Restaurant in Sapporo, Japan
Kyoto technique, Hokkaido ingredients, reservation required.
Nukumi is one of Sapporo's most consistently awarded Japanese dining rooms — a Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze winner and three-time Tabelog 100 selection. At JPY 30,000–39,999 per head, it applies Kyoto culinary technique to Hokkaido's northern ingredients across 14 seats near Nakajima Park. Reservation-only and strictly dinner; book at least two to three weeks ahead for weekends.
Nukumi is worth booking if you want a serious Japanese kaiseki-style dinner in Sapporo that applies Kyoto technique to Hokkaido's northern ingredients. At JPY 30,000–39,999 per head (plus a 10% service charge), this is one of Sapporo's most credentialed dinner tables: a Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze winner, and selected for the Tabelog Japanese Cuisine EAST "100" list in 2021, 2023, and 2025. For a special occasion dinner in the city, it deserves genuine consideration. For a casual or spontaneous meal, it does not — reservation-only, 14 seats, and a same-day cancellation charge of 100% of the course fee signal exactly the kind of commitment required.
Nukumi operates out of a house restaurant near Nakajima Park (a five-minute walk from Exit 3 of Nakajima Koen Dori Station), which sets the register immediately: this is intimate, unhurried, and deliberately small. Seating runs to 14 across a six-seat counter, a semi-private room for two, and a private room for three to six. If you are planning a date or a small group celebration, the private room configuration works well. The counter is the right call for solo diners or couples who want to engage with the kitchen. The room is non-smoking, wheelchair accessible, and set up as a tatami-and-counter space rather than a conventional restaurant floor.
Nukumi opens Tuesday through Sunday from 18:00, with last entry at 20:30. Monday is always closed; the fourth Sunday of each month is also closed — confirm before you travel. The 20:30 last entry is firm, which means this is not a late-night option in the conventional sense. If you are hoping to eat after 21:00 or drop in after other plans, this is not your venue. The dinner service window (18:00–23:00) is leading treated as a single-sitting commitment. Pair dinner here with drinks elsewhere in Sapporo before or after; the city's bar scene can fill the gap. See our full Sapporo bars guide for options nearby.
Reservations are required and should be made by phone during the contact windows: 13:00–17:00 or 20:00–23:00 (excluding regular holidays). Phone: +81-11-520-6858. The website (nukumi.com) lists online reservations as available. At this price point and seat count, book at least two to three weeks ahead for weekend slots; weekday availability is generally more accessible, but do not rely on last-minute openings. Same-day cancellations trigger a 100% charge , treat this as a fixed commitment once confirmed.
Payment: major credit cards accepted (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners, UnionPay). Electronic money and QR code payments are not accepted. A 10% service charge applies. Children are welcome if they can follow the course format , elementary school age and above.
Nukumi's consistent Tabelog 100 recognition (three consecutive cycles: 2021, 2023, 2025) puts it in a small group of restaurants that have held their position across multiple years, which matters more as a signal than a single-year award. The approach , northern Hokkaido produce interpreted through Kyoto culinary technique , is a specific proposition. If that combination is what you are looking for, Nukumi is the right booking. For comparison across Sapporo's fine dining options, see our full Sapporo restaurants guide.
Beyond Sapporo, if you are building a Japan itinerary around this calibre of dining, relevant comparisons include Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, HAJIME in Osaka, and Harutaka in Tokyo. For crab-focused dining specifically, Xie Wang Fu in Tokyo offers a useful point of comparison at a different price and format. For seafood-led precision at the highest level internationally, Le Bernardin in New York City sits in the same conversation.
Within Sapporo's wider scene: aki nagao, Hidetaka, and Higebozu are worth cross-referencing depending on format and budget. For kaiseki specifically, Hanakoji Sawada is the direct peer comparison. Arima covers the sushi counter format if that is your preference.
Planning beyond restaurants: our Sapporo hotels guide, experiences guide, and wineries guide cover the rest of your stay.
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nukumi | Easy | — | |
| Arima | Unknown | — | |
| Hanakoji Sawada | Unknown | — | |
| Le Musee IDEA | Unknown | — | |
| Menya Saimi | Unknown | — | |
| Sushi Kin | Unknown | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Yes — Nukumi has a counter with 6 seats, which is the most direct way to experience the kitchen. The room also includes a semi-private room for 2 and a private room for 3 to 6, so counter seats are limited and tend to go first. If you prefer the counter, specify it when you reserve by phone during the contact windows (13:00–17:00 or 20:00–23:00).
The database notes the kitchen is particular about fish, and the format is a set course — this is not a restaurant built around substitutions. Contact Nukumi directly by phone (+81-11-520-6858) during contact hours to discuss any restrictions before booking, and do it early: same-day cancellations are charged at 100% of the course fee, so confirming fit in advance matters.
Nukumi runs a set course format, so there is no à la carte menu to navigate. The kitchen applies Kyoto culinary technique to Hokkaido's northern ingredients, with a documented focus on fish. Budget JPY 30,000–39,999 per person before the 10% service charge, and note the sake list is given serious attention.
For sushi, Sushi Kin is the natural comparison in Sapporo's fine dining tier. If you want a different format or price point, Menya Saimi offers a high-conviction ramen experience at a fraction of the cost. Nukumi is the stronger choice when the specific pairing of Japanese kaiseki technique and Hokkaido produce is the goal.
Yes — Nukumi explicitly supports celebrations and surprises, offers private rooms (for 2 and for 3–6), and takes private venue hire. At JPY 30,000–39,999 per head with a 10% service charge, the price and format both fit a milestone dinner. Book early and mention the occasion when you call, since the 14-seat room fills quickly.
Dinner only. Nukumi has no lunch service — the Tabelog record shows no lunch budget and the restaurant opens at 18:00 with last entry at 20:30, Tuesday through Sunday. Plan your evening accordingly: arriving late limits your course time.
Book as early as possible — Nukumi is reservation-only with just 14 seats, holds Tabelog 100 status for three consecutive cycles (2021, 2023, 2025), and won the Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze. Demand from both domestic and visiting diners is steady. Phone reservations are accepted Tuesday–Sunday during the contact windows: 13:00–17:00 or 20:00–23:00. Same-day cancellations cost 100% of the course fee, so confirm the date carefully.
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