【Sapporo · Kita 24-jo】Neighborhood Favorite ‘Sushidokoro Matsugen’—Tatami Alcove & Gorgeous Nigiri
🗾 Introduction
Sushidokoro Matsugen sits on the 1st floor of the Nakadorikan Building, just a 1–2 minute walk from Kita-Nijuyonjo Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Namboku Line.
It is an old-school neighborhood sushi restaurant where hospitality from the chef and the proprietress feels genuinely warm and outstanding. The atmosphere lets you feel classic Japan at its best—the kind of place that makes you want to come back again and again.
There is a family story that drives home how deeply Sapporo locals have cherished this place for generations: the author’s parents once came here years ago to tell their boss they were getting married. Walking in, you sense a beloved institution passed down across generations.
📍 Essentials
- Name: Sushidokoro Matsugen (寿し処 まつ元)
- Address: Nakadorikan Building 1F, Kita 24-jo Nishi 4, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 〒001-0024
- Phone: 011-729-8910 (reservations & inquiries)
- Map: Open in Google Maps
- Hours: Mon–Sat roughly 18:00–23:00. Hours may change—call ahead.
- Closed: Sundays & national holidays
- Parking: No dedicated lot; use nearby coin parking.
🚉 Access
- Subway: Kita-Nijuyonjo Station (Namboku Line)—1–2 minutes on foot.
- Landmark: 1F of the Nakadorikan Building at Kita 24-jo Nishi 4. The area feels like a quiet pocket of izakaya and eateries in a residential neighborhood, not the middle of Odori or Susukino.
💴 Budget (author’s visit)
The author dined with a family of four, ordered quite generously, and left thoroughly full for around ¥30,000 total. Given what was on the table, it felt like excellent value (actual cost varies by season, menu, and order).
Cash is the norm for payment.
🍣 Lavish nigiri & a sashimi centerpiece
Please take a look at the main photo—this is a seriously lavish nigiri assortment—shrimp, colorful gunkan-style pieces, and thick tamagoyaki stamped with “まつ元”, which adds a signature touch and great character.
The large sashimi platter looks almost chaotic at first glance, yet it is composed and beautiful—almost like edible art. Freshness and volume both deliver; it was a deeply satisfying spread.
The raised tatami area is perfect for settling in on zabuton around a low chabudai. Frosted glass with the Matsugen logo hints at a classic neighborhood institution.
Chilled draft beer alongside a small simmered bowl for the first round. The photo captures how the place works as both a sushi shop and somewhere you want to drink and linger.
🥢 Unforgettable clear soup
There is no photo, but the clear soup (osuimono) was so good we ordered seconds. I still remember the dashi, the temperature, and above all the care from the chef and proprietress in that bowl.
📌 Tips
- Reservations: The restaurant is small with limited seats. Calling ahead is wise.
- English menu: There probably wasn’t one. Plan on a translation app.
Summary
Sushidokoro Matsugen, 1–2 minutes from Kita-Nijuyonjo Station, is a classic neighborhood sushi house where warm service and serious-quality fish shine. The nigiri platter and sashimi spread are stunning to look at and to eat; for our family of four it was outstanding value. Anyone who wants a taste of old-school Japan and Sapporo’s deep-rooted food culture should put it on their list.
