Top places to visit in Sapporo

• Sapporo TV Tower

  Viewpoint · about 0.8 h · entry ¥1,000 (≈ ₹600)

  147 m tower at the east end of Odori Park with an observation deck over the city and park.

• Sapporo Clock Tower

  Heritage · about 0.5 h · entry ¥200 (≈ ₹120)

  1878 wooden clock tower, a symbol of the city and a relic of its American-influenced pioneer era.

• Moerenuma Park

  Nature · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Vast park designed by sculptor Isamu Noguchi, with a glass pyramid, geometric hills and fountains.

• Former Hokkaido Government Office

  Heritage · about 0.5 h · entry ¥300 (≈ ₹180)

  Neo-baroque red-brick 1888 government building set in a garden; a beloved Sapporo landmark.

• Mount Moiwa Ropeway

  Viewpoint · about 2 h · entry ¥2,100 (≈ ₹1,260)

  Cable car and mini cablecar to a 531 m summit deck famous for one of Japan's best night views.

• Sapporo Snow Festival Site (Odori Park)

  urban park & festival venue · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Odori Park is a 1.5-km east-west green boulevard bisecting central Sapporo and doubling as the main venue of the Sapporo Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri) every February — Japan's most visited winter event with 2 million attendees and snow/ice…

• Sapporo Beer Museum

  brewery museum · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry

  Japan's oldest beer brand — founded 1876 using Hokkaido's cold climate and pure water — built its original red-brick Kaitakushi Brewery at this site, now a free self-guided museum tracing 150 years of Japanese beer history. The adjoining…

• Hokkaido Shrine (Hokkaido Jingu)

  Shinto shrine · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · free entry

  The most important Shinto shrine in Hokkaido, Hokkaido Jingu sits inside Maruyama Park's ancient virgin forest — one of the few remaining old-growth forests in a Japanese city. The shrine was established in 1869 to deify the pioneer spirit…

• Nijo Market (Nijo Ichiba)

  seafood market · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Sapporo's most beloved seafood market, just a short walk from the main JR station, specialises in the exceptional Hokkaido ocean produce that has made the island Japan's leading seafood source. Stalls are piled with Hokkaido snow crab…

• Shiroi Koibito Park

  Cultural · about 2 h · entry ¥800 (≈ ₹480)

  Chocolate-factory theme park by the maker of the Shiroi Koibito cookie, with a European-style courtyard.

• Maruyama Zoo

  Wildlife · about 2.5 h · entry ¥800 (≈ ₹480)

  Historic city zoo beside Maruyama Park with polar bears, red pandas and an elephant house.

Things to do

• Sapporo Snow Festival Ice Sculpture Walk Cultural · 3 h
• Hokkaido Dairy Farm & Blue Pond Day Trip Nature · 8 h · from JPY 14,300 per person
• Hokkaido Ski Day Trip — Niseko from Sapporo Adventure · 9 h · from JPY 27,800 per person
• Jingisukan Lamb BBQ Evening in Susukino Cultural · 2 h · from JPY 5,900 per person
• Otaru Canal & Sake Day Trip Day Trip · 8 h · from JPY 9,000 per person
• Mt Moiwa Night View & Dinner Experience · 3 h · from JPY 2,100 per person
• Sapporo Beer & Jingisukan Tour Food Tour · 3 h · from JPY 6,000 per person

Day trips and tours

• Sapporo City Best — Beer Museum, Nijo Market & Susukino Jingisukan Evening 8 h · from JPY 11,800
• Otaru Canal & Hokkaido Fresh Seafood Day Trip 8 h · from JPY 11,100

Where to stay in Sapporo

• Central District about JPY 4,500 per night

  Hokkaido capital with accommodation

• Odori–Susukino about JPY 12,000 per night

  Sapporo's central entertainment and business strip — Odori Park bisects the city, Susukino is Hokkaido's largest nightlife district. All city sights within walking distance. Excellent access to subway and JR.

• Sapporo Station Area about JPY 14,000 per night

  Directly above or adjacent to Sapporo Station. Best transport hub for JR lines to Niseko, New Chitose Airport, and Otaru. Shopping at Stellar Place and Esta, multiple ramen restaurants.

• Maruyama & Nakajima Park about JPY 10,000 per night

  Quieter residential area southwest of the centre. Maruyama Zoo, traditional shrines, and Nakajima Park lake. Better for travellers wanting a peaceful base away from the nightlife district.

