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Sapporo 札幌
—  Designated city  —
札幌市 · City of Sapporo[1]
Odori Park in the heart of Sapporo
Location of Sapporo in Ishikari, Hokkaidō
Location of Ishikari in Hokkaidō
Sapporo
Coordinates: 43°4′N 141°21′E / 43.067°N 141.35°E / 43.067; 141.35
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaidō
Prefecture	Hokkaidō
Subprefecture	Ishikari
Government
- Mayor	Fumio Ueda
Area
- Total	1,121.12 km2 (432.9 sq mi)
Population (March 2007)	1,890,561
- Density	1,686/km2 (4,366.7/sq mi)
City Symbols
- Tree	Lilac
- Flower	Lily of the valley
- Bird	Common cuckoo
Website	City of Sapporo
Phone number	011-211-2111
Address 2-1-1 Kita-ichijō-nishi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 060-8611

A view of the northeastern part of Sapporo city

Sapporo (札幌市, Sapporo-shi ^?) listen (help·info) is the fifth-largest city in Japan by population. It is the capital of Hokkaidō Prefecture, located in Ishikari Subprefecture, and an ordinance-designated city of Japan.

Sapporo is best known outside Japan for hosting the 1972 Winter Olympics, the first ever held in Asia, and for the annual Yuki Matsuri in the city, internationally referred to as the Sapporo Snow Festival, which draws more than 2 million tourists from around the world. The city is also home to Sapporo Brewery.

History

Early history

Prior to its establishment, the area occupied by Sapporo (known as the Ishikari Plain) was home to a number of indigenous Ainu settlements. In 1866 at the end of the Edo Period construction began on a canal through the area, encouraging a number of early settlers to establish Sapporo village.^[2] The settlement's name was taken from the Ainu language sat poro petsu, and can be translated as "dry, great river".^[3]

In 1868, the officially recognised year celebrated as the 'birth' of Sapporo, the new Meiji government concluded that the existing administrative center of Hokkaidō, which at the time was the port of Hakodate, was in an unsuitable location for defense and further development of the island. As a result it was determined that a new capital on the Ishikari Plain should be established. The plain itself provided an unusually large expanse of flat, well drained land which is relatively uncommon in the otherwise mountainous geography of Hokkaidō.

During 1870-1871, Kuroda Kiyotaka, vice-chairman of the Hokkaidō Development Commission (Kaitaku-shi) approached the American government for assistance in developing the land. As a result, Horace Capron, Secretary of Agriculture under President Ulysses S. Grant became a oyatoi gaikokujin and was appointed as a special advisor to the commission. Construction began around a park, Odori Koen, which still remains as a green ribbon of recreational land bisecting the central area of the city. The city closely followed the American-style grid plan with streets at right-angles to form city blocks.

The continuing expansion of the Japanese into Hokkaidō continued, mainly due to migration from the main island of Honshū immediately to the south, and the prosperity of Hokkaidō and particularly its capital grew to the point that the Development Commission was deemed unnecessary and was abolished in 1882.

Edwin Dun (O-yatoi gaikokujin) came to Sapporo to establish sheep and cattle ranches in 1876. He also demonstrated pig raising and the making of butter, cheese, ham and sausage. He married a Japanese woman. He once went back to the States in 1883 but returned to Japan as a secretary of government.

William S. Clark (O-yatoi gaikokujin) who was the president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College (now the University of Massachusetts Amherst) came to be the founding vice-president of Sapporo Agricultural College (now Hokkaido University) for only eight months from 1876 to 1877. He taught academic subjects in science and lectured on the Bible as an "ethics" course, introducing Christian principles to the first entering class of the College.

In 1880, the entire area of Sapporo was renamed as "Sapporo-ku" (Sapporo Ward) ,^[4] and a railroad between Sapporo and Temiya, Otaru was laid. The Hōheikan, a hotel and reception facility for the very important person, was erected adjacent to the Odori Park, which was moved and is now located in Nakajima Park. Two years later, with the abolition of the Kaitaku-shi, Hokkaidō was divided into three prefectures: Hakodate, Sapporo, and Nemuro. The name of the urban district in Sapporo remained Sapporo-ku, while the rest of the area in Sapporo-ku was changed to Sapporo-gun. The office building of Sapporo-ku was also located in the urban district.^[4]

Sapporo, Hakodate, and Nemuro Prefectures were abolished in 1886, and Hokkaidō government office building, an American-neo-baroque-style structure with red bricks, constructed in 1888. The last squad of the Tonden-hei, the soldier pioneering Hokkaidō, settled in the place where the area of Tonden in Kita-ku, Sapporo is currently located.

Sapporo-ku has administered surrounding Sapporo-gun until 1899, when the new district system was announced. After that year, Sapporo-ku was away from the control of Sapporo-gun.^[4] The "ku" (district) enforced from 1899 was an autonomy which was a little bigger than towns, and smaller than cities. In Hokkaidō at that time, Hakodate-ku and Otaru-ku also existed.

Modern History (20th century)

The Former Hokkaido Government Office Building

In 1907, the Tohoku Imperial University was established in Sendai Miyagi Prefecture, and Sapporo Agricultural College was controlled by the University. Parts of neighbouring villages including Sapporo Village, Naebo Village, Kami Shiroishi Village, and districts where Tonden-hei has settled, were integrated into Sapporo-ku in 1910.

The Sapporo Street Car was opened in 1918, and Hokkaidō Imperial University was established in Sapporo-ku, as the fifth Imperial University in Japan. The another railroad operated in Sapporo, Jōzankei Railroad was also opened, which was ultimately abolished in 1969.

