Crowning Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido is Sapporo, a fashionable urban wonderland offering an imitable mix of neon-lit nightlife, traditional breweries, and ski resorts. The mountainous island’s capital is also famous for its weeklong Sapporo Snow Festival, which takes place every February. Travelers visiting during the festival should head to Odori Park and the Susukino District to watch local artists create ice and snow sculptures. For lovers of the outdoors and winter sports, Sapporo is the ideal vacation destination. Mountain bike around Lake Shikotsu; go kayaking or canoeing on the Chitose River; hike through Nopporo Forest Park, home to more than 400 types of wild plant; and soak in the healing waters of Hoheikyo onsen. Taking a private tour of Sapporo’s thriving center means you can customize your itinerary to suit your interests. Stroll around the lush greenery of Odori Park (Odori Koen), sample local beer at Sapporo Beer Hokkaido Brewery, admire the neo-baroque architecture of Hokkaido Prefectural Office, or venture outside of the city to Otaru, where traditional mansions and cobblestone streets sit prettily on the banks of canals. If you’re looking to explore more of Japan, Sapporo serves as a convenient jumping-off point for day trips to Furano, whose lavender fields let off a gloriously heady scent; the snow-smothered slopes and hot springs of Niseko; and Biei in the Kamikawa District, whose Panorama Road reveals rolling hills and vast fields.
Sapporo is a popular winter destination. Visitors come for the Sapporo Snow Festival, which is typically held in early February, and to visit nearby ski resorts. Summer is also a great time to explore the city; you can see blooming fields of lavender in nearby Furano and to enjoy local events such as the Hokkaido Shrine Festival and the Sapporo Beer Festival.
Sapporo is easy to navigate via the city’s efficient public transportation network, which include three subway lines, a tram line, and many bus routes. Using a prepaid IC card is the easiest way to pay for your fare; you can buy cards at station vending machines. If you plan to travel a lot by subway on any particular day, consider getting a Subway 1-Day Card, which offers unlimited rides.
The Indigenous people of Hokkaido are the Ainu, and Kerapirka Ainu—one of the country’s few restaurants specializing in Ainu cuisine—serves as a hub for the community. The restaurant, which is located within walking distance of Sapporo Station, also hosts live music nights. If you want to learn more about the community, visit the Ainu Culture Promotion Center (Sapporo Pirka Kotan), which is located just outside the city.
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Sapporo is known for its wintery attractions. Since 1950 the city has hosted the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, in which international teams create hundreds of snow statues and ice sculptures. Sapporo is an Olympic city, having hosted the Winter Games in 1972, and a gateway to the ski slopes of Hokkaido.
...MoreSapporo’s main attractions can be covered in a single day, but giving yourself at least two days provides a more relaxed experience and the chance to discover places by simply wandering around. You should certainly leave enough time to see more of Hokkaido.
...MoreSapporo’s main attractions include the Sapporo Beer Museum, home of one of Japan’s oldest beers, and Moerenuma Park on the city’s outskirts designed by the renowned sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Visit the Susukino entertainment district at night to bathe in flashing neon and check out the fresh-off-the-boat seafood at Nijo Market.
...MoreThe name Sapporo comes from the Ainu language—the Ainu are the Indigenous people of Hokkaido. The name was created from the Ainu phrase “Satsu-Poro-Petsu,” which translates roughly to "important river flowing through a plain," in reference to the Toyohira River, which supplies water to the city.
...MoreWhen temperatures drop, there is much to do in Japan’s favorite winter city. The Sapporo Snow Festival brings giant snow statues and ice sculptures to parks in January. Hit the slopes at Sapporo Teine Ski Resort; go ice fishing on Barato River; and warm up in the steamy Jozankei Onsen.
...MoreYes. Sapporo is worth a visit if you are traveling to Hokkaido. However, you should plan your Hokkaido trip to include just a couple of days in Sapporo and leave plenty of time to explore more of the island, which is full of spectacular landscapes.
...More
![[Biei/Furano] One-day sightseeing by private car!](https://media.tacdn.com/media/attractions-splice-spp-360x240/07/b4/3a/c8.jpg)
![[Otaru & Yoichi] Stroll around Otaru (Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi Street, Music Box Hall, etc.) and go to Yoichi Nikka Whiskey by private car (Sapporo departure and arrival)](https://media.tacdn.com/media/attractions-splice-spp-360x240/0f/ef/4c/91.jpg)
![[Departure from Sapporo] Noboribetsu Jigokudani, Lake Toya, Cape Chikyu by private car](https://media.tacdn.com/media/attractions-splice-spp-360x240/10/6f/e7/20.jpg)
