Charming Escapes and Gorgeous Cityscapes set in Nature: 19 Things to do in Sapporo

When it comes to touring Sapporo, it boils down to two choices: winter or summer.
In winter, you can enjoy the grand nature and urban landscapes blanketed in snow, while in summer, you are treated to expansive green landscapes under a blue sky.
Summer also boasts the unique sight of beautiful flowers like lavender and sunflowers blooming over vast lands.
Major events in Sapporo city are also held in winter and summer, with the "Sapporo Snow Festival" in winter and the "YOSAKOI Soran Festival" in summer.
If you're planning a trip to Sapporo, summer and winter are the two main seasons to try.

Sapporo is accessible via New Chitose Airport, making it easily reachable from both domestic and international locations.
From Tokyo, it's a 1.5-hour flight; from Osaka, 1 hour and 40 minutes; from Nagoya, 1 hour and 55 minutes—access from major cities is excellent.

Shiroi Koibito is a well-known brand of sweets in Hokkaido. At Shiroi Koibito Park, you can tour the production line, learn the history of chocolate from the display, and create your own Shiroi Koibito snack.

Odori Park is located in the center of Sapporo City.
Surrounded by approximately 4,700 trees of 92 species, including lilacs and harunire (elms), as well as lawns and fountains for relaxation, the park is loved by tourists and citizens as a place to relax in the office district.

Built in 1956 on Nishi 1-chome, the starting point of Odori Park, the Sapporo TV Tower is well known to locals and tourists alike as a landmark of Sapporo that has witnessed the city's development since its completion.

The Sapporo Agricultural College Demonstration Hall was once built to train leaders for the development of Hokkaido. The Sapporo Clock Tower, now a beloved landmark of Sapporo, was completed under the Chief Hokkaido Development Commissioner Kiyotaka Kuroda, who visited the city during its completion ceremony.

"Sapporo Nijo Fish Market" is said to have been established in the early Meiji period (1868-1912) when fishermen from Ishikari Beach started selling fresh fish. Today, the market is home to not only fresh fish stores but also fruit and vegetable stores, taverns, etc., and is loved not only by tourists but also by locals as the kitchen of Sapporo citizens.

Moerenuma Park, an art park, was created as part of the Circular Greenbelt Concept, which aims to surround Sapporo's urban area with a belt of parks and green spaces. Sculptor Isamu Noguchi designed the entire park as a sculpture artwork, and visitors can see the park's various faces as the seasons change.

In 1950, a moving zoo hosted by the Ueno Zoological Gardens from Tokyo was held in Sapporo. Due to its popularity, the “Maruyama Zoo” opened the next year in Hokkaido. It was initially a children’s park, but soon expanded with animals, and other venues. It is now a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

Even though located in Sapporo City with 2 million residents, Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill offers the beauty of mother nature. In spring, the hay comes out in green. In summer, lavender fields send out fragrant greetings. Fall foliage will be exquisite, and winter will spread a white snowy carpet. The majestic scenery in all four seasons is perfect for photography.

Hokkaido Shrine, one of the most prominent shrines in Hokkaido, is located in Chuo District, Sapporo City. Its history is long, which began in 1869, when the Emperor Meiji directed to enshrine “Kaitaku Sanshin (Developing Three Deities)” here as a place of faith for pioneers.

Located at the heart of Sapporo, Nakajima Park offers a verdant space. many tourists flock to this popular park to see ever-changing scenery through four seasons.

This is the only beer museum in Japan, where visitors can learn about the history of Hokkaido's pioneering days and the thoughts of those who were passionate about brewing beer in Japan.

Sapporo Art Park (Sapporo Geijutsu no Mori) is a base for various art facilities such as art museums, ateliers, craft studios, and an open-air stage on a vast site of about 40 hectares in Sapporo. The open-air art museum, which is integrated with nature and allows visitors to enjoy art as the seasons change, and rental facilities for rehearsals and lodging are also available and often used by performers and tourists.

Hokkaido University has a huge campus and an unconstrained space. A location of the ground is accessible on foot from the Sapporo station. The campus is open to the public for tours and walking as well as students or staff do.

Takino Suzuran Hillside Park is the only national park in Hokkaido. 400 hectares (988 acres) of premises are divided into four zones - colorful flower gardens, a large playground, three waterfalls and a forest for hiking.

Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium, on top of Mt. Okura, was the stage for the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics. The 90m-long ski jump (the current Large Hill) is set up along the slope of the mountain to remind visitors of the olympics.

This urban aquarium is adjacent to the large shopping center "Sunpiazza" and close to JR and subway stations. Although the facility is compact, the exhibits are spectacular, with 10,000 living creatures of about 200 species being kept in an ingeniously designed exhibition space.

Mt. Moiwa is located at the almost center of Sapporo. A Swiss-made mini cable car designed to observe the forest runs to the altitude of 531m, this mountain is easily reached to the peak so loved by Sapporo citizens, there are five mountain trails to go up to the peak.
A peak of the mountain provides a 360-degree panoramic stunning view without any obstruction including Ishikari Plain, Ishikari Bay, and Mashike Mt.Shokanbetu. No other word to depict a changeable seasonal scenery of the rich nature than excitement!

This government building served as the base and center of Hokkaido’s politics for almost 80 years until the current municipal office was built. Commonly-known as the Red Brick Building, this architecture was made of 2,500,000 bricks. The window glasses with distortion and American Neo Baroque style architecture radiate the history and nostalgia.

