Vibrant City Life and Nature! 12 Exciting Destinations in Sapporo
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Sapporo is the largest city north of Tokyo and the ideal destination for those who love both the outdoors and a vibrant urban atmosphere. We introduce ski resorts with great views of the city, parks, cultural facilities that offer a fusion of art and nature, and the latest food culture trends.
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Tokyo, Japan
Sapporo, a City Embraced by Nature
Photo by Pixta
Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido, is the largest city north of Tokyo. Best known for Sapporo beer and the annual Sapporo Snow Festival that showcases impressive snow sculptures that measure over than 10 meters in height, this city is full of and surrounded by rich nature. The great outdoors can be reached in just a few minutes from the heart of the city.
In fact, there are six ski resorts around Sapporo, a legacy of the 1972 Winter Olympics that were hosted here. You could say that Sapporo is an urban snow resort - nowhere else in the world are the ski slopes so close to the center of the city.
We introduce 12 places in Sapporo where you can enjoy both urban life and nature.
Sapporo in Winter: Snow, City Lights, and Urban Ski Resorts
The greatest charm of Sapporo in winter is that you have all the excitement of ski slopes and snow adventures right in the city. After a day spent skiing or snowboarding on the hills, you can get out in the city for shopping, a drink at a stylish bar, or to a live event.
The city sees heavy snowfall every year, which makes events like the Sapporo Snow Festival possible. The following are three highlights that shouldn't be missed if you visit Sapporo in winter.
1. SAPPORO TEINE Ski Resort
Picture courtesy of SAPPORO TEINE
SAPPORO TEINE is located 15 km away from central Sapporo on Mt. Teine (1,023 m). The mountain summit offers a breathtaking panorama of Sapporo City, the Sea of Japan, the Mashike peaks on the western coast of Hokkaido, and even the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range. This location was the venue of the 1972 Winter Olympic Games and has hosted many other alpine skiing events ever since.
Skiing on powder snow. Picture courtesy of SAPPORO TEINE
SAPPORO TEINE has a total of 15 trails located in two areas that are interconnected: the Highland Zone that encompasses the mountaintop, and the Olympia Zone, located toward the foot of the mountain. 35% of the trails are beginner level, 40% are intermediate level, and 25% of the trails are for advanced skiers.
Night skiing with Sapporo city view. Picture courtesy of SAPPORO TEINE
Three of the trails in the Olympia Zone are available for night skiing, offering amazing views of Sapporo's city lights from the slopes.
SAPPORO TEINE is loved for its excellent powder snow, for its good balance of steep slopes and gentle trails, as well as for its modern lifts. It's one of the best places to enjoy Hokkaido's powder snow while staying in Sapporo.
2. Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Resort
Picture courtesy of Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Resort
Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Resort is the closest ski area from central Sapporo, accessible in about 30 minutes by car from Sapporo Station. What sets this resort apart from others is that its slopes are exclusively for skiers.
Picture courtesy of Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Resort
The facility has ten trails for all ability levels: one for expert skiers, two for intermediate/advanced levels, three for skiers of intermediate level, and four for beginners. More than half of these trails are also available for night skiing, making Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Resort the favorite destination of those who wish to enjoy the views of Sapporo's cityscape at night.
Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Resort is loved for its family-friendly slopes, where young skiers can learn and practice their skills. If you're traveling with children, then this ski area might be the best choice for a family ski outing in Hokkaido.
3. Sapporo Snow Festival
If you want to see real snow, you don't have to travel far away because, in Sapporo, there are mountains of snow right in the city! Sapporo Snow Festival was born out of the wish to turn snow and ice from something that slows down the pulse of the city into something that is to be enjoyed.
The Sapporo Snow Festival has been held annually since 1950. The festival consists of impressive displays of snow sculptures that are illuminated at night, international snow sculpture competitions, attractions that involve experiencing and enjoying snow, and other exciting events.
Display at the Tsudome venue of the Sapporo Snow Festival's 63rd edition
The main venues are Odori Park in central Sapporo, the Susukino area, and the Sapporo Community Dome Tsudome located in the eastern part of the city.
In addition to viewing the stunning snow sculptures up close, visitors can enjoy taking photos in the surreal festival atmosphere. While the ski resorts around the city give visitors a chance to enjoy snow in the heart of nature, Sapporo Snow Festival is the best way to enjoy ice and snow right in the heart of the city.
If you wish to learn more about the history of this festival, visit the Sapporo Snow Festival Museum located on the Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill. The facility displays photos of past editions, as well as miniatures of some of the most impressive ice structures in the history of the Sapporo Snow Festival.
Sapporo From Spring to Fall: Splendid Seasonal Scenery
Due to Hokkaido's northern location, summers are cooler than in other regions in Japan, making it an excellent travel destination all around the year. Some of the most scenic places are concentrated around Sapporo City.
