Sapporo
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Only have a day? See 2 ready-made day plans ↓Show on the map
Tips
10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Symbol of Sapporo, an 1878 wooden clock tower
- Tip: Go early
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Small entrance fee
- Photo from outside
- Open until early evening
📷 Photos
- 2
Long park through the centre, host of festivals
3 tips
- Snow Festival in February
- Beer garden in summer
- Free entry
📷 Photos
- 3
Observation tower at the east end of Odori Park
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Entrance fee
- Great at night
- Clear days are best
📷 Photos
- 4
Shinto shrine in Maruyama Park
3 tips
- Free entry
- Cherry blossom in spring
- Try rokkatei sweets
📷 Photos
- 5
Mountain with ropeway and night views of Sapporo
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Go at sunset for night views
- Take the ropeway
- Check cable car hours
📷 Photos
- 6
Museum of Sapporo beer history with tasting
3 tips
- Free entry
- Tasting costs extra
- Combine with the beer garden
📷 Photos
- 7
Seafood market for fresh crab and sea urchin
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Try kaisendon
- Carry cash
📷 Photos
- 8
Nightlife and ramen district
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Ramen Alley is famous
- Busy at night
- Watch for touts
📷 Photos
- 9
Park designed by Isamu Noguchi with sculptural landscapes
3 tips
- Rent a bike
- Beautiful in summer
- Free entry
📷 Photos
- 10
Hot spring town in a river valley
3 tips
- Take the bus from Sapporo
- Try a day bath
- Autumn colours are spectacular
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Sapporo tips
Transportation
- Use an IC card: Kitaca, Suica and other major IC cards work on Sapporo's subway, streetcar, buses and JR trains for quick tap-and-go travel.
- Take the JR Rapid Airport: trains from New Chitose Airport reach Sapporo Station quickly; reserved U-seats are worth it with luggage.
- Ride the streetcar loop: the Sapporo tram circles the centre and passes the Mt Moiwa ropeway entrance, handy for an evening view.
Security
- Watch for ice: winter pavements get very slippery; wear boots with good grip or buy slip-on spikes sold at convenience stores.
- Mind Susukino touts: Sapporo is safe, but ignore street touts pulling people into bars in Susukino, where bills can be inflated.
- Respect wildlife warnings: if hiking in the mountains around the city, follow bear warnings and carry a bell as locals do.
Saving
- Eat at convenience stores: Seicomart, Hokkaido's own chain, sells cheap and tasty hot meals, onigiri and local dairy treats.
- Buy a day pass: subway and combined one-day passes, including weekend discount passes, can save money if you ride a lot.
- Enjoy free views: the observation lobby of the Sapporo TV Tower charges, but Odori Park and its events are free to wander.
Weather/Clothing
- Prepare for deep snow: winters are cold with heavy snow, so pack a warm down coat, thermal layers, hat, gloves and waterproof boots.
- Enjoy pleasant summers: Hokkaido summers are milder and less humid than the rest of Japan; bring light layers and a jacket for evenings.
- Layer for indoor heat: buildings and trains are heated strongly in winter, so wear layers you can easily remove indoors.
Cultural
- Slurp miso ramen: Sapporo is the home of miso ramen; slurping is perfectly polite and shows you are enjoying your bowl.
- Try Genghis Khan: this grilled lamb dish cooked on a dome-shaped skillet is a Sapporo classic, often paired with local beer.
- Book for Snow Festival: the Sapporo Snow Festival in early February fills hotels fast, so reserve well in advance.
Local Hacks
- Walk underground in winter: the Chi-Ka-Ho underground walkway links Sapporo Station to Odori, keeping you warm and dry in snowstorms.
- See the night view from Mt Moiwa: the ropeway and mini cable car take you up for one of Japan's most famous city night views.
- Try soup curry: this local spicy curry broth with big vegetables lets you choose spice level; pick a mild level first if unsure.
1-day itineraries in Sapporo
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
Day 1 of 2
Sapporo Beer Museum and around
🕘 9:30–17:00📍 5 stops
- 1Sapporo Beer Museum
- 2Sapporo Clock Tower
- 3Sapporo TV Tower
- 4Odori Park
- 5Susukino
Day 2 of 2
Hokkaido Shrine and around
🕘 9:30–16:15📍 4 stops
- 1Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art
- 2Maruyama Park
- 3Hokkaido Shrine
- 4Okurayama Winter Sports Museum