In 1922, the new city system was announced by the Tokyo government, and Sapporo-ku was officially transferred to the Sapporo City.^[2] The Sapporo Municipal Bus System was started in 1930. In 1937, Sapporo was chosen as the site of 1940 Winter Olympics, but due to the outbreak of Second Sino-Japanese War, this was canceled in the next year. Maruyama Town was integrated into a part of the Chūō-ku in 1940, and the Okadama Airport was constructed in 1942. The first Sapporo Snow Festival was held in 1950. In the same year, adjacent Shiroishi Village was integrated into Sapporo City, rendered as a part of Shiroishi-ku, and Atsubetsu-ku.^[5] In 1955, Kotoni Town, the entire Sapporo Village, and Shinoro Village were merged into Sapporo, becoming a part of the current Chūō-ku, Kita-ku, Higashi-ku, Nishi-ku, and Teine-ku.^[5] The expansion of Sapporo continued, with the merger of Toyohira Town in 1961, and Teine Town in 1967, each became as a part of Toyohira-ku, Kiyota-ku, and Teine-ku.^[5]

The ceremony commemorating 100th anniversary of the foundation of Sapporo and Hokkaidō was held in 1968. The Sapporo Municipal Subway system was inaugurated in 1971, which made Sapporo the fourth city having subway system in Japan. On February 3 to 13, 1972, 1972 Winter Olympics was held, which was the first Winter Olympics held in Asia,^[2] and on April 1 of the same year, Sapporo was designated as one of the cities designated by government ordinance, and seven wards were established.^[5] The last ever public performance by the opera singer, Maria Callas, was in Sapporo at the Hokkaido Koseinenkin Kaikan, on 11 November 1974.^[6] The Sapporo Municipal Subway was expanded when the Tōzai line was started its operation in 1976, and Tōho line was opened in 1988. In 1989, Atsubetsu-ku and Teine-ku were separated from Shiroishi-ku and Nishi-ku. Annual events in Sapporo were started, such as the Pacific Music Festival in 1990, and Yosakoi Sōran Festival in 1992. A professional football club, Consadole Sapporo, was established in 1996. In 1997, Kiyota-ku was separated from Toyohira-ku. In the same year, Hokkaidō Takushoku Bank, a Hokkaidō based bank that placed its headquarter in Odori, went bankrupt.^[7]

Modern History (21st century)

The 34th G8 summit protest march in 2008

In 2001, the construction of the Sapporo Dome was completed, and in the year of 2002, the Dome hosted 3 games during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Germany vs Saudi Arabia, Argentina vs England and Italy vs Ecuador, all of which were in the first round. The present mayor of Sapporo, Fumio Ueda, was elected as the mayor for the first time in 2003. Sapporo became the home to a baseball team, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, in 2004, which won the championship in 2006, and the victory parade was held on Ekimae-Dōri (a street in front of Sapporo Station) in February 2007.

The 34th G8 summit took place in Tōyako in 2008, and a number of people including antiglobalists and leftists marched to protest G8 summit in the heart of the city. Police officers were gathered in Sapporo from all over Japan, and the news reported that 4 people were arrested in the G8 demonstration.^[8] The Hokkaidō Shinkansen line, which is currently under construction to expand its line to Hakodate through the Seikan Tunnel, is planned to link to Sapporo.

Geography

The Sapporo TV Tower is located west of the Sousei River.

Sapporo is a city located in the southwest part of Ishikari Plain and the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, a tributary stream of the Ishikari River.^[9] Roadways in the urban district are laid to make grid plan road. The western and southern part of Sapporo are occupied by a number of mountains including Mount Teine, Maruyama, and Mount Moiwa, as well as a lot of rivers including the Ishikari River, Toyohira River, and Sousei River.

Sapporo has many parks, and among them, Odori Park is located in the heart of the City and is one of the places that a number of annual events and festivals are held throughout the year. Moerenuma Park is also one of the largest parks in Sapporo, and was constructed under the plan of Isamu Noguchi, a Japanese-American artist and landscape architect.

Neighbouring cities are Ishikari, Ebetsu, Kitahiroshima, Eniwa, Chitose, Otaru, Date, and towns are Tōbetsu, Kimobetsu, Kyōgoku, and a village is Akaigawa.

Climate

Sapporo has a humid continental climate (Koppen Dfb), with a wide range of temperature between the summer and winter. Summers are generally warm but not humid, and winters quite cold and snowy. It snows a lot in winter, enabling it to hold events and festivals with snow statues and objects. Boasting 630 cm (248 inches) on average^[10], it is one of the few metropolises in the world with such heavy snowfall.^[11] The city's annual average precipitation is around 1,100 mm (43 inches), and the mean annual temperature is 8.5°C (47°F).^[9]

Wards

Sapporo has ten wards (区, ku ^?):

Color shows the location of each ku in the map above.

Economy

The tertiary sector dominates Sapporo's industry. Major industries include information technology, retail, and tourism, as Sapporo is a destination for winter sports and events and summer activities due to its cool climate.

The city is also the manufacturing center of Hokkaido, manufacturing various goods such as food and related products, fabricated metal products, steel, machinery, beverages, and pulp and paper.

Hokkaido International Airlines (Air Do) is headquartered in Chūō-ku.^[13] In April 2004 Air Nippon Network was headquartered in Higashi-ku.^[14]

Culture and entertainment

Sapporo is one of the popular tourist attractions in Japan, and as of 2006, the annual number of tourists had reached 14,104,000, which was an increase of 5.9% over the previous year (13,323,000 in 2005) .^[15] 2006 was also the first year for Sapporo when the number of tourists exceeded 14 million, in its history of tourism.

Cuisine

The Soup Curry

Sapporo is known as the birthplace of Miso Ramen,^[16] a rāmen noodle using miso, and Sapporo Ramen is also widely known. The Kouraku Ramen Meitengai, an alley lined with many ramen restaurants, was established in 1951 in Susukino district, and after its demolition due to plans for the Sapporo Olympics, the Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho was established in the same place. It currently attracts many tourists throughout the year.^[16] From the year 1966, a food company named Sanyo Foods began to sell instant ramens under the brand name "Sapporo Ichiban". In 2001, Sapporo Ramen was listed as one of the Hokkaido Heritage along with other ramens in Hokkaido such as Asahikawa Ramen and Hakodate Ramen. On October 1, 2004, The Sapporo Ramen Republic, a theme park focused on rāmens, was opened at the 10th floor of the Sapporo ESTA, a commercial complex located in front of the Sapporo Station.

