
From growing up in Korea, two things came to mind when I thought of Sapporo: their delicious beer and beautiful snow.

Now having visited, I leave feeling more relaxed in this clean and quiet city seriously packed with delicious restaurants and energetic with city residents who showed nothing but kindness.

Seeing the many tourists (many of whom are also Korean!), I presume that many people have made a purposeful yet fleeting stop in Sapporo before hitting the many other smaller cities and regions in Hokkaido.
That’s certainly the case of our family; Sapporo is our first stop, before we make 5-6 stops across Hokkaido.

Although we haven’t come close to experiencing everything Sapporo has to offer, I think our two days here was just the right amount of time spent in Sapporo.
A little history about Sapporo

The indigenous Ainu people, native to northern Japan, began living in what’s known today as Hokkaido (as well as modern-day Sapporo) thousands of years ago.
The Ainu people were colonized by the Yamato population of Japan starting the 18th century. During the Meiji era in the 19th century, the Ainu people were forcefully removed from their native homeland and were forced to assimilate.
Today, the official estimates of the Ainu population stand at around 25,000, and there were about 300 known Ainu speakers according to a 2006 poll.
About Sapporo
Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, which is an island that forms the northernmost part of Japan. With 2 million people, Sapporo is the fifth largest city in Japan. While the city overall felt calm and spacious, the streets did get plenty busy during rush hour and over the weekend.
Sapporo and Hokkaido at large are very well known for plentiful snow that’s perfect for skiing. It’s no surprise that Sapporo was the first Asian city to host the Winter Olympics, back in 1972.
Best Time of Year to Visit Sapporo

Peak Season: December-March for the Snow

If you’re looking to experience a classic Hokkaido vacation, then you should consider booking ski resorts across the island during the peak snow season, which is from December to March.
In addition, you might want to check out the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, which happens in early February. But expect tons of tourists (and expensive travel prices!) during this time, given that the famous Sapporo Snow Festival has consistently drawn about 2 million people per year.
Off Peak: April-May for the Cherry Blossoms, Onsens and Golfing
Mid to late April is a great time to visit to view cherry blossoms.
Personally, my family and I visited off-season in mid May, and I really loved it! The weather was mild, with a high of around 68°F, or 20°C. We stayed at multiple resorts around Hokkaido, which featured onsens. Hokkaido also sports around 150 golf courses, and the weather and beautiful nature are perfect for that!
How to get to and around Sapporo
New Chitose Airport (CTS)

If you’re flying from abroad or from Tokyo, you’re likely going to fly into New Chitose Airport (CTS). From the airport, there is a 40 minute express train that will take you straight to Sapporo Station, which is located pretty much in the heart of the city.
Subway, Bus and Tram
Sapporo has a pretty extensive and affordable system of subways, trains and buses that will get you to your destination around downtown Sapporo and to sightseeing in the outskirts of Sapporo. The subway costs increase by distance and range from 210-380 JPY (1.35-2.44 USD).

While Google Maps was reliable for directions, sometimes I wasn’t sure if I was maps-ing the correct place because many locations are registered by their Japanese name only.
If you love trams like me, try hopping onto one of Sapporo’s streetcars (200 JPY or 1.30 USD per ride)!
Renting a Car
If you’re planning to visit resorts around Hokkaido (which I highly recommend if you plan to visit Sapporo!), then it might make sense to rent a car, which is what our family did. There’s tons of rental car companies that operate out of CTS, and have shuttles that will pick you up from the airport, to a car rental site that’s nearby.
Best Things To Do in Sapporo
Best Places to Shop in Sapporo
1. BEAMS SAPPORO

Glam down with BEAM SAPPORO’s Japanese casual cool clothing. Gorpcore lovers will find lustful items in BEAMS’ pocketed overalls made from windbreaker fabric (19,000 JPY or 120 USD), to a half collaged North Face t-shirt (13,600 JPY or 87 USD).
Think tons of layering, chiffon and textured clothing, perfect for layering up in style. If you’re looking for sleek pieces for the office, BEAMS has office wear, like black classic blouses (12,600 JPY or 80 USD).
Address: 3 Chome-8-11 1F・2F Minami 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0061
2. PLAZA

