Sapporo guide
Odori Park, the Clock Tower and the red-brick former government office are all within walking distance on a grid of streets. Hokkaido's main city, also known for ramen, beer and the night view from Mt. Moiwa.
Things to see 10 classics
"Classics" and "Hidden gems" are this site's editorial picks, not a measured popularity ranking.
- 2
Sapporo Clock Tower
A wooden hall built in 1878 as the drill hall of Sapporo Agricultural College. The clock still chimes, and there is a small museum inside.
- History & buildings
about 30 minPaid entryFine on a rainy dayWheelchair & stroller friendly
Walk · About 10 min from Sapporo ・ 600m
- 3
Former Hokkaido Government Office (Red Brick Office)
A red-brick government building from 1888. The front garden with its ponds and trees is a short, pleasant walk from the station.
- History & buildings
- Museums
about 45 minPaid entryFine on a rainy dayWheelchair & stroller friendly
Walk · About 8 min from Sapporo ・ 500m
- 4
Mt. Moiwa
The hill for Sapporo's night view, looking down on the city lights. A ropeway and a mini cable car take you to the top.
- Views
- Night views
about 60 minFreeWheelchair & stroller friendly
Ropeway · About 60 min from Sapporo ・ Subway to Susukino, streetcar to Ropeway Iriguchi, then the shuttle bus and ropeway ・ 5.5km
- 6
Sapporo Beer Museum
A beer museum in a red-brick Meiji-era building. The beer hall next door serves jingisukan, grilled lamb.
- History & buildings
- Food & markets
about 60 minFreeFine on a rainy dayPartly step-free
Bus · About 25 min from Sapporo ・ Bus from the north exit of Sapporo Station to Sapporo Beer Garden ・ 1.5km
Show on map
ClassicsHidden gems
Suggested routes
Times assume a 9:00 start. Travel times are estimated from distance and vary with waiting and crowds.
Walk the city center, then Mt. Moiwa at dusk
Leave 9:00 → until about 14:40 (about 5.5 hr)
- 9:00Sapporo
about 8 min on foot
9:08Former Hokkaido Government Office (Red Brick Office)stay about 45 minabout 8 min on foot
10:01Sapporo Clock Towerstay about 30 minabout 4 min on foot
10:35Odori Park and Sapporo TV Towerstay about 60 minabout 10 min on foot
11:45Susukinostay about 1.5 hrabout 25 min by transport
13:40Mt. Moiwastay about 60 min
Everything as far as Susukino is walkable. For Mt. Moiwa, take the streetcar from Susukino.
Plan this routeMaruyama and Shiroi Koibito Park on the Tozai subway line
Leave 9:00 → until about 13:27 (about 4.5 hr)
- 9:00Sapporo
about 12 min on foot
9:12Odori Park and Sapporo TV Towerstay about 60 minabout 20 min by transport
10:32Hokkaido Jingu Shrine and Maruyama Parkstay about 60 minabout 25 min by transport
11:57Shiroi Koibito Parkstay about 1.5 hr
Odori, Maruyama-Koen and Miyanosawa are all stations on the Tozai Line.
Plan this route
When to go
June to September is mild (17–22°C on average), ideal for summer travel. February brings the Snow Festival but averages around −3°C, so dress for deep cold.
Point at a month to see its temperature and precipitation.
Temperature (line: average; band: low to high)
Precipitation (mm)
Typical seasons
Cherry blossoms (Maruyama Park)
Lilacs (Odori Park)
Sapporo Snow Festival
Autumn leaves (Nakajima Park, Jozankei)
Snowy city scenes
Show as a table
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High (℃) | -0.4 | 0.4 | 4.5 | 11.7 | 17.9 | 21.8 | 25.4 | 26.4 | 22.8 | 16.4 | 8.7 | 2 |
| Avg (℃) | -3.2 | -2.7 | 1.1 | 7.3 | 13 | 17 | 21.1 | 22.3 | 18.6 | 12.1 | 5.2 | -0.9 |
| Low (℃) | -6.4 | -6.2 | -2.4 | 3.4 | 9 | 13.4 | 17.9 | 19.1 | 14.8 | 8 | 1.6 | -4 |
| Rain (mm) | 108.4 | 91.9 | 77.6 | 54.6 | 55.5 | 60.4 | 90.7 | 126.8 | 142.2 | 109.9 | 113.8 | 114.5 |
Temperature and precipitation are Japan Meteorological Agency normals (1991–2020, Sapporo). Seasons are typical timings and can shift by a week or two each year. JMA data
Main ways to get around
Sapporo Municipal Subway
Three lines: Namboku, Tozai and Toho. From Sapporo Station to Odori, Susukino and Makomanai; change at Odori for Maruyama-Koen and Miyanosawa.
