Sapporo, located on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, is a city that offers modernity and nature. With its beautiful parks and rich cultural heritage, Sapporo is a popular destination for travelers worldwide. There’s plenty to see and do in Sapporo, from exploring the vibrant city center to enjoying outdoor activities in the nearby mountains.
In case you have already decided to visit the city, we have a list of things to do in Sapporo. If you are still not convinced, you can review the list we made about 7 things you should know about this destination in northern Japan.
How to get around in Sapporo?
Before anything, getting around Sapporo is easy and convenient, with a comprehensive public transportation system that includes buses, trains, streetcars, and subways. You can also rent a bike or take a taxi if you prefer. When we visited this place, we only chose to buy a one-day pass for the subway when we visited The Hokkaido Historical Village and completed the trip paying a single bus ticket. Also, for Mt. Moiwa Ropeway, the best option is aboard the streetcar for 200 yen.
Sapporo TV Tower
It has been the most representative point of the city since 1957. With 147m, it is the third tallest tower of its kind in Japan, only behind Tokyo Tower and Nagoya TV Tower (名古屋テレビ塔).
During the night, the tower illuminates its front face. During the Christmas period, its esplanade receives visitors with a beautiful tree. However, for souvenir photos, it is better to go during the day since the lighting on the esplanade is not enough.
On the ground floor, only the elevator takes you to the tower’s first floor. There you will find a small exhibition referring to the tower, a souvenir shop with various products related to Melon Kuma (the unofficial mascot of Hokkaido), and of course, the ticket offices to access the viewpoint of the tower.
The Sapporo Clock Tower
It is located a few steps from Sapporo TV Tower. From its exterior, you can already feel that it is a special place by maintaining a style that contrasts with the large buildings surrounding it.
Upon entering, the first thing you will see is a small library with books ranging from the sound of clock towers around the world to a book in Spanish talking about the urban development of the Río de la Plata in Argentina. Right there, you will find one of many dolls sent in 1927 by children from the United States to Japanese children as a gesture of peace and friendship.
The next room is a small gallery with images and sounds that will transport you to when Sapporo was just a tiny town. The photograph of a group of children is striking to me. The simple fact that those children were initially educated in Tokyo with the sole intention of being taken to Sapporo for the city’s development blows my mind.
Before going up to the second floor, take the time to stamp the Sapporo Clock Tower logo on a piece of paper for your souvenir.
On the second floor, you can appreciate a small space for presentations where you can take a picture next to the statue of William Smith Clark, a professor who promoted the city’s development and helped start the construction of the clock tower. In the background, you can partially see the back of the watch and a replica of the watch to one side to fully appreciate such a sample of engineering.
Mt. Moiwa Ropeway
We have already discussed Sapporo TV Tower as a point from which you can observe the city. Still, if you want to admire the city’s splendor, we recommend you tour Mt. Moiwa Ropeway.
You can easily approach the area from the city center by boarding the street car and leaving it at Ropeway Iriguchi Station. From there, you have two options:
- The fitness: directly walk from there to the ropeway entrance. You should consider this option only if there isn’t snow on the street since, in the last section, you must go uphill, and It becomes very slippery due to the ice.
- The comfort, walk a few steps to the bus stop that will take you completely free to the ropeway entrance. Generally, the service is continuous, so you will not have to wait long.
Tourist tip: Check the coupons near the street car booth. There, we found a coupon that grants a discount of 200 yen per adult and 100 yen per child.
Once in the place, you can decide between taking the route to the intermediate station or reaching the top and enjoying a beautiful view of the city. In either case, try to stay in the back of the gondola to enjoy the view from the ascent.
Once at the top, in addition to the view, you can take photos as a couple under the bell of love. For the sweetest couples, there is the option of buying a padlock and leaving it hanging in this place in true Parisian style.
Historical Village of Hokkaido + Hokkaido Museum + Centennial Memorial Tower
This point is a package of three places to dedicate a whole day. These three places are about 15 minutes walk from each other, although you can also go from one point to another by bus.
In our case, we decided to go through them in the following order:
- Historical Village of Hokkaido since it is the place with the most interest points, we spend around three hours here.
- Hokkaido Museum is a 15-minute walk away, in which we spent an hour and a half.
- Centennial Memorial Tower would be the last stop, 5 minutes from Hokkaido Museum. From here it was possible to enjoy a great view of the city. Unfortunately, it is currently closed to the public, and apparently, it will be demolished.
Historical Village of Hokkaido
It is the final station of the bus, and here you can buy the double pass to access the Historical Village and the Hokkaido Museum for 1,200 yen.
As its name indicates, it is a recreation of the early days of the city of Sapporo, specifically from 1868 to the 20s of the last century. It has 52 separate buildings in four sections:
- The Town
- Fishing village
- Farm Village
- Mountain Village.
Some of its buildings, like Sapporo Station, are proportional representations of historical buildings. Others, such as The Hokkaido Development Commission Main Sapporo Office, are replicas. And finally, a third group came from other places, such as the Residence Of Temiya Station Master.
In our opinion, the most exciting buildings in the Historical Village of Hokkaido are:
- Kurumasa Inn (18): experience how a hotel was then. You must take off your shoes and walk in socks to explore them.
- Takei Sake Breweri (20): you can learn the complete process of generating Sake and know all the items used in the process. Unfortunately, all the texts are in Japanese.
- Ryuunji Temple (12): it’s a religious temple. Remember your photograph with the temple bell.
- Aoyama Family’s Structures for Herring Fishing (33): the most prominent building where the fishermen and the owner of the place lived, as in Kurumasa Inn, you should take off your shoes to better appreciate the rooms.
You can download the complete list of buildings and map on their website.
Hokkaido Museum
In the Village, we saw what the constructions were like a little more than 100 years ago in the emerging city of Sapporo. Still, in the Hokkaido Museum, we find what happened in these lands long before that and how the first men developed as a society, their ties with other cultures, and how those people laid the foundations of what is now Sapporo.
Upon entering the museum, you will first see two fossil representations of the mammoths that inhabited Hokkaido, followed by the first tools used to cultivate and hunt.
The museum’s exhibitions delve into the history of the Ainus, the indigenous people who have resided in Hokkaido, and its surrounding regions for centuries. Visitors will learn about the displacement of the Ainus by the Wajin and the Matsumae clan, as well as their initial alliance in business and subsequent exclusion.
At the end of the tour, you will find some relics from the recent past, such as a Toyota Publica, toys, and old electronics.
What else to do in Sapporo?
- Visit the Sapporo Beer Museum.
This free-admission museum showcases nearly 150 years of beer-making tradition in Sapporo. The tour takes about 45 minutes and ends with a taste test. The museum predominantly showcases displays in Japanese, but it’s still an excellent stop for those interested in beer history. - Go to Shiroikoibito Park.
Something different to do in Sapporo because you will see the process of creating chocolate and cookies. Also, the decoration is beautiful, with flowers in spring and snow in winter. Don’t forget to visit the Chocolate Lounge for some dessert. - Attend a baseball game at Sapporo Dome.
For some people, it is the best place to watch baseball in Japan, although you can also catch soccer games, sports festivals, and concerts. You can visit the calendar on their website for updated information about their events. - Practice skiing at Sapporo Teine.
Ski center one hour from Sapporo, with restaurants and equipment rental area. The staff speaks English and you can between the different difficulty levels offered by their courses. - Make a one-day trip to Otaru.