Soup Curry, a liquid curry with vegetables and rice, is also one of the specialties in Sapporo, and currently plenty of soup curry restaurants are located in the cities and towns in Hokkaido. Sapporo Sweets, a confectionery using many ingredients from Hokkaido, is also popular, and the Sapporo Sweets Competition is held annually.^[17]

A lamb barbecue style dish called jingisukan (named for Ghengis Khan) is another popular local specialty.

Sapporo is also famed for fresh seafood, salmon, sea urchin and crab in particular. It is also noted for Haskup, a local variety of blueberry.

Entertainment and performing arts

The Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara is the main musical venue in Sapporo, located in Nakajima Park in Chuo-ku. It is home to the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, a local professional orchestra organized in 1961, and their regular concerts are held in this hall. The open-air stage in Sapporo Artpark is another one of the music venues in Sapporo. The Pacific Music Festival (PMF), an event started with the idea of Leonard Bernstein in 1990, is held in both places. The Sapporo Artpark, located in Minami-ku, also contains public arts, an art museum, and the old house of Takeo Arishima. Other art museums in Sapporo include The Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, the Sapporo Museum of Sculpture, and the Migishi Kotaro Museum of Art, Hokkaido. The Hokkaido Museum of Literature, located in Nakajima Park, has hosted many exhibitions, seminars, and other educational activities. The Sapporo Convention Center is located in Shiroishi-ku, and a number of forums and events are held in the building. The Sapporo Salmon Museum is located in Minami-ku, and displays mainly materials related to the ecology of salmon. The Sunpiazza Aquarium is located close to the Sapporo Science Center in Atsubetsu-ku.

Points of interest

the Sapporo Beer Museum

Susukino, the center of nightlife in Sapporo

A lot of historical buildings, as well as shopping malls and parks, are located in Sapporo, and draw many tourists in every year. Historic landmarks include the Former Hokkaidō government office building, the Sapporo Clock Tower, the Hokkaido Shrine (Hokkaidō Jingū), and the Sapporo TV Tower. The Sapporo Factory was a former brewery of the Sapporo Beer, and is currently a huge shopping mall with many restaurants, offices, and the multiplex movie theatres. Another former brewery of the Sapporo Beer is the Sapporo Beer Museum, which is currently a part of the Sapporo Garden Park, and houses the Sapporo Beer Gardens (サッポロビール園, Sapporo Bi-ru En ^?). The Sapporo City Archive Museum, The Edwin Dun Memorial Hall, and some old buildings in the Hokkaido University are also historically important in Sapporo, and each was listed in the Registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan.^[18]

The Sapporo JR Tower, a complex building houses the Tower 38 and department store, is located adjacent to the Sapporo Station. Being close to the main station of Sapporo, the Sapporo JR Tower has been visited by many tourists, and the number of visitors of the Tower 38, the tower with an observation deck, recorded 311,815 in 2006.^[19] The Sapporo TV Tower, located at the eastern end of the Odori Park, is one of more modern architectures, and has also an observation deck viewing the entire Odori Park and Sapporo City. Susukino is a district having the main nightlife scene in Sapporo, Sapporo Ramen Yokocho, Norubesa (a building with a huge Ferris wheel) which are located in this district as well as many restaurants, nightclubs, bars, and adult entertainments. The district also has the Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade, the oldest shopping mall in the City. In Minami-ku, the district of Jōzankei is a site that has many hotels with steam baths and hot springs, and that many visitors also have visited.

Sapporo also offers many parks and gardens. The Odori Park houses buildings such as the Sapporo TV Tower, and hosts many events including Yosakoi Soran Festival, Sapporo Lilac Festival, Sapporo White Illumination, and the Sapporo Snow Festival. In the Nakajima Park, there are some landmarks including Hōheikan, an old hotel building moved from the Odori Park, and the Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara. The Maruyama Park is located next to the Hokkaido Shrine, and houses the Maruyama Zoo. The Moerenuma Park is located in Higashi-ku, and houses many open-air art compositions including the Glass Pyramid, planned by Isamu Noguchi. One of the gardens in Sapporo, the Chizaki Rose Garden provides various kinds of roses, and the Hokkaido University Botanical Gardens has also many types of plants and historically important buildings. The Hitsujigaoka observation hill has a farm with sheep, and attracts visitors with a statue of William S. Clark.

Events

Dancers in the Yosakoi Sōran Festival

In February, the Sapporo Snow Festival is annually held. The main site is the Odori Park, and other sites include Susukino (known as the Susukino Snow Festival), and the Sapporo Satoland. Once Makomanai area in Minami-ku was one of the festival sites, but it was abolished and moved to the Satoland site in 2006. Many of the snow and ice statues in the sites are built by the armies of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. In 2006, the number of visitors at the Sapporo Snow Festival marked 1,985,000 in total.^[20]

Every June, the Yosakoi Soran Festival is held. The sites of the festival are centered in the Odori Park and the street leading to Susukino, but other festival sites also exist. In the festival, many dance teams dance to their music which are composed based on a Japanese traditional song, Sōran Bushi. Members of the teams wear special costumes, and compete their dancing skills on the roads or stages constructed on the festival sites. In 2006, 350 teams were organized with around 45,000 dancers, and over 1,860,000 people visited at the festival sites.^[20]

During the summer, the Sapporo Summer Festival takes place in the heart of the city, and people enjoy drinking beer in the beer gardens constructed in the Odori Park and on the streets of Susukino district. This festival consists of a number of fairs such as Tanuki Festival and Susukino Festival as well as the Odori Park site.^[20]

Sports

The Sapporo Dome in winter

The Sapporo Dome was constructed in 2001, and currently is the host to the local football team, Consadole Sapporo, and the baseball team, Hokkaidō Nippon Ham Fighters. Once Sapporo was selected to be the host of the 5th Winter Olympics scheduled on February 3 to 12, 1940, but Japan had to give the Games back to the IOC, after the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937. In 1972, Sapporo hosted the 11th Winter Olympics. Some structures built for Olympic events remain in use today, including the ski jumps at Miyanomori and Okurayama. In 2002, Sapporo hosted three group matches of the FIFA World Cup at the Sapporo Dome. In 2006, Sapporo hosted some games of the FIBA World Championships, and in 2007, Sapporo hosted the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships at the Sapporo Dome, Miyanomori ski jump, Okurayama ski jump, and the Shirahatayama cross country course.

