Percato Pizza, in Sapporo, Japan (closed)

As the Official Hakujin Pizza Czar of Japan, it is my foresworn duty to document aspects of pizza history in Japan. This post is part of my attempt to fulfill my responsibilities as a recognized blackbelt in Japanese Pizza History, and a internationally recognized cultural ambassador (specializing in pizza, Japanese pizza, Japanese pizza history, and related cornerstones of contemporary Japanese culture).

In service of Japanese pizza history commemoration, the picture below is an example of a star-shaped pizza from Percato Pizza – a pizza shop which no longer exists (but was formerly located in Tanukkikoji, in Chuo-ku, Sapporo, and closed in 2022).

Star-shaped pizza has a unique “star” shaped crust, where the crust is folded, and contains bites of ricotta cheese (and sometimes other toppings). The style is somewhat rare, but can be found in pizza restaurants in Japan and around the world.

This particular example was one of the best pizzas in Sapporo, and remains one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had in Japan. The crust was indeed fantastic (and not particularly due to the cheese). It was a robust pizza, with lots of toppings, including delicious sausage.

Sapporo’s Percato Pizza was perhaps a casualty of Covid. During the period of 2020 – 2022, I would stop by Percato as often as once a week, to dine in at their narrow counter-top, or to take a pizza home. Increasingly, I could never manage to find the store open. Eventually it closed, and was turned into a tiny bar.

Percato was a significant loss, as it was a top contender for the best pizza in Sapporo city.

While I used to complain about a lack of good pizza in Sapporo, this little city now has some better options. From the same group that produces Savoy Pizza in Tokyo, there is now a Sapporo Savoy Pizza (the proper name is Savory Ezo). For another Tokyo transplant, there is a Osteria Salvatore Pizza that opened in 2025. For a local favorite, Da Massimo is not particularly convenient, but remains a surprisingly good pizza.

For another example of star-shaped pizza, the star-shaped pizza at Napoli Star Ca in Setagaya is the most famous example. see the review of Pizzeria da Tigre in Osaka, a “Michelin Recommended” pizza restaurant in Japan.

See our list of local Sapporo restaurant reviews for some current examples of the pizza restaurants in Sapporo.