Sapporo, the largest city on Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido, offers many good reasons to visit. Although travel to this largely hilly area only became popular after it hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, the city now more than makes up for it with events such as the famous Sapporo Snow Festival, one of the largest winter events in Japan that attracts more than two million visitors every winter (the city’s year-round visitor numbers now exceed 14 million). In addition, the city regularly hosts important international sporting events and important political meetings such as G8 summits. Sapporo also plays a role as a major cultural destination and is home to some of Japan’s best-known culinary dishes, theatrical and musical events, as well as museums and beautiful parks that are well worth including on your Japan itinerary.
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1 Odori Avenue Park
In downtown Sapporo, Odori Avenue Park is an oasis of greenery that cuts through the city. It stands in stark contrast to the tall buildings and offices surrounding it and is the best place to explore this dynamic destination. Unlike the many wide avenues typical of European cities like Paris, this wonderfully wide mile-long park with its open space and gardens, fountains and art sculptures connects many of the city’s most interesting attractions, such as the Sapporo TV Tower and several museums and galleries, as well as shopping and entertainment districts. It also serves as an important location for cultural events, including spring Sapporo Lilac Festival and the ever-popular Sapporo Snow Festival. Odori Avenue Park is close to Sapporo’s underground shopping area and business district.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Sapporo
2 Hokkaidō Shrine
The Hokkaidō Shrine (Hokkaidō Jingū) was built in 1871 and is one of the most important (and visited) Shinto religious sites in the country. Adjacent to Maruyama Park, the shrine became even more important after it was dedicated to the soul of much revered Emperor Meiji in 1964. The site is enormous, and in addition to the enormous temple building, it consists of a large garden full of cherry blossoms, a major attraction in bloom every spring . Another favorite time to visit is New Year’s Eve when special parties and festivities are held, or during the annual Sapporo Festival every June, when long parades of traditionally dressed revelers visit the Hokkaidō Shrine and pay tribute to their ancestors and the spirits of the country’s most revered religious leaders.
Address: 474 Miyagaoka, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
3 Mount Moiwa and the Aerial Ropeway
High above Sapporo, the 531-meter-high Mount Moiwa (Moiwa-yama) is the most visited of the many hills surrounding the city, largely due to the ease with which the summit can be reached. Although a popular destination for hikers, by far the most common option is to take the cable car, Mount Moiwa Cable Car, most of the way up before transferring to a cable car that takes just a few minutes to reach the summit’s highest station reach. Here you can not only enjoy great views of the city (day or night) from the station’s observation deck, but you can also stop at the on-site restaurant or enjoy a show at the planetarium. Come winter, the Mount Moiwa Ski Resort attracts winter sports enthusiasts from far and wide with its many fine slopes easily accessible from the center of Sapporo. Another interesting hill is Hitsuji-ga-oka (the hill of sheep) located southeast of Sapporo and also offers beautiful views of the city.
Official site: www.sapporo-dc.co.jp/eng/moiwa/
4 Jozankei Onsen Hot Spring
Less than an hour’s drive from Sapporo you’ll find the spectacular hot springs of Jozankei Onsen, a worthwhile excursion, especially if it can be combined with a stopover at one of the area’s many fine spa hotels. Tucked away in a picturesque valley with mountains adding to the landscape, the mineral waters of these famous hot springs have attracted many visitors from Sapporo and beyond since 1866 (up to two and a half million per year), all drawn by the healing and restorative qualities of its sodium chloride rich waters. In total, Jozankei Onsen boasts 56 hot springs that pour out an estimated 8,600 liters of water per minute at temperatures between 60 and 80°C, many of which are now easily accessible thanks to the many spas and resorts that have sprung up here. Afterwards, you should explore the many beautiful hiking trails in the area, and beautiful spots like the Shiraito-no-Taki Waterfallthe Nishikibashi Bridgeand the rock of Futami-Iwa.
Address: Minami Ward, Sapporo, 061-2302
5 Maruyama-Koen Park
On the west side of Sapporo is Maruyama-koen Park, a multi-functional nature reserve that is popular with visitors all year round. In spring, the park’s 226-metre-high hill comes alive with the stunningly beautiful flowers of its more than 1,700 wild cherry trees, while in autumn it’s the turn of the many maples to show off as their leaves change into a cavalcade of reds and golds (it is also popular with bird watchers). Winter also does not have its own beauty, when heavy snowfall blankets the park and turns it into a playground for winter sports enthusiasts. At this time of year the focal point here is the nearby one Okurayama ski jumpbuilt for the 1972 Winter Olympics and still regularly used to host ski competitions, as well as the Ōkurayama Crystal House, an interesting museum about winter sports. The park also features a small zoo, the Maruyama Zoowith a variety of native and exotic animals.
