Unique Things To Do In Sapporo Japan

An Overview of Sapporo

Sapporo is the capital of Japan’s mountainous island of Hokkaidō. The northern city is notorious for it’s popular beer, recreational skiing, annual Sapporo Snow Festival with gigantic ice sculptures and beautiful natural surroundings. Sapporo held the 1972 Winter Olympics and vestiges of the event are scattered around the city’s center. With a vibrant nightlight, wonderful artistic experiences and excullent cuisine, there are many unique things to do in Sapporo Japan.

Unique Things To Do In Sapporo Japan

The Sapporo Snow Festival

This is a massive festival held annually for seven days each February. The festival, which showcases huge snow castles, amazing ice sculptures, backlit ice towers and impressive winter-based activities, takes place in Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome. The festival is one of the most popular and unique things to do in Sapporo.

Odori Park

This is a large park located in the heart of Sapporo. The park is known to be one of the most central and accessible sites for Sapporo’s amazing Snow Festival in February.

Sapporo Beer Museum

This excellent museum located in Sapporo Garden Park is registered as one of the Hokkaidō Heritage sites. The beer museum offers samples of Sapporo Beer products, one of the most popular beer brands in Japan.

Mount Moiwa

Mount Moiwa is a large mountain situated to the southwest of Sapporo. The mountain can be accessed by taking up hiking trails, or following a motorway pass. Alternatively, there’s a ropeway which allows easy access to the top of the mountain. The mountain is known for its ski resort in the winter and its large observation deck which offers excellent views of Sapporo, especially at night.

Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade

This is a long-standing, popular covered shopping street which wanders for seven blocks. It’s an excellent place to seek out goods, souvenirs and local shops. The arcade is conveniently linked to the underground shopping malls of the area.

Sapporo Art Park

This is a large, forested green space serving as a creative space for outdoor, modern art installations.

Hokkaido Shrine

This is a popular Shinto Shrine, found in Maruyama Park.

Tour Ishiya Chocolate Factory

Linked to Shiroikoibito Park, this chocolate factory sells specially-made chocolate cookies, created by the choclate company Ishiya.

Asahiyama Memorial Park

This is an excellent memorial park which offers incredible views overlooking Sapporo and the Sea of Japan beyond the city.

Hokkaido Pioneer Village

This Historical Village of Hokkaidō is an open-air traditional structures museum dedicated to Japan’s unique pioneering age foraying into its northern island. The museum is well-made, quaint and quite pretty. Visitors can reach the museum by taking a JR train to Shinrinkoen Station before catching a 10-minute bus ride to the village.

Nijo Ichiba

Nijo Market is a public market known for its local produce, seafood options, crab, salmon eggs and fresh fish. The market is open from roughly 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM most days of the week, though individual stalls set their own hours. There are several drinking shops and small restaurants in a nearby, narrow corridor known as Noren Yokocho.

Moerenuma Park

This is a unique municipal park with playgrounds, outdoor sports fields and artistic objects created by Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi.

Famous Ice Cream

The most notable ice cream found in Sapporo is fondly known as the Hokkaidō soft-serve ice cream (or soft cream, in Japan). The excellent treat is made from fresh milk, usually done in the original, traditional vanilla flavor.

Sapporo Clock Tower

This is a low wooden structure and a popular tourist attraction. As one of the oldest clock towers in Japan, the landmark is known for its quaint beauty.

Jozankei Scenic Town Onsen

Located near Sapporo, Jozankei is known for it’s beautiful natural settings and its famous hot spring Onsen. Those visiting from Sapporo can reach the town by using a personal vehicle or a shuttle bus. The Kappa Liner Bus reaches Jozankei Onsen from Sapporo, Odori, and Susukino stations 13 times a day. Note that reservations are required to visit the Onsen.

Kushiro Marshland

Found far to the East of Sapporo, this day trip leads to a series of nature museums and boardwalk trails in Kushiro Shitsugen National Park. The National Park was established to preserve the regions wetlands and visitors can often spot the elegant forms of Japanese cranes. The red-crowned cranes are most easily spotted in Tsurui Village, which literately translates to “the village where the cranes are.”

Lake Mashu

Lake Mashu is one of Japan’s most beautiful lakes, deep in an ancient forest often blanketed by clouds.  This is among the clearest lakes on the planet, serenely encased in the caldera of a potentially active volcano. The lake is the centerpiece of Akan Mashu National Park.

Shimamui Coast Drive

The Shimamui Coast Route is a gorgeous, cliff-hugging scenic drive near the ocean. The drive leads to a beautiful rocky beach with clear waters and tall, weathered rocks.

Lavender Fields of Furano

This is a popular springtime day-trip from Sapporo. Found near Nakafurano City, this area is home to enormous, rolling fields of flowers, most notably lavender.

Jigokudani (Hell Valley)

This is a natural volcanic park located south of Sapporo. The dramatic crater-land includes muddy steam, broiling cauldrons of heat and earth right next to a famous hot spring resort. Visitors can enjoy steam plumes, sulfuric springs and winding hiking paths.

Footbridge of the Shiretoko

This is a extended, winding footbridge spanning some of Hokkaido’s most impressive wetlands. The bridge is one of the major walking and hiking paths through Shiretoko National Park. The remote peninsula allows visitors to spot drift ice floating in the sea, as well as rare plants and animals native to the region.

Hokkaido University Botanical Gardens

Managed by Hokkaido University, this is one of the most serene gardens of the regions, with numerous cherry blossom trees, standing maples and gorgeous landscapes.

Ainu Village

The Ainu are the indigenous natives found in the lands surrounding the Sea of Okhotsk. The once-prosperous communities now exist in small, protected areas, offering insight into the ancient traditions native to Japan. An Ainu village exists on Hokkaido, with roughly 40 traditional homes. Visitors can learn about the culture, sample the unique cuisine, watch the traditional rituals and observe the heritage homes. Learning about the Ainu is one of the most mysterious and unique things to do in Sapporo.

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