Sapporo

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.