Many sports stadiums and domes are located in Sapporo, and some of them have been designated as venues of sports competitions. The Sapporo Community Dome, also known as its nickname "Tsu-Dome", has hosted to the Golden Market, a huge flea market event which is usually held twice in a year, along with some sports events. The Makomanai Ice Arena, located in the Makomanai Park, was used to be one of the venues of Sapporo Olympics in 1972. It was renamed to the "Makomanai Sekisuiheim Ice Arena" in 2007, when a real estate company, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., acquired its naming rights and renamed the arena after their brand name of the real estate.^[21] Other large sports venues include the Makomanai Open Stadium, the Tsukisamu Green Dome, the Maruyama Stadium, and the Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center.

Professional sport teams

• J. League - Consadole Sapporo (J1 in 1998, 2001 to 2002, and J2 in 2002 to 2007) .
• Professional Baseball - Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Pacific League, champion team of professional baseball leagues of Japan in 2006.
• Sapporo Ambitious - belonged in Masters League.

Sports clubs

• Ice hockey - >Sapporo Polaris
• Rugby football - Hokkaido Barbarians

Demographics

The city has an estimated population of 1,890,561 as of March 2007 and a density of 1,686 persons per km² (4,367 persons per mi²). The total area is 1,121.12 km² (432.87 mi²).

Transportation

The Sapporo Station

.

Sapporo has one streetcar line, three JR Hokkaidō lines, three subway lines and JR-bus, Chuo-bus and other bus lines. Sapporo Subway trains have rubber-tyred wheels.

Rapid Transit

• Sapporo Municipal Subway: Map
• Sapporo Street Car
• Mt. Moiwa Ropeway
• Teineyama Ropeway

Rail

• JR Hokkaidō Stations in Sapporo
  • Hakodate Line: (Zenibako) - Hoshimi - Hoshioki - Inaho - Teine - Inazui Kōen -Hassamu - Hassamu Chūō - Kotoni - Sōen - Sapporo - Naebo - Shiroishi - Heiwa - Atsubetsu - Shinrin kōen - (ōasa)
  • Chitose Line: Heiwa - Shin Sapporo -Kami Nopporo - (Kita-Hiroshima)
  • Gakuentoshi Line: Sōen - Hachiken - Shinkawa - Shinkotoni - Taihei - Yurigahara - Shinoro - Takuhoku - Ainosato Kyōikudai - Ainosato Kōen - (Ishikari Futomi)

Air

The Sapporo area is served by two airports: Okadama Airport, which serves regional flights within Hokkaido, and New Chitose Airport, a larger, international airport located in the city of Chitose.

Universities

The Sapporo Clock Tower, which was formerly a part of the Hokkaido University in 19th century.

Public

• Hokkaido University
• Hokkaido University of Education

See Japanese national university

• Sapporo Medical University
• Sapporo City University

Private

• Sapporo University
• Hokusei Gakuen University
• Hokkai School of Commerce
• Hokkai Gakuen University
• Fuji Women's University
• Sapporo international University
• Tenshi College
• Health Science University of Hokkaido
• Sapporo Otani University
• Hokkaido Tokai University
• Hokkaido Musashi Women's Junior College
• Hokkaido Bunkyo University
• Koen Gakuen Women's Junior College
• Hokkaido Institute of Technology

Sister cities

Sapporo City Hall (June 2007)

Sapporo has relationships with several cities worldwide.^[22][23]

• Portland, Oregon, United States, since 1959
• Munich, Germany, since 1972
• Shenyang, China, since 1980
• Novosibirsk, Russia, since 1990

The Sapporo Sister Cities Association

The Sapporo Sister Cities Association was founded in April 1986 to foster friendly relations between Sapporo and its sister cities by promoting a wide range of exchange activities. Specifically, the association organizes various exchanges related to education, science, the arts, economics, technology and sports.

The Sapporo Sister Cities Association Office is in Sapporo International Communication Plaza Foundation[1].

• The Sapporo Sister Cities Association

See also

• Sapporo Breweries Limited
• Wonder Land Sapporo Co ltd / Snowmobile land Sapporo

Sources

External links

• Sapporo travel guide from Wikitravel
• (Japanese) Sapporo City Official Webpage
• (English) Sapporo City Official Webpage
• (Japanese)(English)(Chinese)(Korean)Information on living in Sapporo for foreign residents
• (Japanese) a live view of Odori Park from Sapporo TV Tower

Hokkaidō Subprefectures Abashiri | Hidaka | Hiyama | Iburi | Ishikari | Kamikawa | Kushiro | Nemuro | Oshima | Rumoi | Shiribeshi | Sorachi | Sōya | Tokachi Cities Abashiri | Akabira | Asahikawa | Ashibetsu | Bibai | Chitose | Date | Ebetsu | Eniwa | Fukagawa | Furano | Hakodate | Hokuto | Ishikari | Iwamizawa | Kitahiroshima | Kitami | Kushiro | Mikasa | Monbetsu | Muroran | Nayoro | Nemuro | Noboribetsu | Obihiro | Otaru | Rumoi | Sapporo (capital) | Shibetsu | Sunagawa | Takikawa | Tomakomai | Utashinai | Wakkanai | Yūbari

From Wikitravel

Sapporo TV Tower at night

Sapporo (札幌） [1] is the capital and largest city of the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan.

Understand

One of Japan's newest and nicest cities, Sapporo's population has grown from seven in 1857 to nearly 2 million today. Being a new city, especially by Japanese standards, means it has little in the way of traditional architecture and the like of cities such as Kyoto. But what it lacks in "Japanese-ness" it makes up for with its lovely open, tree-filled boulevards to enjoy in summer and excellent snow (and facilities to cope with said snow) in the long winter.