4. Maruyama Park
Maruyama Park is one of Hokkaido's famous cherry blossom viewing spots. The cherry trees in Hokkaido bloom from late April until early May, which is later than in other areas of Japan.
Cherry trees were first brought to this hilly area located southwest of the city center in the early Meiji period (1868-1912) and planted along the alley that leads to Hokkaido Jingu, a shrine dedicated to the guardian deities of Hokkaido.
Maruyama quickly developed into a prime cherry blossom viewing spot praised for the incredible variety of sakura cherry trees: from Ezo sakura indigenous to Hokkaido to early blooming Yamazakura, and the popular Somei Yoshino variety.
Maruyama Zoo, located within the park, is a popular destination for families with children. With its vast green areas, pristine forest, playgrounds, and sports grounds, Maruyama Park is an excellent destination for recreational activities amid nature.
5. Jozankei Onsen
Picture courtesy of Jozankei Tourist Association
The Jozankei Gorge is often featured as one of the prime places to enjoy the fall foliage near Sapporo. The emerald hues of Toyohira River create a stunning contrast with the fiery reds, brilliant yellows, and evergreen colors of the forest. Nevertheless, the area is stunning all around the year, and no matter how many times you visit, you'll be enjoying a different seasonal scenery.
Picture courtesy of Amuse Sports
Jozankei Onsen is a hot spring resort where visitors can enjoy the blessings of hot spring baths surrounded by splendid nature. In recent years, the area has been gathering attention for the excellent outdoor activities offered by Amuse Sports, which include canoeing, rafting, and stand-up paddleboarding on the Toyohira River.
6. The Hill of the Buddha in Makomanai Takino Cemetery
Picture courtesy of Makomanai Takino Cemetery
The Hill of the Buddha is an impressive monument within Makomanai Takino Cemetery. Designed by famous architect Tadao Ando, the concept of this monument is "to show the whole by showing only a part."
The 13.5 meter Buddha statue is only partly visible from the outside. Surrounded by fragrant lavender blooms in summer, or covered by snow in winter, this monument is simply awe-inspiring.
Picture courtesy of Makomanai Takino Cemetery
In order to reach the Buddha statue, visitors have to walk around a pool of water. This feature can be thought of as a purification ritual before stepping on sacred ground.
Picture courtesy of Makomanai Takino Cemetery
A breathtaking view awaits once you reach the prayer hall: the Buddha statue rising with only the sky in its background.
The Hill of the Buddha is a magnificent collaboration between artistic spirit and nature. Do visit it while in Sapporo.
Savor Sapporo's Local Cuisine! Three Recommended Places
One of the most attractive features of Sapporo is the local food. Because it lies at the heart of nature-rich Hokkaido, you'll find here the best seafood, farm products, and dairy from the regions of the prefecture. The following are three excellent places to start exploring Sapporo's food scene.
7. Nijo Fish Market
Photo by Pixta
Nijo Fish Market, the city's largest market, is the place to go for fresh seafood, vegetables, fruit, and dairy products. The variety of seafood on display is especially overwhelming, with every type of fish, crab, clam, and algae that lives in the waters surrounding Hokkaido. Each shop is specialized in a type of product so take your time to see what's on offer on the day of your visit.
In late autumn and winter, the local seafood is at its most flavorful. Autumn is also the best season for fruit and vegetables; the pumpkin, potatoes, melons, apples, and grapes that are grown locally are highly recommended.
Photo by Pixta
Nijo Fish Market is a great place to shop for souvenirs. Nevertheless, there are plenty of dining facilities in the precincts where you can try local dishes made with fresh ingredients from the market by expert chefs. The kaisendon (rice topped with fresh seafood) dishes are a must-try!
8. Sapporo Beer Garden
Kessel Hall. Picture courtesy of Sapporo Beer Garden
Sapporo Beer Garden is the best place in the city to sample fresh draft beer along with the local specialty Genghis Khan, which consists of mutton and vegetables grilled on a dome-skillet.
The main building, Kaitakushikan, was erected in 1890. Originally a sugar factory, it served as a malting plant and was reopened as Sapporo Beer Garden in 1966. Due to its red brick structure, the building preserves its dignified Meiji-era (1868-1912) allure.
Garden Grill area. Picture courtesy of Sapporo Beer Garden
There are several halls and restaurants within the Sapporo Beer Garden, including the sophisticated Garden Grill area. Those who wish to learn more about the history of Japanese beer breweries can visit the adjacent Sapporo Beer Museum.
