Sapporo

Understand

Sapporo's population has grown from seven in 1857 to nearly 2 million in 2021. Welcome to Sapporo is the city's official multilingual guide site. Tipping is not customary here. Excellent service is the norm, and service charges are often already included in the bill

Climate

Sapporo has four distinct seasons. Temperatures are generally cool and pleasant during summer, making it a popular place to escape the heat that grips much of the rest of Japan. Summer days here start longer and earlier than the rest of Japan, with sunrise as early as 03:55, and the latest sunsets in June are only around 19:15. Winters are harsh by Japanese standards, though not as harsh as the likes of Harbin or Chicago. Sapporo is one of the snowiest cities in the world (about 6 meters of snowfall each year, three times as much as in Montreal), and the city makes full use of this by hosting the world-renowned Sapporo Snow Festival in February every year. During the winters, the sun rises at around 07:00 and sets as early as 16:00.

Getting there

Sapporo is Hokkaido's main transport hub.

By plane Sapporo (SPK IATA for all airports) is served by two airports. Most international and inter-island flights to go the larger but further away New Chitose Airport, while most intra-island flights go to the smaller but closer Okadama Airport.

1 New Chitose Airport (新千歳空港) CTS IATA, SE of the city in Chitose, best reached by train or shuttle bus. All international and inter-island flights land here. The route from Tokyo, particularly Haneda, is one of the most heavily traveled in the world. Direct international service to Sapporo is limited to Asian countries such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea; seasonal flights operate from cities in Australia, Canada and the United States. JAL and ANA provide nonstop service from Japan's other major airports with regular international flights. JR Hokkaido’s Airport Rapid runs every 15 minutes or so from New Chitose to Sapporo Station (45 min, ¥1230 for a non-reserved seat in 2025). JR operates an information desk at the airport from 08:30-19:00 daily where Japan Rail Pass vouchers can be exchanged. Limousine Buses run frequently to several destinations in downtown Sapporo, with one-way fares starting at ¥1000. Door-to-door shuttle van companies include Sky Express. 2 Okadama Airport (OKD IATA 丘珠空港), 東区丘珠町 (north of the city), ☏ +81 11 785-7871. The smaller and more centrally located Okadama airport is the hub for regional airline Hokkaido Air System. This regional airline flies ATR 42 propeller aircraft to six airports in Hokkaido, including Hakodate and Kushiro as well as Misawa airport in Aomori. Toki Air also flies ATR propeller aircraft between here and Niigata and Fuji Dream Airlines flies small Embraer jets between here and Nagoya on a seasonal basis. (updated Feb 2023) If traveling by plane, you may wish to consider one of the air passes for foreigners sold by Japan Airlines and ANA, including the Japan Explorer Pass and Experience Japan Fare, respectively.

By train

3 JR Sapporo station is the main railway station of Sapporo. It sees regular local service from Otaru and New Chitose Airport as well as limited express services from the rest of Hokkaido. Those not using a national rail pass may wish to consider the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass for ¥35,370 (2025) which covers unlimited travel on the shinkansen from Tokyo to Hakodate, express trains from Hakodate to Sapporo, as well as other JR East lines in the Tohoku region and around Tokyo. This pass can be used for 6 consecutive days.

From Tokyo, Hakodate Travelling to Sapporo from the

Getting around

Most unusually for a Japanese city, Sapporo is logically organized thanks to its strict grid system. The main thoroughfare, the leafy Ō-Dōri (大通り, literally "Big Street"), runs east-west across the city and divides the city into North and South, while Sōsei-Gawa (創成川, literally "Creation River") divides the city into West and East, running under the main street Eki-Mae-Dōri (駅前通, literally "In Front of the Train Station Road"). The address of every block in the center is thus of the type "North X West Y" (prominently signposted at all intersections), making navigation a snap. However, most businesses provide maps to their location, building names or landmarks, because the address "North X West Y" or the like simply means that the place you are trying to find will be somewhere in the block, and blocks in the center of the city can be quite large! Two public transportation smart cards are sold in the Sapporo area; JR Hokkaido's Kitaca and the Sapporo City Transportation Bureau's SAPICA. While the Kitaca can be used on the buses, subway and streetcars, the SAPICA cannot be used on JR trains, making the Kitaca the better choice for most visitors. If you are coming from elsewhere in Japan, the major smart cards from other regions such as Kanto's Suica and PASMO, and Kansai's ICOCA are fully interchangeable with Kitaca, meaning that you do not need to purchase an extra smart card.

By train The JR above-ground trains are reasonably priced and a good option for traveling in Sapporo and surroundings. The trains arrive and depart at specific times. You'll most likely want to take a train to and from the airport.

