3 days in Sapporo

Day by day

1. Day 1: Odori Park and Sapporo TV Tower

   Odori Park, Sapporo TV Tower and Nijo Market, then Mount Moiwa Ropeway in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Odori Park

      This 1.5 km strip of lawns, flowerbeds and fountains runs east–west through the city centre and hosts Sapporo's main events: snow sculptures in February, the lilac festival in May, beer gardens in summer and the Autumn Fest food festival in September.

   2. Late morning

      Sapporo TV Tower

      Go up in the early evening during the Snow Festival or the White Illumination for the view of the lit park below.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Miso ramen

      Ganso Ramen Yokocho in Susukino and neighbourhood ramen shops across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Nijo Market

      A compact block of fishmongers and small restaurants a few minutes from Odori Park selling Hokkaido crab, scallops, sea urchin and salmon roe.

   5. Evening

      Mount Moiwa Ropeway

      Take the streetcar loop line to Ropeway-iriguchi and the free shuttle to the base station, then time your ride for sunset to see the city lights come on.

2. Day 2: Sapporo Clock Tower and Hokkaido University campus

   Sapporo Clock Tower, Hokkaido University campus and Sapporo Beer Museum, then Ganso Ramen Yokocho in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sapporo Clock Tower

      It takes only a few minutes from the outside; the best photo is from the raised viewing spot across the street.

   2. Late morning

      Hokkaido University campus

      Just north-west of Sapporo Station, the university's large campus is open to walkers, with lawns, red-brick buildings, a bust of founding teacher William S.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Genghis Khan

      The Sapporo Beer Garden halls and small specialist counters in Susukino.

   4. Afternoon

      Sapporo Beer Museum

      Book dinner at the beer garden next door and try Sapporo Classic, a lager sold only in Hokkaido.

   5. Evening

      Ganso Ramen Yokocho

      Come early in the evening to avoid queues, and pay at the ticket machine or counter as each shop directs.

3. Day 3: Hokkaido Shrine and Sapporo Maruyama Zoo

   Hokkaido Shrine, Sapporo Maruyama Zoo and Moerenuma Park, then Susukino in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hokkaido Shrine

      Hokkaido's main Shinto shrine stands in the old forest of Maruyama Park, founded in 1869 to protect the island's settlement.

   2. Late morning

      Sapporo Maruyama Zoo

      Visit the polar-bear building first thing, when the bears are usually most active.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Soup curry

      Specialist soup-curry restaurants throughout the centre, many with vegetable versions.

   4. Afternoon

      Moerenuma Park

      Sculptor Isamu Noguchi designed this park on a former landfill as one huge artwork, with the Glass Pyramid, the man-made Mount Moere, a sea fountain and geometric play equipment.

   5. Evening

      Susukino

      Multi-storey buildings full of tiny bars, izakaya and karaoke around the Susukino crossing, open late into the night.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Shiroi Koibito Park (Nishi-ku): Reserve a slot for the biscuit-making workshop if you are travelling with children; it fills at weekends and in holidays.
• Swap in Tanukikoji Shopping Street (Susukino): Use it as your covered route between Odori and Susukino on snowy evenings.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Sapporo Station area keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Odori ($$$) suits first-timers, couples and shopping. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–18 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9 hours in December to 15.3 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Sapporo
• 2 days in Sapporo
• 5 days in Sapporo

Questions travellers ask