PLAZA is a gift shop with makeup, charms, little baggies and trinkets. Finds include a pinky-finger sized PEZ bag charm, Japanese sunscreen in pretty bottles, and digital clock cum home decor pieces.
Address: Sapporo Stellar Place Center B1F, 3 Chome Kita 5 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0005
3. Mega Don Qijote

Can’t miss a visit to Don Qijote during a visit to Japan! Don Qijote is a major Japanese discount store with over 630 locations in Japan and worldwide. Well, that’s the official-seeming description, but I’d basically describe Don Qijote as a Disneyland toy store for adults. There’s everything from cosmetics to strawberry Pocky-themed socks, to gigantic squid keychains.

This 24-hour Mega Don Qijote spans 5 floors in Sapporo. It’s a chaotic experience, with twinkling party lights going off to the cacophony of video displays and store music.
Expect long checkout lines (there’s a tax free counter!), but do note that the lines move by very fast. When I checked out at around 10pm on a Saturday night, I spotted 20+ staff collaboratively working at lightning speeds.
Address: 4 Chome-12-1 Minami 3 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0063
4. Tanukikoji Shopping Street

This roofed outdoor market spans 7 whole blocks and consists of around 200 shops, including drugstores, discount stores and plenty of eateries.

There’s tons of tourists that fill the shops, searching for practical items and easy gifts, but it’s also fun for people watching, as many locals seem to walk through the market to get from one place to the next.


Address: Minami 3 Nishi 1-7 chome, Minami-2-jonishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi 1-7 chome, Hokkaido, 060-0062
Best Places to Eat in Sapporo
There’s so much delicious food in Sapporo that I don’t think you’d fail by walking into pretty much any restaurant. With that being said, here are some of my favorites!
5. Algo

Check out Algo for some of the best soup curry in town! This hole-in-the-wall restaurant is very small and narrow, but it makes sense: there’s one chef who does it all, from explaining the menu, to making the delicious soup curry and mixing drinks.
I got the chicken leg with vegetable soup, with the normal base soup and a spiciness level of 3/10.

My soup curry was noticeably salty at first bite. But overall the dish was very nourishing and I loved the diverse selection of pan-fried veggies that made eating the dish really fun.
I loved the sumptuous, large platter of yellow rice (probably from turmeric) that came with the curry, which I dunked into the soup directly.

I really loved the lotus root. My teeth sunk into it slowly and pleasantly, like I was biting into a chewy, fire-roasted potato. My favorite topping was the broccoli, which had such a smoky, charred flavor but still retained a juicy liveliness. The sweet potato also had a very pleasant charred flavor and was very tasty.
I really felt the care taken into preparing each of the ingredients and veggies in the dish. While the homely decor and tight space might not be for everyone, the ambience felt like an extension of the chef’s personality. I’m grateful for my friend’s recommendation!
Address: Minami 5 Jonishi, 6 Chome−12, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0805 (From this Google Maps location, walk straight into the alley. After passing 3-4 other restaurants, you’ll find the red painted exterior of Algo.)
6. Sapporo Niikuraya Main Store (札幌新倉屋 本店)

Go back in time at a Japanese kissaten tea room with tasty toasties and epic dango.
Kissatens arose in the early 1900s and like cafes back in the day, served as gathering spots for intellectuals. Today, they are frequented by locals as quick and affordable breakfast spots. While we were waiting for our food, my dad pulled up a photo of his grandpa in the Korean equivalent, called a dabang, with 10 or so other guys.

Head on upstairs to grab a seat. I loved the quiet piano music, and the old-school wooden panels and red brick decor.
I honestly think my brekky at this kissaten was one of the best meals I’ve had my whole trip in Hokkaido! My favorite dish was the Toasted Tuna & Mayo Sandwich with Salad and Dessert (670 JPY, or 4.30 USD). I loved that the edge of the toasty was closed shut and was extra chewy.

