F Village: Baseball and More for Groups Near Sapporo

Explera DMC Japan sees Hokkaido Ballpark F Village as a strong half-day or evening for groups staying in Sapporo. Home of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, it sits between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport and combines a roofed ballpark with places to eat, bathe and stay, so it works even for clients who do not follow baseball.

Travel Voice reported on 9 October 2026 that the company running the ballpark, Fighters Sports & Entertainment, has signed a capital and business alliance with Takanawa Travel Group, which runs the booking service TripToJapan.com, to bring more overseas visitors to F Village. According to the report, more than 36,000 international visitors came in 2025, about twice the 2024 figure.

What is F Village?

F Village is the area around ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO, the Fighters' ballpark in Kitahiroshima, which opened in 2023. The ballpark has a retractable roof and natural grass, so games go ahead in rain or cold. Inside it, the team runs a hot spring and sauna and hotel rooms with a view of the field, and the wider village has restaurants and shops that open on non-game days as well. Travel Voice has also reported plans for a hotel run by Banyan Group next to the ballpark.

How do groups use it?

A game night. Japanese baseball is a lively evening, with cheering for every batter. The season runs from late March to October; see our baseball and sports tourism guide.
A non-game day. On days without a game, groups can tour the village, eat and use the bathing facilities, which suits a lighter day in a Hokkaido programme.
On the way to the airport. Because Kitahiroshima lies between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport, a visit can fit a departure or arrival day.
Seats together. Group seats need booking well before popular games. We hold tickets against the fixture list and confirm seat blocks in writing.

A professional baseball stadium full for a game in Yokohama: Japanese crowds make a game an event, wherever it is played.

Getting there

Groups usually travel by coach from Sapporo, which avoids changing trains with luggage. Shuttle buses also run from nearby stations on game days. Allow time after the game: leaving with a full crowd takes a while, and we plan the coach pick-up around it. For the rest of the region, see our Hokkaido group tours guide.

Sapporo's Odori Park at dusk from above: an evening game can follow a day in the city.

Sources: Travel Voice report, 9 October 2026 (Japanese) and Hokkaido Ballpark F Village official site.

FAQ

Where is Hokkaido Ballpark F Village? In Kitahiroshima, between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport. It is the home of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters baseball team.

Can groups visit F Village when there is no game? Yes. The village and many of its facilities open on non-game days, so a visit does not have to match the fixture list.

When is the baseball season? Japanese professional baseball runs from late March to October, with play-offs after that. The ballpark has a roof, so games are not cancelled for rain.

How do we get a group there? Usually by private coach from Sapporo. We plan the pick-up after the game, when the crowd is leaving.

Planning Hokkaido for your clients? Write to b2b@explera.jp, message the trade desk on WhatsApp at +66 93 656 8090, or register on the B2B portal. Proposals within 24 hours. IATA TIDS 96215733, ASTA member 900408341.