About Sapporo
population: 1,970,052 [Nov,1 2019]
Sapporo is located in the west central part of Hokkaido, the 5th largest city in Japan and has a lot of tourist attractions, enticing millions of visitors all the year. The capital of Hokkaido, northern-most prefecture in Japan, which functions as a hub of the island in the fields of politics, culture and economy.
Relatively newly developed city, the development commission and government of Hokkaido prefecture, which is called ‘Kaitakushi’, was established to explore the undeveloped land of Hokkaido, so that its main office was settled in Sapporo in 1871.
Unlike any other city in Japan, the streets are laid out in checkerboard fashion like New York City and are also named and numbered consecutively. This is the newest city in Japan and its citizen have been get together to live here from several prefectures of Japan, which has been creating a unique culture in this country.
Sapporo is a air gateway to Hokkaido, one of the starting point for a tour of the beautiful island. With its two airports–New Chitose, actually in Chitose city, and Okadama–the capital city is conveniently connected to Honshu, the main island, as well as to the main cities of Hokkaido. The city is also linked with Hakodate, Asahikawa and Kushiro by JR trains, airplanes and inter-city express buses, which are also major cities of Hokkaido.
Weather
Sapporo is the heaviest snow town which has over a million population in the world. The average amount of snow is over 300cm. Temperature is the lowest in the end of January to the midst of February. That’s why Sapporo has a big event in this period called Sapporo Snow Festival which has been continuing since 1950.
Season
Spring
In the main-land of Japan, Honshu, cherry blossoms called Sakura in Japanese blooms from the midst to the end of March. But in Sapporo, we have cherry blossoms in the beginning of May. Sakura makes us feel Spring has come. So that we think Spring is from April to Jun. This is 1 month later than Honshu. Because of very short Spring, all Spring flowers are bloom coincidently such as sakura and plum called Ume(梅). As if flowers usually blooming in March in Honshu has been waiting this moment.
Summer
Summer is short as well. July and August. It is usually said that the end of August is the beginning of Autumn, especially in the mountains.
Autumn
September and October. We have the first snowfall in the end of October. It’s the beginning of Winter. Beautiful Autumn leaves are seen everywhere not only Jozankei and Houkheikyo. Hokkaido University has a famous Ginkgo trees way which is the popular Autumn leaves looking site where many visitors come to enjoy.
Winter
November, December, January, February and March are Winter in Hokkaido, Sapporo as well. The half term of the year is in Winter. So we enjoy several kind of winter sports and activities.
Popular Sights
- Hokkaido Jingu, Hokkaido Shrine(北海道神宮)
- Clock Tower(時計台)
- Former Hokkaido Government Office(赤レンガ・旧北海道庁), Akarenga/Red Brick
- Hokkaido University(北海道大学)
- Odori Koen/Park(大通公園)
- Hoheikyo Dam(豊平峡ダム)
- Jozankei Hot Spa(定山渓温泉)
- Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill(羊ヶ丘展望台)
- Sapporo Dome(札幌ドーム)
- Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium(大倉山ジャンプ競技場)
- JR Tower(JRタワー)
- Sapporo Beer Museum(サッポロビール博物館)
- Sapporo Factory(サッポロ・ファクトリー)
- Nijo Fish Market(二条市場)
- Tanukikoji Shopping Mall(狸小路商店街)
- Mitsui Outlet Park(三井アウトレットモール)
- Historical Village of Hokkaido(北海道歴史村)
- Bankei Ski area(ばんけいスキー場)
- Teine Ski area(テイネスキー場)
- Onzu Ski Area(スノークルーズオーンズ)
Historical Place
- History of Japanese Beer, Sapporo Beer Garden / Sapporo Beer Museum
- Legend of Sapporo, Military housing of Kotoni Tondenhei Village (琴似屯田兵村兵屋跡)
- One of the three major disappoint place in Japan, Clock Tower(時計台)?