By subway Sapporo has three subway lines, all converging at Ōdōri Station at the center of the grid. The Namboku Line ("North-South") runs north-south, the Tōzai Line ("East-West") runs along Odori east-west. Only the Tōhō Line breaks the mold by running in a C-shaped curve from northeast to southeast. Single fares are charged by distance and cost ¥210–380, and with a choice between subway-only tickets or transfer (subway, bus and streetcar) tickets, which cost up to ¥540 for the longest trips (as of July 2025). Child tickets are half-price, rounded up to the next ¥10. The simplest option is the With You stored value card (lowest denomination ¥1000). On weekends and public holidays, the Donichika-Kippu (ドニチカキップ) allows unlimited 1-day subway travel for ¥520 (child ¥260). On weekdays, the One-Day Ticket allows the same, but costs ¥830 (child ¥420). There is also a Bus and Subway Transfer One-Day Ticket, which allows unlimited 1-day travel on b

See

1 Clock Tower (時計台 Tokeidai) (Close to Ōdōri Station.). This rather diminutive building has become a symbol of Sapporo, mostly by being the oldest building still standing. It was constructed in 1878 for the Sapporo Agricultural College (now the Hokkaido University) and would not look out of place in "Smalltown U.S.A." The inside has a small retrospective of its history. Visitor beware, as this is for some reason a mecca for Japanese tourists coming to Sapporo who feel that no trip to Sapporo would be complete without a photo in front of the Tokeidai, but has been rated as Japan's third "most disappointing" tourist attraction! ¥200. 2 Shiroi Koibito Park (白い恋人パーク). Formerly "Ishiya Chocolate Factory". The factory has an incredibly corny, but fun, tour building up to a view of the actual chocolate making floor, and ending with a random toy museum. Also there are two restaurants, a souvenir store, and an hourly robot show complete with annoying music. Famous for its white chocolate, which is sold under the brand "White Lovers" (白い恋人 shiroi koibito), and is only available in Hokkaido; if you are working in Japan, your colleagues will expect some White Lovers chocolate as souvenirs if you visit Hokkaido. There is also a cake buffet available at the restaurant on the top floor for "¥1,500" but reservations must be made 3 days in advance. ¥600 for a tour, free entrance to the premises. (updated Jan 2018) 3 Ōdōri Park (大通公園, ōdōri-kōen). Sapporo's most famous park, it is in the center of town and is considered to be a symbol of Sapporo. Although quite narrow (one might argue that it is a nice boulevard), the park is quite long, stretching over fifteen blocks across downtown Sapporo. Filled with (during the summer) numerous flowers, trees, and fountains, Ōdōri Park provides a welcome respite from the maddening crowds of the surrounding city. In winter, there's not much to see. (updated Jan 2018) 4 Sapporo TV Tower (さっぽろテレビ塔) (at the eastern end of Ōdōri). A tourist trap carbon copy of the Eiffel Tower with an observation deck 90 m high. ¥700. 5 Sapporo Beer Museum (サッポロビール博物館 Sapporo Biru Hakubutsukan), North 7, East 9 (next to the Ario Shopping Center; on the Loop 88 Factory bus line from the Ōdōri Subway Station; close to JR Naebo Station (ask the attendant there for a map)), ☏ +81 1-1731-4368. Daily 09:00-18:00. Run by the Sapporo Brewing Company, offers free self-guided tours or "premium" guided tours (only in Japanese, ¥500) covering the history of beer in Japan and the process of brewing. The museum is not very big and while the printed descriptions on th

Do

Sapporo Snow Festival (雪祭り Yuki Matsuri). First week of Feb. This is Sapporo's largest event. The festival is best known for the ice sculpture competition attracting artists from around the world, competing to create the largest and most elaborate artworks from ice and snow. The festival is focused on Odori Koen, in the centre of Sapporo. It consists of a combination of large-scale replicas and artistic sculptures; children-aimed attractions; and a separate section for world-wide competitors (where you can see a wide range of smaller artistic sculptures). The festival should be enjoyed both in the day -- but particularly at night when the sculptures (especially the larger ones) are lit up. When the weather is warmer and there's a bit of melting, the smaller sculptures are literally remade every night to ensure that they are in perfect condition the next day. Book accommodation early, because Sapporo gets booked out during the festival. 1 Mt. Teine (手稲山 Teineyama). A ski mountain within easy drive from most of Sapporo. This ski mountain featured in the 1972 Winter Olympics. Offers a good mix of beginner and experienced slopes (in two distinct parks; Highlands and Olympia which are connected). You can purchase a Skip (スキップ sukippu, ski + trip) ticket at any JR ticket office for roughly ¥4500 (depending on which station you start from) that includes roundtrip train tickets to JR Teine station, roundtrip bus tickets from Teine station to the ski area, and a four-hour lift ticket. At Teine Station, make sure to exit at South gate #3 to find the correct bus. Skiing. As befits a former Winter Olympics site, Sapporo is famous for its ski resorts, which are easily accessible by bus. Niseko, one of Japan's top destinations for powder, is two hours away by bus. 2 Hoheikyo Onsen (豊平峡温泉), 〒061-2301 札幌市南区定山渓608番地2, ☏ +81 11-598-2410. Probably the most beautiful outdoor hotspring that is easily accessible from Sapporo. Separate areas for male and female guests offer an indoor bathing area and a large outdoor pool with mountain view. Massage, a beer bar and a restaurant (Indian curry or Japanese soba) are available on site. A free shuttle bus departs daily from Makomanai subway station (in front of the middle school) at 10:00 and returns from Hoheikyo to Makomanai at 15:00 (Service stopped since Oct 22, 2022 according to their website). Public buses (Rapid 7, Rapid 8 and Kappa Liner) also run regularly from Sapporo JR Station for ¥840. ¥1000. (updated Jan 2018)

