Hokkaido

Sights

• Odori Park – A green strip through Sapporo, home to the famous Snow Festival in February.
• Sapporo Clock Tower – A wooden landmark from the city's founding years in the 19th century.
• Mount Moiwa – Ropeway and cable car up to a night view over Sapporo.
• Sapporo Beer Museum – A red-brick building about Japan's oldest beer brand, with tastings.
• Hokkaido Shrine – A Shinto shrine in Maruyama Park, with cherry blossoms in spring.
• Susukino – The nightlife district with neon signs, bars and ramen alleys.

Food & nightlife

• Miso ramen – Sapporo's speciality: a rich miso broth, often with butter and corn.
• Jingisukan – Lamb grilled at the table on a domed pan.
• Seafood – Crab, sea urchin and salmon roe – fresh at the Nijo or Jogai markets.
• Soup Curry – A spicy curry soup with chunky vegetables – a Sapporo invention.

Day trips

• Otaru – A canal lined with old warehouses, glass workshops and music boxes.
• Niseko – Famous for its dry powder snow in winter.
• Furano and Biei – Lavender fields in July and gently rolling hills.
• Noboribetsu – A hot spring town with the steaming «Hell Valley».

Good to know

When to go

January–February, June–September

Getting around

From Tokyo usually by plane to New Chitose, then by train to Sapporo; in the city use metro and tram, and a hire car or JR trains for the countryside.

Tipping

Tipping is not customary.

Power

Plug type A/B, 100 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.

Currency

Japanese Yen (JPY)

Plan your trip to Hokkaido together

Create a trip plan and the Travel Guide comes with it – with a map, ideas to suggest and saved for offline use.

Plan with Pickeed

More in Japan

• Tokyo
• Kyoto
• Osaka
• Hiroshima