Sapporo From Morning to Night: A One-Day Itinerary

Enjoy a Day in Sapporo

The capital city of Hokkaido, Sapporo has both small town charm, great natural landscapes, and big city entertainment.

You can easily spend a full day here taking in the sights, enjoying some fun cultural hotspots, and of course, dining on delicious fresh seafood.

Early Morning: Check Out the Nijo Fish Market

Sapporo is the place to go if you are looking for fresh seafood. Freshly caught crabs, scallops, fish, and of course all the seafood cuisine you could ask for line the stalls of the many markets spread out across the city.

Two of the most popular are the Nijo Market, which opened during the Edo period, and the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market's Jogai Market, which is full of great shops selling unique Sapporo-only seafood dishes.

While having fresh seafood for breakfast might not be the norm overseas, this is probably the best time of day to find the freshest catches of the day.

Mid-Morning in Sapporo: Strolling Through the Downtown

Central Sapporo in the area around Odori Park is where you'll find some of the most interesting buildings and structures in the city.

First up is the Clock Tower, an Important Cultural Property that was established in 1876 at what was once the Agricultural School Hall, but is now part of Hokkaido University. This clock chimes every hour on the hour, and at night, is beautifully illuminated all year long.

Next, is the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building. Also known as the Red Brick Government building, this is where the seat of the government of Hokkaido prefecture was housed for over 80 years.

Built in 1888, it was designed using the then popular American Neo-Baroque architectural style, and still features Meiji period distorted glass, and other measures to protect the building from the harsh Hokkaido winters.

Found at the starting point of Odori Park, the Sapporo TV Tower was built in 1956 and has come to symbolize the city itself.

From the 90-meter-high observatory, you can overlook the entire city, and on a clear day, see all the way to the Sea of Japan.

Lunch: Enjoy Vegan-Friendly Cuisine

Hokkaido is not just famous for its seafood - it's also home to some of the largest farms and ranches in the country, producing plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Thanks to these farms, Sapporo is also full of vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants.

Found in the Susukino area, Natural & Raw Food LOHAS is a cafe restaurant that offers vegan, vegetarian and Halal dishes made with local vegetables.

Or, if you're near Sapporo Station, you can try the Scandinavian-Japanese dishes available at OFF-GRID Café Physical, which is a vegan establishment that focuses on organic and macrobiotic food.

There are plenty of other great restaurants to choose from in Sapporo, so if those don't catch your eye, you're sure to find one while walking down the street.

Afternoon: Visit a Park and Enjoy Sapporo's Nature and Culture Combined!

Part of Sapporo's charm is its close connection to nature and great cultural landscape, which can best be enjoyed in one of their many parks.

Shiroi Koibito Park is a factory and park where one of Hokkaido's most famous souvenirs is made. This park has both outdoor and indoor activities to enjoy, and is a popular place for families to visit in the city.

Moerenuma Park is located about 35 minutes from the city of Sapporo, and was built based on the designs of Isamu Noguchi, a noted Japanese-American artist and landscape architect who was behind works located around the world, especially in Japan.

In this photo, you can see the glass pyramid called Hidamari, which opened in 2003 and is one of the first sights you'll see in the park.

The Sapporo Geijutsu no Mori, or Sapporo Art Park, is an outdoor art installation where 74 works by 64 artists are on permanent display.

In the above photo, you can see the piece entitled Isu ni Natte Yasumou (Let's Become a Chair and Rest) by Shigeo Fukuda, a Japanese sculptor, graphic artist and poster designer who created optical illusions.

Or, if you'll be traveling in Sapporo during the months of July to August, then a trip to the Horomitouge Lavender Garden is strongly recommended.

While Furano, a city two hours away from Sapporo, is renowned for its lavender fields, those on a tight schedule should probably check out this park instead. You can also enjoy views of the city from these lavender-covered hills as well.

Dinner: You've Gotta Try Sapporo Ramen!

You can't visit Sapporo and not try ramen - that would be a total waste! Sapporo is also known as the ramen capital of Japan, and as such, there are ramen shops almost everywhere you look in the city.

If you're in the Susukino area, then paying a visit to the Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho is a good idea.

A yokocho is a narrow street filled with tiny restaurants that have their own specialties. Each shop has its own specialty, secret ingredients, and other traits that make them unique, so walking down the streets and seeing just what shop catches your eye is probably the best way to find the right ramen for you.

If you are flying into or from Hokkaido, you might want to check out the Hokkaido Ramen Dojo in New Chitose Airport.

Enjoy Your Time in Sapporo!

Sapporo is a city that any visitor to Japan will enjoy, and is a popular destination all year round. Just be careful - winters in Hokkaido are quite severe, so if you are going to visit from November to April, you should really keep an eye on the weather forecast and pack accordingly!