There are many famous tourist attractions in Sapporo that you can walk to, so you can feel the city of Sapporo even if you don't have much time. If you visit Sapporo between spring and autumn, it might be fun to go around the city by rental-cycle. From November, Hokkaido is getting severely cold, so it's better to use subways and walk around in underground passages as much as possible in winter.
The former Hokkaido Government Office Building
The former Hokkaido Government Office Building, which was built in 1890 and is made of American neo-baroque brick with a dome, was designated as a national important cultural property in 1969 and is known as the "Red Brick Government Building." The renovation work started in October 2019, so please check the official site for details. It takes a 10-minutes walk from Sapporo station.
Sapporo Clock Tower
Sapporo clock tower is a famous tourist attraction in Sapporo and has been designated as a national important cultural property. Sapporo clock tower is the oldest in Japan and is still telling people the time. It takes a 10-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station, and the Sapporo Grand Hotel is nearby. You can see the exterior of this clock tower 24 hours a day.
Odori Park
Hokkaido University Ginkgo Trees Street
Shiroi-Koibito Park
"Shiroi Koibito" (White Lover) has long been known as one of Hokkaido's famous confectioneries. You can experience factory tour and confectionery making at "Shiroi Koibito" Park. It's a bit far from the center of Sapporo, but you can get there by subway, so it's one of the places you can go without driving.
There is also a training facility for the professional soccer team "Consadole Sapporo" in this "Shiroi Koibito" Park.
Address: 2-2-11-36 Miyanosawa, Nishi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Hours: 10:00am - 5:00pmAdmission: Adult 1500 yen, Child 1200 yen
Directions:
From the Susukino area: Take the Tozai Line to "Ōdōri Station" and get off at "Miyanosawa Station" and walk for about 10 minutes.
From around Sapporo Station: Take the Namboku Line to "Ōdōri Station" and transfer to the Tozai Line to "Miyanosawa Station". It takes about 30 minutes from the Susukino area include walk time.
Sapporo Beer Museum
Sapporo Beer Museum is the only beer museum in Japan.
You can see the history of beer making displayed in the historic brick building built-in 1890. The museum offers free self-guided tours and premium tours(500yen), including a guided tour by staff and two types of beer tasting. After both tours, you can enjoy the taste of beer in Star Hall. Soft drinks are also available.
Price:
Sapporo Beer Black Label: 300 yen, Classic "Hokkaido limited edition": 300yen, Pioneer Beer (recreation of original brew): 350yen, Beer tasting with all three beers: 800yen
*Star Hall has a 30-minute time limit for tasting.
*Audio guide is available in English and Korean for the Premium Tour (additional 500 yen).
*There is no brewery inside the museum.
Address: Kita 7-jo, Higashi 9-chome 1-1, Higashi-Ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido Hours: 11:00AM - 6:00PM, Holidays: Every Monday (or on Tuesday if Monday is a holiday), New Year's Eve/New Year, irregular closings
Phone: +81-11-748-1876
Directions:
10 minutes walk from Higashi-Kuyakusho-Mae Station on the Toho Subway Line.It's about 5 minutes by taxi and about 20 minutes by walk from Sapporo Station.
Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium
The Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium was one of the competition venues for the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympic Games. You can go all the way to the top of the ski jump platform, and from the observatory, you can get a spectacular view of the city of Sapporo.it is one of the places that sports fans should visit along with the museum. The museum offers interactive exhibits about the history of the Winter Olympics, as well as virtual experiences of various Winter Olympics events, etc...
Sapporo Dome Stadium Tours & Observatory
The home of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, to which current major leaguer Yu Darvish and Shohei Otani belonged. Inside the dome, there is an observation deck that overlooks the stadium from the height of the ceiling, as well as a panoramic view of Sapporo City. It is one of the "Must Go" places in Sapporo for sports fans.
More details about the stadium tours
Address: 1 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido,
Hours: Please check on the official website
Prices:
- Hovering Tour: 1050 yen includes a guided tour + observatory
- Dome Stadium Tour (only): Adult: 1050 yen, Child: 550 yen
- Dome Stadium Tour with the observatory: Adult: 1250 yen, Child: 700 yen
- Observatory: Adult: 520 yen, Child: 320 yen
*Prices are subject to change without notice.
Directions:
Take the subway Tobo line to Fukuzumi Station. Exit #3 and walk about 10 minutes to the Sapporo Dome.
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill / Statue of Dr. Clark
"Boys, Be Ambitious." The statue of Dr. Clark on the Hitsujigaoka Observatory is one of Sapporo's famous tourist attractions. You can come here by bus from Fukuzumi station which is the nearest station to Sapporo Dome. Honestly, only this statue of Dr. Clark is the highlight of this place, so it might be best to visit before the night game at Sapporo Dome but please check the bus timetable.
From Sapporo Station or Susukino area, take the Tobo Subway Line to Fukuzumi Station (End station) in about 15 minutes. Then take the local bus bound for "Hitsujigaoka Observatory" (Bus Stop #4 at Bus Terminal) and it will take you there about 10 minutes.
Night Views in Sapporo
JR Tower Observatory T38
The JR Tower is a commercial complex with shops and restaurants etc., and directly connected to JR/Subway Sapporo Station. The observation deck on the 38th floor offers a panoramic city view of Sapporo at 360 degrees.
Reception: JR Tower East 6th floor.
Address: 2-5 Kita gojo-nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Observatory Hours: 10:00am - 9:00pm (Last entry 8:30pm)
Admission: 740 yen
Sapporo TV Tower
The Sapporo TV Tower is located in Odori Park's 1-chome( 1st block), and you can see 1.5 kilometers of Odori Park during the day. Compared to the JR Tower Observatory, the tower's height is low, but the night view is also beautiful.
Address: 1 chome Odori-Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Hours: Observatory 10:00am - 8:00pm *Please check on the official website
Admission: Adult 800 yen, Child 400 yen
Directions:
15 minutes walk from Sapporo Station. The Sapporo Municipal Subway Odori Station (Tobo Line) is just outside Exit 27. Let's use the subway in the cold wintertime.
Mt. Moiwa Ropeway
Take the ropeway and mini-cable car to the observatory at the top of Mount Moiwa, where you can enjoy a spectacular night view of Sapporo. It is cold at night regardless of the season and super cold in winter.
Address: 5-3-7 Fushimi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Hours: Please check on the official website
Website: https://mt-moiwa.jp/
Admission: Ropeway & Cable car/ Adult 1800 yen, Child 900 yen
Directions:
From the Susukino area you can take a streetcar, and the number of stations to "Ropeway Entrance Station" is almost the same whether you take the inner loop or outer loop, so don't have to worry about it. When you arrive at the Ropeway Entrance station, there is a free shuttle bus that you can get to the Ropeway Station. The fare for the streetcar is 200 yen.
