Hokkaido is situated in the northern part of Japan and is famous for its snowy landscapes, ski resorts, milk products, ice cream etc. In summer you can view the lavender fields, while in winter the whole area is covered in a thick layer of snow, like the icing on a cake. Visiting Hokkaido has always been my dream and now it has finally come true. It has been snowing everyday in Hokkaido and that makes me so happy because it is like a winter wonderland. This is not my first time seeing snow but the scenery is just so pretty.
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| Sapporo TV tower |
Sapporo (札幌) is the capital city in Hokkaido and the fifth largest in Japan. At the beginning of the Meiji Period, Sapporo was chosen as the island’s administrative center and enlarged based on the advice of western powers. Subsequently, Sapporo was developped based on a North American style rectangular street system. This makes it easy to navigate around the city with its coordinate grid system. Sapporo was placed on the world map when it hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1972. Today, the city is well known for its ramen, beer, and the annual snow festival held in February.
Get the Hokkaido rail pass (3 days, 5 days, 7 days consecutive or 4 days flexi), otherwise with your family renting a car to drive around is also convenient.
Sapporo
The following one day passes are available for Sapporo:
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Subway 1-Day Card (830 yen)
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Unlimited use of Sapporo’s three subway lines on one calendar day. Note that a discounted pass is available on weekends (see below).
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Donichi Subway Ticket (520 yen)
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Unlimited use of Sapporo’s three subway lines on one calendar day. To be used on weekends and public holidays only.
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Combination One Day Pass (1000 yen)
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Unlimited use of the subways, trams and buses of JR Hokkaido Bus, Hokkaido Chuo Bus and Jotetsu Bus on one calendar day.
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Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass (1530 yen)
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Unlimited use of JR trains between Sapporo and Otaru and Sapporo’s three subway lines on one calendar day. Note that a round trip Sapporo-Otaru by regular tickets costs 1280 yen alone. Available to foreign tourists only at JR desks in Sapporo Station and Shin-Chitose Airport.
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Explore Odori Park, Chocolate Factory, Museum, Government House and Clock Tower
The development of Sapporo started much later than the rest of Japan and many ideas from around the world have come together to make the city a bit different from the rest of Japan. This outside influence can be seen in Sapporo’s famous Clock Tower that is now a National Important Cultural Property.
Built in 1878 the Clock Tower building was originally built as a drill hall and was used by the Sapporo Agricultural College, The design of the building is reminiscent of American building design from the late 1800s and the clock that was added to the building in 1881 was purchased from Boston.
Today the Clock Tower is one of the most photographed buildings in Sapporo and has become the symbol of Sapporo’s past. The building feature a small museum featuring exhibits of Sapporo’s history and is used for various cultural activities.
Visiting the Sapporo Clock Tower will not take too much time out of your day and it is only a 2 min walk north from Odori Station, admission is 200 yen for adults and children are free. The Clock Tower is open from 8:45 to 17:10 daily but is closed some Mondays.
Sapporo Tanukikoji Shopping Street. There are a lot of shops along the streets, cheap and good, more than Harajuku in Tokyo.
Dining and drinking out
Should you take on our recommendation to visit Chitose, then don’t miss your chance to savour some delectable traditional sweets at Morimoto Honten, a fab little local bakery and a true Chitose institution which still bakes breads, biscuits and desserts the old fashioned way. Morimoto supplies sweets to most of the Sapporo department stores, so you’re bound to come across their divine creations even before you head to Chitose. Although the very colourful sweets on offer may look totally foreign to you, do be bold with your choice! You’re guaranteed to never be disappointed. You’ll find this modest looking bakery on Chiyodacho Street, right in the centre of town.
Address: 2 Chome-18-8 Higashinihonbashi, Chuo, Tokyo 103-0004, Japan
For an authentic night of ramen savouring, head to Ramen Shingen Minami-6joten, a budget noodle house which is a big hit with locals of visitors alike. A steaming bowl of spicy ramen with garlic paste is bound to warm you up on a freezing February day. The waiting line here can seem atrocious at first, but do trust the Japanese efficiency! You’ll be seated and served in no time at all. You’ll find this place just near the Susukino red-light district, so ask your hotel for a detailed map and you should find it with ease.
8 Nishi, Minami-6jo,Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0806 , Hokkaido
Sapporo TV Tower -> JR train to Odori station admission 720 yen
Sapporo Beer museum: The Beer Museum can be accessed by the “Loop 88 Factory Line” bus that stops among other places at Odori Station and in front of Seibu department store near Sapporo Station (departures every 20 minutes, 210 yen per ride). Alternatively, it is a 25 minute walk from JR Sapporo Station or a 15 minute walk from Higashi-kuyakusho-mae Station on the Toho Subway Line. Closed Mondays. Opening 1030-1830. Admission is free. Beer tasting of three kinds of beer ¥500
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| visit to Sapporo beer museum |
Chocolate factory Shiroi Koibito Park: Take the Tozai Subway Line to its western terminus Miyanosawa Station (15 minutes, 280 yen, frequent departures from Odori Station), from where the park can be reached in a ten minute walk. Admission: 600yen. Opening 0900-1800. (not that interesting in my opinion, can skip)
Nijo market was conveniently located next to Tanukikoji Shopping Street. Nijo Market is three blocks south of the TV Tower at Odori Park, and about a five minute walk from Odori Station on the Nanboku, Toho and Tozai Subway Lines. EAT Donburi Chaya, a small shop inside Nijo market spezialising in kaisendon (sashimi rice bowl)
Mount Moiwa: From Susukino, take Sapporo’s only streetcar line to “Ropeway Iriguchi” station (25 minutes, 170 yen, frequent departures). From there, a free shuttle bus operates to the lower ropeway station (5 minutes, departs every 20 minutes). Alternatively, the Mount Moiwa Ropeway can be reached in a five minute walk from the Ropeway Iriguchi streetcar stop. Admission: 1700 yen (roundtrip for ropeway and mini cable car); 1100 yen (roundtrip for ropeway only); 600 yen (roundtrip for mini cable car only)
Okurayama observatory. Around the year, it is possible to reach the ski jump from the Tozai Subway Line’s Maruyama Koen Station (5 minutes, 200 yen, frequent departures from Odori Station) by bus. Take bus line 14 to Okurayama Kyogijo Iriguchi bus stop (10 minutes, 210 yen, 2 buses per hour), from where the ski jump is a ten minute walk uphill. Admission: 500 yen roundtrip chairlift ticket
Eat:
-Sushi zen. Set lunch 1100-1400: Address: DAIMARU Sapporo, 4 Chome-7 Kita 5 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture 060-0005, Japan.
-Aji No Tokedai Ramen @ Pole Town
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| Susukino ramen street which has so many ramen stalls to choose from. One of them has even been visited by Anthony Bourdain. |
