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  • 13 Best Things to Do in Sapporo

    Rohana Monzon
    Rohana Monzon
    Last updated 5 Feb 2024
    13 Best Things to Do in Sapporo banner
    Sapporo is the capital city of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost and second largest island of Japan. It’s packed with ski resorts (Hokkaido has the longest winter among all prefectures in the country), seafood joints, cultural festivals, and modern marvels! 
    Visiting soon but don’t quite know what to do in Sapporo yet? We’ve got your back!
    Check out our top picks of the best things to do in Sapporo!

    1. Visit the Sapporo TV Tower

    Front view of the Sapporo TV Tower
    Get unobstructed views of the Sea of Japan, Ishikari Heigen, and Odori Park (where flowers bloom in the four seasons!) from the Sapporo TV Tower, which stands at a whopping 147.2 meters tall! Then relax and unwind as you marvel at one of Japan’s most important cultural cities from high above the ground.

    2. Rent a kimono

    Ladies wearing different-styled kimonos
    Get a truly immersive cultural experience trying one of the best things to do in Sapporo: renting a kimono and taking pics of yourselves while strolling the scenic city! You’ll have over a thousand dazzling designs to choose from, and you can even take it up a notch by purchasing the traditional hairstyling package.

    3. Enjoy the view from the Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill

    A statue of a man at Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill
    Photo Credit: MIKI Yoshihito on Flickr (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))
    The photographic spots at Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill are some of the best secret Sapporo attractions that locals love. Enjoy the idyllic landscapes or amp up your experience by visiting during sunset.

    4. Learn about the Ainu People

    Lady smiling for a photo with a red mascot
    The Ainu people are one of the indigenous people of Japan, and many of them reside in Hokkaido. During the Shiraoi Day Trip Bus Tour from Sapporo, you’ll deepen your understanding of their culture by visiting Biratori Municipal Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum, checking out the traditional houses, and more!

    5. Learn what Sapporo beer is all about

    Stacked beer kegs in the snow
    Photo Credit: Ruth Hartnup on Flickr (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))
    Sapporo beer has made a name for itself worldwide thanks to its crisp and refined flavor, so no visit to the city is complete without acquainting yourself with it. Visit the Sapporo Beer Museum, a Hokkaido Heritage destination, which showcases its brewing process that dates back to the Meiji era. The best part: you’ll also sample the concoctions!

    6. Go for strolls around Asahiyama Park, Odori Park, and Moerenuma Park

    People resting on an open field
    Photo Credit: makou0629 on Flickr (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))
    Sapporo is home to great parks, such as Asahiyama Park, with colorful perennial flowers. Because of its scenery, couples usually love to stroll here. There’s also Odori Park near Sapporo TV Tower, blessed with stunning flora and fountains. It's also the venue for the famous Sapporo Snow Festival. Last but not the least, there’s Moerenuma Park on the outskirts of Sapporo, where you can see the glass pyramid building called Hidamari.

    7. Taste the local food

    A bowl of ramen with noodles, soup, seaweed, meat, and eggs
    Photo Credit: George N on Flickr (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))
    One of the best things to do in Sapporo is definitely to try its fantastic cuisine! Curry lovers will enjoy soup curry, which comes in variations with tempura and seafood. We also recommend trying the miso ramen (which has pork, egg, spring onions, and soup flavored with miso-paste) on the island where it originated. When it comes to seafood, kegani or hairy crab is a staple in Sapporo and is always served deliciously fresh!

    8. …and the local sweets!

    Four ice cream cones with different flavors of ice cream
    Photo Credit: Mike W. on Flickr (Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0))
    Sapporo is also known for producing scrumptious sweets, such as white chocolate called shiroi koibito, which you can sample at Ichiya Chocolate Factory. You can also try Hokkaido ice cream, famous for its rich flavor and velvety texture.

    9. Discover the local nightlife at Susukino

    Streets with car, people, and many well-lit signage boards
    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. Go museum-hopping

    A train pulled by a man and a white horse
    Photo Credit: x768 on Flickr (Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0))
    Sapporo is home to the island’s most important museums, including the Hokkaido Museum, which highlights the city and the island’s history. Here you can also see the preserved woolly mammoth and the ancient steam engines from the industrial period. On the other hand, the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art showcases modern art predominantly by Japanese artists. You can also explore the Historical Village of Hokkaido, an open-air museum that features buildings that date back to the Meiji and Taisho periods (1868 to 1926).

    11. Shop ‘til you drop

    Lots of people walking through a shopping street
    Photo Credit: MIKI Yoshihito on Flickr (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))
    Thanks to its excellent shopping districts, going on a shopping spree is one of the best things to do in Saporro. Check out Tanukikoji Shopping Street, a long, covered district that dates back to 1868. It’s home to restaurants and cafes. It’s a great place to shop for records, shoes, and souvenirs. The Sapporo Factory is more a shopping district than a factory, with over a hundred outlets concentrated in a five-story atrium. You’ll find clothing stores, souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, and a multi-screen movie theater. Meanwhile, Nijo Market occupies one city block, where you can shop for the freshest local produce and seafood.

    12. Attend the Sapporo Snow Festival

    People furnishing the display for 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 in Odori Park. It features awe-inspiring snow sculptures that deserve to be on your Instagram feed. Marvel at the unreal sculptures that take the form of global monuments, anime characters, and more!

    13. Go skiing

    Girl wearing pink and white getting ready to ski
    Photo Credit: MIKI Yoshihito on Flickr (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))
    Because Hokkaido experiences the longest winter in Japan, skiing is one of the best things to do in Sapporo. Mt. Asahidake Ropeway (located on the highest mountain Hokkaido), is a beloved skiing and snowboarding site. You can also go to the Kiroro Ice Star Resort, which features great slopes for skiing and a rad ice hotel!
    These are just some of the best things to do in Sapporo! Whether you’re with your family, your significant other, or simply going on a solo traveler’s adventure, you’re going to have a joyful time exploring this beautiful city in Hokkaido!

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