Welcome to Sapporo

Intro

Japan’s fifth largest city and home to more than two million people, Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, the nation’s northernmost island and an increasingly popular destination for those looking to experience a different side of this unique and unforgettable country.

Sapporo is among Japan’s younger cities - as recently as the 1850s it had less than 10 inhabitants - but it has grown quickly over the last century. Today, it is becoming an exciting destination for those looking for an alternative to more famous cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, while planning the perfect stay in Japan.  

The city’s fame grew considerably in 1972 when it hosted the Olympic Winter Games and in recent years, the popularity of the Sapporo Snow Festival has attracted millions of visitors and helped introduce the world to this special city. Sapporo describes itself as a metropolis surrounded by incredible nature - it is known for being lush and green during the summer months and magically white with snow in the winter. The city sees an impressive five metres of snow fall every winter, making it a true winter wonderland during the colder months. It’s also famous for its seafood, as being a gateway to the great outdoors of Hokkaido, for its vibrant art, culture, and shopping, hot springs, proximity to skiing and winter resorts, and more.  

In recent years, Sapporo and Hokkaido have become more accessible than ever before thanks to the launch of the high-speed Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train which has turned a seven-hour journey from Tokyo to Sapporo into a four-hour journey. In the next few years, this journey will get even shorter with the launch of the experimental Alpha X Shinkansen train, which will reduce the travel time from Tokyo to just three hours. Of course, Sapporo makes a wonderful destination in its own right and you can fly directly into New Chitose Airport (CTS) before taking the JR Airport train line into the city. Recently, Sapporo was rated one of the world’s top trending cities for international visitors, alongside Tokyo and Osaka, and it’s easy to see why for those looking to experience a less travelled road in Japan. As well as being a vibrant city, Sapporo is also a gateway to the rest of Hokkaido, which is famed for its outdoor activities, national parks, and untamed wilderness.  

Activities and Attractions in Sapporo

As a dynamic, cosmopolitan, and exciting capital of the north, Sapporo has a huge amount to see and do. Here are some JapanDen curated recommendations:  

1. Sapporo Snow Festival

Naturally, you’ll have to time your 48 hour trip to Sapporo just right to ensure you’re around for the snow festival, but it’s a very good reason to do so. Arguably Sapporo’s most famous event, the Sapporo Snow Festival has been running annually for more than 70 years. Since it started in 1950, it has gradually transformed into a massive winter carnival that revolves around snow sculptures, ice statues, illuminations and other seasonal activities. Given that the snow festival, known as Yuki Matsuri in Japanese, now attracts over two million visitors every year, it’s hard to believe its humble origins. Back in 1950, the first Sapporo Snow Festival was simply a small group of high school students making six snow statues. Incredibly, this small display amassed a crowd of fifty thousand people and so a Sapporo tradition was born. Today, the snow festival is one of the most famous in Japan and around the world. The festival takes place every February in Sapporo across three main sites - Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome. 

One of the most important parts of the snow festival nowadays is the International Snow Sculpture Contest. If you’re lucky enough to be spending your 48 hours in Sapporo during the snow festival dates then you’ll witness nine teams from around the world competing at the event. It’s worth noting that this contest is only one part of the Sapporo Snow Festival. While the international teams will each be making their own sculptures, there are also hundreds of other snow sculptures and ice statues found throughout the city. Odori Park - one of the three main sites we mentioned above - is the traditional home of the snow festival. It’s where the first festival took place some 70 years ago. Positioned in the heart of the city, the park stretches for 1.5 km and is packed to the brim with a sea of hundreds of snow sculptures, some that reach as high as 15 metres.

Then there are the illuminations that go on late into the evening and clever projection mappings that add another element to the wonder. If you didn’t know, Japan really loves its illuminations and usually they’re pretty phenomenal. You’ll also find a large ice skating rink as well as the snow sculpture contest we mentioned above. While walking through Odori Park lets you see the incredible sculptures one at a time, there is a way to see them all at once. For a stunning view of the festival, head up the nearby TV Tower, which has extended opening hours specially for the festival. 

2. Ramen Alley

Sapporo’s famous ramen alley (Ramen Yokocho) first opened in 1951 and is said to be the birthplace of ‘miso ramen’. Located in the Susukino district of the city, it’s also home to more than 17 ramen restaurants and in our humble opinion, it’s a must-visit during your 48 hours in Sapporo. Ramen is one of Japan’s most popular dishes. What is ramen? Well, if you’ve been living under a rock, let us tell you. Ramen is essentially a bowl of noodles and broth. It is a relatively simple dish on the surface, but its apparent simplicity is a serious part of its genius and when prepared by masters, it is a meal full of little subtleties, expertise and incredible depths of flavour. For example, depending on the soup base, choice of noodles, toppings, and sides, ramen can have a huge number of different variations. Naturally, every region and every city has its own ramen specialities and Sapporo is no different. In fact, it might just have the most famous ramen street in the world. Ganso Sapporo Yokochu is regarded by many as the original ‘ramen alley’ and was visited by the late American chef Anthony Bourdain who braved the snow to eat at the famous Aji No Karyu restaurant. You can follow in the legendary chef’s footsteps by visiting 3 Minami 5-Jo Nishi, Chuo, Sapporo 064-0805, Hokkaido. 

