15 Best Things to Do in Sapporo

Odori Park is the centre of the action in Sapporo. This 12-block stretch runs through the city centre and hosts festivals and events year-round. In summer, the park teems with street performers and snack vendors. Winter brings the city’s biggest annual event, the Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival), which draws visitors from around the country for its spectacular snow and ice sculptures. 

Other festivals hosted at the park include the Lilac Festival in May and the Summer Festival, which sees the park transformed into one gigantic beer garden. The Yosakoi Soran festival has gained international attention in recent years: this colourful dance celebration features dance teams facing off in high-energy folk dances.

The Horomitoge Lavender Garden blooms into a spectacular sea of purple that makes for a sublime photo op. The garden boasts over 5,000 vibrant lavender plants, a colourful affair to rival Hokkaido’s more famous fields of Furano.

The gardens are located just outside of the city, and you’ll need to take the train and transfer to a bus to reach it. Although the gardens are open from April until November, you’ll need to time your trip in July to see the lavender in bloom. For a small fee, you can snip a few fragrant flowers to take home as a souvenir.

Maruyama Park is a sprawling green space in the west of Sapporo home to the Hokkaido Shrine, the Maruyama Zoo and several athletic fields all amidst wooded parkland. The park’s paths are lined with magnolia, maple and over 1,500 sakura, making it a hugely popular spot for cherry blossom viewing each May. 

Its magnificent cypress and elm trees make the park particularly stunning in the winter season when the boughs hang heavy with snow. Nestled in this enchanting forest, the Hokkaido Shrine offers a tranquil respite from the city bustle. Pass through the enormous torii gate to visit the main hall, housing 4 Shinto deities, and stop for a cup of tea at the traditional café.

At the time of its construction in 1888, the Old Hokkaido Government Building was the largest and tallest building in Japan. The grand red-brick building built in Neo-Baroque style quickly became a local attraction, as this type of architecture is a rare sighting in the country. The stately architecture and well-manicured gardens make it a lovely backdrop for a photo-op.

The building now contains the Hokkaido Historical Galley, which provides visitors with an introduction to the history and culture of the island and is free to enter. You can also peek into the opulent executive offices of past administrators and governors.

A famed Sapporo natural attraction, this hot spring town is nestled in a canyon inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park. It’s about an hour's trek from the Sapporo city centre but feels much further, with its small-town atmosphere and green mountain surroundings. The steaming springs are a soothing delight year-round, but especially during the chill of winter.

Spend an afternoon at a day spa like Hoheikyo Hot Spring, gazing out at the natural landscape from an open-air bath, or dip your toes in the town’s foot baths. Many of Jozankei’s ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) offer day passes to their private springs. 

Standing tall at the eastern end of Odori Park, the 147-metre-high TV Tower affords views out over the city as far as the distant mountains. It serves double duty as a transportation hub, built over a bus and subway station and a tourist information centre. While nowadays it has competition from the nearby skyscrapers for the best views, this structure built in 1957 retains the nostalgic charm of its era.

Take the elevator up to the observation deck for panoramic views of the city. Visiting in the evenings rewards with a sparkling nightscape as well as the colourful illumination of the tower itself.

Bankei Ski Area is an urban snowsports facility located only 20 minutes from central Sapporo. The purpose-built facility offers fun activities for all ages and skill levels, from absolute beginners to seasoned experts.

The well-equipped centre is home to the largest halfpipe in Japan, as well as shops, restaurants, a daycare centre and a snowpark play area for kids. Equipment and clothing can be rented on-site, a great option if you’re travelling light. Ski and snowboard lessons are available in English, and there's a large wooden fireplace where you can unwind once you've finished working up a sweat.

Otaru Dream Beach is a lively seaside destination filled with bars, restaurants and a buzzing party atmosphere. One of the closest beaches to the city of Sapporo, it is hugely popular with students and a young crowd looking to let their hair down on the weekends.

The sandy beach is lined with bars and izakaya-style restaurants selling fresh-off-the-grill yakitori and seafood dishes. While this beach isn’t known for its natural beauty, the feel-good mood is what keeps people coming back. The beach is accessible by public transport in a little over one hour or 30 minutes by car.

The exhibits of the Hokkaido Museum explore the natural history and historical development of Japan’s northernmost major island. A great blend of education and entertainment, the museum is an especially fitting destination for families visiting Sapporo. 

The main exhibition covers the history of Hokkaido from about 2 million years ago through the present day, divided chronologically into 8 stages. The exhibits covering the Ainu, Hokkaido’s indigenous peoples, and the Early Modern Era (1869–1886) are of particular interest. Educational programmes that can include weaving tapestries or milling with stone mortar are a great way to engage children in the local culture. 

Despite its modest appearance, the Sapporo Clock Tower is considered an important symbol of the city. You will certainly have seen it floating in the city’s shop windows or stamped on tourism pamphlets. Originally built as a martial arts hall for the Agricultural College, now Hokkaido University, the 1878 building boasts the oldest existing clock tower in Japan.

The building now houses a small museum that narrates the early history of Sapporo. On the second floor, visitors can examine the clock’s internal mechanisms. Whether or not you take an interest in its history, the clock tower’s distinct character brings locals strolling past to enjoy its charming façade.

The existence of a place like Shiroi Koibito Park is a surprise and a delight: this small theme park is centred not around beloved characters or thrilling rides, but a popular Sapporo confection. The shiroi koibito cookie is the city’s most-bought souvenir, a lightly sweet cookie sandwich with a white chocolate filling. This park may be the closest we’ll get to Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, and it’s loved by couples and families alike. 

The grounds resemble a charming English neighbourhood with its Tudor houses and rose gardens. Visitors can tour the factory to see how the cookies and chocolate are made and sample other Ishiya treats, some of which are only available at the park. 

A museum dedicated to salmon may not jump to the top of everyone’s list, but rest assured that the Sapporo Salmon Museum is a great destination for families. The museum’s mission is to conserve the salmon popular in the local rivers, and to that end, it educates the community and monitors the ecosystem and salmon populations. 

Visitors will be able to observe salmon in various stages of life in an underground observation room. They’ll also see frogs and other creatures from the river habitat. The museum hosts a variety of educational activities throughout the year to engage children, including releasing baby salmon into the river in the spring.

In 1972 when Sapporo hosted the Winter Olympics, it constructed a giant ski jump on the side of Mount Okura overlooking the city. Today, the ski jump remains as it was as a tourist attraction. Visitors can ride the chair lift to the top of the astoundingly large jump to the Okurayama Observatory, which offers a spectacular view of the city. 

The Ski Jump Stadium is connected by a bus line and otherwise accessible by car. Once you’ve had your fill of the view, visit the adjacent Sapporo Olympic Museum, which is full of memorabilia from the games plus race and bobsled simulators.