You can't miss these places! 6 recommended sightseeing spots in Sapporo
Hokkaido is a place where you can enjoy vast nature and delicious cuisine. Even in the central city of Sapporo, there are many places that are loved by tourists and locals alike. We have carefully selected six classic recommended spots where you can Experience Hokkaido's unique scenery and cuisine. Please use this as a reference for your sightseeing in Sapporo.
1Sapporo Clock Tower
This is a classic spot. The symbol of Sapporo is the clock tower.
Officially known as the "Former Sapporo Agricultural College Drill Hall," the Sapporo Clock Tower was built in 1878 as Property for the Sapporo Agricultural College, the predecessor of Hokkaido University. From the Meiji period to the Showa period, Property was actually used by local residents as a place of study, academics, and culture. Currently, it is possible to tour both the first and second floors, and there are a wide variety of documents and exhibits related to the clock tower.
The clock tower chimes every hour on the hour, so if you time your visit right, you'll be able to hear the clear sound echoing across the city.
Dr. Clark will be there to greet you. Please also visit the hall on the second floor.
The retro-style hall on the second floor is still used as a place for locals to gather, and sometimes hosts concerts and other events in the evenings. The famous statue of Dr. Clark is also a great place for taking photos.
It is located right next to Sapporo Station and Odori in the center of Sapporo, so it is easy to stop by when you are shopping or eating. The impression changes greatly depending on the time of day and the season, so we recommend comparing the refreshing daytime appearance surrounded by trees with the tasteful illuminated night appearance.
- Sapporo Clock Tower
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Hokkaido Sapporo City Chuo Ward Kita 1 Jo Nishi 2 Chome MAP
Approximately 10 minutes walk from JR Sapporo Station
8:45-17:10 (entry until 17:00)
January 1st to January 3rd
Adults: 200 yen (free for high school students and younger)
011-231-0838（札幌市時計台）
None
2Hokkaido University
A place of relaxation for locals. Stroll through the green campus
Hokkaido University is located in the center of Sapporo, but its campus is as large as 38 Tokyo Domes. The campus is so lush that it's hard to believe it's in the center of Sapporo, and not only students but also the general public can freely explore parts of it.
In addition to the spectacular Ginkgo and Poplar Tree-Lined Streets, there are many beautiful places you'll want to take pictures of, such as the Sakushukotoni River, where local children and students cool off in the summer. However, this is an educational and research Property, so please follow the campus rules and cooperate in maintaining a tranquil environment.
The quaint building is filled with intriguing exhibits
One of the most eye-catching attractions on the expansive campus is the stately Hokkaido University Museum, which utilizes the main building of the former Hokkaido Imperial University Faculty of Science, constructed in 1929. It was renovated in 2016 and has become a treasure trove of knowledge where visitors can experience everything from exhibits by the 12 faculties of Hokkaido University to the history and technology of the Sapporo Agricultural College, the predecessor of Hokkaido University.
After touring the museum or taking a walk around the campus, you can take a break at the cafes and shops scattered around the campus and enjoy picking out souvenirs. Both the museum and the campus are very large, so we recommend that you visit with plenty of time to spare.
- Hokkaido University
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- Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Approximately 7 minutes walk from JR Sapporo Station
- 011-716-2111
- None (use nearby paid Parking)
3Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium
Be amazed by the impressive view of the ski jumpers
Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium is also known as the venue for the Sapporo Winter Olympics in 1972. You can climb to the summit of the mountain where many athletes have ski-jumped while feeling the refreshing breeze on a two-seater lift. Why not try to get a taste of what it was like to be an athlete as you look out over the cityscape below?
There is a cafe called "Café Celeste" attached to the observation deck, so you can relax with a soft serve ice cream or drink while enjoying the beautiful and dynamic scenery that unfolds before your eyes.
A museum shop with stylish souvenirs
Nearby, you'll find the Sapporo Olympic Museum, which has many Experience exhibits, and Nouvelle Pouce Okurayama, a French Restaurant that serves cuisine that takes advantage of the food culture of Hokkaido and all over Japan. The area offers a variety of ways to enjoy yourself depending on the time of your visit.
When you visit the museum, you should definitely visit the attached "Museum Shop." Modern miscellaneous goods are lined up in a space dominated by white. If you are looking for a unique souvenir, be sure to check out the original goods with an Olympic motif.
- Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium
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- 1274 Miyanomori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido MAP
- Approximately 30 minutes by car from JR Sapporo Station
Take the bus from Maruyama Koen Station on the subway and get off at Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium- Lifts: Summer 8:30-21:00, Winter 9:00-17:00
*Ticket sales end 30 minutes before the event (check website). - During maintenance inspections, ski jumping competitions and official practice days (check the website)
- Lift fee: 1,000 yen for junior high school students and above, 500 yen for elementary school students and below
- 011-641-8585（大倉山総合案内所）
- free
4Hokkaido Historical Village
There are lots of retro buildings that have been used in TV dramas
About 20 minutes by bus from JR Shin-Sapporo Station, "Hokkaido Historical Village" is an open-air museum that has relocated, restored, and recreated historically valuable buildings that were constructed throughout Hokkaido from the Meiji period to the early Showa period.
