Sapporo

Travel Guide
Sapporo JR Tower featuring a city and night scenes
With ski slopes, parks, beer gardens and festivals, this sprawling city on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido has something to offer year-round.

The vibrant city of Sapporo is one of Japan’s largest cities and most popular tourist destinations. With snow on the ground for about four months of the year, Sapporo is famous for its wintersports and hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics. The city is also a big draw in the summer with its parks, bars and beer gardens.

Relax in Odori Park, a large, grassy expanse with fountains, benches and gardens. It encompasses 12 blocks through central Sapporo. At the eastern end is the Sapporo TV Tower. Travel up to its viewing platform, 295 feet (90 meters) above street level. During February, the park is the setting for the Sapporo Snow Festival, a week-long event with ice sculptures, snow rides and concerts.

During the winter, make your way to the ski resorts in the mountains around Sapporo. Go cross-country skiing at Nakajima Park and try night skiing at Sapporo Bankei Ski Area. Take the children sledding and snow tubing at Mount Moiwa Ski Resort, which has a gentle family slope for beginners. If you’re a non-skier, try computer-simulated ski challenges at the Winter Sports Museum at the foot of the Okurayama Ski jump.

The city is also known for its beer. Learn about the history of the beverage in Japan at the Sapporo Beer Museum. During summer, many beer gardens open up in parks and on the rooftops of buildings across the city.

Try the alcohol with delicious local food. Visit Susukino, the large entertainment district, which is packed with bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Try fresh sushi in the Sushi-ya restaurants or explore Ramen Yokocho, a narrow lane lined with restaurants serving ramen, a popular noodle soup.

Reach Sapporo by flying into New Chitose Airport, which is 30 miles (48.3 kilometers) southeast of the city. Get around Sapporo by public transportation, or by renting a car or bicycle. Visit Sapporo to take advantage of its fantastic skiing, enjoy local cuisine and explore its beautiful outdoor areas.

Sapporo Travel Guide Video

Where to stay in Sapporo

Sapporo View Hotel Oodori Kouen
Sapporo View Hotel Oodori Kouen
4 out of 5
Nishi 8-chome,Odori,Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
The price is $49 per night from Oct 10 to Oct 11
$49
per night
Oct 10 - Oct 11
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Sapporo. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and onsite parking. Our guests praise the property condition in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
"Convenient"

Reviewed on Sep 14, 2023

Sapporo View Hotel Oodori Kouen
Tenza Hotel & SKYSPA at Sapporo Central
Tenza Hotel & SKYSPA at Sapporo Central
4 out of 5
6-1 Nichi-8chome, Minami 2-Jo, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
The price is $56 per night from Oct 30 to Oct 31
$56
per night
Oct 30 - Oct 31
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Sapporo. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 spa tubs, and breakfast. Popular attractions Odori Park and Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena are located ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (269 reviews)
Tenza Hotel is amazing
"Wonderful time here! The staff were very kind and the hotel was very clean. Great location in Sapporo, Tanukikoji shopping street and Sapporo TV Tower. Definitely a great place to stay whether long term or short."

Reviewed on Sep 24, 2023

Tenza Hotel & SKYSPA at Sapporo Central
Hotel Forza Sapporo Station
Hotel Forza Sapporo Station
3.5 out of 5
Kita Sanjo Nishi 2-1-1,Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is $59 per night from Oct 1 to Oct 2
$59
per night
Oct 1 - Oct 2
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Sapporo. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and onsite parking. Popular attractions Odori Park and Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena are ...
9/10 Wonderful! (119 reviews)
"Clean and convenient from Sapporo station."

Reviewed on Sep 27, 2023

Hotel Forza Sapporo 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.
Minn Chitose
Minn Chitose
3 out of 5
2-1-1 Kashiwadaiminami, Chitose, Hokkaido
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Chitose. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Chitose Outlet Mall Rera and Siam Lock ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (238 reviews)
"Everything wonderful ! except for the pillows as rocks and a green light directly on the face all night"

Reviewed on Sep 23, 2023

Minn Chitose
UCHI Living Stay Otaru Suitengu
UCHI Living Stay Otaru Suitengu
3 out of 5
Aioicho 4-40, Otaru, Hokkaido
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Otaru. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a flat-screen TV. Our guests praise the property condition in our reviews. Popular ...
8/10 Very Good! (158 reviews)
"离火車站有一点遠"

Reviewed on Jul 3, 2023

UCHI Living Stay Otaru Suitengu
Villa Koshido Kotoni Annex
Villa Koshido Kotoni Annex
3 out of 5
4-4-26 Kotoni 2 Jo, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Stay at this 3-star condo in Sapporo. Enjoy free WiFi, a balcony, and an LCD TV. Popular attractions Odori Park and Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena are located ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (37 reviews)
チェックインさえできたら天国でした
"自動チェックインで戸惑いましたが、入室したら素晴らしいお部屋でした。広さ、清潔感、キッチン、トイレ、お風呂、アメニティー、すべて完璧です。感動しました。チェックインだけが問題でもしもチェックイン時が夜で電話がつながらなかったらちょっと不安でした。"

Reviewed on Sep 12, 2023

Villa Koshido Kotoni Annex
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

Reviews of Sapporo

4.6
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
212
" "5 - Excellent 62.35294117647059%
4 - Good
115
" "4 - Good 33.8235294117647%
3 - Okay
9
" "3 - Okay 2.6470588235294117%
2 - Disappointing
3
" "2 - Disappointing 0.8823529411764706%
1 - Terrible
1
" "1 - Terrible 0.29411764705882354%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Feb 18, 2020

Walking in the snow was difficult, especially for a Hawaii boy with some back issues...If I had booked a hotel a bit closer to the action, perhaps it would not have been so bad. But the price here was reasonable so...I wish I had tried the cable car

5/5 - Excellent

Les
Feb 18, 2020

Love Sapporo. Big enough city but not as hustle and bustle as Tokyo.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Feb 14, 2020

Excellent experience

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Feb 11, 2020

February in Sapporo meant temperatures down in the single digits. Certainly something to keep in mind.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Feb 9, 2020

Good seafood cuisine nearby.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Feb 8, 2020

One of my favorite cities in Japan - lots to do, lots to see!

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