Get in

Sapporo is Hokkaido's main transport hub.

By plane

All international and inter-island flights land at New Chitose Airport (IATA: CTS) [2] to the south east of the city. The route from Tokyo is the most heavily traveled in the world, with several dozen Jumbos flying daily on a variety of carriers and flights as low as ¥10000 one way if you book more than one month in advance. From the airport, Skybus [3] operates a door to door shuttle and the JR trains run every 15 minutes directly to Sapporo station (36-40 minutes, ¥1040; reserved seats are ¥300 more).

Direct international service to Sapporo is limited to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Sakhalin, Guam and seasonal flights to Macau and Australia, but both JAL and ANA provide nonstop service to Narita for intercontinental connections.

A few local flights within Hokkaido also land at the older Okadama Airport (OKD) to the north of the city.

JR trains run from Honshu to Hokkaido via the Seikan Tunnel. With a total length of 53.85 km (33.49 mi), the Seikan Tunnel is currently the world's longest railway tunnel - although in 2018 the Gotthard Base Tunnel, under construction in Switzerland, will surpass it by about 3 km. The Seikan Tunnel also claims the title of the world's longest undersea tunnel, with a 23.3 km (14.5 mi) section under the waters of the Tsugaru Straight.

The fastest way to get to Sapporo from Tokyo is 10 hours in duration, taking three trains (one Shinkansen and two Limited Express trains, connecting in Hachinohe and Hakodate). The one way fare is ¥22,470 so this option may only be of value to Japan Rail Pass holders.

Perhaps the most popular way to reach Sapporo by train, however, are on the various overnight sleeper services. These are popular, so book in advance.

Japan's most prominent - and most expensive - overnight train is the Cassiopeia (カシオペア) which runs a few times a week between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Sapporo. The one-way trip takes about 16.5 hr. The less expensive and more frequent Hokutosei (北斗星) also runs daily from Ueno.

The Twilight Express (トワイライトエクスプレス), which makes a few runs a week from Osaka and Kyoto, is the longest overnight train service in Japan, making the journey to Sapporo in about 21 hr.

The daily and less expensive Nihonkai (日本海) runs daily from Osaka and Kyoto to Aomori, from which two connecting express trains bring you to Sapporo by the following afternoon. The total journey time is about 20.5 hr.

Note that for these sleeper trains, the Japan Rail Pass will only cover the basic fare. Pass holders will be responsible for paying for the room, as well as any limited express and other surcharges. For example, a B2 room for two people on the Hokutosei costs ¥12,600. Up to ¥6,000 in surcharges will also have to be paid, which includes a charge to travel over non-JR lines on the Ueno - Sapporo route.

A free overnight option from Tokyo to Sapporo for Japan Rail Pass holders is to take the Shinkansen to Hachinohe and a Limited Express to Aomori, then take the Hamanasu (はまなす) express train to Sapporo. The one-way ride takes just over 13 hr, with arrival in Sapporo at around 6AM the next morning. The return trip to Tokyo takes 12 hr, owing to a faster ride on the Shinkansen.

Trains also connect Sapporo to most major cities in Hokkaido, including Hakodate, Otaru and Asahikawa.

The JR Sapporo station is at North 2, West 1 on the subway Namboku line.

By bus

Express buses connect to most points in Hokkaido. The main terminal is next to the Bus Center-Mae station of the subway Nanboku line and Toho line

By ferry

Although Sapporo is located inland, there are two major ferry ports nearby: Otaru and Tomakomai. Both have scheduled car and passenger ferry service to points outside Hokkaido.

Get around

Most unusually for a Japanese city, Sapporo is logically organized thanks to its strict grid system. The main thoroughfare, the leafy Ō-Dōri (大通り、 lit. "Big Street"), runs east-west across the city and divides the city into North and South, while Sōsei-Gawa (創成川、 lit. "Creation River") divides the city into West and East, running under the main street Eki-Mae-Dōri (駅前道リ、lit. "In Front of the Train Station Road"). The address of every block in the center is thus of the type "North X West Y" (prominently signposted at all intersections), making navigation a snap. However, most businesses etc. will still provide maps to their location, building names or landmarks, because the address "North X West Y" or the like simply means that the place you are trying to find will be somewhere in the block, and blocks in the centre of the city can be quite large!

By JR train

The JR above-ground trains are reasonably priced and a good option for traveling in Sapporo and surroundings. The trains arrive and depart at specific times. You'll most likely want to take a JR train to and from New Chitose (also known as Shin-Chitose) airport.

By subway

Sapporo has three subway lines, all converging at Ōdōri station at the center of the grid. The Namboku Line ("North-South") runs north-south, the Tōzai Line ("East-West") runs along Odori west-east, and only the Tōhō Line breaks the mould by running in a C-shaped curve from northeast to southeast. Single fares cost ¥200 and up, with a choice between subway-only tickets or subway-transfer (bus and streetcar) tickets, or you can buy the oddly named With You stored value card (lowest denomination ¥1000). On weekends and public holidays, the Donichika-Kippu (ドニチカキップ, lit. "Saturday, Sunday, Holidays Ticket") allows you to travel all day, anywhere on the subway network for a bargain ¥500. On weekdays the "One-Day Card" allows the same, but costs ¥800. The "One-Day Card" isn't limited to weekends, but why pay ¥800 when a ¥500 card does the trick? That said, for ¥1000 you can buy a Bus & Subway transfer "One-Day Card" which allows travel on the entire suburban bus, subway and streetcar network, all day. For all of the above, Child tickets are usually about half of the adult fare.

By streetcar

A streetcar of relatively little utility to most visitors trundles around the southwestern side of Sapporo, connecting to the subway at Susukino. Its most important stops are probably the Chuo Library (Main Public Library in Sapporo) and the Mt. Moiwa Ropeway. It's most useful in winter, when walking the icy footpaths to get to the library or otherwise less-accessible south-western areas of the city becomes quite treacherous. Single-trip tickets are ¥170. They also sell a "Do-san-ko Pass" on weekends and holidays which allows you to ride all you want for a day for ¥300. Since this is less than the cost of 2 normal trips, it is usually advisable to buy this if you are going to make a round trip on an eligible day.

