Comparison · Sapporo vs Tokyo · Japan
Sapporo vs Tokyo
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nryate, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Sapporo for Sapporo Snow Festival, Miso ramen and a short break; choose Tokyo for Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen, beaches and free sights. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 834 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 834 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Sapporo
- February and June–September
- Best time for Tokyo
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Sapporo | Tokyo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Known for | Sapporo Snow Festival, Miso ramen and Sapporo Beer | Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen and Temples and shrines |
| Best time to visit | February and June–September | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $140–$260 | $150–$280 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 26°C (79°F) | August, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, -1°C (30°F) | January, 10°C (50°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 6 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | Yuigahama, Kamakura |
| Airports | CTS, OKD | HND, NRT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Sapporo for…
Sapporo Snow Festival, Miso ramen and a short break. 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…
Choose Tokyo for…
Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen, beaches and free sights. Tokyo is less a single city than a cluster of distinct centres linked by an exceptionally efficient rail network: neon-lit Shinjuku and Shibuya, the department stores of Ginza, the temple quarter of Asakusa, the museums of Ueno and the anime shops of…
Top sights compared
| # | Sapporo | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Odori Park | Senso-ji Temple |
| 2 | Sapporo TV Tower | Meiji Jingu Shrine |
| 3 | Sapporo Clock Tower | Shibuya Crossing |
| 4 | Sapporo Beer Museum | Shibuya Sky |
| 5 | Nijo Market | Tokyo Skytree |
Food compared
| Sapporo | Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Miso ramen | Sushi |
| Genghis Khan | Ramen |
| Soup curry | Tsukemen |
| Seafood rice bowl | Tempura |
Which is cheaper?
Sapporo and Tokyo cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $140–$260 in Sapporo and $150–$280 in Tokyo (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Sapporo on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 834 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 11 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Sapporo or Tokyo cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $140–$260 in Sapporo and $150–$280 in Tokyo (estimates).
+Is Sapporo or Tokyo better for a first trip?
Pick Sapporo for Sapporo Snow Festival, Miso ramen and a short break, or Tokyo for Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen, beaches and free sights.
+How far is Sapporo from Tokyo?
About 834 km in a straight line.