Hotels

• JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo 4-star · JPY 18,000 to JPY 40,000 per night
• UNTAPPED HOSTEL 3-star · JPY 3,500 to JPY 11,000 per night
• Dormy Inn Sapporo Annex 3-star · JPY 7,000 to JPY 15,000 per night
• Cross Hotel Sapporo 4-star · JPY 16,000 to JPY 32,000 per night
• Sapporo Grand Hotel 4-star · JPY 18,000 to JPY 40,000 per night

Where to eat

• Sapporo Beer Garden Japanese, BBQ, Beer Hall · about JPY 4,000 per person
• Toriton Kaiten Sushi Sapporo Japanese, Sushi, Seafood · about JPY 2,000 per person
• Sapporo Ramen Kyowakoku Japanese, Ramen · about JPY 1,100 per person
• Daruma Genghis Khan Japanese, Barbecue · about JPY 2,500 per person
• Hyosetsu-no-Mon Crab Japanese, Seafood · about JPY 8,000 per person
• Menya Saimi Ramen, Japanese · about JPY 1,100 per person
• Soup Curry GARAKU Curry, Japanese · about JPY 1,500 per person
• Kani Honke Sapporo Seafood, Crab, Japanese · about JPY 7,000 per person

Getting to Sapporo

Airport: Sapporo (CTS)

How visitors arrive in Sapporo

• Fly into New Chitose By air from Tokyo Haneda / other Japan · common

  New Chitose handles international and inter-island flights; trains and buses run to the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• JR train from elsewhere in Hokkaido By train from Hokkaido · common

  Limited express trains from the rest of Hokkaido arrive at Sapporo Station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Express bus By road from Hokkaido · possible

  Express buses link Sapporo with most Hokkaido destinations. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Ferry to nearby ports By ferry from Otaru / Tomakomai · possible

  Car and passenger ferries to Honshu leave from Otaru and Tomakomai. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• JR Airport Rapid

  From New Chitose (CTS) the JR Airport Rapid train runs to Sapporo Station. A JR information desk at the airport exchanges rail pass vouchers. Source: sapporo.travel

• Limousine buses

  Limousine buses run from the airport to several points in downtown Sapporo. Source: sapporo.travel

• Door-to-door shuttle van unconfirmed

  A shared door-to-door shuttle van service operates from the airport. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• JR train from New Chitose Airport

  JR trains run directly from the station beneath the terminal building to Sapporo Station. Head to the basement level of the terminal to board. Source: hokkaido-airports.com

Getting around

• Metro

  Sapporo's subway runs on the Namboku, Tozai and Toho lines, which meet at Odori Station in the city centre.

  Sapporo Transportation Bureau (EN)

• Transit Pass

  Kitaca, a rechargeable IC card from JR Hokkaido, works on Sapporo's subway, streetcar and buses, and Suica and Pasmo are interchangeable with it.

  JR Hokkaido Kitaca info

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Roppongi bar overcharge

  Roppongi · Kabukicho nightlife

  Foreign-fronted bar in Roppongi adds drink charges and seat fees you weren't shown; bill arrives at 5–10x expected.

  How to avoid it: Stick to bars with clear printed menus and prices on the door. Ask price before sitting.

• Snow Festival Counterfeit Ticket Sellers

  Odori Park entrance, February only

  During Yuki Matsuri, touts sell fake reserved-seat tickets for Snow Festival stage events at inflated prices. The tickets are either counterfeit or already used.

  How to avoid it: Odori Park is free to enter — no ticket required for outdoor sculptures. Paid seating events should only be booked through official Yuki Matsuri website.

Best time to visit Sapporo

• Jan 0°C
• Feb 0°C
• Mar 5°C
• Apr 12°C
• May 18°C
• Jun 22°C
• Jul 25°C
• Aug 26°C
• Sep 23°C
• Oct 16°C
• Nov 9°C
• Dec 2°C

More in Japan

• Tokyo
• Kyoto
• Osaka
• Hakone
• Hiroshima
• Kamakura

Frequently asked questions about Sapporo

How many days do you need in Sapporo?

A typical trip to Sapporo is 3-4 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Sapporo?

The highest-rated places in our Sapporo guide are Hokkaido Shrine (Hokkaido Jingu), Sapporo Snow Festival Site (Odori Park), Nijo Market (Nijo Ichiba), Sapporo Beer Museum.

Where should I stay in Sapporo?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Sapporo: Central District, Odori–Susukino, Sapporo Station Area, Maruyama & Nakajima Park.

How do I get around Sapporo?

Ways to get around Sapporo covered in our guide: Metro, Transit pass, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Sapporo?

Scams reported to us for Sapporo include Roppongi bar overcharge; Snow Festival Counterfeit Ticket Sellers. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Sapporo?

Average daytime highs in Sapporo run from 0°C in Jan to 26°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Sapporo?

The nearest airport to Sapporo has the code CTS.