Tokeidai, Sapporo's icon

• Clock Tower (時計台 Tokeidai), close to Odori station. This rather diminutive building has become a symbol of Sapporo, mostly by being the oldest building still standing. It was constructed in 1878 for the Sapporo Agricultural College (now the Hokkaido University) and would not look out of place in "Smalltown U.S.A." ¥200 for entry, the inside has a small retrospective of its history. However, visitor beware, this is for some reason a mecca for Japanese tourists coming to Sapporo who feel that no trip to Sapporo would be complete without a photo in front of the Tokeidai, but was actually recently rated as Japan's third "most disappointing" tourist attraction!

• Ishiya Chocolate Factory [4] A 15-20 minute subway ride away from Odori park, the chocolate factory has an incredibly corny, but fun, tour building up to a view of the actual chocolate making floor, and ending with a random toy museum. Also there are two restaurants, a souvenir store, and an hourly robot show complete with annoying music. Famous for its white chocolate, which is sold under the brand "White Lovers" (白い恋人 shiroi koibito), and is only available in Hokkaido.

• Odori Park Sapporo's most famous park, it is in the center of town and is considered to be a symbol of Sapporo. Although quite narrow (one might argue that it is a nice boulevard), the park is quite long, stretching over fifteen blocks across downtown Sapporo. Filled with (during the summer) numerous flowers, trees, and fountains, Odori Park provides a welcome respite from the maddening crowds of the surrounding city.

• Sapporo TV Tower, the eastern end of Odori, [5]. A tourist trap carbon copy of the Eiffel Tower with an observation deck at 90m (entry ¥700).

• Sapporo Beer Museum, North 7, East 9, next to the Ario shopping center, tel. 01-1731-4368, [6]. Run by the Sapporo Brewing Company, offers free guided tours covering the history of beer in Japan and the process of brewing. The museum is not very big and the printed descriptions on the displays are not in English. Despite this it makes an interesting diversion for an hour or so, and anyway admission is free. At the end of the tour you can "taste" all the different beers for a small fee (¥200 for a mid sized glass, or a sample of three for ¥400). Finish off the tour with more brews at the Beer Garden next door (see Eat). 9AM-6PM, get there on the Loop 88 Factory bus line from the Odori subway station, or by walking from JR Naebo station (ask a ticket office attendant there for a map).

Hyakunen Kinentou, Memorial Tower near Pioneer Village

• Pioneer Village, A large historical village on the outskirts of Sapporo, offers a snapshot of Japan in the newly-industrialised age. The front gate (an old railway station) opens up into a series of opens alleys and buildings of the style pre-20th century. Also a variety of different gardens and shrines. Don't expect costumed performers however - everything is self guided (so a Japanese host would be advisable). Just down the road there is the 100th anniversary Memorial Park (Hyakunen Kinentou), the site of a giant (and somewhat imposing) tower which can be climbed, providing a good vantage point of Sapporo (though quite some distance from the city centre) and surrounding mountains. Admission is free, but expect to compete with school groups.

• Moiwayama, or Moiwa Mountain, overlooks the city and is especially worthwhile at night to observe the city-lights. Can be reached by cable car, or with a car, the summit (and tourist centre) can be reached directly. To reach drive there by car, a small entrance fee is required, but the lookout has free entry.

View from Asahiyama overlooking Sapporo city

• Asahiyama Koen, (admission free) beautiful flower garden and natural parklands that overlooks the city centre. Noted for being a good place for romance, and is particularly good for cherry blossoms in spring and autumn colours, and local wildlife such as squirrels and foxes (somewhat of a feral pest around Sapporo).

• Hokkaido Shrine, (admission free).

Autumn at Houkaikyou Dam, Jozankei

• Jozankei, on the southern outskirts of Sapporo (but still nominally in the city), approximately 40-60 minute drive. This area is famous for both its onsen (due perhaps to proximity to Sapporo) and the very beautiful autumn colours (especially around the Houhaikyou Dam).
• JR Tower. The newly redeveloped building near JR Sapporo Station marks the center of the city. It is higher than the TV tower observatory is. Affording panoramic views. As a bonus for men, the observation level has a men's room with a view!  edit
• Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, [7]. Located in a small park, this modern art museum offers a collection that includes both Japanese and Western art, as well as as temporary exhibits.  edit
• Sapporo Art Park, [8]. Containing over 74 modern and contemporary sculptures, this art park makes for a great day trip.  edit
• Moerenuma Park, [9]. A popular excursion for Japanese families, this park offers several acres of carefully manicured grass and monumental landscape installations. Highlights include a 5-story glass pyramid and a man-made mountain, from which one can see all of Sapporo. free.  edit
• Hokkaido University Botanic Garden (北海道大学植物園 Hokkaido Daigaku Shokubutsuen), T060-0003 Sapporo-shi Chuo-ku N3 W8 (From JR Sapporo train station, go south 3 blocks and west 5 blocks), ☎ 011-221-0066, [10]. 9AM-4PM. A large botanical garden. There are two rock gardens, a rose garden, a lilac display, a greenhouse, and various other gardens. There's a small museum in the garden with artifacts from Hokkaido, some dating back to the Meiji period (no extra cost). In the winter, only the greenhouse and museum are of interest. ¥400.  edit