9. INITIAL Sapporo: Decadent Fruit Parfaits
Picture courtesy of INITIAL Sapporo
One of the latest trends in Sapporo is enjoying gorgeous parfaits after drinking in the city. This culture goes by the name of shime-parfait, that is "a parfait to close a night of drinking in the city." There are currently hundreds of bars in Sapporo offering parfaits that pair well with alcoholic beverages.
Picture courtesy of INITIAL Sapporo
INITIAL Sapporo, located in the center of the city, is one of the first facilities that introduced the shime-parfait culture in Sapporo. Their aim is to achieve the perfect flavor combination between alcoholic drinks and desserts.
Generous amounts of flavorful fruit, herbs, and soft-serve ice cream made with rich Hokkaido milk are combined to create lavish parfaits. The menu changes very often in order to showcase the fruit that is in season; nevertheless, there are at least ten types of parfaits to choose from at any time. The menu at INITIAL Sapporo includes fruit sandwiches and original cocktails.
Facilities That Offer a Fusion of Nature and Urban Culture
A short trip to the outskirts of Sapporo takes you to the great outdoors with national parks, hot spring resorts, and mountain slopes that become ski resorts in the winter. But there are several places within the city that allow visitors to enjoy nature in a stylish urban environment.
10. Moerenuma Park
Picture courtesy of Moerenuma Park
Moerenuma Park opened in 2005 after 23 years since its construction began. It was constructed based on a design by sculptor Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) who dreamed of making it a park in which "the whole is a single sculpture."
There are several large art pieces that blend in beautifully with the vast park area. In fact, the playgrounds and the facilities are all pieces of art that visitors can interact with.
Picture courtesy of Moerenuma Park
Moerenuma Park is full of seasonal charm, with cherry blossoms in spring and refreshing fountains and water playgrounds in the summer. The fall foliage is also beautiful. In winter, the slopes in the park become trails for skiing and sledding.
Moreover, this facility is also attractive from a nature conservation perspective. In addition to the park being built on the site of a former waste treatment plant, the air-conditioning system in the Glass Pyramid uses the natural, region-specific energy of snow and the outside air.
*The park's opening and closing hours, as well as the area that is open to the public, may change depending on the situation of COVID-19 infections in the city. The facility kindly asks for your understanding.
11. The Royal Park Canvas - Sapporo Odori Park
Cabin Floor Guestroom. Picture courtesy of The Royal Park Canvas - Sapporo Odori Park
The Royal Park Canvas - Sapporo Odori Park is a recently opened hotel located only 15 minutes by foot from Sapporo Station.
Gallery Floor Guestroom. Picture courtesy of The Royal Park Canvas - Sapporo Odori Park
Guests have the chance to experience Hokkaido's nature and culture through all their senses by staying in rooms built with wood that is locally sourced and enjoying dishes made with Hokkaido ingredients at the restaurant.
The lounge. Picture courtesy of The Royal Park Canvas - Sapporo Odori Park
The stylish lounge designed to reflect the natural features of Hokkaido is a great place to relax while chatting with friends and other travelers.
The restaurant menu features dishes made exclusively with locally grown ingredients: vegetables, seafood, meat, and dairy that Hokkaido farmers take pride in. By focusing on local produce for local consumption, the hotel contributes to reducing food mileage, thus keeping the carbon footprint that food has on the environment as low as possible.
The Royal Park Canvas - Sapporo Odori Park is an excellent base for your Sapporo exploration and at the same time a gateway to Hokkaido's culture.
12. Sapporo Art Park
Sapporo Art Museum. Picture courtesy of Sapporo Art Park
Sapporo Art Park is an expansive cultural facility that offers visitors the chance to enjoy art in the heart of nature. There are several facilities in the precincts, including the Sapporo sculpture garden, which has 74 art pieces displayed outdoors, Sapporo Art Museum, and the Craft Hall.
In addition to permanent exhibitions of works by contemporary artists from all around the world, visitors can enjoy special exhibitions, performing art events, as well as workshops that teach arts and crafts.
Way to the Hidden Garden by Dani Karavan. Picture courtesy of Sapporo Art Park
Ever since its opening in 1986, Sapporo Art Park has been an oasis of art and creativity that aims to showcase contemporary culture in harmony with nature. Do come here to refresh your senses through art and nature when visiting Sapporo!
Enjoy Sapporo's Nature in Any Season
For many, Sapporo evokes the image of snow and ice sculptures. However, as introduced above, there are many places in and around the city that make it the ideal travel destination at any time of the year. If you love both the city and the outdoors, then do visit Sapporo.
Main image by Pixta
Sponsored by Sapporo City and Hokkaido District Transport Bureau, MLIT
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Tokyo, Japan
MATCHA's promotional account for corporate and local government advertising. We aim to provide useful information to our readers in an enjoyable manner.
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