It’s been almost a year since my friends and I went on an adventure at the northernmost main island of Japan, Hokkaido. Getting there was not easy, well on the option that we chose because we wanted to maximize the use of our JR Pass.

I got super excited for this trip when I saw the movie “Kita Kita”, which featured various scenic spots in Sapporo and neighboring cities.

Upon arriving at Narita International Airport from Cebu, we booked our train tickets using our JR Pass and prepared ourselves for the long journey.

Getting to our destination involved 4 train transfers and a total of 9 hour train rides. We left Narita International Airport at 1pm and arrived at our Airbnb in Sapporo at 12 midnight. This includes waiting times.

Sapporo is Japan’s 5th largest city in terms of population. It is known for various attractions, especially during winter. The city’s annual Snow Festival which is being held every February is popular worldwide. Sapporo is also known as “the kitchen of the north” because of its unique cuisine and their famous miso ramen. Since Sapporo is located in Northern Japan, temperatures here can drop below zero during winter and generally cool all year round.

We only spent 2 full days in Sapporo but we were able to visit a couple of tourist spots and also did a side trip to Niseko.

Here are the places you can visit and experience if you’re planning a trip to Sapporo.

Odori Park

Odori Park is located at the center of Sapporo. It stretches 1.5km long and divide the city into north and south sections. On the west-end of the park, the Former Hokkaido Government Office building is located. Today, this serves as a museum and tourist information office. On the east-end of Odori Park is where the Sapporo TV Tower is.

There’s really nothing much to see at Odori Park during winter besides lots of snow. We were lucky though because we visited the park a week before the Sapporo Snow Festival. It was amazing to see how the snow sculptures are being built and prepared for the festival. The Snow Festival happens every first week of February and draws in lots of tourist from all over the world.

Access: take the Namboku Line to Odori Station. – see map
Entrance: Free

Sapporo TV Tower

On the east-end of the Odori Park is the Sapporo TV Tower. This 147.2 meter high TV tower has an observation deck open to visitors. It is a great spot to view Odori Park and Sapporo City on a different angle. The observation deck features, observation windows and souvenir shop.

The Sapporo TV Tower also lights up at night making an iconic structure that illuminates the city.

Access: located at the east-end of Odori Park – see map
Entrance: Adult 720 yen if you’re planning to go the observatory
Operation:  Varies per season, visit https://www.tv-tower.co.jp/en/guidance/

Sapporo Clock Tower

One of the iconic structures of Sapporo City is the Sapporo Clock Tower. It was built as a theater hall in 1878, and today, it serves as museum showcasing the building’s history and different clocks.

Access: Sapporo Clock Tower is a short walk away from Sapporo Station or Odori Station – see map
Entrance: 200 yen
Operation: 8:45am to 5:10pm (last entry is 5pm)

Sapporo Ramen Republic

The top Hokkaido ramen restaurants in one place? Then go to Sapporo Ramen Republic located on the 10^th floor of Sapporo ESTA. 8 ramen restaurants can be found here that specializes in miso, shoyu and shio style broths. The restaurant choices are Shirakaba Sansou, Misono, Ajisai, Yoshiyama Shouten, Shodai, Sora, Jirochou and Baikouken.

During our visit, we tried Baikouken’s flame grilled rib charsiew ramen.

Access: 10th Floor of Sapporo ESTA just beside Sapporo Station – see map
Entrance: Free
Operation: 11:00 am to 10:00pm

Sapporo Beer Museum

Sapporo Beer is one of the oldest and most popular beer brands in Japan. It started brewing in Sapporo in 1877 and today, Sapporo Beer is now known worldwide.

The Sapporo Beer Museum is the only beer museum across Japan. It introduces the history of beer in the country and the process of making it. The museum also features a restaurant where you can sample the different variants of Sapporo Beer.

You can also visit the Sapporo Beer Garden restaurant which is popular for their Genghis Khan, a platter of lamb meat and vegetables served on a special metal skillet. This meal is best paired with Sapporo Beer.

Access: 15 minute walk from Higashikuyakusho-Mae Station – see map
Entrance: Free
Operation: 11:00am to 8:00pm

Susukino

If you’re into nightlife, clubbing and drinking, you better visit Susukino. Considered as one of the major red-light districts of Japan, Susukino also attracts people who are into adult-entertainment.

Susukino is also home to Ramen Yokocho, a small alley lined with shops serving Sapporo’s famous ramen. Lots of restaurants and hotels are also found in this area.