Edo-jo recreated from snow/ice at Yuki Matsuri

Historical theme of Perry arriving in Japan at Yuki Matsuri

• Sapporo Snow Festival (雪祭り　Yuki Matsuri), [11]. Held on the first week of February, this is Sapporo's largest event. The festival is best known for the ice sculpture competition attracting artists from around the world, competing to create the largest and most elaborate artworks from ice and snow. The festival is focused on Odori Koen, in the centre of Sapporo. It consists of a combination of large-scale replicas and artistic sculptures; children-aimed attractions; and a separate section for world-wide competitors (where you can see a wide range of smaller artistic sculptures). The festival should be enjoyed both in the day -- but particularly at night when the sculptures (especially the larger ones) are lit up. When the weather is warmer and there's a bit of melting, the smaller sculptures are literally remade every night to ensure that they are in perfect condition the next day. Book accommodation early, because Sapporo gets booked out during the festival.  edit
• Mt. Teine (手稲山　Teineyama). A ski mountain within easy drive from most of Sapporo. This ski mountain featured in the 1972 Winter Olympics. Offers a good mix of beginner and experienced slopes (in two distinct parks; Highlands and Olympia which have recently been connected). You can purchase a Skip (スキップ sukippu, ski + trip) ticket at any JR ticket office for roughly ¥4500 (depending on which station you start from) that includes roundtrip train tickets to JR Teine station, roundtrip bus tickets from Teine station to the ski area, and a four-hour lift ticket. At Teine station, make sure to exit at South gate #3 to find the correct bus.  edit
• Skiing. As befits a former Winter Olympics site, Sapporo is famous for its ski resorts, which are easily accessible by bus. Niseko, arguably Japan's top destination for powder, is two hours away by bus.

Catching kuwanomi(桑の実) 　Kuwanomi is popular nut in Souen. This nut is red or black color and sweet. Especially, black nut is very sweet. Moth's larva likes them. We must wash them , because moth’s hairs adheres them. However, the kuwanomi is preserved, it is very delicious！ The jam is traditional food and very popular. In my elementary school , students make the jam every year. This event is traditional things in souen.

Buy

For those living in Japan who have an omiyage (souvenir) obligation to fill in your Japanese office when you return from your Hokkaido holiday, the best omiyage to buy in Sapporo is the ubiquitous Shiroi Koibito (白い恋人, "White Lovers"). It is a chocolate slice sandwiched in two wafers of sweet biscuit, individually wrapped and available boxed in a range of different quantities — tasty enough, but rather bland, and few Westerners would associate the taste with Japan. The original flavour is white chocolate sandwiched in plain sweet biscuit, but there is also a dark chocolate version. It's available in every souvenir store in the city (try the Sapporo JR area or Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade when shopping for souvenirs), and also most souvenir stores around the island.

Being a wintery kind of place for a good part of each year, Sapporo also has many stores selling all manner of snow goods. At the beginning and end of each season, many good deals on the previous year's gear can be found, often at discounts of up to 60% off, sometimes more! Also, there are several sports recycle stores in the city and suburbs where good deals on barely-used gear can be found, thanks to the Japanese fondness for having new gear every season. Ask Tourist Information to help you locate sports recycle and snow-goods stores.

• Nijō Ichiba (二条市場), South 2-3, East 1-2 (5 min from Odori Stn). 7 AM-6 PM. Sapporo's equivalent to Tokyo's famed Tsukiji Fish Market, this is where the best of Hokkaido's catch is traded — and like its Tokyo counterpart, there are many restaurants here offering top-quality, cut-price sushi and sashimi. Popular with locals and tourists alike.  edit

Eat

Sapporo is famous for hairy crab (毛蟹 kegani), an expensive treat available at any seafood restaurant, and miso ramen (味噌ラーメン), a more affordable local variation of the ubiquitous noodle dish with miso paste added to the stock. The ramen in particular will warm you up nicely on a chilly winter day. Sapporo soup curry (just what it sounds like) is also increasingly famous.

As elsewhere in Hokkaido, you can also enjoy dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, chocolate and ice cream), seafood (especially as sushi), fruits (honeydew melon, strawberries) and meat (sausages, ham, bacon and beef).

• Aji No Tokeidai (味の時計台), [12]. The best-known ramen noodle chain in Sapporo, now franchised around the country. Many famous people have eaten here including former Japanese prime minister, Tomiichi Murayama. Miso ramen (¥630) is the most popular dish, but if you want something special, order the bata-kon ramen, an Hokkaido specialty made with a hearty broth of corn and butter.

• Ramen Yokochō (ラーメン横丁), just east of Susukino Station. Also known as Ramen Gai, this alley is chock full of ramen shops of all varieties. Get butter corn ramen, crab ramen, and even scallop ramen. It's touristy but fun, and locals come here as well.

• Sapporo Beer Garden. At the same location as the Beer Museum is the Beer Garden, an incredibly popular Genghis Khan (mutton barbeque) restaurant. Even though the dining rooms span three large buildings, come early and expect to wait. The restaurant offers 100-minute all-you-can-eat and all you can drink plans, as well as à la carte food and drink if you'd prefer. Warning: you should not plan to wear your best clothes, as the atmosphere is incredibly heavy with the scents of cooking meat (plastic coats are provided - seriously)

• Romantei One of the most popular sweets shops. Famous for its Chocolate Mont Blanc, a delicious concoction of sponge cake, whipped cream and ganache. Other delectables include cream puffs, apple pie, and strawberry bavarian. Located at Moiwa Mountain.

• Hiraku. Specializes in Hokkaido oysters served both Japanese and Western style, although there are other options on the menu as well. Reasonable prices, friendly atmosphere, popular.

Drink

The drink of choice when in Sapporo is obviously Sapporo beer, and the cheapest way to get really snockered is the factory tour (see See). Also Sapporo Beer is said to slightly lighten the effects of Hay Fever. - Aki Tsukioka

Susukino (すすきの), to the south of the center, is one of Japan's largest nightlife (and red-light) districts. It has a somewhat unsavory reputation due to heavy yakuza involvement in the business, but is generally safe for travellers not actively looking for trouble. Get there on the subway Namboku line, Susukino station.

