Destinations

Sapporo

"My month spent living in Sapporo in the summer of 2000 was without a doubt the best time I had whilst living in Japan. The cosmopolitan atmosphere, fabulous food and drink and incredible national parks just on the door step make Sapporo one of Japan's most enjoyable cities to visit"

Alastair Donnelly - Director

Renowned for its snow festival and summer beer gardens, its relaxed air, its green parks, and its tree lined boulevards, Sapporo is a modern Japanese city quite unlike any other. It is the capital of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, and as such started life as a frontier town some 130 years ago. Now despite a population that has grown to some 1.8 million people it still manages to operate at a level of bustle well below that of Tokyo or Osaka. Add excellent local cuisine, great night life and good access to nearby national parks and mountains and this is clearly a great place to start an exploration of Hokkaido.

Thanks to its grid-like road layout, Sapporo is relatively easy to navigate. The blocks are named and numbered, thus the famous tokei-dai is to be found in the block of North 1, West 2. Bang in the centre of town is the TV Tower and from here the belt like green oasis of Odori Koen (park) runs the length of the main street. Odori Koen is the stage for the ice and snow sculptures that make up the Snow Festival in February and for the summer festival’s beer tents. Just to the north is Hokkaido University’s botanical gardens which retain some of the virgin forest seen before Hokkaido was cultivated. There is also a museum dedicated to the Ainu, Hokkaido’s indigenous population, here.

To the east of the city centre is Maruyama Koen and the mountain that lends its name to this park. A great view of the city can be enjoyed from the peak some 40 minutes climb up and the park itself makes for a pleasant picnic spot. 

Susukino, Sapporo’s entertainment quarter, is located south of the city centre - from karaoke to soap lands, this pile of bars and restaurants is Japan’s biggest centre of night life north of Tokyo

Back to top

Products featuring Sapporo...

Self Guided Adventure

Hokkaido Fly-Drive

The huge and sparsely populated island of Hokkaido is the focus of this unique adventure. Here within the national parks you’ll find vast empty plains, crystal clear lakes and soaring mountain landscapes. With well-kept, quiet roads and plenty of English signs Hokkaido is ideal for exploring by car.

16 Nights: £2830

view tour »

Small Group Tour

Winter Highlights

Japan is a unique winter holiday destination and Winter Highlights brings you the very best of the season with the Sapporo Snow festival, rare birds, the charming snow monkeys and the hauntingly beautiful shrines and temples of Kyoto. This is a winter-time holiday treat you will savour forever.

14 Nights: £3250

view tour »