Access: take Namboku Line or Sapporo Shiden  to Susukino Station – see map

Sapporo Ganso Ramen Yokocho

One of the most popular dish in Sapporo is ramen. Just a short walk from Susukino Station is the original Ramen Yokocho, a small alley featuring line of ramen restaurants. The first restaurant opened in 1951, because of its success, many other restaurant followed suit. Ramen restaurants in Sapporo specializes in miso ramen. They use a type of broth mixed with fermented soy bean paste and salt. Some other ramen variants that you can try are seafood and vegetarian.

During our visit, we tried Teshikaga Ramen. Another ramen alley also opened in Susukino just two blocks away.

Access: short walk from Susukino Station – see map

Sapporo Shiden

One of the unique public transportation in Japan is the Sapporo Streetcar or also known as Shiden. It runs in a loop along the south-western part of the city. Various models runs around the city, some are old and some are modern. Your Sapporo trip is not complete without riding one.

Mt. Moiwa and Mt. Moiwa Ropeway

Mt. Moiwa is a popular sightseeing spot in Sapporo. The observation deck on top of the mountain offers a breathtaking view of the city. It also features a “bell of happiness” which believes to bring happiness to the person who rings it.

One of the best way to reach the observatory is via Mt. Moiwa Ropeway. This cable car ride climbs from the base of the mountain to the top. It also offers a spectacular view along the way.

Access: take the Sapporo Shiden to Ropeway Iriguchi stop – see map
Entrance:
1700 yen (roundtrip for ropeway and mini cable car) 
1100 yen (roundtrip for ropeway only) 
600 yen (roundtrip for mini cable car only)
Operation: 10:30am to 10:00pm

Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade

If you’re into shopping, you should check out Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade. It’s a 1km-long arcade and one of Sapporo famous spots. Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade is home to around 200 shops and restaurants. Here you can also shop for souvenirs and sample Hokkaido’s specialties. Most of the shops here close late and some are even open for 24 hours.

Access: take the Sapporo Shiden to Tanukikoji stop or Namboku Line to Susukino Station – see map

Grand Hirafu, Niseko

Niseko is a ski town located south-west of Sapporo. It is known to have the best snow for skiing, no wonder a number of ski resorts were established in this area.

We went here with no intent to ski, we just really want to check out the town and the view of Mt Yotei. We took the Grand Hirafu Gondola to one of the base of Mt. Annupuri to have a better view of the town and eat lunch.

The snow from this area is different, it felt like I was walking on confectionery sugar, it is that powdery. Snow flakes were also falling from the sky even though it’s a bluebird day. The experience was truly magical!

Access: from Sapporo Station take Airport 95 train to Otaru Station then transfer to JR Hakodate Line for Kutchan Station. Then from Kutchan Station, take a bus to Grand Hirafu. – see map
Entrance: Free. Pay 2000 yen if you’re planning to take the round trip gondola ride to one of the base of Mt. Annupuri.
Operation: Hirafu Gondola operates from 8:00am to 4:30pm

Getting There

The easiest and quickest way to get to Sapporo is by taking an airplane. There are couple of airline companies in Japan that offer Narita International Airport – New Chitose Aiport flights. Philippine Airlines also launched a direct Manila – Sapporo flight just recently.

Since we wanted to maximize the use of our JR Pass, we decided to take the train to Sapporo from Narita International Airport which involves 4 train transfers and a total of 9 hours train travel.

1. Narita International Airport to Tokyo Station via Narita Express
2. Tokyo Station to Shin-Hakodate Station via Hayabusa Shinkansen
3. Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station to Sapporo Station via Super Hokuto
4. Sapporo Station to Susukino Station via Namboku Subway Line

Most of these train rides were covered by the JR Pass except for Nomboku Subway Line.

Sapporo Sample 2-Day Itinerary

Day 1
9:00am – 10:00am : Odori Park
10:00am – 11:00am : Sapporo TV Tower
11:00am – 12:00pm : Sapporo Clock Tower
12:00pm – 2:00pm : Sapporo Ramen Republic (Lunch)
2:00pm – 4:00pm : Sapporo Beer Museum
4:00pm – 6:00pm : Sapporo Shiden, Mt. Moiwa Cable Car and Mt. Moiwa Observation Deck
6:00pm – 7:00pm : Susukino (Dinner and night out)

Day 2
9:00am – 6:00pm : Niseko
6:00pm – 7:00pm : Sapporo Ramen Yokocho
7:00pm – Onwards: Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade

Sapporo and Niseko Guide Map