My family had the same meal with the Toasted Ham & Cheese Sandwich, which was also super good (also 670 JPY). I loved the salad and the panna cotta that the toasties came with. It’s such a good deal!

The Black Sesame Dango was seriously out of this world, and the classic Soy Sauce Dango was the best I’ve tried during this trip. I loved the soft yet sticky texture of the rice cake, which also made the Zenzai sweet rice-bean soup a delight (730 JPY, or 4.70 USD). Be sure to dunk in the pickled plum strips, which were so pleasantly salty and tangy.
Address: 〒060-0062 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Minami 2 Jonishi, 6 Chome−3−2 岡田ビル
7. Mermaid Coffee Roasters

Mermaid Coffee Roasters is the perfect place for specialty coffee lovers, with cozy seating that welcomes caffeine-fueled chatter for hours.
The barista walked me through a tasting of 6 different brews from different places and flavor profiles.

I ended up picking a Brazilian brew, and my dad a Costa Rican one.

The barista and all of the other staff we encountered were very friendly and even walked us out goodbye!
Definitely check out the second floor, which has traditional floor seating and a cozy section with caramel colored sofas.


Address: 1 Chome-12-12 Minami 3 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0063
8. Nijo Market (Nijo Fish Market)

Nijo Fish Market isn’t super big, but I’d recommend strolling through to daze at the striking red-orange colored crabs and the decadent looking lobster. The market has a long history and has been around since the early Meiji Period, between 1868 and 1912.

If you’re visiting Sapporo like me, it probably doesn’t make sense to buy and cook the seafood from the market. Worry not, because there’s several seafood restaurants, both food stalls within the market as well as more formal restaurants right in and around Nijo Market, which serve delicious seafood.

Address: 〒060-0052 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Minami 2 Johigashi, 1 Chome, 南3条東1丁目〜2丁目 (Google Maps)
9. 7-Eleven
I’m a major fan of Japanese convenience store food and snacks at 7-Eleven. Something you won’t be able to find at a convenience store elsewhere, though, are DIY smoothies!
Grab a frozen smoothie cup with chopped fruit and make your own smoothie at the press of a button!

Not all 7-Elevens have these smoothie machines. Check out the one at the address below!

Address: 4 Chome-4-1 Minami 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0061
Best Parks & Nature in Sapporo

10. Hill of the Buddha

Walking around the Hill of the Buddha was a quiet relief to my heart. This uniquely Japanese experience was designed by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando.
As Ando noted, “our imagination is piqued by what we cannot see,” and that’s exactly vibe when you first arrive, and can see just the top part of Buddha’s head.

You’ll then walk through a very symmetrical and stunning water garden, followed by a long concrete tunnel that finally opens up to the entire 13.5 m tall (44 ft) statue of the Buddha.


If you’re visiting during the summer, you’ll stunned by the 150,000 lavender shrubs alluring all around the hill.
Once you are in front of the Buddha, you can try playing the different instruments. I loved walking along the pathway right around the statue and looking up onto the sky.

The Hill of the Buddha is located Makomanai Takino Cemetery, which also has replicas of Moai statues from Easter Island as well as of Stonehenge.


Address: Takino, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-0862
11. Odori Park

Odori Park is a long, narrow park in the center of Sapporo. You’ll find locals chatting with views of the pretty fountain, curated flowers in the garden and the iconic Sapporo TV Tower in view.
Address: 〒060-0042 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Odorinishi, 1〜12丁目
12. Moerenuma Park
Moerenuma Park is a waste disposal site turned into ~190 hectares of a sculpture park designed by renowned Japanese American artist, Isamu Noguchi.
There’s both actual huge sculptures, as well as beautiful landscaping, that make the whole park feel like one cohesive, intentionally crafted art space.
If you’re visiting in the spring, you might want to check out the 3,000 cherry trees in the park.
As for getting around the park – in warmer months, you can rent a bike (200 JPY or 1.30 USD), and in the winter months, you can go cross-country skiing, sled or rent snowshoes (500 JPY, or 3.20 USD each), as well as rubber boots (300 JPY, or 1.90 USD)!
Address: 1-1 Moerenumakoen, Higashi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 007-0011
13. Nakajima Park

