Solo travel · Sapporo · Japan
Solo travel in Sapporo
How to enjoy Sapporo at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AlphaBetaGamma, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Sapporo is an easy city to explore alone: counter ramen shops and izakaya suit solo diners, hotels are good value away from festival dates, and the subway and walkways keep navigation simple. Many solo travellers base themselves in Susukino.
Key facts
- Base
- Susukino
- Getting around
- Metro
- Emergency number
- 110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance)
- Language
- Japanese
Solo travel tips
- Sit at the counter in ramen shops and small izakaya, where eating alone is completely normal.
- Susukino and Nakajima Park have good-value business hotels and hostels.
- Join a ski or snowshoe day tour from the city if you don't want to arrange gear yourself.
- Download offline maps; the grid makes it easy, but addresses use North/West block numbers.
- In winter, carry spare gloves and shoe spikes; falls on ice are the most common minor injury.
Where to stay
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Susukino
Susukino is one of Japan's largest entertainment districts north of Tokyo: blocks of izakaya, crab restaurants, karaoke and bars, plus the narrow Ganso Ramen Yokocho alley. It is also good value for hotels and sits on the Namboku line, one stop from Odori. The covered Tanukikoji arcade runs just to the north.
- Good
- Late-night food everywhere; Good-value hotels; Snow Festival ice sculptures in February
- Watch out
- Noisy and busy late at night; Some streets have hostess bars and touts
- Nearby
- Ganso Ramen Yokocho, Tanukikoji, Nakajima Park
Great on your own
Viewpoint · Odori
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.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- After dark
- Iconic
Historic site · Sapporo Station area
Sapporo Clock Tower
It takes only a few minutes from the outside; the best photo is from the raised viewing spot across the street.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Iconic
Viewpoint · Minami-ku
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.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- After dark
- Couples
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Museum · Higashi-ku
Sapporo Beer Museum
Book dinner at the beer garden next door and try Sapporo Classic, a lager sold only in Hokkaido.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Rainy day
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Religious site · Maruyama
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
Park · Higashi-ku
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
Meeting people
- Market breakfast — Start the day with a kaisendon at Nijo Market or the outer market of the Central Wholesale Market, where counter restaurants serve the morning's crab and sea urchin.
- Beer garden Genghis Khan — The Sapporo Beer Garden's brick halls serve grilled lamb with draught beer, often as an all-you-can-eat-and-drink set; book ahead on weekends.
- Susukino — Multi-storey buildings full of tiny bars, izakaya and karaoke around the Susukino crossing, open late into the night.
- Tanukikoji and Odori — Quieter craft-beer bars, whisky bars and izakaya between Odori and Susukino.
Sensible precautions
Sapporo has low crime. The main hazards are winter ice and snow falling from roofs, so wear shoes with grip and watch for signs warning of roof snow. Bears occasionally appear in forested hills on the city's edge; check local warnings before hiking.
- Emergency number
- 110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance)
- Staying connected
- Free Wi-Fi is available in many stations, malls and the underground walkways; SIM cards, eSIMs and pocket Wi-Fi are sold at New Chitose Airport.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Sapporo good for solo travellers?
Sapporo is an easy city to explore alone: counter ramen shops and izakaya suit solo diners, hotels are good value away from festival dates, and the subway and walkways keep navigation simple.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Sapporo?
Susukino: Neon-lit eating and drinking district with Ramen Yokocho and thousands of bars.