A new urban development hub has been born in the Sapporo/Shin-Sapporo area, where redevelopment is underway. “Sawa,” which opened in September on the first floor of the commercial facility “Sunpiazza,” is a “town living room” where people of all ages, from children to the elderly, can gather casually and connect through learning, experience, and communication. It is a new urban development space that supports the local community’s “I want to try!”
A new exchange hub in New Sapporo where people of all ages gather
“Sawa” opened on September 20, 2025
On September 20th, 2025, the active salon “sawa” opened on the first floor of the commercial facility “Sunpiazza” in Atsubetsu Ward, Sapporo. The name comes from “sawakai,” a tea party where people talk over tea. Inside, it is a cafe-like space with an attached kitchen. It will be a place where local people can gather, learn, connect, and take on challenges, and will carry out a variety of activities.
The location is right next to the entrance to the Youth Science Museum and Sunpiazza Aquarium.
A “town community” nurtured together by students and the local community
Free space that can also be used as a cafe
Here, local residents can hold workshops and cultural schools, rent out boxes to sell handmade items, and operate a pop-up cafe.It can also be used as a place for meetings and presentations for local events, and serves as a “multi-purpose space for the town.”
There is also a kitchen inside, so cooking classes can be held.
It is open for free if there are no hourly or private rentals. There is also a cafe menu.
Rental box where you can display your handicrafts
A “library for everyone” where neighbors can borrow and lend books
Sawa is staffed by staff primarily made up of students from Sapporo Gakuin University. While supporting exchanges that transcend generations and positions, they are also involved in planning and running local activities. In the future, there are plans to collaborate with the university to train area management personnel, as well as conduct demonstration experiments and joint research on urban development, and the facility is attracting attention as a base for a new regional model where students, residents, and businesses can work together.
I visited on the opening day and enjoyed the ice cream that was served at the opening party.
Indoor vegetable gardening in the space
A place for everyone to gather and hold programs that transcend generations
The contents of “sawa” change depending on the day. On this day, students were helping out with caricature creation.
In addition, when there are no events or workshops, the space will be open as a cafe and workspace, with the aim of becoming a popular “place in the town” where people can drop in casually. In the future, there are plans to gradually roll out programs that transcend generations, such as yoga and exercise classes for seniors, and a health consultation cafe. It looks set to become a place where a variety of activities and encounters can take place, befitting the name “active salon.”
AloJapan.com