13 Best Things to Do in Sapporo

Sapporo is the capital city of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost and second largest island of Japan. It’s packed with ski resorts (Hokkaido has the longest winter among all prefectures in the country), seafood joints, cultural festivals, and modern marvels! 

Visiting soon but don’t quite know what to do in Sapporo yet? We’ve got your back!

Check out our top picks of the best things to do in Sapporo!

Get unobstructed views of the Sea of Japan, Ishikari Heigen, and Odori Park (where flowers bloom in the four seasons!) from the Sapporo TV Tower, which stands at a whopping 147.2 meters tall! Then relax and unwind as you marvel at one of Japan’s most important cultural cities from high above the ground.

Get a truly immersive cultural experience trying one of the best things to do in Sapporo: renting a kimono and taking pics of yourselves while strolling the scenic city! You’ll have over a thousand dazzling designs to choose from, and you can even take it up a notch by purchasing the traditional hairstyling package.

The photographic spots at Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill are some of the best secret Sapporo attractions that locals love. Enjoy the idyllic landscapes or amp up your experience by visiting during sunset.

The Ainu people are one of the indigenous people of Japan, and many of them reside in Hokkaido. During the Shiraoi Day Trip Bus Tour from Sapporo, you’ll deepen your understanding of their culture by visiting Biratori Municipal Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum, checking out the traditional houses, and more!

Sapporo beer has made a name for itself worldwide thanks to its crisp and refined flavor, so no visit to the city is complete without acquainting yourself with it. Visit the Sapporo Beer Museum, a Hokkaido Heritage destination, which showcases its brewing process that dates back to the Meiji era. The best part: you’ll also sample the concoctions!

Sapporo is home to great parks, such as Asahiyama Park, with colorful perennial flowers. Because of its scenery, couples usually love to stroll here. There’s also Odori Park near Sapporo TV Tower, blessed with stunning flora and fountains. It's also the venue for the famous Sapporo Snow Festival. Last but not the least, there’s Moerenuma Park on the outskirts of Sapporo, where you can see the glass pyramid building called Hidamari.

One of the best things to do in Sapporo is definitely to try its fantastic cuisine! Curry lovers will enjoy soup curry, which comes in variations with tempura and seafood. We also recommend trying the miso ramen (which has pork, egg, spring onions, and soup flavored with miso-paste) on the island where it originated. When it comes to seafood, kegani or hairy crab is a staple in Sapporo and is always served deliciously fresh!

Sapporo is also known for producing scrumptious sweets, such as white chocolate called shiroi koibito, which you can sample at Ichiya Chocolate Factory. You can also try Hokkaido ice cream, famous for its rich flavor and velvety texture.

Susukino is the hotspot for nightlife in Sapporo, with its flashing neon lights, fantastic restaurants, cinemas, and bars. Its atmosphere is vibrant and fun, and friendly for first-time visitors!

Sapporo is home to the island’s most important museums, including the Hokkaido Museum, which highlights the city and the island’s history. Here you can also see the preserved woolly mammoth and the ancient steam engines from the industrial period. On the other hand, the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art showcases modern art predominantly by Japanese artists. You can also explore the Historical Village of Hokkaido, an open-air museum that features buildings that date back to the Meiji and Taisho periods (1868 to 1926).

Thanks to its excellent shopping districts, going on a shopping spree is one of the best things to do in Saporro. Check out Tanukikoji Shopping Street, a long, covered district that dates back to 1868. It’s home to restaurants and cafes. It’s a great place to shop for records, shoes, and souvenirs. The Sapporo Factory is more a shopping district than a factory, with over a hundred outlets concentrated in a five-story atrium. You’ll find clothing stores, souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, and a multi-screen movie theater. Meanwhile, Nijo Market occupies one city block, where you can shop for the freshest local produce and seafood.

Every winter in February, the Sapporo Snow Festival is held in Odori Park. It features awe-inspiring snow sculptures that deserve to be on your Instagram feed. Marvel at the unreal sculptures that take the form of global monuments, anime characters, and more!

Because Hokkaido experiences the longest winter in Japan, skiing is one of the best things to do in Sapporo. Mt. Asahidake Ropeway (located on the highest mountain Hokkaido), is a beloved skiing and snowboarding site. You can also go to the Kiroro Ice Star Resort, which features great slopes for skiing and a rad ice hotel!

These are just some of the best things to do in Sapporo! Whether you’re with your family, your significant other, or simply going on a solo traveler’s adventure, you’re going to have a joyful time exploring this beautiful city in Hokkaido!