{"id":2303,"date":"2017-10-09T07:00:51","date_gmt":"2017-10-09T05:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/?p=2303"},"modified":"2021-07-20T15:21:17","modified_gmt":"2021-07-20T13:21:17","slug":"sapporo-travel-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/sapporo-travel-guide","title":{"rendered":"Sapporo travel guide: Access and how to get there"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sapporo is the fifth largest city in Japan and capital of the northern island of Hokkaido. In less than two centuries, Sapporo has enjoyed rapid growth from a settlement of only seven individuals to a thriving metropolis.<\/p>\n<p>In the language of the Ainu people, indigenous inhabitants of northern Japan, the word <em>Sapporo<\/em> means \u201can important river flowing through a plain.\u201d Today, however, Sapporo is known for much more than its river. In 1972, this city hosted the Olympic Winter Games. A snow festival is held yearly, and Sapporo is also famous for its ramen and beer.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_white no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Table of Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#How_to_get_to_Sapporo_by_train\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">1<\/span> How to get to Sapporo by train<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Tokyo_to_Sapporo\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">2<\/span> Tokyo to Sapporo<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Kyoto_to_Sapporo\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">3<\/span> Kyoto to Sapporo<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Osaka_to_Sapporo\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">4<\/span> Osaka to Sapporo<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Getting_around_Sapporo\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">5<\/span> Getting around Sapporo<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Things_to_do_in_Sapporo\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">6<\/span> Things to do in Sapporo<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"How_to_get_to_Sapporo_by_train\">How to get to Sapporo by train<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Travel to Sapporo by train is fully covered by the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\">Japan Rail Pass<\/a><\/strong>. This is an affordable option with the added bonus of views of much of the Japanese countryside.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Tokyo_to_Sapporo\">Tokyo to Sapporo<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>From Tokyo Station, take the JR Tohoku \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/shinkansen-bullet-trains\">Hokkaido Shinkansen<\/a> to Shin-Hakodate Station.<\/strong> This is the halfway mark of the nearly eight-hour journey. You may want to consider <strong>a stopover in nearby Hokuto<\/strong>, as there are a number of temples, shrines, and other places of interest in the area, including a mountainous campground.<\/p>\n<p><strong>From Shin-Hakodate Station, you will take the Hokuto limited express or Super Hokuto trains to Sapporo Station.\u00a0<\/strong>Both are covered by the Japan Rail Pass.<\/p>\n<p>Flights are also available from Tokyo\u2019s Haneda and Narita airports to the Shin-Chitose Airport in Sapporo. Flight time is around 90 minutes. If you decide to take a flight, we suggest you first\u00a0check the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/japan-flight-discounts\">flight discounts<\/a> available for tourists!<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Kyoto_to_Sapporo\">Kyoto to Sapporo<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The journey by train from Kyoto to Sapporo takes around 11 hours. <strong>From Kyoto Station, take the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/tokaido-shinkansen-jr-pass\">Tokaido Shinkansen<\/a> to Tokyo Station.<\/strong> Then, proceed from Tokyo Station as described above. This is a great use of your JR Pass, as a one-week pass costs several thousand yen less than would the individual train fares.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Osaka_to_Sapporo\">Osaka to Sapporo<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>From Osaka, to begin your journey, take the Hikari train <strong>from Shin-Osaka Station to Tokyo Station.<\/strong> Then, proceed to Sapporo from Tokyo as described above.<\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, you may prefer the two-hour flight between Osaka and Sapporo. The Kobe, Kansai, and Itami airports all operate flights to Sapporo\u2019s Shin-Chitose Airport.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n            <a class=\"fasc-button banner-button-shortcode fasc-size-large fasc-type-flat fasc-rounded-medium ico-fa fasc-ico-after fa-chevron-circle-right fasc-style-bold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/the-japan-rail-pass\">\n                Buy your JR Pass\n            <\/a>\n        <\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Getting_around_Sapporo\"><strong>Getting around Sapporo<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Sapporo is unique in its rectangular street system, based on the North American style.