Japan
Sapporo
Hokkaido's grid-planned capital, known for ramen, beer and snow. Stay 3 days. Below: 4 sights, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot, plus how Sapporo fits into a longer trip.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Jul – Aug, Jan – Feb
- Warmest month
- August
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- August
4 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano
from our route notes
26°C / 78°F avg high
-2°C / 28°F avg high
about 160 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Sapporo
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Sapporo across Odori, Chuo and Maruyama. 2 of them are free.
Photo: Nkns · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeOdori Park
Long green strip through downtown, home to the Snow Festival in February.
Tip The Sapporo TV Tower at its east end has a city view deck.
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: S5A-0043 · CC BY 4.0SeeHokkaido Shrine
Main Shinto shrine of Hokkaido, set in forested Maruyama Park.
Tip Cherry blossoms bloom here in early May.
Photo: The original uploader was K. Takeda at Japanese Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeSapporo Beer Museum
Red-brick brewery building with exhibits on Japan's oldest beer brand and a tasting bar.
Tip Paid tasting sets include a historic recipe only sold here.
Do
Hands-on ways to spend time in Sapporo in Minami.
Photo: 北海道振興 · GoogleDoJozankei Onsen
Hot spring town in a forested river gorge an hour from downtown.
Tip Many ryokan sell day-use baths.
Outdoors
Trails, views and open space in and around Sapporo.
Photo: 札幌もいわ山ロープウェイ 山麓駅 · GoogleOutdoorsMount Moiwa Ropeway
Ropeway and mini cable car up to a summit view over the city and bay.
Tip Go up just before sunset and stay for the night view.
Eat
2 places to eat across Chuo and Susukino, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: 서미란 · GoogleEatNijo Market
Downtown seafood market selling crab, sea urchin and kaisendon rice bowls.
Tip Come for breakfast; stalls wind down by afternoon.
Photo: M · GoogleEatGanso Ramen Yokocho
Narrow alley of small ramen counters in Susukino, home of Sapporo miso ramen.
Tip Try butter-corn miso ramen after a night out.
Drink
1 bar or café in Higashi for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: サッポロビール園 · GoogleDrinkSapporo Beer Garden
Brick beer halls next to the museum serving Genghis Khan grilled lamb and fresh beer.
Tip All-you-can-eat-and-drink sets are good value; reserve ahead.
How to fit Sapporo into a trip
Sapporo is stop 1 of 3 on our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route. Follow it as-is or lift Sapporo into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 3
Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano
Ramen, canals and flower fields up north
- Trip length
- 7 days
- Best season
- Jul – Aug, Jan – Feb
- Pace
- easy
- Next: Otaru
Getting here and onward
- Sapporo to OtaruOtaru is about 33 km / 20 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Sapporo month by month
Average daily highs run from -2°C / 28°F in January to 26°C / 78°F in August. August is the wettest month, with about 160 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan-2° / 28°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb-2° / 29°F average high, in our recommended season
- Mar2° / 36°F average high
- Apr9° / 49°F average high
- May17° / 62°F average high
- Jun21° / 70°F average high
- Jul25° / 76°F average high, in our recommended season
- Aug26° / 78°F average high, in our recommended season
- Sep22° / 71°F average high
- Oct15° / 59°F average high
- Nov7° / 44°F average high
- Dec0° / 31°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Sapporo weather and the best time to visit →
Near Sapporo
2 other destinations from our guides within about 150 km (93 mi), measured in a straight line.
Sapporo questions, answered
How many days do you need in Sapporo?
Our route notes suggest 3 days in Sapporo. On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 7-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 13 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Sapporo best known for?
Hokkaido's grid-planned capital, known for ramen, beer and snow. Stay 3 days. Standouts on our list: Odori Park (Long green strip through downtown, home to the Snow Festival in February); Sapporo Clock Tower (1878 wooden building from the city's founding era, with a small museum); Hokkaido Shrine (Main Shinto shrine of Hokkaido, set in forested Maruyama Park).
When is the best time to visit Sapporo?
Our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route is best Jul – Aug, Jan – Feb. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (26°C / 78°F), the coolest in January (-2°C / 28°F) and the most rain in August (about 160 mm).
What are the best things to do in Sapporo?
Start with Odori Park, Sapporo Clock Tower, Mount Moiwa Ropeway, Hokkaido Shrine and Sapporo Beer Museum. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Sapporo?
Our picks: Nijo Market (Chuo); Ganso Ramen Yokocho (Susukino). Come for breakfast; stalls wind down by afternoon (Nijo Market).
What is near Sapporo?
The closest destinations in our guides are Otaru (about 33 km / 20 mi) and Furano and Biei (about 101 km / 63 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Sapporo with your crew
Open the Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.
Plan around Sapporo
- Japan travel hub
- Best Restaurants in Japan 13 places
- Best Bars & Cafés in Japan 7 places
- Top Things to Do in Japan 26 places
- Best Outdoor Spots in Japan 10 places
- Sapporo weather by month