Famous for its winter charms, the capital of Hokkaido is bustling with dynamic energy along its tree-lined streets and generous public spaces.
Hotel Gracery Sapporo
The modern boutique hotel is both easy to find and easy to enjoy. You can never lose your way to the hotel; just ask for the JR Sapporo Station and the hotel will be located right in front of it. The on-site restaurant serves a Japanese and Western buffet breakfast with Japanese sake to complement the fresh seafood for dinner. Each room provides modern comforts including a bathtub, TV and internet connection. Female guests may book a room on the ladies-only floor with special amenities and extra security measures.
sapporo.gracery.com
Fresh Seafood
Sapporo is widely known for having some of the freshest and highest-quality seafood in Japan. From mixed fish rice bowls to sushi and sashimi, it’s a haven for seafood lovers. Specializing in crab dishes, Kanihonke serves à la carte and course menu dishes featuring snow crabs, hairy crabs and king crabs prepared in various ways, from fried to boiled. The seven-story building houses many private rooms and dining areas decorated with traditional Japanese interiors that will leave a strong impression on you.
kani-honke.jp/e
Sapporo Sweets
There are many sweet treats made from fresh local milk and fruits which you can taste only in Hokkaido. Located next to Odori Park, the OdoriBisse shopping center is dedicated to sweets, cafés and restaurants renowned for their pastry and dessert selections. Sapporo Sweets Café, located at the basement of Odori, serves a rotation of sweets every month from pastry shops all around Sapporo and its surrounding area. Make sure to visit to get a taste of new and award-winning creations without having to travel far from the center of the city.
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Shopping Area
There is no end to shopping escapades in Sapporo, both above and below the ground. Tanujikoji is an approximately 1 km-long shopping arcade with around 200 old and new shops selling souvenirs, knickknacks, clothing and much more. In terms of established brands, department stores and high fashion, the Odori area consists of six shopping districts and several streets which occasionally become pedestrian precincts during events. For underground shopping, the spacious Aurora Town and Pole Town offer a variety of shops and never feel overcrowded despite their popularity.
Artistic Experience
Sapporo Art Park is more than an art museum; it’s an art complex that can easily take a whole day to explore, replete with outdoor sculptures, installations, art classes, a music hall and galleries showcasing exhibitions throughout the year. Even if you don’t have the time to take a class, you can watch the activities, such as pottery or glassmaking. With its lush scenery, the place is popular not only among the art society but also the general public. The most notable feature of Sapporo Art Park is the Sculpture Garden, displaying over 70 pieces of art spread all over the forest and its hilly area. Go on an artful hike to eyeball the “You’re My Chair, I’m Yours” by Shigeo Fukuda and the seven-part sculpture “Way to the Hidden Garden” by DaniKaravan, among others. Bring a little something back home from the museum shop, where you can get your hands on goods made by artists such as Yayoi Kusama.
artpark.or.jp
Sapporo Snow Festival
For one week every February, Sapporo becomes a must-visit destination for those who want to see one of Japan’s largest winter events displaying large number of splendid snow and ice sculptures which turn the city into a winter dreamland. The festival is divided into three sites. The main site along the Odoripark boasts large and internationally themed sculptures alongside smaller snow statues with events and concerts which may use the sculptures as their stage. Every year, teams from various countries contribute their sculpture in the International Snow Sculpture Contest. The Susukino site features events such as the Ice Sculpture Contest in which you can vote along with other visitors, while the Tsudome site is more of an experiential site with various activities like snow slides, snowrafting and kids’ attractions.
www.snowfes.com/english
Onsen Experience
Don’t let the chilly weather deter you; “Onsen”, or Japanese traditional bath is actually best enjoyed during the winter to warm your body from the inside. About an hour’s drive from downtown Sapporo are the JozankeiOnsen and HoheikyoOnsen area. The latter is particularly famous for the purity of its onsen water and untouched natural scenery. Baths for men and women are separated and switched regularly so you can try out the different configurations. You are permitted to bring your drink into the outdoor baths, so soak up and sip on an ice-cold Sapporo Beer to unwind.
City Tour
Strolling around pedestrian-friendly Sapporo is a relaxing experience. In the middle of the business district is Odori Park, an oasis where locals and tourists alike gather to simply enjoy the fountains, trees, flower beds and the view of the Sapporo TV Tower on the eastern edge. Nearby, the Sapporo Clock Tower, with its unique wooden architecture, calls with a bell that tolls every hour. Another notable historical building is the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, nicknamed “Red Brick Office” due to its reddish exterior wall. The surrounding park makes it a nice place for a leisurely walk.
Going Uphill
In the middle of Sapporo city is Mountain Moiwa, from whose summit you can see the spectacular panorama of the streets of Sapporo, Ishikari Bay in the Sea of Japan and Shokanbetsu Peak located in Mashike. In the middle of the viewing platform is the “Bell of Happiness” which you can ring while saying a prayer. The trip itself is special. A vintage-like tram takes you to the foot of the mountain where you can take the ropeway halfway up before getting into a cable car that takes you all the way to the peak. During summertime, the five mountain trails are perfectly hike-able.
Winter Activities
There are many sporting opportunities during the season. For a quick slide downhill, the Sapporo Bankei Ski Area is close to the city center and includes both gentle slopes and the FIS certified mogul course. Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort is located near Jozankei area and features seven courses for beginners and advanced skiers, along with a snowboard park and a snow park for sledding and tubing. If you’d prefer to sit back and watch, the Okurayama Jump Stadium offers a dramatic view from the starting point of the jump, 307 meters above sea level.
Photos by: City of Sapporo, Pulung Uci, Cita Arsita Farani
