My first stab at a Sapporo itinerary was utterly bizarre, which was appropriate—I mean, you could say the same for that entire maiden voyage to Hokkaido of mine, which I made based on a single email from the tourism board. What were they thinking? What was I thinking?
Among the strangeness that took place was me (organically, not via the tourism board) making the acquaintance of a local young woman, who in spite of my obvious…tendencies decided not just to show me around her city, but actually attempted to seduce me as we traipsed through Susukino that freezing February night. Bless her heart!
Thankfully, I’m here only to share the most amazing things to do in Sapporo with you. No weird romantic motivation here, I promise!
Where to Stay in Sapporo
As you might imagine given my decade-plus exploring the city, I’ve stayed in a wide variety of Sapporo hotels. Funnily enough, my aforementioned first trip saw me stay in one of the city’s nicest properties, which makes no sense given how much more of a budget I was on back then. The Sapporo Grand Hotel, for its part, was perfectly lovely, even if it could use an update. (For what it’s worth, I believe the best luxury property in the city these days is the Hotel Sosei Sapporo).
Of course, I rarely choose higher-end hotels these days—I’m too busy out in the city, enjoying its sights and attractions. One of my favorite spots on recent trips is the Tokyu Stay Sapporo Odori, both for its central location (equidistant between Odori Park and Susukino) and its in-room laundry facilities, which are unique in Japan. When this hotel is unavailable or overpriced, I usually choose the JR Inn Sapporo, which as its name suggests is connected to Sapporo Station.
The Best Things to Do in Sapporo
Enjoy the view from Sapporo TV Tower or Mt. Moiwa
Irrespective of other things to do, Sapporo is a stunner—especially when seen from above. My two favorite vantage points of the city are the one you enjoy from Sapporo TV Tower (which towers above the eastern edge of Odori Park, right in the middle town) and Mt. Moiwa, which is to the southwest and accessible via a combination of streetcar and ropeway. Another amazing way to gain perspective on Sapporo? Visit one of its historical attractions, with the most notable example being the Former Hokkaido Government Building.
Eat your way through the city
My favorite example of what to do in Sapporo? Eating, of course. This is especially wonderful in the winter, when the piping hot soup served up along Ganso Ramen Alley is the ideal way to warm yourself. For a year-round festive dining (and drinking) experience, visit one of the many restaurants inside Sapporo Beer Garden; early risers, meanwhile, will enjoy eating “seafood for breakfast” at Nijo Market, Sapporo’s much less crowded answer to Tokyo’s Tsukiji-shijō.
Have a drink (or give a performance) in Susukino
Sapporo’s ramen paradise is located in Susukino, which is a part of city you’re almost certain to visit anyway. Famous for neon lights and nightlife, it’s by far the best place in the city to grab a drink, at any time of the day or night. This is especially helpful in winter, when both the booze you drink and the high-quality heating inside the bars can keep you warm. Bars, including ones that specialize in karaoke. Kanpai!
Attend the superlative Sapporo Snow Festival
Susukino also figures heavily into the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, the next thing I’m going to highlight in my Sapporo itinerary. Well, the ice sculpture portion of the festival anyway; these works of art are displayed right in the middle of the street just south of Susukino Station. The main snow sculptures (which in the past have depicted Japanese castles and scenes from Star Wars alike) sit in the aforementioned Odori Park in early February each year.
Take a day trip to Otaru, Noboribetsu or beyond
Sapporo is a great city to visit—it’s a better city to leave behind. And I’m not just talking about heading west to the ski resorts around Mt. Yotei to the west, as I’m not even a skier myself. Indeed, far from Niseko or Hirafu, most of my favorite day trips from Sapporo are wonderful in any weather, be that the picturesque Otaru Canal, hell-like Noboribetsu Onsen or the captivating Blue Pond of Biei near Asahikawa.
How Long Should You Spend in Sapporo?
The good news? I’ve already written a detailed article on the topic of how long most travelers need in Sapporo. The better news? If you don’t feel like reading it (which is unfortunate; it’s useful), I will outline its most useful pieces for you here. Spoiler alert: Most travelers need more days in Sapporo than they’re probably planning to spend.
In particular, I like to bifurcate the topic of how many days in Sapporo: Days in the city center versus day trips. Most travelers can get by with 1-2 days in the city center, which takes care of core attractions like Nijo Market and the Mt. Moiwa viewpoint. Then, add a day for each of the day trips from Sapporo you plan to take, be that to Otaru Canal, Noboribetsu Onsen or even eastward to the Asahikawa/Furano area.
Other FAQ About Things to Do in Sapporo
What is Sapporo famous for?
Sapporo is famous for its eponymous beer, as well as for being the largest and most-connected city in Hokkaido. It serves as an interesting city for tourism, but more than that, is an amazing day trip for exploring the rest of Hokkaido—nearby destinations on day trips; far away ones as add-on excursions.
How do I get from Tokyo to Sapporo?
Japan’s airlines operate hourly (in some cases, more than hourly) flights from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) to New Chitose Airport (CTS) near Sapporo, making it one of the busiest domestic flight routes in the world. If this 90-minute nonstop flight doesn’t appeal to you, you can travel ~4 hours by Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, and an additional 3-4 hours via Hokuto Limited Express train from there to Sapporo Station.
Is Sapporo worth visiting?
Sapporo is absolutely worth visiting! To be transparent, however, I haven’t always felt this way—I actually didn’t like the city much when I first began traveling to Japan. Armed with the right Sapporo itinerary, however, I can almost guarantee you’ll fall in love with Sapporo quickly.
The Bottom Line
I hope not only that you feel better informed about things to do in Sapporo, but that you feel inspired by my insights and—hopefully—entertained by some of my anecdotes from throughout the years. I obviously never kept in touch with that young woman, though I do hope she found a (heterosexual) man! Anyway, although it took me a few trips to forge my own romance with Sapporo, I now genuinely love Hokkaido‘s largest city. This is true whether I’, having “seafood for breakfast” in Nijo Market, looking down on the city center from Mt. Moiwa or hightailing out of town to Otaru or Noboribetsu. Need personalized help figuring out how Sapporo fits into the rest of your trip? Commission a custom Japan itinerary today!