6 Shikotsu-Tōya National Park
The Shikotsu-Tōya National Park near Sapporo contains a wide range of beautiful volcanic landscapes in its three separate parts, along with many crater lakes and hot springs. Most of the National Park lies at the gates of Sapporo, making it an ideal day trip, just an hour away by bus. A highlight is the 1,893 meter high Yotei, an extinct volcano that towers over the town of Kutchan, which serves as a good base for those wanting to make the four-hour climb to the three summit craters known as the Father, Mother and Little Cauldrons. It is also worth it Nakayama Pass and crystal clear Lake Toya, a circular lake so warm that it cannot freeze even in the harshest winters (the lake also has a popular spa, Toyako-onsen). Another highlight is Showa Shinzana still active volcano, which only emerged in 1945.
7 Moerenuma Park
In the Higashi-ku suburb of Sapporo, the open spaces and sculptures of Moerenuma Park (Moerenuma Kōen) provide a nice distraction from the hustle and bustle of the city center. Opened in 2005 and 17 years in the making, this inspiring municipal park covers a vast area that is thoroughly packed with sculptures large and small, many of which double as play equipment large enough (and perhaps even intended for) adult visitors, along with the Forest of cherry trees with its 3,000 copies offering an incredible palette of colors every spring. The most notable landmark is a huge glass pyramid known locally as Hidamari and housing an art gallery with a scale model of the park, workshops, a restaurant and a shop. Other highlights include the large stainless steel triangle known as the Tetra Mound and, dominating the site, the enormous 62-metre high Mount Moere with its views over Sapporo. Hot Tip: Try to time your visit to coincide with one of the park’s regular musical or theatrical events.
8 Sapporo TV Tower
The 147-meter-high Sapporo Television Tower (Sapporo Terebi-tō) was built in 1957 and remains one of the city’s most visited landmarks. Easily accessible from Odori Avenue Park, the tower offers beautiful views of Sapporo from the observation deck and from the restaurant. In addition to the on-site shops, the tower also houses an interesting ground floor exhibition relating to the structure’s history, along with access to Odori Avenue Park and a large underground shopping area. A highlight of the tower’s exterior are the large digital clocks that were installed in 1961.
9 Former Hokkaidō Government Office
One of Sapporo’s clearly most western-influenced landmarks, the beautiful Former Hokkaidō Government Office was built in 1873 to house the offices of the predecessor government that once watched over the island’s affairs. Later extensively restored after a devastating fire, it now provides exhibition space and acts as a tourist center for the city and is well worth a visit for both its décor and bright red-brick exterior. Impressively large, the structure contains approximately two and a half million bricks quarried locally and contains a collection of important paintings and other works of art, as well as furnishings and displays about the building’s important place in the region’s history. Afterwards, visit the beautiful gardens and pond, especially when it is used as a venue for musical and theatrical events.
Address: 6 Chome Kita 3 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture 060-0003
10 Sapporo Clock Tower
Another of Sapporo’s remaining Western-influenced structures is the famous Clock Tower (Sapporo Tokeidai). Built of wood, the clock tower closely resembles the type of colonial-style building common to many American cities (a fact due in part to the Americans involved in the city’s planning), and is a must-see on every visit to Sapporo. In addition to the still functioning and chiming clock, other highlights include an interesting museum detailing the history of the region with a particular focus on agriculture. The facility is also often used for musical and theatrical productions, as well as community events and workshops.
Address: 2-1-1 Kita 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture 060-0001
Where to Stay in Sapporo for Sightseeing
We recommend these highly rated hotels in Sapporo, close to the best sights in the city:
- JR Tower Nikko Sapporo: luxury high-rise, great location, professional service, organic coffee, spa with indoor whirlpools and sauna.
- UNWIND SAPPORO: mid-range prices, welcome drinks, cozy atmosphere, roof terrace, free breakfast.
- Ibis Styles Sapporo: affordable prices, relatively large rooms, multilingual staff, free breakfast.
- Vessel Inn Sapporo Nakajima Park: budget-friendly hotel, modern high-rise, sashimi breakfast buffet, laundry facilities.
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