Opened in 2001, it is the largest all-weather dome in Hokkaido. It is well known as the home stadium of "Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo", and in addition to sporting events, large-scale concerts and exhibitions are also held here. Although it has a strong image of sports games and concerts, it is actually a great sightseeing spot with its observatory and other facilities.

The “Snow Brand Parlor Sapporo Flagship Shop” established in 1961 is a classic shop with more than 50 years of history selling Sapporo sweets. Inside the shop, visitors can taste ice cream created just for the Showa Emperor and his wife. More than 30 types of parfaits and meals await you. At the entrance shop, visitors can purchase soft serves and souvenirs.

Nijo Market is called the Kitchen of Sapporo, Hokkaido. Donburi Chaya was born there. Taking advantage of the market, they serve rice bowls that satisfy you with the ingredients, freshness, and price. As the specialty restaurant, the menu is abundant. Choose your favorite from more than 50 kinds of seafood rice bowls.

The "Beer Hall Lion Tanukikoji" opened in Taisho era 3rd year (1914). The current Beer Hall Lion was created to enjoy beer born in Sapporo, where the first Japanese beer was brewed.
Baron Lion, the store's symbol, welcomes you on the store balcony. Inside the store, the atmosphere and space are full of Taisho-roman, the so-called "HAIKARA" taste, and interior design. The draft beer poured in the traditional "one-time pouring" style, is superb in the restaurant, where one can feel the age-old atmosphere where many people must have toasted each other over the years.

The “Sapporo Beer Garden” is instantly recognizable from its brick chimney, and red star icon. The red star, the symbol of Hokkaido pioneering, is nowadays loved as the symbol of Sapporo Beer Garden. In this garden, visitors can enjoy a variety of beers based on location in Sapporo, known as the birthplace of Japanese beer.

This is a large-scale commercial complex built on the site of the former Sapporo Beer Factory, which originated from the Kaitakushi Brewery built in 1876(Meiji 9).
In seven buildings, including brick buildings from the former factory days and a huge atrium, we have gathered facilities such as shopping malls, amusement facilities, restaurants, fitness clubs, and hotels. One of the features of this facility is that you can enjoy shopping and visiting cafes without worrying about the weather.

Inside JR Tower is one of Japan’s largest shopping malls, the “Sapporo Stellar Place”. With more than 200 shops, various genres are lined up including fashion, sundries, restaurants, and cafes. The mall is connected to the station, making it easy to access for tourists, and locals who stop by daily. It is Sapporo’s hottest spot.

“Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza, Sapporo shop” is an information corner for “Food” located in “Hokkaido- Sapporo Food and Tourism Information Center”, which is loved by tourists as well as local people. They provide not only food but also cosmetics made from food ingredients such as salmon or crab.

Tanuki Koji Shopping Street, with over 140 years of history is one of Hokkaido’s oldest shopping streets. It’s located in the center of Sapporo, stretching 900 meters from east to west with some 200 different shops. It has an arcade-style covered roofing, meaning you can enjoy shopping, dining, or an easy stroll no matter what the weather.

UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO is an accommodation facility with a space based on the design theme of a lodge, centering on bricks and wood. Visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of a lodge or cottage, where they can enjoy an extraordinary feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle of the city, as freely as if they were at home.

La’gent Stay Sapporo Odori is located 5 minute-walk away from the subway “Odori Station.” The modern Japanese space is warm and relaxing. The guest rooms are designed simple and convenient. Choose from various types according to the purpose of your trip.

Vessel Hotel Campana Susukino is located just at a four-minute walk from the subway Namboku Line’s Susukino Station. With a parking facility, it is convenient as a base for tourism or business.

A historical hot spring resort located in Minami-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, also known as the inner city of the large Sapporo metropolis. It has been designated as Shikotsu-Toya National Park for more than 150 years since the hot spring opened. The hot spring resort extends along the riverbanks carved by the Shirai River and the Toyohira River.

Hoheikyo Onsen is the only hot spring in Sapporo where the spring water is poured directly into the bathtub. This 100% free-flowing hot spring, in which the temperature is not controlled and water is not added, is rare even in Japan, a country with a large number of hot springs. It is popular as a hot spring where one can expect the same efficacy as that of the spring water.

Sapporo Snow Festival is a celebration of snow and ice and the origin was that the local high schoolers built the six snow sculptures at Odori park in 1950, now that the festival is selected as one of the three biggest snow festivals in the world. The festival is held in three venues of the Odori, Susukino, and Tsudome square in the beginning of February. The most major event held in the winter of Sapporo has been popular with about 2 million visitors from in and out of Japan.

The Sapporo Lilac Festival began in 1959 at the urging of persons of culture. The lilac was chosen as the tree of Sapporo, and the purpose of the festival was to hold an event with the scent of culture during the season when lilacs are in full bloom. Since then, the festival has become firmly established among citizens as a festival that heralds the early summer of Sapporo.

The YOSAKOI Soran Festival is held every June. Based on the Yosakoi Festival in Kochi prefecture, this is a popular hybrid festival that mixes “Naruko (the dancers hold it in both hands and plays it like a musical instrument while dancing)” used in the Yosakoi Festival, and “Soran-bushis”, a Hokkaido’s folk song.