Sapporo is the center of Hokkaido. The city is laid out in a beautiful grid pattern and is blessed with abundant nature and exquisite foods while being a big city with a population of 1.95 million people. Let’s go to Sapporo, where you can spend cool, fresh summers and enjoy beautiful white snowscapes in winter!
The view of Odori Park from the Sapporo TV Tower is superb. In the daytime, you’ll be able to see the series of mountains beyond the park, and at nighttime, the beautiful night view of Sapporo spreads before your eyes.
Odori Nishi 1-Chome to 12-Chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City
Subway Odori Sta., Nishi 11-Chome Sta.
Free
The Hill of the Buddha in Makomanai Takino Cemetery is designed by the world-famous architect Tadao Ando. The view of the Buddha when coming out of the tunnel is spectacular. The hill is covered with lavender in summer and snow in winter.
2 Takino, Minami-ku, Sapporo City
23 min bus ride on Hokkaido Chuo Bus “102” from the No. 2 bus stop at Subway Makomanai Sta.
300 yen
As you go along Makomanai-dori Street, with your back to the Hill of the Buddha, you will see a large reclining Buddha Statue. It is one of the largest reclining Buddha statues in Japan!
6-1-24 Ishiyamahigashi, Minami-ku, Sapporo City
A representative shrine of Hokkaido and a famous spot for cherry blossoms. In the cherry blossom season, many people gather and eat “jingisukan” at Maruyama Park located next to the shrine.
*Jingisukan: Lamb barbeque, specialty of Hokkaido.
474 Miyagaoka, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City
15 min walk from Subway Maruyama-Koen Sta.
Free
A shrine that derives from Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto. Twenty seven red torii gates beautifully line the entrance way to the shrine. There is a “wish stone” that is said to fulfill what you wish for if you give up one thing that you like.
2-2-17 Fushimi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City
9 min ride on the JR Hokkaido Bus Ropeway Line (Sakaigawa route) from Subway Maruyama-Koen Sta. and 5 min walk from “Jikeikai-Mae” stop
Free
The nature-rich zoo located near the downtown of the city opened 1951 and was the first zoo in Hokkaido. You can see the animal habitat exhibition and animals eating their meals. In addition, in the polar bear hall that will open in March 2018, you can enjoy swimming polar bears from an underwater tunnel!
3-1 Miyagaoka, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City
15 min walk from Subway Maruyama-Koen Sta.
Adults: 600 yen, Junior high school students and younger: free
This is the 90-m class ski jump venue of the Winter Olympic Sapporo Games in 1972. International competitions are still being held now. You will be able to see the entire city of Sapporo from the observation deck. You will also be able to see the steep slope of the ski jump and the starting point from very close up. It is spectacular!
1274 Miyanomori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City
10 min ride on the JR Hokkaido Bus “line 14” Araiyama line from Subway Maruyama-Koen Sta. and 10 min walk from the “Okurayama Kyogijo Iriguchi” stop
Adults: 500 yen, Children: 300 yen (*Lift operation is not available on the days of competitions and official practices.)
The bicycle sharing service is also recommended for sightseeing in Sapporo! There are also cycle touring courses.
The bicycle sharing service: Porocle http://porocle.jp/
Cycle touring course：http://www.sapporo.travel/choose/keywords/bicycle/?lang=en