Nakajima Park is a picturesque park, accessible by walking from the center of Sapporo. The many trees and greenery, alongside the water views of the Iris Pond and Sōsei River, make Nakajima Park a beautiful way to enjoy the striking red-orange fall foilage, the rows of cherry blossom trees in the spring, and the pillowy blankets of snow in the winter months.
Address: 1 Nakajimakoen, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0931
Best Sightseeing & Museums in Sapporo
14. Sapporo Beer Museum

Calling all fans of the cool, crisp and refreshing Sapporo Beer! Check out Japan’s only beer museum.
Learn about the history of beer and the brewing process in the free exhibitions on the second and third floors. It’s interesting to learn about how Japan pushed beer production as part of its economic development, with the goal of competing with major beers from the West.
Sapporo Beer Museum also offers a Premium Tour, but note that it’s in Japanese (they offer translation audio devices for 500 JPY / 3.20 USD extra). There’s an in-person tour included, along with a theater viewing as well as two tastings of Sapporo beer. You’ll need to make reservations ahead of time online, at least 3 days in advance. The Premium Tour costs 1,000 JPY, or 6.50 USD.

Once you’re finished checking out the museum, head on over to Star Hall, where you can try all the different Sapporo beers and labels. The three drink tasting set is a deal, at 1000 JPY (~6.50 USD). If you just want to try a drink or two, that’ll cost around 400-450 JPY per glass (~2.60-2.94 USD).
It doesn’t end there: there’s also the huge beer garden, and three different restaurants: the Genesis Khan, Garden Grill and Lilac.
Address: 9 Chome-1-1 Kita 7 Johigashi, Higashi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 065-8633
15. Sapporo TV Tower

Take in panoramic views of the city from Sapporo TV Tower’s observation deck, which stands at 90 meters high at the eastern end of Odori Park. The Sapporo TV Tower was erected in 1957, and although it’s still used as a transmitting station, it’s now primarily a landmark.
At first glance, it kinda reminds me of the Effiel tower, although of course much smaller and red in color. The digital clocks that flank each side of the tower are iconic and a welcome recurring sight as you walk around the center of Sapporo.
Tickets to the observation deck are 800 yen per ticket. You can also purchase a day and nighttime ticket for 1,200 yen, which will grant you double entry so that you can soak in the great views of the twinkling city lights as well.
If you get peckish, there’s eateries (as well as souvenir shops!) on the lower levels.
Address: 1 Chome Odorinishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0042
16. Shiroi Koibito Park
This amusement park is named after the Japanese white chocolate tea biscuit with the same namesake, Shiroi Koibito. The park is operated by Ishiya, which is the confectionary company behind Shiroi Koibito.
If you love the childlike joy of theme parks, you’ll love walking through Shiroi Koibito Park, which feels like a little piece of Europe with all of its Tudor style houses, complete with a clock tower and a mini railway site.
At the Chocotopia Factory, you’ll get the chance to watch Shiroi Koibito cookies and Baumkuchen Cakes being baked in real-time. Plus, there’s interactive exhibitions where you’ll learn about the chocolate and cookie-making process, as well as more about the company behind the famous biscuit.
Tickets to Shiroi Koibito are pretty affordable at 800 JPY, or 8.50 USD.
Address: 2 Chome-11-36 Miyanosawa 2 Jo, Nishi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 063-0052
Best Things To Do in Sapporo (Conclusion)
In this article, we went over amazing things to do in Sapporo.
- Best Places to Shop in Sapporo
- Best Places to Eat in Sapporo
- Best Parks & Nature in Sapporo
- Best Sightseeing & Museums in Sapporo
I hope you have as much of a fun, tasty and relaxing time that I had in Sapporo. Thanks for checking out my Sapporo travel guide 🙂
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