
The onigiri (rice balls) here are appealing for their gentle, comforting flavor, made with naturally cultivated rice and organic ingredients.
The photo shows the "Shizen Saibai-mai Onigiri (naturally cultivated rice ball) Plate B." You can choose any two onigiri, and it comes with fluffy tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet) and three kinds of vegetable deli sides, making it a well-balanced plate.
Photograph:みのくる
Cafe178 Pujin is a purin (Japanese custard pudding) cake made by baking together purin made with free-range fertilized eggs and a cocoa sponge made with rice flour.
The purin uses eggs from chickens raised healthy in the nature of Hokkaido, specifically the carefully selected eggs from Kobayashi Noen (Kobayashi Farm).
sorariku_mama
The vegetable deli dishes were so good that I kept saying how tasty they were while eating by myself. The onigiri (rice balls) and miso soup were of course delicious too. I’d love to go again.
Source:sorariku_mama's review
aoneko970200
Onigiri (rice balls) and deli dishes made with shizen saibai-mai (naturally cultivated rice). The menu feels safe to enjoy, and it is really delicious✨The baked pumpkin cheesecake also uses shizen saibai kabocha (naturally cultivated pumpkin). It had a gentle flavor♪
Source:aoneko970200's review
36