Buy

For those living in Japan who have an omiyage (souvenir) obligation to fill in your Japanese office when you return from your Hokkaido holiday, the best omiyage to buy in Sapporo is the ubiquitous Shiroi Koibito (白い恋人, "White Lovers"). It is a chocolate slice sandwiched in two wafers of sweet biscuit, individually wrapped and available boxed in a range of different quantities — tasty enough, but rather bland, and few Westerners would associate the taste with Japan. The original flavour is white chocolate sandwiched in plain sweet biscuit, but there is also a dark chocolate version. It's available in every souvenir store in the city (try the Sapporo JR area or Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade when shopping for souvenirs), and also most souvenir stores around the island. Being a wintery kind of place for a good part of each year, Sapporo also has many stores selling all manner of snow goods. At the beginning and end of each season, many good deals on the previous year's gear can be found, often at discounts of up to 60% off, sometimes more! Also, there are several sports recycle stores in the city and suburbs where good deals on barely-used gear can be found, thanks to the Japanese fondness for having new gear every season. Ask Tourist Information to help you locate second-hand sports and snow-gear stores. One such second-hand chain is Hard Off, which can be found all across Japan. Generally, the more remote the Hard Off is, the more likely you are to find a treasure!

Eat

Sapporo is famous for hairy crab (毛蟹 kegani), an expensive treat available at any seafood restaurant, and miso ramen (味噌ラーメン), a local variation of the ubiquitous noodle dish with miso paste added to the stock, and one of Japan's top three ramen. The ramen in particular will warm you up nicely on a chilly winter day. Sapporo soup curry (just what it sounds like) is also increasingly famous. As elsewhere in Hokkaido, you can also enjoy dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, chocolate and ice cream), seafood (especially as sushi), fruits (honeydew melon, strawberries) and meat (sausages, ham, bacon and beef). Kuwanomi (桑の実) is a popular mulberry. It is red or black in color and sweet. Preserved kuwanomi can be made into jam, which is a traditional food. In elementary schools, students make kuwanomi jam every year.

1 Nijō Ichiba (二条市場), South 2-3, East 1-2 (5 min from Odori Stn). 07:00-18:00. Sapporo's equivalent to Tokyo's famed Tsukiji Fish Market, this is where the best of Hokkaido's catch is traded — and like its Tokyo counterpart, there are many restaurants here offering top-quality, cut-price sushi and sashimi. Popular with locals and tourists alike. 2 Aji No Tokeidai (味の時計台). The best-known ramen noodle chain in Sapporo, now franchised around the country. Many famous people have eaten here including former Japanese prime minister, Tomiichi Murayama. Miso ramen is the most popular dish, but if you want something special, order the batā-kōn ramen, a Hokkaido specialty made with a hearty broth of corn and butter. ¥600-1000. 3 Ramen Yokochō (ラーメン横丁) (just east of Susukino Station.). Also known as Ramen Gai, this alley is chock full of ramen shops of all varieties. Get butter corn ramen, crab ramen, and even scallop ramen. It's touristy but fun, and locals come here as well. 4 Sapporo Beer Garden. At the same location as the Beer Museum is the Beer Garden, an incredibly popular Genghis Khan (mutton barbeque) restaurant. Even though the dining rooms span three large buildings, come early and expect to wait. The restaurant offers a 100-minute all-you-can-eat-and-drink plan, as well as à la carte. Bibs are provided, because the food can get rather messy. 5 Romantei. One of the most popular sweets shops. Famous for its Chocolate Mont Blanc, a delicious concoction of sponge cake, whipped cream and ganache. Other delectables include cream puffs, apple pie, and strawberry Bavarian. Located at Moiwa Mountain. There is also a takeaway shop at Tokyu Department Store, right outside Sapporo Station. A second dine-in shop is located at Sumikawa Station. 6 Cafe Ph

Drink & nightlife

The drink of choice when in Sapporo is obviously Sapporo Beer, and a good option for this is the Beer Museum (see See). Susukino (すすきの), to the south of the center, is one of Japan's largest nightlife (and red-light) districts, which was created to keep labourers in Hokkaido. It has a somewhat unsavory reputation due to heavy yakuza involvement in the business, but is safe for travelers not looking for trouble. Get there on the subway Namboku line, Susukino station.

