Sapporo Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Sapporo
Sapporo
Sapporo
Sapporo
Sapporo

This beautiful city in northern Japan is a great base for visiting Hokkaido’s great wilderness areas. It offers a distinctive food culture and a relaxed lifestyle.

Sapporo, the gorgeous regional capital of Hokkaido, is a city for all seasons. Visit in winter and you’ll find a charming gateway to the great mountain landscape beyond, not to mention the ski fields that impressed the world when Sapporo hosted the 1972 Winter Olympic Games. Come in summer, however, and you’ll discover a liveable city filled with parks, rooftop bars and beer gardens.

The wild regions of Hokkaido are world-famous for a reason, and this island’s sublime natural bounty is best accessed from a base in Sapporo. Wintertime travellers will find a range of winter sports destinations on offer, from the cross-country skiing at Nakajima Park to the family-friendly Mount Moiwa Ski Resort, where a gentle beginners’ slope is perfect for taking the children snow tubing and sledding. Try the nighttime skiing on offer at Sapporo Bankei Ski Area. Non-skiers and those with cold feet may prefer the computer-simulated ski activities at the Winter Sports Museum, which is located down below the Okurayama Ski Jump.

Meanwhile, in town, the beloved Odori Park hosts the week-long Sapporo Snow Festival every February. Explore this winter dreamland, replete with hundreds of artful snow statues as well as various slides, rides and musical attractions.

In summertime, Odori Park, and the rest of Sapporo along with it, is completely transformed, morphed by the seasons into an expansive grassy urban park with benches for lounging and fountains for cooling off. Head to the eastern end of the park to climb the iconic Sapporo TV Tower. Its viewing platform is 90 metres (295 feet) above ground, offering lovely views of the park and surrounding area.

One of the city’s favourite year-round pastimes is celebrated at the Sapporo Beer Museum, which explains the history of the great hoppy brew in Japan. Down in Susukino, Sapporo’s entertainment district, there are plenty of options for eating, drinking and nightlife. Highlights include Ramen Yokocho, a lane packed with restaurants selling noodle soup, and the fresh sushi served up at the Sushi-ya restaurants.

Sapporo is easily navigated by public transport or by use of a rented car or bicycle. The nearest airport is New Chitose Airport, about 50 kilometres (31 miles) southeast of the city centre.

Where to stay in Sapporo

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Sapporo City Centre

4.5/5(68 area reviews)

Enjoy the popular shops in Sapporo City Centre. Odori Park is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Nishi-Yon-Chome Stop or Odori Station to see more of Sapporo.

Sapporo City Centre
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Susukino

Spend some time visiting places like Susukino Street while getting to know Susukino, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Susukino Station or Hosui-Susukino Station to see more of the area.

Susukino
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Chuo-ku

4.5/5(20 area reviews)

You might enjoy the skiing while in Chuo-ku. Odori Park is a notable sight, and you can get around town at Maruyama-koen Station or Nishi-Nijuhatchome Station to see more of the city.

Chuo-ku
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Jozankei

Jozankei is noteworthy for its hot springs, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Jozankei Hot Spring and Kokusai Ski Resort.

Jozankei
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Odori

Shopping, hot springs and coffee shops highlight some notable features of Odori. Make a stop by Odori Park or Tanukikoji Shopping Street while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Nishi-Hatchome Stop or Nishi-Yon-Chome Stop to get around town.

Odori
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Kita Ward

4.5/5(7 area reviews)

Noted for its shopping and restaurants, there's plenty to explore in Kita Ward. Top attractions like Hokkaido University Museum and Seikatei are major draws, and you can hop on the metro at Kita-nijuyo-jo Station or Kita-sanjuyo-jo Station to see more of the city.

Kita Ward
Sapporo Tokyu REI Hotel

Sapporo Tokyu REI Hotel

3.5 out of 5
5-1, Nishi, Minami 4 Jo, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Sapporo. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,054 reviews)
"I only had two transactions with the staff in the 5 days I was. Checkin & out. Room was very clean. Comfy bed & pillows. I would recommend this hotel. The only downside, there were many restaurants ajoining it, with loads of people coming & going. But once in the lift to your room it was very quiet. ..."

Reviewed on 1 Oct 2025

Sapporo Tokyu REI Hotel
Sapporo Excel Hotel Tokyu

Sapporo Excel Hotel Tokyu

4 out of 5
5-420, Nishi, Minami 8 Jo, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
The price is AU$97 per night from 9 Oct to 10 Oct
AU$97
per night
9 Oct - 10 Oct
Stay at this 4-star luxury hotel in Sapporo. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,046 reviews)
Family Trip
"First time in Sapporo with family of 4. Great location as it’s close to lots of restaurants. The rooms were very spacious as well. Also multiple convenience store like Lawson & Seico Mart around the corners. There is also a small grocery store near by and a laundry place close by to do laundry if ..."

Reviewed on 27 July 2025

Sapporo Excel Hotel Tokyu
ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO HOTEL Kitahiroshima Station

ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO HOTEL Kitahiroshima Station

2 out of 5
1-52 Sakae-cho, Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido
The price is AU$63 per night from 4 Nov to 5 Nov
AU$63
per night
4 Nov - 5 Nov
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Kitahiroshima. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and a rooftop terrace. Popular attractions Es Con Field Hokkaido and Sapporokitahiroshima ...
7.8/10 Good! (367 reviews)
"朝食は美味しかった"

Reviewed on 3 Oct 2025

ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO HOTEL Kitahiroshima Station
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
FAV LUX Sapporo Susukino

FAV LUX Sapporo Susukino

4 out of 5
Minami 6-jo Nishi 7-chome, 2-2, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Sapporo. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and onsite spa services. Popular attractions Odori Park and Sapporo Dome are ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (30 reviews)
"Clean room. Good service."

Reviewed on 14 Sept 2025

FAV LUX Sapporo Susukino
Minn Chitose

Minn Chitose

3 out of 5
2-1-1 Kashiwadaiminami, Chitose, Hokkaido
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly apartment in Chitose. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and slippers. Our guests praise the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (634 reviews)
Very nice. Great value.
"Very roomy. Very nice. Only problem is we could not get the checkout QR code to work."

Reviewed on 24 Sept 2025

Minn Chitose
Hotel ONE'S RESIDENCE

Hotel ONE'S RESIDENCE

3 out of 5
2-5-67 Minami 8 jo nishi, Chuo ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Sapporo. Enjoy free WiFi and climate control. Popular attractions Odori Park and Sapporo Dome are located nearby.
8.4/10 Very Good! (82 reviews)
"Very nice location with very close by coin washing machine shop"

Reviewed on 2 Oct 2025

Hotel ONE'S RESIDENCE
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of Sapporo

4.5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
41
5 - Excellent 55%
4 - Good
31
4 - Good 41%
3 - Okay
3
3 - Okay 4%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Enjoyed the park and shrine

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Sapporo is a very beautiful city in winter when it’s snowing

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Went in winter (Early February) for the Snow Festival which was simply amazing a must do for anyone's bucket list

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Great Ski area but a little bit more limited on things to do than say kyoto or osaka

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Loved walking around the ice sculptures!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

So much to do so to see and to eat!

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