The vast grounds contain 52 buildings and are divided into four areas: an urban area with town hall, homes, and shops, as well as a fishing village area, a farming village area, and a mountain village area.
Not only can you experience the history of Hokkaido as it has coexisted with nature, but it has also been used as a setting for television dramas and anime, making it extremely popular as a place where you can Experience the works.
Fun for both adults and children. Stroll through the village on a horse-drawn railway
Particularly popular are Experience of riding in a horse-drawn sleigh or horse-drawn railway, which were means of transportation for people in the past. In the summer (everyday until the end of November/timetable system), you can leisurely enjoy the scenery from the window on the horse-drawn railway, which is a reproduction of the carriages that once ran within Sapporo city. In the winter (from the time of snowfall in December to Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays in March, and weekdays during the Sapporo Snow Festival/timetable system to be established), you will ride in a horse-drawn sleigh, and you can enjoy the snowy scenery, which has a completely different atmosphere from the summer, for about 10 minutes (fee required).
- Hokkaido Historical Village
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- 50-1 Onohoro, Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido MAP
- Take the bus from JR Shin-Sapporo Station and get off at "Kaitaku-no-Mura" stop
- May to September: 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
October to April: 9:00-16:30 (entry until 16:00) - Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday or a substitute holiday), December 29th to January 3rd
*Open on Mondays during the Sapporo Snow Festival - Adults: 800 yen, Junior and senior high school students: 600 yen, Junior high school students and younger: Free
- 011-898-2692
- free
5Sapporo Mount Moiwa Ropeway
A spectacular view of the cityscape from the center of Sapporo
Located almost in the center of Sapporo, the summit of Mt. Moiwa is an outstanding viewing spot where you can get a 360-degree view of the cityscape and distant mountains. From the base of the mountain to the summit, you can enjoy a comfortable aerial stroll by ropeway and cable car, and there are also five hiking trails to the peak in the vicinity, and those who are confident in their physical strength can also walk up and down.
The Moiwa Primeval Forest, designated as a national natural monument, spreads out over the area, offering beautiful scenery surrounded by brilliant greenery in the summer and silvery white trees in the winter.
Enjoy an elegant moment surrounded by the glittering night view
At night, you can enjoy a romantic atmosphere that is different from the daytime, overlooking the night view of Sapporo city, which has been certified as one of the "New Top Three Night View Cities in Japan." It is also known as one of the city's leading date spots, and the "Bell of Happiness" at the observation deck on the summit is perfect for taking commemorative photos. In winter, there is less water vapor in the air, making the scenery clearer and more beautiful.
It is an exceptional experience to be surrounded by the glittering, jewel-box-like night view while enjoying a wine recommended by a sommelier at "THE JEWELS," a casual Restaurant on the mountaintop.
- Sapporo Mount Moiwa Ropeway
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- Hokkaido Sapporo City Chuo Ward Fushimi 5-3-7 MAP
- Approximately 20 minutes by car from JR Sapporo Station
- Take the bus from JR Sapporo Station and get off at "Mount Moiwa Ropeway"
- Summer (April to November) Mt. Moiwa Ropeway 10:30-22:00 *Last upward trip 21:30 Mini Cable Car 10:30-21:50 *Last upward trip 21:40
Winter (December to March) Mt. Moiwa Ropeway 11:00-22:00 *Last upward trip 21:30 Mini Cable Car 11:10-21:50 *Last upward trip 21:40 - Adults 2,100 yen (group rate of 15 or more: 1,890 yen), children 1,050 yen (group rate of 15 or more: 950 yen) / both are round-trip fares for the Mt. Moiwa Ropeway and Mini Cable Car Set
- 011-561-8177
- free
6Sapporo Central Wholesale Market Outer Market
Choose souvenirs at a seafood market
Hokkaido is known for its seafood cuisine. At the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market Outer Market, located near the center of Sapporo, fresh seafood such as scallops, king crab, and salmon roe are lined up in a narrow space. There are about 60 stores and restaurants, and some stores offer great services such as shipping your purchases directly to your accommodation, and some even provide free transportation to your accommodation for customers who shop or dine there.
If you choose to have your order shipped, your seafood delicacies will arrive fresh at your home or delivery address, so you can enjoy shopping as much as you like without worrying about additional baggage.
Enjoy affordable seafood and mountain produce on the spot
The extremely fresh market food, which can only be enjoyed at a market adjacent to the central wholesale market, is also something you should definitely try. Crab that is boiled after you order, and luxurious seafood bowls piled high with ingredients so high they overflow from the bowl are all available at reasonable prices.
After enjoying the seafood to your heart's content, why not try some sweet melon or boiled corn for dessert? The restaurant also serves other classic Hokkaido delicacies such as nigiri sushi, ramen, curry, and pork bowls, making it a place that will make you want to return again and again.
- Sapporo Central Wholesale Market Outer Market
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- Sapporo city Chuo ward Kita 11 jo Nishi 21 chome ~ Nishi 22 chomeMAP
- Approximately 7 minutes walk from Nijuyonken Station on the Tozai Subway Line
- 6:00-17:00 (varies by store)
- 011-621-7044
- free
