Sapporo is the capital and largest city of Hokkaido, the huge island-prefecture in northern Japan. It’s the economic, political, and cultural center of a region that makes up almost a quarter of Japan’s total land area.
Sapporo’s location in the island – at the foot of Mt. Teine and in the middle of the Ishikari Plain – makes it an ideal hub to connect the island’s eastern and western regions. Climate-wise, Sapporo has mild summers and cold winters, with a daily mean of -3°C in January and 22°C in August.
Sapporo is one of the youngest cities in Japan. While other Japanese cities have been around for millennia, Sapporo did not exist before the 19th Century. Prior to the city’s founding, the Ishikari Plain was settled by the Ainu, Japan’s indigenous people. In fact, the name “Sapporo” was derived from an Ainu phrase which means “dry, great river”.
For centuries, the area had been a place of contention between the Ainu and the various warring Japanese feudal lords. It was not until 1868 that Sapporo as a municipality was officially established.
From an initial settlement of only seven people in 1857, Sapporo has grown to become the fifth most populous city in the country, behind Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, and Nagoya. When Hokkaido became a full-fledged prefecture in 1947, the government chose Sapporo as the capital.
Much of Sapporo’s development occurred during the second half of the 20th century. In 1972, the city hosted the Winter Olympics, the first-ever Asian city to do so. The event was a huge boom for Sapporo and helped pave the way for the city’s modernization. Many of the infrastructure built during the event, like the subway system, has benefited the city to this day.
Sapporo Travel
Of the Japanese prefectural capitals, Sapporo looks and feels the most westernized. For one, the climate is akin to most northern European cities. Also, the city’s grid-based urban design was based on western principles, making navigation distinct from other Japanese cities. Many of the city structures, like the old Prefectural Government Building and the Sapporo Beer Museum, noticeably have western architecture as well.
With its non-traditional urban design, quaint northern culture, and natural beauty, Sapporo has become one of Japan’s major tourist destinations, drawing millions of tourists every year. Its most popular attraction is the Sapporo Snow Festival, held during the first week of February. It is a city-wide celebration, with events hosted at the central Odori Park, the Susukino entertainment district, and Tsudome community center.
Additional information about Sapporo:
- Language: English isn’t widely spoken but there are occasional English text in signs and printed material.
- Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY, ¥). JPY 1000 is about USD 9.02, EUR 7.79, PHP 483 (as of August 2018)
- Modes of Payment: Cash is preferred.
- Electricity Info: 100V. Type A sockets. Two flat pins for plugs.
Plan Your Sapporo Trip
 Top Hotels and Hostels |
 Top Things to Do |
 Getting Around |
 Getting There |
Sapporo Travel Essentials
 Sapporo Pocket Wi-fi Stay Internet-connected while in Sapporo! ➡️ RESERVE HERE |
 Kitaca Card Easy access to train, subway and buses! ➡️ RESERVE HERE |
 Mt. Moiwa Viewpoint Trip Marvel at the beautiful Sapporo nightscape! ➡️ RESERVE SLOT HERE |
 JR Pass Unlimited train rides within the JR network. ➡️ RESERVE HERE |
Top Sapporo Attractions
 ➡️ GET A TICKET HERE |
 ➡️ RESERVE A SEAT HERE |
 ➡️ RESERVE A SEAT HERE |
 ➡️ RESERVE A SLOT HERE |
Top Sapporo Hotels
 JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo ➡️ CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY |
 Karaksa Hotel Sapporo ➡️ CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY |
 La’Gent Stay Sapporo Odori Hokkaido ➡️ CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY |
 Daiwa Roynet Hotel Sapporo-Susukino ➡️ CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY |
