Sapporo
What you need to know before you go
Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido. It’s well known for ramen, beer, snow, and being home to some of Japan’s most spectacular festivals. The most impressive is the Sapporo Snow Festival, held annually in Odori Park with huge scenes and structures constructed entirely out of ice. It overlaps with the Sapporo White Illumination, when strings of white lights adorn Odori Park creating a truly magical scene.
The extraordinary countryside lying outside the city is idyllic for nature lovers – the Hokkaido landscape presents wonderful opportunities for hiking, camping during the warmer months, and exhilarating skiing conditions during winter. The former Olympic ski jump stadium is a popular photo opportunity, and the Sapporo Beer Museum is a favorite for obvious reasons. The open-air Historic Village depicts life in days gone by.
What to see & do in Sapporo
Featured stories & fun stuffSapporo is the capital of mountainous Hokkaido, Japan’s ultimate yukiguni or snow country. Most visitors make the city their starting point for day trips and fun adventures at top ski resorts like Niseko, a short drive out of the city. Check out the annual Sapporo Snow Festival to admire the works of the country’s best ice sculptors put on display or enjoy a sip of great Japanese beer while learning... Read more
9 Places Locals Love to Go in Sapporo
Wondering which places locals love to go in Sapporo? For starting your trip in vast Hokkaido, it’s a good idea to begin in this prefectural capital. Sapporo is Japan’s 5th most populous city, but the city and nature coexist in...8 Best Things to Do with Kids in Sapporo
Sapporo has all kinds of attractions that families can enjoy in any season or any weather. You can harvest vegetables from Hokkaido at agricultural experience facilities or take the kids along to the Children’s Puppet Theatre. You can also enjoy...15 Best Things to Do in Sapporo
Sapporo, on the northern island of Hokkaido, is the 5th-largest city in Japan. A lot of historical attractions, as...10 Things to Do in Sapporo on a Small Budget
Visiting Sapporo on a budget is possible thanks to the endless attractions that you can enjoy for little or no...10 Best Things to Do for Couples in Sapporo
Sapporo is packed with great places for couples to enjoy perfect dates. The city has beautiful parks where you can...
Where & what to eat in Sapporo
Sapporo is famed for the quality of its seafood, which is caught in the cold waters off the Hokkaido coast. Crab is probably the most prized, but shrimps and cold-water fish are also packed full of flavor. In winter, you can try a unique Sapporo dish, soup curry! It’s packed full of vegetable and roast chicken, with varying levels of spice for you to choose from. For the biggest... Read more
10 Best Local Dishes from Sapporo
Hokkaido is arguably the best fishing zone in the world. Surrounded on 3 sides by the Sea of Japan, the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk, the city is right at the intersections between 4 ocean currents. And if...10 Great Restaurants in Sapporo
The best Sapporo foods everyone should try are served at different local venues throughout the city. Sapporo is like a...10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Sapporo
In a city as large and cosmopolitan as Sapporo, it really isn’t that hard to find good international food or...
Where to shop & what to buy in Sapporo
10 Best Shopping Experiences in Sapporo
As in most large Japanese cities, shopping malls are the most popular places to shop in Sapporo. You'll find all manner of goods inside, from souvenirs and bargains, to exclusive, designer goods. There's no such thing as a typical mall, however, and the range of items in many can be mind boggling. Happily, almost all malls have leisure facilities, wheelchair...
Where to go & what to do at night in Sapporo
Nightlife in Sapporo is alive and kicking in Susukino, the city’s own dedicated entertainment area just south of Odori Park that has a good concentration of bars. Evening walks around downtown Sapporo are set against an array of colorful neon lights – it can be magical during snowfall. You won’t find any shortage of great Japanese beer in Sapporo. As snowy Hokkaido’s capital, Sapporo is also a beer capital. After all... Read more
10 Best Bars, Live Music, and Nightclubs in Sapporo
Many nightlife lovers see Sapporo as a more laid-back and relaxed destination than equivalent-sized cities in Japan. The main nightlife center is Susukino – the largest north of Tokyo – with many 24-hour bars, restaurants, pubs. It's estimated there...9 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Sapporo
The best things to do after dinner in Sapporo include endless fun nightspots, especially in the entertainment district of Susukino. Make the most of your Sapporo nightlife by barhopping or dancing all night at a dance club. The night view...
Useful information
Sapporo Travel Essentials
Our Sapporo Travel Essentials lays out the essential information you need to help you plan your trip to one of the most popular destinations in Japan. No matter how frequently you travel, some questions will always need answers: What’s the weather like? How can I get from New Chitose Airport to my hotel? What currency and type of plug do...
neighborhoods in Sapporo
Kita Ward
Good for:Friendly peopleWalkingShoppingSapporo City Centre
Good for:FestivalsSunnyScenerySusukino
Good for:FestivalsFlowersSunnyChuo-ku
Good for:FestivalsZooFlowersHigashi
Good for:BeerMuseumsNatural parksAtsubetsu
Good for:SpasFriendly peopleShoppingMinami
Good for:Hot springsSpasCross-country skiing
Shiroishi
Good for:AdventureBusinessFriendly peopleTeine
Good for:Natural parksCross-country skiingShinsapporo
Good for:SpasShoppingFriendly peopleKiyota-ku
Good for:Natural parksNishi
Good for:Natural parksTheme parksUniversities