• O'Neills Irish pub, Sapporo station. An escape from Japan while you wait for your train: here you can watch baseball on the big screen, listen to U2 and eat fish and chips from photocopied(!) newspaper.
• Leibspeise - Otaru Beer (Local Brewery, German style beers), Chuo-Ku South 2-Jo West 3-Chome Parade Building 3F (Behind the PARCO Department Store), ☎ 011-252-5807, [13]. M-F 5PM-midnight, Sa Su noon-midnight. A local Brewery offering real German style beers on the third floor of the Parade Building located just behind the PARCO Department Store. Great All-You-Can Drink Beer Specials, ¥1,800 for 2 hours! Rotisserie grill and great range of food in addition to excellent beer, Otaru Beer's Pilsner, Dunkel, Weiss, Otaru Beer's Non-Alcohol and Super Seasonal Beers. Free WiFi on Request. Friday Evenings: All-You-Can-Drink Specials! cheap.  edit
• TK6 Bar and Grill (International people Pub), South 2 West 6 (Tanuki-kouji arcade), ☎ 011 272 6665, [14]. 4PM-2AM. Since opening in 2006 it has become the most popular pub between foreigners living in Sapporo, Australian and Japanese bi-lingual staff will welcome anybody. Worldwide beers available at cheap prices. Food * Tex Mex, Fish & chips, and beautiful home made beef burgers. Free WIFI Hotspot. Open from Midday on Weekends. cheap.  edit
• Paul's Cafe`, North 5 West 5 (just next door from JR railway station in Century Royal Hotel Building). 11AM-10PM. Belgium beer and rotisserie grill chicken. Waiting for your train Paul will delight you with his wonderful beer selection. Chep prices and good service.  edit
• Wine Bar Giulio Vierci (Hokkaido Food - Real Italian Style), Chuo-Ku South 3 West 4 (Silver Bldg 2F), ☎ 011-271-5923, [15]. M-Sa noon-2:30PM 5PM-midnight L.O. 11PM. One of the only places to get authentic Italian wine and food in Sapporo. Stop by for real Italian snacks, or multi-course meals to enjoy along with wine by the glass or by the bottle. Giulio has many well-known Italian wines priced for those on a budget as well as those who would like to splurge. Wine Bar Giulio Vierci is the place to go for those who wish to have a wonderful evening in Italy while in Sapporo!  edit

• Ino's Place, in Shiroishi (白石) (7 minutes from Ō-Dōri station on the Tōzai line), [16]. Describes itself as Backpackers Hostel and is a very friendly, open and clean place offering dorm room beds for ¥3400. Slightly more expensive private rooms are available as well, as are discounts for long-term stays. Several 24h showers and a Japanese-style bath, free to use kitchen, a comfy living area and reasonably priced internet access make this one a sure winner.

• Safro Spa & Capsule Hotel, South 6 West 5 (in Susukino), [17]. Formerly the Hokuo, this is a capsule hotel bolted on to an extensive spa complex, with separate floors for men and women. ¥3800 gets you entry into the spa and a capsule for the night, with an extra ¥500 slapped on top on weekends. You can come and go freely, but your bill must be settled before they will let you out.

• Auto Resort Takino in Sapporo's Minami-ku (南区 - South Ward). From approximately the last week of April through the first week of November, there is a campground in Takino, which is ¥1000 for the site and ¥800 per person. Near the Art Park. Has all the facilities you would expect in a suburban campground, including a playground, restrooms, cooking area, water, public phones, vending machines, showers, store, laundromat. Ph. 011-594-2121. According to Outdoor Japan (www.outdoorjapan.com) "there are some beautiful waterfalls to hike around in Takino Suzuran Koen and the campsite is large and comfortable".

• DK Guest House Sapporo (South 3 West 13), a guest house, where many international students stay. Rent is paid monthly and the lowest standard room (comes with a fridge and air conditioning) costs ¥45,000/month, en-suites available from ¥55,000. Service is friendly and the guest house is only 15 minutes away from Susukino.

• Comfort Hotel Sapporo, 9 nishi (West) Minami 3jo (South), near Susukino, about 20-minute walk from JR Station. Midrange western-style rooms; bathrooms included, Internet computer available in lobby.

• Sapporo Garland Hotel Nishi-5-1 Minami-7, Chuo-ku (Susukino or Nakajima Koen station, Five minute walk)+81 11-521-1521, fax +81 11-521-7521. This hotel is centrally located in the Susukino entertainment district of the city. The Susukino area is full of Izakaya (Japanese-style drinking bars), restaurants, karaoke booths, amusement arcades, and ramen noodle stands - including the famous Ramen Yokocho (“Ramen Alley”).[18]

• Sapporo Grand Hotel was first established in 1934 and is a historical monument in itself. Although some of the rooms are rather aged, it is a stylish hotel and is very conveniently located.
• Washington Hotel One Right next to the train station and newly remodeled as of August of 2006. Each room includes a complementary computer and internet access to use while you stay.

Contact

There are a quite few internet cafes in the city, ask at the International Plaza (in Sapporo JR or near the Clock Tower) for current information and directions.

• Biz Cafe, 2-minute walk from the North exit of Sapporo Station on 2F behind the Hokuyo Bank. M-F 10AM-8PM. Open tables with fast LAN and wireless. Unlimited Internet, tea, coffee and soft drinks included in the price of ¥500.
• YahooBB Park, near Tokyu Hands and the North Streetcar Terminus has shut down. Be aware that many tourist guides and pamphlets still list it as open. It has been replaced with a suit retailer.
• Tully's Coffee, on the 6th floor of Stellar Plaza Central (a shopping center located in the same building as the JR Sapporo station), has been reported to have an excellent free WiFi hotspot and a great view.

• Otaru, approximately 60 minutes by car (shorter by expressway). A very pleasant small town located on the coast, and famous (within Japan) for its attractive canal which is very European in design. Also famous for its seafood, music box museum (with associated tourist shop) and glass works. Also famous for being the setting of the movie Love Letter .
• Niseko, arguably Japan's top destination for powder skiing and snowboarding, is two hours away by bus.
• The hot springs and mossy canyons of Shikotsu-Toya National Park are within easy striking distance of Sapporo.

Asahikawa ← Iwamizawa ←

N  S

→ Otaru → Hakodate

From LoveToKnow 1911

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

English

Proper noun

Sapporo

1. a capital city of Hokkaido, Japan

Translations

Anagrams

• Anagrams of aoopprs
• apropos

Japanese

Proper noun

Sapporo (hiragana さっぽろ)

1. 札幌: Sapporo