- Why Does ‘Hasso-an’ Stand here?; One of the tea-ceremony house by Kobori Enshu
- Historical Village of Hokkaido
- Former Hokkaido Government Office(赤レンガ・旧北海道庁)
Museum
- Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art(北海道立近代美術館)
- Moere-numa Park (モエレ沼公園)
- Migishi Kotaro Museum of Art, Sapporo (北海道立三岸好太郎美術館)
- Sapporo Art Park（札幌芸術の森美術館）
- Hongo Shin Memorial Museum of Sculpture(本郷新記念 札幌彫刻美術館)
- Sapporo Winter Sports Museum
- Botanic Garden, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University(北海道大学付属植物園)
- History of Japanese Beer, Sapporo Beer Garden / Sapporo Beer Museum
- History of Hokkaido, Ainu Culture Promotion Center (Sapporo Pirka Kotan)
- The Best Manga artist, Hiroshi Oba at Sapporo Archives Museum (札幌市資料館)
- Saturday Night Zoo in Maruyama Zoo, Sapporo
- How Was The Japan’s First Beer Made?: Exploring Sapporo Beer Museum
- Former Hokkaido Government Office(赤レンガ・旧北海道庁)
- Sapporo Science Center(札幌市青少年科学館)
- MEGMILK Snow Brand Museum(雪印メグミルク 酪農と乳の歴史館)
Onsen
- The Palace of Hot Spa, Jozankei Gensen Koen Park(定山渓源泉公園), Sapporo
- Wild and Luxury Hot Spa: How to Enjoy Onsen Around Lake Shikotsuko
- Koganeyu Onsen
- Matsunoyu
- Sky Resort Spa at JR Tower Hotel Nikko
- Kuranoyu at Naebo Station
- Chateraise Gateaux Kingdom Sapporo
Park
- Moere-numa Park (モエレ沼公園)
- Maruyama Koen Park (円山公園)
- Odori Koen Park
- Takino Suzuran Hillside National Government Park, Sapporo(国営滝野すずらん丘陵公園)
- Urban Oasis: Nakajima Koen Park, Sapporo (中島公園)
- The Lavender Garden at Horomitoge in Sapporo [Horomi pass] (幌見峠のラベンダー園)
- Autumn leaves: Hoheikyo Dam (豊平峡ダム), Jozankei in Sapporo
- Another Sapporo Night View: Asahiyama Memorial Park(旭山記念公園)
- The Palace of Hot Spa, Jozankei Gensen Koen Park(定山渓源泉公園), Sapporo
- Urban Winery Tour, Mt.Hakkenzan Area (八剣山), Sapporo
- A Vast Expanse of Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill(羊ヶ丘展望台), Sapporo
- For Family With Little Children: Gotenzan Koen Park
Ski
- 20minutes: The Best Quick Skiing, Sapporo Bankei Ski Area, ban.K (ばんけいスキー場)
- Exciting Wild Urban Skiing, Sapporo Teine Ski Area (サッポロテイネスキー場)
- Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort(札幌国際スキー場)
- Mt.Moiwa Ski Area(札幌藻岩スキー場 )
- Takino Snow World(滝野スノーワールド)
- Fu’s Snow Area(フッズスノーエリア)
- Ishikari Heigen Snow Area(石狩平原スキー場)
- Dybasty Ski Resort(ダイナスティスキーリゾート)
- Classe Snow Park(クラッセスノーパーク)
Stadium
- Sapporo Dome (札幌ドーム)
- World Famous: Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium(大倉山ジャンプ競技場)
- Dogin Curling Stadium/Sapporo Curling Stadium
- K90 Miyanomori Ski Jump Stadium(宮の森ジャンプ競技場)
Temple/Shrine
- Hokkaido Jingu, Hokkaido Shrine(北海道神宮), Sapporo
- Urban Virgin Forest: Maruyama Hachijyu Hakkasho, Sapporo 円山八十八カ所
- Sapporo Fushimi Inari Jinjya(札幌伏見稲荷神社)
- Sapporo Gokoku Jinjya/Shrine(札幌護国神社)
Foods
- Corns’ Wagon in the Odori Koen Park, Sapporo (大通公園とうきびワゴン)
- Easy Access By Subway: Asahi Beer Hokkaido Brewery, Sapporo
- History of Japanese Beer, Sapporo Beer Garden / Sapporo Beer Museum
- Beer Gardens at Odori Koen Park, Sapporo in 2014(大通ビヤガーデン)
- Where to eat Jingisukan? (成吉思汗)
- Sapporo is the Kingdom of Sweets, Sapporo Sweets (さっぽろスイーツ)
- Akarenga Cafe, A brand-new cool place in Sapporo
- Aji-no-Sanpei Who retains Traditional Taste as Sapporo Ramen
- This is not an Unidentified Flying Object
- How To Pour A Delicious Sapporo Beer Instructed by Sapporo Beer Museum’s Lady
- Factory Tour of Asahi Brewery in Sapporo Is Really Fun!
- Marine Products: Time to Eat Calendar
Shopping
- Sapporo Station Area for Sights and Shopping
- Back to the Main Stage: Sapporo Station Area
- Department store, Depachika
- Nijo fish Market, Sapporo (二条市場)
- Supermarket (スーパーマーケット)
- Convenience Store
- JR Tower, T38 at Sapporo Station (JRタワーT38)
- Sapporo Factory (札幌ファクトリー)
- Ario Sapporo (アリオ札幌)
- Atelier Root3 in Maruyama or Jozankei, souvenir of Sapporo
- The most oldest shopping mall in Sapporo, Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade(狸小路商店街)
- More Shopping? Mitsui Outlet Park Sapporo Kitahiroshima
- Otaku sucked into Animate: Specializing in Manga and Anime
Information
Transport
- Download Sapporo City Area Map
- IC cards for Transport
- Discount ticket for Subway and JR
- JR Hokkaido(JR北海道)
ATM/Exchange
Driving
- 60 min Parking on the road in the central area of Sapporo
- For Safety Driving in Hokkaido
- Rent a car agencies in Hokkaido
- 10 Check Points of Driving in Hokkaido
