What To Do InSapporo
Wide boulevards, parks, and red-brick heritage meet craft beer, rich miso ramen, and powder-snow winters — Sapporo blends nature, food, and festival energy.
What does Sapporo Look Like?
A modern grid of avenues opens onto generous parks and rivers, with mountains framing the city — vibrant in summer, glittering in snowy winters.
Summer brings beer gardens and festivals; autumn colors the parks; winter transforms streets into a world of ice and light.
Major Attractions to Visit
Odori Park
City ParkGreen ribbon through downtown; Snow Festival venue
Odori Park stretches over 1.5 km across central Sapporo, dividing the city’s north and south. In February it hosts the Sapporo Snow Festival’s massive ice and snow sculptures; in summer you’ll find flower beds, fountains, and pop-up beer gardens.
Sapporo Beer Museum
HistoryHistoric red-brick brewery & tastings
Housed in a 19th-century red-brick building, the museum traces Japan’s beer history and Sapporo’s role in it. Nearby Sapporo Beer Garden serves jingisukan (lamb barbecue) — perfect after a tour and tasting.
Susukino
NightlifeNeon entertainment district with ramen yokocho
Susukino lights up after dark with izakaya, bars, and the cozy alley of Ramen Yokocho serving rich miso ramen — a Sapporo specialty. In winter, ice sculptures line the streets during the Snow Festival.
Mount Moiwa
NatureSummit views over city & Ishikari Bay
Ride the ropeway and mini cable car to the Mt. Moiwa summit for a celebrated night view. Trails are available in summer; in winter, bundle up for crystal-clear panoramas of Sapporo’s grid of lights.
Moerenuma Park
DesignSculptural park designed by Isamu Noguchi
A vast art-park of geometric hills, glass pyramids, and water features, Moerenuma blends landscape and sculpture. Cyclists and picnickers flock here in summer; in winter, it becomes a serene snowscape.
Former Hokkaido Government Office
ArchitectureAkarenga red-brick landmark with gardens
Nicknamed Akarenga, this 1888 neo-Baroque building symbolizes Hokkaido’s early development era. Stroll its small ponds and seasonal flowerbeds; inside you’ll find exhibits about Hokkaido’s history.
Explore Sapporo's Unique Districts
From Odori’s parks and shopping to neon Susukino and tranquil Maruyama, each area shows a different face of the city.
Odori / Chuo
Central business & shopping around Odori Park
Home to the TV Tower, underground shopping arcades, and seasonal festivals. It’s walkable, transit-rich, and a great base for first-timers.
Susukino
Neon nightlife, ramen alleys, and entertainment
From classic izakaya to craft cocktails, Susukino buzzes late. Don’t miss miso ramen, seafood bowls, and winter’s ice-sculpture street.
Maruyama / Hokkaido Shrine
Wooded park, zoo, and a major Shinto shrine
Maruyama Park’s forested paths lead to Hokkaido Shrine. Come for spring cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, and a calm escape from downtown.
Moerenuma
Design-forward parkland northeast of center
Noguchi’s sculptural landscape offers cycling routes, open lawns, and striking geometry — a must for architecture and design fans.
Sapporo's Historic Spots & Shrines
Sapporo’s youthful cityscape still keeps treasures from the pioneering Meiji era alongside revered Shinto traditions.
Hokkaido Shrine
Shinto shrine honoring Hokkaido’s protective deities
A centerpiece of local life with seasonal festivals (matsuri), plum and cherry blossoms in spring, and solemn snowscapes in winter.
Sapporo Clock Tower
Symbol of Sapporo with 1881 wooden architecture
Built as a drill hall for the Sapporo Agricultural College, its bell still chimes the hour — a charming slice of early Sapporo.
Former Hokkaido Government Office (Akarenga)
Red-brick seat of Meiji-era administration
Neo-Baroque architecture, archives, and gardens reflect Hokkaido’s pioneering history and Western influences.
Sapporo Beer Museum
Japan’s only beer museum in historic brewery
Exhibits and tastings trace brewing from Meiji origins to today; pair with a jingisukan feast at the adjacent Beer Garden.
How to Get Around Sapporo
Efficient subways, a handy streetcar, and walkable avenues make Sapporo easy — even in snowy season with its underground walks.
IC Cards
Use Kitaca (JR Hokkaido), Suica, or Pasmo across subways, JR lines, and streetcars.
Subway & Streetcar
Three subway lines (Namboku, Tozai, Toho) + a loop streetcar cover most sights with frequent service.
Walking & Underground
Winter? Navigate via underground promenades (Aurora Town / Pole Town) between Odori, Susukino, and Sapporo Station.
Winter Gear
Ice grips and waterproof boots help on packed snow. Allow buffer time for weather.
Day Trips
JR Rapid to Otaru ~35–45 min for canals and seafood; Teine or Kokusai for skiing.
Cycling (Summer)
Rentals appear around Odori/Moerenuma; paths are pleasant in warmer months.
From the Airport
JR Rapid from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo Station ~37–45 min; limo buses serve major hotels.
Apps
Use Google Maps and Navitime for live platforms, delays, and weather-friendly routing.