If you have arrived here, you are likely planning your trip to Sapporo, or you want to get even more out of your trip. For this, we have created a review of what you should know about Sapporo, the places you should visit, some suggestions on where to eat, and tips, in general, to enjoy your trip to the fullest.
Why should I go to Sapporo?
If you are still planning your trip, you may wonder if it is worth going to the north of Japan and traveling several hours from, for example, Tokyo. The reality is that it is difficult to answer this question with a conclusive yes or no. Still, if your goal is to know new places, learn about the history that surrounds a city, enjoy the snow, or eat delicious pastries, without a doubt, Sapporo has something for you.
What is the difference between Sapporo and Hokkaido?
In a nutshell, Sapporo is the capital of the mountainous island of Hokkaido in northern Japan. It is famous for its beer, clock tower, television tower, and the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, which takes place in early February and includes enormous ice sculptures.
Can you take a train from Tokyo to Sapporo?
Yes, it is possible to move by train from the city of Tokyo to the city of Sapporo. However, suppose you plan to make your trip by Shinkansen. In that case, it will last around 4 hours till the shores of Hokkaido prefecture. From there, you must change to a traditional train and travel another 3 hours to get to Sapporo. If you want to save money and time, we do not recommend making the trip by train since the trip will take about 9 hours and ¥27,590 of your budget.
How to get to Sapporo from Tokyo?
As we already mentioned, you can go from Tokyo to Sapporo by train and experience the sensation of traveling through the tunnel that crosses under the sea to reach the island of Hokkaido. Still, you can also choose to arrive by plane.
There is currently in Japan the low-cost airline Peach, which, although its counters will make you walk more than necessary, will also help you save some money. You can also move by bus from the airport to the city center; the ticket cost is 1100 yen.
In addition to the train and plane, there is a third option if time is not a problem; this is to travel by ferry from Oarai to Tomakomai, the trip will take around 18 hours, and you can choose between several options to spend the night on the boat, for more information you can visit their website.
Do people speak English in Sapporo?
In our experience, it is relatively easy to find written information in English, Spanish, and other languages in museums and major tourist attractions, but sadly it is rare to find public transport or restaurant employees who speak a language other than Japanese. However, Sapporo has pretty amiable people, and even the bus drivers will not hesitate to try to help you even with directions and printed maps.
What is the best month to visit Sapporo?
Undoubtedly, the best period to visit the city of Sapporo is during the winter, mainly during the Sapporo Snow Festival, usually at the beginning of February, since you can enjoy activities in the snow and spectacular views. Still, you can also enjoy spectacular outdoor sculptures.
But, if cold and snow are not your thing, you can also enjoy this spectacular city during Hanami when the cherry trees paint the streets pink. By 2023, the Cherry trees will begin to bloom on April 29 and end on May 2 in Sapporo.
What food is Sapporo known for?
In Sapporo, there is an active nightlife, which is why its most popular foods, although not exclusive to this area, can be found in restaurants that open late at night.
Ramen
Perhaps the most popular restaurant or set of restaurants in Sapporo is found in Ganso Ramen Yokocho (Original Ramen Alley), which is a narrow corridor in the heart of the city and where you will find multiple restaurants that sell ramen, each with its style but in general all of them at very affordable prices.
Contrary to what you will find on Google, most of these restaurants open after 6 pm since after 7 pm, they will receive people who have left work and are looking for a place to have dinner with their friends. We arrived at 6 pm, and only two or three places were open. Still, the one we chose served us very delicious ramen.
Travel tip: In general, restaurants in Japan serve ramen a little more salty than usual, and they will offer you ice water and ice. Depending on the restaurant, you could request water at room temperature.
Yakitori
Another option for dinner is Yakitori, mostly made from chicken, pork, and beef. You can easily find it on the streets of Japan.
Usually, we like to go to traditional-style restaurants with only Japanese menus and Japanese-only-speaking chefs. As soon as you enter the restaurant, you can see the chef making a barbecue directly. The good thing is that you can eat very juicy Yakitori right away and see the chef chat with customers. It feels like you have a barbecue with your friends and have a good time together. (Being in the local environment, it can always discover new adventures.)
Ordering food is always challenging for someone who needs help understanding Japanese. A good idea before ordering is to check the restaurant’s reviews and choose a picture of what you want to order to speak to the chef. To make things easier, here are some meal-ordering suggestions:
- Yakitori
Grilled chicken breast and scallions on a stick. It is the original flavor of delicious, juicy, and tender grilled chicken paired with the unique soy sauce, which is the soul of Yakitori. - Grilled Chicken Wings
It is from part of the wings near the end joints. The crispy chicken skin and fat are grilled, making the chicken wings full of aroma. - Toritukune
Briefly speaking, it is like a meatball on a stick but juicier. The ingredients could include cartilage to make the texture chewier, but the different restaurants will be a different receipts. - Chicken Cartilage/NANNKOTSU
Chicken cartilage is a soft bone. However, it does not have a strong flavor after being grilled with sauce. The crunchy texture is always a good appetizer with beer. - It definitely will be beer
Without beer, just like having a taco without hot sauce or a hamburger without coca cola.
Crabs
We don´t doubt that crabs are the favorite in Sapporo´s downtown, and you will know why when you walk through their streets.
As you should know, seafood is one of the main meals in Japan, and Sapporo is not an exception. Even with cold weather, you will be able to find regular crabs, hairy crabs, and king crabs for hotpots.
Depending on the restaurant and the crap you choose, the prices could rise to 50,000 yen. Also, don´t forget to check if the restaurant requires a reservation. Some of them allow you to do it online.