Sapporo

Sapporo Snow Festival - さっぽろ雪まつり

The Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri) is the most well-known snow and ice festival in Japan that is held for 1 week in start of February. Every year the event attracts over 2 million visitors from Japan and overseas, and is regarded as one of the top 3 snow festivals in the world (others are Quebec Winter Carnival in Canada, and Harbin Ice Festival in China).

It is held in the central part of Sapporo and Odori Park. There are many ice sculptures, and ice skating rink where families can enjoy.

Ishiya Chocolate Factory / Shiroi Koibito Park - 白い恋人パーク

Shiroi Koibito is a famous chocolate from Japan. Shiroi Koibito Park is a chocolate entertainment theme park with attractions, shops, restaurants and factory.

You can participate in chocolate making courses, view through the factory, kids can ride on mini train and spend time in play zones.

From December to February, the theme park has illumination where colourful lights and project mapping is used to create beautiful atmosphere.

Asahiyama Memorial Park - 旭山記念公園

Asahiyama Memorial Park opened in 1970 to commemorate Sapporo’s 100th anniversary.

In Spring, the park becomes a popular location for locals and travelers for it’s wonderful scenery with the cherry trees blossoming. Asahiyama Park Night Cherry Blossoms Festival is a famous event held in start of May each year.

From the park’s peak which is at 137.5 metres above the sea level, you can enjoy a great panoramic view of Sapporo.

Sapporo Dome - 札幌ドーム

Sapporo Dome is the first dome in the world equipped with a system for switching between turf for baseball and football. It is the home field of the professional baseball team “Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters” and the professional soccer club Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.

The dome has held many international sporting events such as 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2019 World Rugby Cup.

From Sapporo Subway Station, catch Toho line to Fukuzumi Subway Station. It is approximately 10 minutes walk from there to the Dome.

Sapporo Clock Tower - 札幌時計台

Sapporo Clock Tower is an iconic wooden structure located near Odori Park and the Sapporo TV Tower. The clock tower building was built in 1878 as a theatrical hall of the Sapporo Agricultural School. In 1881 a clock purchased from Boston was installed.

Although it’s called a tower, it’s a fairly small building. You can go inside to view the museum-like displays which exhibits about the building’s history and Sapporo city.

Odori Park - 大通公園

Odori Park is located in the central Sapporo. It measures about 1.5km and it is the iconic area of Sapporo. During the urban planning of Sapporo, it was originally designated as the main street but it eventually became a park (Odori means main street and thus this name).

In early February, the park becomes the main site of the Sapporo Snow Festival.

Sapporo TV Tower - さっぽろテレビ塔

The tower was built in 1957 and measures 147.2 metre high (483 ft). Accessible via an elevator inside the tower, the observation deck at a height of 90.38 metres lets you enjoy the 360 degrees view of Sapporo.

After sunset, the TV Tower glows under floodlights and LED lighting. On national holidays and memorial dates, special illuminations are used to mark those special dates.

The tower is located on the ground of Odori Park. There are sourvenir shops and restaurants on the basement and first level of the tower.

Sapporo Beer Museum - サッポロビール博物館

This is the museum of famous Japanese beer brand Sapporo. This is Japan’s only museum dedicated to beer.

There is tasting corner where you can enjoy various brews. The sourvenir shop is very popular for foreign visitors as there are museum exclusive snacks and drinks.

Next to the museum there is Sapporo Beer Garden which consists of few restaurants. You can enjoy the tasty local food and drinks including king crab, sushi, the lamb or mutton dish known as jingisukan (named after the Mongolian warlord) and other delicious food and drinks.

Nijo Ichiba

Nijo Ichiba is an authentic Japanese fish market in Sapporo. You will see many delicious seafood including sea urchins, salmon roes, king crabs, oysters and sashimi. There are many shops in the market so you can buy small amount of variety of tasty seafood and enjoy as you navigate through the market.

There are many seafood restaurants inside and near Nijo Ichiba which offers fresh sushi and sashimi. It is a must visit location if you want to enjoy the real sashimi/sushi of Japan.