<\/strong> It is among the simplest of Japanese cities for tourists to navigate, using its block system of compass directions and numbers.<\/p>\n<p>This system will aid you in getting to where you wish to go using Sapporo\u2019s efficient public transportation methods.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Your JR Pass is valid on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/buses\">JR Buses<\/a> in Hokkaido.<\/strong> Three local subway lines and a tram line are also available.\u00a0The three lines all connect with <strong>JR Sapporo Station<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Things_to_do_in_Sapporo\"><strong>Things to do in Sapporo<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As soon as you step off of your train, you will be greeted by all that Sapporo has to offer. <strong>The station itself hosts the T38 Observation Deck<\/strong>, and is surrounded by shopping centers and unique restaurants, such as the Sapporo Ramen Republic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sapporo is known for its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/skiing-snowboarding-japan\">snow and winter sports<\/a><\/strong>, and if traveling there in February, you are in for a special treat. The week-long <em>Sapporo Yuki Matsuri<\/em>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/sapporo-snow-festival\"><strong>Sapporo Snow Festival<\/strong><\/a>, features snow and ice sculptures and attracts more than two million visitors annually. This event arose from small beginnings in 1950, when high school students built snow statues in <strong>Odori Park<\/strong>. The 2019 festival is scheduled for January 31 to February 11.<\/p>\n<p>Odori is not the only park worth a visit in Sapporo. <strong>In the center of Sapporo, you will find the Botanic Garden<\/strong>, which preserves part of the area\u2019s original forest. Moerenuma Park on the city\u2019s outskirts is a former landfill transformed by Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Features of the park include two manmade mountains, a glass pyramid, and fountain shows.<\/p>\n<p><strong>History buffs will enjoy the Historic Village of Hokkaido, an open-air museum<\/strong>, as well as the Hokkaido Museum, which includes displays on the Ainu culture and local wildlife. The Clock Tower, or <em>Tokeidai<\/em>, was constructed in 1878 as part of a college and now serves as a museum. The clock itself was imported from Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. in 1881.<\/p>\n<p><strong>When your inner foodie gets hungry, check out the Shirio Koibito Park, a chocolate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/theme-parks-japan\">theme park<\/a><\/strong> in which visitors can tour a factory and museum as well as make their own sweet treats. Or, you may consider the Sapporo Beer Museum, celebrating Hokkaido as the \u201cbirthplace\u201d of Japanese beer. In addition to a museum, tastings are available.<\/p>\n<p>If you would like to make an excursion from the city during your stay in Sapporo, consider the <strong>Sapporo Teine Ski Resort<\/strong>, just 40 minutes away from city center.\u00a0The Olympic torch, as well as two Olympic ski runs, make this a unique place to hit the slopes.<\/p>\n<p>No matter your interests, you will find something to thrill you in the city of Sapporo!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sapporo is the fifth largest city in Japan and capital of the northern island of Hokkaido. In less than two centuries, Sapporo has enjoyed rapid growth from a settlement of only seven individuals to a thriving metropolis. In the language of the Ainu people, indigenous inhabitants of northern Japan, the word Sapporo means \u201can important river flowing through a plain.\u201d Today, however, Sapporo is known for much more than its river. In 1972, this city hosted the Olympic Winter Games. A snow festival is held yearly, and Sapporo is also famous for its ramen and beer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2305,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[],"acf":{"related_tours":{"tour_number":false},"bread_1":false,"bread_2":false,"bread_3":false,"bread_4":false,"bread_5":false,"bread_6":false,"bread_7":false,"bread_last":false,"custom_guide":"","pageresume":"Discover the young capital of Hokkaido, famous for its snow festival, ramen and beer. Get to Sapporo by bullet train and make the most of the JR Pass!","shortcodes":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Sapporo Travel Guide: Access and Attractions - JRailPass<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the young capital of Hokkaido, famous for its snow festival, ramen and beer. 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