3. Sapporo Beer Museum

With a history dating back to 1876, Sapporo beer is the oldest brewery and beer brand in Japan. Dating back to the Meiji era when Japan was rapidly industrialising by taking examples from the West and inviting highly qualified individuals from around the world to help build the future of Japan. So too with Sapporo Beer, that became a marriage between local craft, inspired by German brewing tradition and American industrialism.

The museum is the original brewery building that was in service between 1876 and 1965. A visit takes you through the beer brewing process, the history of Sapporo beer and what makes the beer taste special. Admission to the museum is free, and there’s a beer tasting option after completing the museum course. Tours in Japanese and English are also available. Attached to the museum is a large traditional beer hall that serves local Hokkaido dishes. The beer hall is famous for its all you can eat and drink menu options, including the local meat heavy dish called Jingisukan (called after the Genghis Khan). 

4. Odori Park

One of the main sites of the Sapporo Snow Festival, the 1.5km Odori Park in the heart of the city looks like Osaka’s answer to New York’s Central Park in many ways, stretching the length of 12 city blocks. It is a beautiful green space in the city centre that’s well worth a visit all year round. One of the park’s highlights is the 150 metre tall Sapporo TV Tower, which looks over the park (and over the city) and which features an observation deck with spectacular views. It’s also illuminated at night making it an even more beautiful landmark in the dark. 

5. Incredible Seafood and Fresh Food Markets

Hokkaido is known for its incredible and plentiful seafood as well as speciality dishes unique to the region. For many travellers Japan’s cuisine is a big part of the experience of visiting the country and Sapporo’s wintry weather doesn’t get in the way of that. As with every region of Japan, Hokkaido has its own special dishes and local produce with plenty of choices to keep you busy. As we mentioned above, Sapporo is also very into seafood, with crab being especially popular. In Sapporo’s restaurants, you’ll be able to try all sorts of crab dishes as well as different types of crab, from snow crab to king crab and blue king crab. So, if you like crab, you’ve basically found heaven. As well as the many restaurants to choose from, don’t miss the likes of Curb Market for its fresh seafood or Nijo Market for a wide range of other fresh foods.

To go along with all this food, the city is quite well known for its alcohol. The city is of course home to Sapporo Beer, one of Japan’s most popular international beer labels. It’s possible to visit the Sapporo Beer Brewery, as we mentioned above, and taste-test some of its different brews. Alternatively, you could also visit the nearby Tanaka Sake Distillery, where you can see where this brand of Japanese rice beer or, nihonshu, is brewed. 

6. Skiing and Winter Resorts

Hokkaido is famous for its dramatic snowfall and for the amazing ski and winter sports opportunities this provides to residents and visitors alike. Sapporo, as the capital of Hokkaido, is no exception and you might be surprised to discover that you’ll be able to enjoy winter sports in the city considering it’s a metropolis of two million people. Sapporo has a ski resort just outside the city centre called Teine Ski Resort and even has a ski jump overlooking the city in Okurayama Ski Jump, a former Olympic skiing jump stadium. There’s also Sapporo Kokusai which is a winter resort in the mountains just outside Hokkaido so you’re spoilt for choice if you’re a skiing and snowboarding enthusiast (or beginner!).

7. Jozankei Onsen

Could there be anything better than soaking in a hot spring while the snow falls around you in this winter city? Hot springs, known as onsen in Japanese, are a traditional and integral part of Japanese culture. They’re something you’ll want to experience no matter the time of year you visit Japan. It just so happens that the chilly depths of winter are a particularly great time to soak away in Sapporo’s onsens. The region of Hokkaido is home to a number of onsen and the city of Sapporo is no exception. One of the closest and best is Jozankei Onsen, which is just an hour from the city centre. Located in the beautiful Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Jozankei is a gorgeous attraction in itself, on the cliffs of the Toyohira River, and is well known for its stunning colours in autumn. The hot springs there were first discovered in 1866 and make a lovely way to unwind during any trip to Sapporo.

8. National Parks

As we mentioned above, Sapporo is a wonderful gateway to Hokkaido’s incredible national parks. The closest to the city is Shikotsu-Toya National Park - which is also home to Jozankei Onsen discussed above. The closeness of this national park makes it popular with visitors to Sapporo as it’s the easiest to reach from the city for hot springs and hiking, caldera and volcanic mountain views. It is also lush and beautiful and is home to two lakes, two onsen towns, and Mount Yotei, a volcano near Niseko. 

