Outdoors · Sapporo · Japan
7 best outdoor things to do in Sapporo
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Odori Park, Hokkaido Shrine and Sapporo Maruyama Zoo. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 11–14 hours across 6 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 11–14 hours
- Areas
- Odori, Maruyama and Higashi-ku
Outdoors in Sapporo
Park · Odori
1.Odori Park
Walk the length of the park from the TV Tower westwards; the Snow Festival sculptures are best seen after dark when they are lit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- After dark
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Religious site · Maruyama
2.Hokkaido Shrine
Walk from Maruyama-Koen station through the park and continue to the zoo or the Mount Maruyama trail.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
Zoo · Maruyama
3.Sapporo Maruyama Zoo
Visit the polar-bear building first thing, when the bears are usually most active.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
Park · Higashi-ku
4.Moerenuma Park
Rent a bicycle at the park entrance in summer; the grounds are large, and the walk to the top of Mount Moere gives views over the city.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Architecture
- Kids
- Outdoors
Park · Sapporo Station area
5.Hokkaido University campus
Visit in autumn for the ginkgo trees, and eat lunch at one of the campus cafeterias, which are open to the public.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Photo spot
Gallery · Minami-ku
6.Sapporo Art Park
Visit between late spring and autumn, when the sculpture garden paths are clear of snow and the woods are green.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Viewpoint · Toyohira-ku
7.Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill
Go in June and July when the lavender is out and sheep graze the slopes.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Odori | Odori Park | 1 hour |
| Maruyama | Hokkaido Shrine and Sapporo Maruyama Zoo | 1 hour + 2–3 hours |
| Higashi-ku | Moerenuma Park | Half a day |
| Sapporo Station area | Hokkaido University campus | 1–2 hours |
| Minami-ku | Sapporo Art Park | 2 hours |
| Toyohira-ku | Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 4 free, 3 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Moerenuma Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Odori and Maruyama): Odori Park → Hokkaido Shrine → Sapporo Maruyama Zoo, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Higashi-ku): Moerenuma Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Sapporo Station area, Minami-ku and Toyohira-ku): Hokkaido University campus → Sapporo Art Park → Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill, at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- June: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 7 rainy days, moderate crowds. Fresh, mostly dry and green — a good month while much of Japan is in the rainy season.
- July: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 8 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm and pleasant, with lavender in bloom around Furano and beer gardens open in Odori Park from late in the month.
- August: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 9 rainy days, busy crowds. The warmest month, comfortably mild compared with Honshu; Obon holidays in mid-August bring Japanese visitors.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Sapporo Station area — Transport hub with JR Tower, department stores and direct trains to New Chitose Airport
- Odori — Central park strip, TV Tower and the Snow Festival's main site
- Maruyama — Leafy west side with Hokkaido Shrine, the zoo and independent cafés
More of Sapporo
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Sapporo?
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.
+Which of these are free in Sapporo?
Odori Park, Hokkaido Shrine, Moerenuma Park and Hokkaido University campus.