Live acoustic music
Live acoustic sets that bring the saloon to life.
Saloon Jukebox
Drop a coin in the jukebox
ジュークボックス
Built around country and Western music: over 4,000 (4,203) original songs, in Japanese and English. All free to listen. Great as background music for work or a café, too.
Jukebox coming soon
We’re still picking the records. Check back soon. 近日公開。
Now playing Press play
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Coming soon to Sapporo in 2027
Tanuki Thunder タヌキサンダー
Saloon and Cowboy Outfitter Sapporo, Japan
Where Two Frontiers Meet 開拓の大地に、西部の風を。
An American cowboy saloon bar & grill, with Western apparel and live entertainment, coming to Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Tanuki Thunder is a planned country & Western cowboy bar and outfitter for Sapporo: saloon food and drink, Western wear, and live music. Until the doors open, browse the full song list, play the jukebox, read the FAQ, or read this page in Japanese.
The Concept
A real saloon bar & grill
西部の酒場を、札幌に。
A Western saloon, brought to Sapporo.
Tanuki Thunder is a Western saloon built for a great night out: dark wood, lantern-glow lighting, a quality sound system and a bar with real hospitality. It’s not a gimmick. It’s the kind of place you make a special trip for, tell your friends about, and come back to.
Behind the bar: highballs, American whiskey and bourbon, Hokkaido and imported beer, and signature cocktails. From the grill comes a short, honest saloon menu built around Hokkaido ingredients, starting with Hokkaido potatoes.
With a bilingual team, Japanese guests and visitors from around the world get the same warm welcome.
Saloon
Lively atmosphere and real hospitality.
Grill
Fast, satisfying food built around Hokkaido ingredients.
Stage
Live music, themed nights and events.
Outfitter
Western apparel and Tanuki Thunder goods.
Live Entertainment
Nights worth staying out for
音楽と宴の夜。
Nights of music and celebration.
A sound all our own
The house sound comes from Tanuki Thunder’s own original music library: modern country with Japanese and English lyrics, alongside licensed American country.
Themed nights
Weekly themed nights, plus Western movie nights and whiskey tastings.
Rodeo on the big screen
Licensed bull-riding and Western sports screenings, with mechanical bull nights in our bigger format.
The Hokkaido calendar
Seasonal events tied to Sapporo’s year, from Snow Festival season in February to summer beer season.
Parties & groups
Bring the crew. Group nights and private parties are part of the plan.
Cowboy Outfitter
Gear you’ll be proud to wear
着て帰れる、ウエスタン。
Western style you can wear home.
Not a costume shop. Tanuki Thunder carries a curated Western lifestyle range that feels continuous with the bar: buy what the staff and performers wear, or pick up the “outfit of the night.”
Expect authentic American Western pieces alongside quality Japan-market finds, plus Tanuki Thunder branded, only-here goods made with Sapporo print and embroidery shops. Displays are made for photos, with clear Japanese sizing and fit guidance for boots and hats, and a range that rotates with Hokkaido’s seasons.
Why Sapporo
Two frontiers, one saloon
二つの開拓地が出会う場所。
Where two frontier lands meet.
The American West
America’s frontier
Open range, cattle drives and the saloon at the end of the trail: the place where a long day turned into a good night.
Hokkaido · 開拓 (kaitaku)
Japan’s frontier
Hokkaido was Japan’s pioneer land. Its kaitaku settlers cleared forest and broke ground in deep snow, and American advisers helped shape Sapporo in those early days.
Today Sapporo is Hokkaido’s largest city and the heart of its nightlife, with Susukino, the biggest entertainment district in northern Japan. It welcomes visitors all year, and especially in Snow Festival season. A Western saloon belongs here.
One Brand, Two Formats
The first bar is just the beginning
一号店から、その先へ。
From the first bar, onward.
The Saloon
A smaller, intimate saloon bar & grill with a merch wall, acoustic nights, screenings and bull pop-ups.
The Mothership
The full flagship: a stage, a dedicated Western store, a full kitchen and a permanent mechanical bull arena.
Either one may open first in Sapporo. Whichever comes first will be the template for more Tanuki Thunder saloons to follow.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is Tanuki Thunder?
Tanuki Thunder is an American cowboy saloon bar & grill and cowboy outfitter, with Western apparel and live entertainment, coming soon to Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Is Tanuki Thunder open yet?
Not yet. Location and opening news are still to come. Join the mailing list to be among the first to hear when Tanuki Thunder opens in Sapporo.
Can I listen to the jukebox now?
Yes. The saloon jukebox has 4,203 original country and Western songs in Japanese and English, all free to listen.
How can I contact Tanuki Thunder?
Email [email protected], or leave your details in the sign-up form on this page.
Stay in the Loop
Be first through the doors
最新情報をお届けします。
We’ll keep you posted.
Location and opening news are still to come. Leave your details and you’ll be among the first to hear when Tanuki Thunder opens in Sapporo.