Further north, you’ve also got two of Japan’s most spectacular national parks if you’re up for an adventure. Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park is Japan’s northernmost national park and is blessed with rugged mountains, beautiful alpine flowers, and stunning coastal views along Rishiri Island and Rebun Island. It is ideal for hiking, nature photography and geology lovers. Take the train from Sapporo to Wakkanai and then the Sarobetsu Service, which runs between Asahikawa and Wakkanai. If you’re also interested in visiting the islands there is also a Heart Land Ferry to Rishiri and Rebun. Shiretoko National Park is also home to a beautiful and diverse array of wildlife, including spotted seals and Sika deer, you can also undertake activities such as brown bear watching in the summer months and whale watching and drift ice cruises in the winter when ice flows down from Russia’s River Amur. 

9. Shopping and entertainment

The city has a number of entertainment districts and shopping areas for you to indulge in a bit of retail therapy. Sapporo Factory, with its curved glass roof, is a large shopping and entertainment complex located on the site of Japan’s first ever beer brewery. It features more than 160 shops, restaurants, and cafes, as well as a cinema and more. You’ll shop until you drop! Once you’re done shopping and sightseeing for the day, head to Susukino to experience some of the best nightlife Japan has to offer. From drinking with locals, to eating local foods, seeing night entertainment, and exploring shops, bars, restaurants, karaoke, and pachinko parlours, you’ll find it all around the Susukino district. The area is also home to Ramen Yokocho ‘ramen alley’ as mentioned above and one of the key sites for Sapporo’s Snow Festival. 

10. Moerenuma Park

This beautiful and unique city park, located on the outskirts of Sapporo and designed by Isamu Noguchi features a stunning pyramidal glass structure called Hidamari as one of its focal points. There is also a 62m high man-made Mount Moere, which offers views over the park and local area, a sea fountain with water shows, a man-made beach, play areas, and more, making it an excellent space for families to explore in particular. 

Naturally, there’s much more to see and do in Sapporo. This quick guide is intended as a starting point for planning your perfect stay in the city with JapanDen. Bonus recommendations would include the views of the city from Mount Moiwa, a visit to Sapporo’s historic Clock Tower, the botanic gardens and Ainu museum, Shiroi Koibito Park and chocolate factory, and the observation deck at Sapporo station. 

Getting to Sapporo

As we said at the top, you can fly directly into Sapporo by arriving at New Chitose Airport (CTS), if you’re planning to stay in the city or elsewhere in Hokkaido. Travelling to Sapporo from other major cities in Japan, such as Tokyo for example, also couldn’t be easier thanks to the fast rail connections. With the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the journey from Tokyo takes just four hours and is due to get even shorter in the future. An advantage of travelling to Sapporo by train is the opportunity to pass through other cities and towns in Hokkaido en route. For example, you can take the Hokkaido Shinkansen from Shin-Aomori on Honshu to Sapporo, while also travelling onward to Asahikawa, the region’s second city, which connects to other parts of Hokkaido, like Biei, Wakkanai and Abashiri. 

Useful Links 

Ready to start planning your perfect stay in Sapporo? Alongside our carefully curated selection of hotels and ryokans, we hope to provide everything else you need to plan your visit, from in-depth travel guides to 24/7 customer assistance, as well as our upcoming community forum. We can also point you in the right direction for the most cost-effective and enjoyable transport, portable Wifi devices, and partner services to ensure everything goes smoothly during your time in Japan:

• Looking for accommodation in Sapporo? Visit our Hotels page and choose from more than 2,800 hotels and 1,800 traditional ryokans.

• If you want to learn more about Japan’s regions and prefectures so you can decide the best place to visit, you should check out our Destinations page. 

• And if you’re looking to explore Japan then the country’s train network is the way to go. Japan’s railways are renowned as being the fastest, cleanest, and safest in the world. The country’s rail network is so vast and interconnected that it can help you reach almost any corner of Japan you’d like to visit. Furthermore, with a Japan Rail Pass you can enjoy unlimited travel on the majority of the country’s trains, including the famous Shinkansen ‘bullet trains’. The JR Pass is by far the most cost effective and flexible way to get around Japan. Find out more by visiting our partners at www.jrpass.com today.

• Do you want to use Google Translate to support your language skills? Or Google Maps for live train updates? What about posting photos to social media or keeping in touch with home? For all this and more, you’ll need a PocketWifi device like those from Ninja Wifi. With unlimited data, support for five devices simultaneously, the ability to share your Wifi with your travel companions, and more, renting a PocketWifi is highly recommended. Our Pocket WiFi guide has everything you need to know.   

• Finally, if you’re looking for information about Japan and want to speak with expert travellers who have been there and done that, then you should join our Community. This welcoming and friendly forum is the place to go to share stories, knowledge, and experiences about Japan, ask questions, make new connections, and find travel inspiration.