Comparison · Kyoto vs Sapporo · Japan
Kyoto vs Sapporo
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nina R from Africa, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Choose Kyoto for Temples and shrines, Fushimi Inari torii gates and a milder winter; choose Sapporo for Sapporo Snow Festival and Miso ramen. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 1,016 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,016 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Kyoto
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Sapporo
- February and June–September
Side by side
| Kyoto | Sapporo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Known for | Temples and shrines, Fushimi Inari torii gates and Geisha district of Gion | Sapporo Snow Festival, Miso ramen and Sapporo Beer |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | February and June–September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$280 | $140–$260 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 34°C (93°F) | August, 26°C (79°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 9°C (48°F) | January, -1°C (30°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | KIX, ITM | CTS, OKD |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Kyoto for…
Temples and shrines, Fushimi Inari torii gates and a milder winter. Japan's imperial capital for more than a thousand years, Kyoto holds most of the 17 temples, shrines and castles of the UNESCO-listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, among them Kinkaku-ji's golden pavilion, Kiyomizu-dera's wooden stage and the thousands…
Choose Sapporo for…
Sapporo Snow Festival and Miso ramen. Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido and Japan's fifth-largest city, was laid out on a grid in the 1870s, so central addresses read like coordinates: Kita 3 Nishi 4 means North 3, West 4. The long ribbon of Odori Park divides the city, with Sapporo Station to…
Top sights compared
| # | Kyoto | Sapporo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fushimi Inari Taisha | Odori Park |
| 2 | Kiyomizu-dera | Sapporo TV Tower |
| 3 | Kinkaku-ji | Sapporo Clock Tower |
| 4 | Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji | Sapporo Beer Museum |
| 5 | Gion and Hanamikoji Street | Nijo Market |
Food compared
| Kyoto | Sapporo |
|---|---|
| Kaiseki | Miso ramen |
| Yudofu | Genghis Khan |
| Yuba | Soup curry |
| Shojin ryori | Seafood rice bowl |
Which is cheaper?
Kyoto and Sapporo cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $150–$280 in Kyoto and $140–$260 in Sapporo (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Sapporo on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,016 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Kyoto or Sapporo cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $150–$280 in Kyoto and $140–$260 in Sapporo (estimates).
+Is Kyoto or Sapporo better for a first trip?
Pick Kyoto for Temples and shrines, Fushimi Inari torii gates and a milder winter, or Sapporo for Sapporo Snow Festival and Miso ramen.
+How far is Kyoto from Sapporo?
About 1,016 km in a straight line.