1 Paul's Cafe, North 5 West 5 (next to the railway station, in Century Royal Hotel Building). 11:00-22:00. Belgian beer and rotisserie grill chicken. While you wait for your train, Paul will delight you with his wonderful beer selection.

Sleep

Budget 1 Auto Resort Takino (オートリゾート滝野), 247 Takino, Minami-ku (Near the Art Park in Minami-ku), ☏ +81 11 594-2121. From approximately the last week of April through the first week of November, there is a campground in Takino with the facilities you would expect in a suburban campground: a playground, restrooms, a cooking area, water, public phones, vending machines, showers, a store, and a laundromat. According to Outdoor Japan, "There are some beautiful waterfalls to hike around in Takino Suzuran Koen and the campsite is large and comfortable.". ¥1000 per site, plus ¥800 per person. 2 DK House Sapporo, South 5, West 13-2-8, Chuo-ku. A guest house where many international students stay. Service is friendly and it's only 15 minutes from Susukino. Cheap rooms with fridge and AC for ¥45,000/month, en-suites for ¥55,000/month. 3 Ino's Place, Higashi Sapporo 3-4-6-5, Shiroishi-ku (7 minutes from Ō-Dōri station on the Tōzai line in Shiroishi), [email protected]. Describes itself as a backpackers hostel and is a very friendly, open and clean place. Private rooms are available as well, as are discounts for long-term stays. Several 24-hr showers and a Japanese-style bath, free to use kitchen, a comfy living area and free internet access make this one a sure winner. Dorm beds ¥2900.

Mid-range 4 Comfort Hotel Sapporo (コンフォートホテル札幌), South 3 West 9 (Near Susukino), ☏ +81 11 5134111. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. Midrange western-style rooms with bathroom. There is a computer with internet for use in the lobby. 5 Hotel Sapporo Mets (ホテルサッポロメッツ), 北区北17条西5丁目2番50号 (From the Kita 18-jo subway stop, go a block west. The hotel entrance is next to Lawson.), ☏ +81 11 726-5511. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. A nice hotel with reasonable prices. The hallway carpets have some light stains, but the rooms are clean, and have a bathroom and a fridge. The breakfast buffet is included with stay. Singles ¥4,580, doubles ¥7,200 but in the off season it can be as little as ¥3000 per night. 6 Toyoko Inn Sapporo Susukino South (東横INN札幌すすきの南), South 6 East 2 1-1, ☏ +81 11 551-1045, fax: +81 11 561-2045. A reliable business hotel. This is a subway ride (or long walk) from the train station, so it doesn't fill up as quickly as the other Sapporo branches. 7 HOTEL MSTAYS Sapporo Nakajima Park (ホテルマイステイズ札幌中島公園), 1 Chome-1-20 Minami 14 Jonishi, Chuo Ward (10 min walk from Horohirabashi station.), ☏ +81-11-531-0550. Check-in: 1500, check-out: 1100. Small business hotel with good breakfast. (updated Sep 2025)

Splurge 8 Sapporo Grand Hotel, North 1, West 4, Chuo-ku, ☏ +81

Go next

Otaru, approximately 60 minutes by car (shorter by expressway). A very pleasant small town located on the coast, and famous (within Japan) for its attractive canal which is very European in design. Also famous for its seafood, music box museum (with associated tourist shop) and glass works. Also famous for being the setting of the movie Love Letter. Niseko, arguably Japan's top destination for powder skiing and snowboarding, is two hours away by bus. The hot springs and mossy canyons of Shikotsu-Toya National Park are within easy striking distance of Sapporo. Asahikawa's Asahiyama Zoo is the most famous and most visited zoo in Japan, despite it being 2 hours away by train. Its most famous exhibits are the penguins which walk around the park twice a day, and the seals that you can see swim vertically through a large transparent pipe. It also features polar bears, wolves, Japanese deer, big cats, different kinds of monkeys and more. It's most impressive in winter when it's covered in snow (have you ever seen a giraffe walking in snow?) but a few of the exhibits are also closed during this season. Ebetsu Yubari Hidaka Noboribetsu Toyako Kutchan