Here are all the things you need to try in Sapporo!
Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost and second largest island. Filled with ski resorts (Hokkaido has the longest winters of all the prefectures in Japan), seafood stalls, cultural festivals, and lots of modern charm!Â
Want to vacation in Hokkaido but don’t know what to do in Sapporo? We are here with various recommendations for what you can do in this city!
Check out our selection of the best activities in Sapporo!
1. Visit Sapporo TV Tower
Enjoy unobstructed views of the Sea of ​​Japan, Ishikari Heigen and Odori Park (where flowers bloom in all four seasons!) from the top of the Sapporo TV Tower , which stands 147.2 meters high! Relax and unwind while admiring one of Japan’s most important cultural cities from above.
2. Rent a kimono
Get a truly immersive cultural experience by trying one of the best things to do in Sapporo: renting a kimono and taking photos while walking around this beautiful city! You can choose from more than a thousand dazzling kimono designs, and you can even get a more perfect look by combining it with a traditional hairstyling package.
It’s time to try sightseeing in Sapporo in a beautiful kimono!
3. Enjoy the view from Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill
Photo Credit: MIKI Yoshihito on Flickr (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))
The highly photographic spots atop Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill are one of Sapporo’s best secret tourist attractions that locals love. Enjoy the beautiful views from here, or enhance your experience by visiting at sunset.
4. Get to know the Ainu people
The Ainu are one of Japan’s original inhabitants and many of them live in Hokkaido. On the Shiraoi Day Trip bus tour from Sapporo, you will deepen your understanding of their culture by visiting the Biratori City Nibutani Ainu Cultural Museum, seeing traditional houses, and more!
5. Get to know why Sapporo beer is so popular
Photo Credit: Ruth Hartnup on Flickr (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))
Sapporo beer is famous all over the world for its refreshing and delicious taste, so no visit to the city would be complete without getting to know it. Visit the Sapporo Beer Museum, a Hokkaido Cultural Heritage destination, which displays the brewing process since the Meiji era. The best part: you’ll also get to taste the ingredients!
6. Take a walk around Asahiyama Park, Odori Park, and Moerenuma Park
Photo Credit: makou0629 on Flickr (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))Sapporo has many beautiful parks, such as Asahiyama Park, with its colorful perennial flowers. Due to the view, couples usually like to walk here. There is also Odori Park near the Sapporo TV Tower which is enriched with stunning flora and fountains. Odori Park is also the site of the famous Sapporo Snow Festival. Finally, there is Moerenuma Park on the outskirts of Sapporo, where you can see the glass pyramid building called Hidamari.
7. Enjoy local Sapporo culinary delights
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One of the best things to do in Sapporo is try its fantastic culinary delights! Curry lovers can enjoy the soup curry, which comes with tempura and seafood variants. Don’t forget to try the miso ramen (which comes with pork, egg, scallions, and a soup seasoned with miso paste) on its home island. For seafood, kegani or hairy crab is a staple in Sapporo and is always served fresh and delicious!
8. …and a variety of local sweet treats!
Photo Credit: Mike W. on Flickr (Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0))
Sapporo is also known as a producer of delicious sweets, such as white chocolate called shiroi koibito, which you can try at the Ichiya Chocolate Factory. You can also try Hokkaido ice cream, which is famous for its rich taste and soft texture.
9. Explore the local nightlife in Susukino
Photo Credit: Peter Cartledge on Flickr
Susukino is the hotspot for nightlife in Sapporo, with its flashing neon lights, fantastic restaurants, cinemas, and bars. Its atmosphere is vibrant and fun, and friendly for first-time visitors!
10. Visit various museums
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Sapporo is home to Hokkaido’s most important museums, including the Hokkaido Museum, which tells the story of the city and the island’s history. Here you can also see preserved woolly mammoths and ancient steam engines from the industrial past.Â
On the other hand, the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art exists to exhibit modern art dominated by Japanese artists. You can also explore the Hokkaido Historic Village, an open-air museum featuring buildings dating from the Meiji and Taisho periods (1868 to 1926).
11. Shop till you drop
Photo Credit: MIKI Yoshihito on Flickr (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))
Thanks to its great shopping district, shopping is one of the best things to do in Sapporo. Visit Tanukikoji Shopping Street, a long covered district that dates back to 1868. It is home to a variety of restaurants and cafes. This is a great place to shop for records, shoes and souvenirs.Â
Meanwhile, The Sapporo Factory looks more like a shopping district than a factory, with more than a hundred outlets concentrated in a five-story atrium. You will find clothing stores, souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes and cinemas with many screens. Meanwhile, Nijo Market occupies a city block, where you can shop for the freshest local produce and seafood.
12. Come to the Sapporo Snow Festival
Photo Credit: SteFou! on Flickr (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))
Every winter in February, the Sapporo Snow Festival is held at Odori Park. This festival features amazing snow sculptures that are worth posting on your Instagram feed. Here, you can admire incredible statues in the form of global monuments, anime characters, and more!
13. Skiing
Photo Credit: MIKI Yoshihito on Flickr (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))
Since Hokkaido experiences the longest winters in Japan, skiing is one of the best things to do in Sapporo. Mt. Asahidake Ropeway (located on Hokkaido’s highest mountain) is a favorite place for skiing and snowboarding. You can also go to Kiroro Ice Star Resort, which has great slopes for skiing and a cool ice hotel!
These are some of the best things to do in Sapporo! Whether you’re traveling with your family, partner or alone, you’ll definitely have fun exploring this beautiful city in Hokkaido!
