farben:
A world-class small bar
hidden within Sapporo's snack bar building! - Part 1 -

In August 2024, a small bar with around ten seats—combining counter and table seating—quietly opened in a corner of a multi-tenant building in Sapporo's Susukino district. The bar is named 'farben', the German word for 'colours'. We caught up with owner-bartender Shin Yazaki, whose career path is remarkably unconventional for a Japanese bartender.

writer：DRINK PLANET　撮影：村川翔健

A karaoke as the welcome!?

Stepping out of the lift in the multi-tenant building leading to 'farben', karaoke singing from the snack bar spills out onto the floor!

The floor is home to nothing but rather shabby drinking establishments – snack bars and small eateries.

The other floors are much the same; calling it a 'snack bar building' rather than a mixed-use building might better convey the atmosphere.

Immediately to the left is a communal toilet, and right at the far end of the floor – where you might find yourself tilting your head in surprise, wondering 'Is there a cocktail bar here?' – hangs a small sign reading 'farben'.

(It felt remarkably understated!)

Tentatively opening the door, I was greeted by owner-bartender Shin Yazaki, who smiled and said, "This building is chaos, isn't it? Did you manage to find your way?"