Two days is enough for Sapporo's main sights: a day in the city for Odori Park, the markets, the beer museum and a bowl of miso ramen, and a second day for the canal town of Otaru, half an hour away. Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, Japan's northern island, with wide straight streets, cool summers and long snowy winters.
Getting there
Most visitors fly to New Chitose Airport, about ninety minutes from Tokyo. The JR Rapid Airport train reaches Sapporo Station in about forty minutes. The city centre is compact: Sapporo Station, Odori Park and the Susukino entertainment district are in a line, linked by the subway and by a long underground walkway that is welcome in winter.
Day 1: The city
- Odori Park. A green strip twelve blocks long through the centre, with the Sapporo TV Tower at its eastern end. Go up the tower for the view along the park.
- The Clock Tower and the old government building. Two landmarks from the 1870s and 1880s, when Hokkaido was being settled; check ahead, as restoration work can close them.
- Nijo Market. A small seafood market near the park, good for a breakfast or lunch of crab, sea urchin and salmon roe over rice.
- Sapporo Beer Museum. A red-brick former brewery that tells the story of Japan's oldest beer brand, with paid tastings and a beer hall next door serving grilled lamb.
- Evening in Susukino. Try miso ramen, Sapporo's own style, in one of the small shops of Ramen Alley.
Day 2: Otaru, or the hills
Otaru is about thirty-five minutes away by JR train. Walk along its canal lined with old stone warehouses, visit the glass workshops and music-box shops of Sakaimachi Street, and eat sushi near the harbour; our Otaru day trip guide has the details. If you prefer to stay in the city, take the ropeway up Mt Moiwa for the night view, or visit Moerenuma Park, a landscape designed by the sculptor Isamu Noguchi.
When to go
- Winter. The Sapporo Snow Festival fills Odori Park with snow and ice sculptures for about a week in early February. Hotels fill months ahead.
- Summer. June to August is mild and dry compared with the rest of Japan, with beer gardens in Odori Park.
- Autumn. The leaves turn from early October, earlier than in Tokyo or Kyoto.
Travelling further? Our Hokkaido summer itinerary continues to Furano and Biei.
FAQ
Is two days enough for Sapporo? Yes, for the city centre and a day trip to Otaru. Add more days for Furano, Niseko or Noboribetsu.
How do I get from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo? By the JR Rapid Airport train, which takes about forty minutes to Sapporo Station.
What food is Sapporo known for? Miso ramen, fresh seafood, soup curry, grilled lamb known as Genghis Khan, and Sapporo beer.
When is the Sapporo Snow Festival? For about a week in early February each year. Book hotels well in advance.
Planning Sapporo and Hokkaido for yourself, your family or your clients? Write to b2b@explera.jp or message us on WhatsApp at +66 93 656 8090 with your dates and group size, and we will reply within 24 hours. Explera is a destination management company for Japan — IATA TIDS 96215733, ASTA member 900408341.