Underground walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho)
About 10 minutes on foot underground from Sapporo Station to Odori. An underground mall continues on to Susukino, so walking is easy even on snowy days.
Sapporo Streetcar
A loop line running from Susukino and Nishi 4-chome around the southwest of the city. Get off at Ropeway Iriguchi for the Mt. Moiwa Ropeway.
Mt. Moiwa Ropeway
A shuttle bus runs from the Ropeway Iriguchi tram stop to the base station. Ride the ropeway, then a mini cable car to the top. It can stop for strong wind or maintenance.
Rapid Airport (New Chitose Airport – Sapporo)
About 40 minutes from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo Station. Some trains continue to Otaru. Delays are possible on snowy days.
Getting to Sapporo
“Classics” and “Hidden gems” are our editors' picks, not a measured popularity ranking. Travel times are estimates. Please check prices, opening hours and operating days with the official sources before you go.
Photo and data credits
Odori Park in autumn and central Sapporo, seen from the TV Tower redlegsfan21 (CC BY-SA 2.0) / Flower beds in Odori Park with the Sapporo TV Tower ノボホショコロトソ (CC BY 4.0) / The Sapporo Clock Tower among trees Bjørn Christian Tørrissen (CC BY-SA 4.0) / The red-brick Former Hokkaido Government Office surrounded by trees user:Fg2 (Public domain) / Night view of Sapporo from Mt. Moiwa 掬茶 (CC BY-SA 4.0) / The red-brick Sapporo Beer Museum under a blue sky MIKI Yoshihito derivative work: MrPanyGoff (CC BY 2.0) / The worship hall of Hokkaido Jingu Shrine among trees Daigaku2051 (CC BY-SA 3.0). Cropped and resized.
Local food
Regional dishes handed down in Hokkaido. Many are home and community cooking, so not every dish is served at restaurants.
Ishikarinabe(Ishikari hot pot)
石狩鍋
“Ishikari Nabe” (Ishikari hot pot) is a typical local cuisine of Hokkaido.
- Where it is made
- Ishikari region
Salmon Chanchan Yaki
鮭のチャンチャン焼き
“Salmon Chanchan Yaki” is a dish of steamed salmon and seasonal vegetables caught from fall to winter and seasoned with miso.
- Where it is made
- Ishikari region
Ruibe
ルイベ
"Ruibe" is local cuisine made by freezing fish like salmon or trout, then eating them as sashimi as it thaws out. It is characterized by its frozen texture and a taste that slowly melts in your mouth.
- Where it is made
- Ishikari City, Hakodate City, Kushiro City and many other coastal areas
Jingisukan (Lamb and Vegetable Hot Pot)
ジンギスカン／成吉思汗
During the Taisho era (1912-1926), as the outbreak of World War I made it difficult to import wool, there was a national policy to encourage sheep farming.
- Where it is made
- All of Hokkaido Prefecture
Sanpei-Jiru
三平汁
"Sanpei-jiru" is a local dish consisting of salted fish, such as salmon or herring, stewed together with vegetables, such as carrots, and daikon radishes.
- Where it is made
- All of Hokkaido Prefecture
Izushi
飯寿司
"Izushi" is sushi made by lactic acid fermentation in low temperature with fish, vegetables and Rice koji (=malted rice).
- Where it is made
- All of Hokkaido Prefecture
“Find places serving it” opens a map app search for the dish name and the place name. The results are not chosen or recommended by this site. Please check with the shop whether it serves the dish.
Source: “Our Regional Cuisines” (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries), edited by this site (imported 2026-11-15) https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/market/k_ryouri/index.html. Names, areas and ingredients are as written on the source pages; descriptions are excerpts of the original text. No photos are used. This page is not made or endorsed by the ministry.