How To Go To Sapporo: The Ultimate Guide (2024)

Last Updated on August 4, 2024 by Audrey

Need a Sapporo Guide? Here’s the best travel tips and tricks when you’re exploring Hokkaido’s biggest city!

If you’re planning a trip to Hokkaido’s largest city, you might not know what to expect. Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, the northern region of Japan. It’s best known for its amazing snow season, as well as the annual Sapporo Snow Festival that brings millions of visitors in February.

However, there’s much more to Sapporo than just the snow season. It’s a booming, bustling city with tons of things to see and do. In addition to being a foodie lover’s dream, it has a great nightlife. However, if you venture a bit out of the city, you’ll be met with stunning natural landscapes, hot spring towns galore, and crystal-clear lakes. Sapporo has everything, but there are a couple things you should know before you start your trip!

Other Sapporo posts to check out: 👇

The Best 5-Day Sapporo Itinerary For First-Timers

The Best Day Trips From Sapporo, Hokkaido (2024)

Unlocking Sapporo: What Makes It Worth Visiting In 2024

The BEST Places To Stay In Sapporo, Japan (2024)

Sapporo Pre-Travel Tips

Weather in Sapporo

Sapporo is well known for being a winter wonderland, bringing in 190 inches (that’s about 16 feet, or 6 meters!) of snow a year. For that reason, most would automatically assume that winter is the best time to visit Sapporo. But that’s not necessarily true!

I’m probably biased because I went to Sapporo during cherry blossom season, but I loved Sapporo in the springtime!

Any time is the best time to visit Sapporo, because every season has something new to see and enjoy.

Spring (April-June)

I went to Sapporo to see the cherry blossoms in late April to early May, which was perfect. If you’re interested in cherry blossom viewing, spring is the time to go!

Hokkaido is a bit colder than the southern part of Japan, which is why the cherry blossoms bloom a bit later. The cherry blossom viewing season starts in mid/late April and goes into early May.

The viewing season does run into Japan’s Golden Week, but I found that the city wasn’t abnormally busy. In fact, I thought that it was the perfect medium between being too deserted versus being so packed that I couldn’t breathe (ahem, Tokyo).

👍 Pro tip: Before heading out to the park, look at the park’s Facebook page or a site that tracks the cherry blossoms (here, or my favorite here). Up-to-date information is provided regarding the flowers and if they are blossoming, not yet bloomed, or starting to scatter. Don’t forget Google Translate!

Summer (July-August)

Sapporo is perfect during the summer months because it doesn’t get too hot. If you’re interested in outdoor activities like hiking then you’d want to visit in the summer. You’ll avoid the rain, and you’ll be able to see all of Sapporo’s flourishing landscapes outdoors!

Fall (September-November)

Sapporo turns into a picturesque scene of yellow-red foliage, changing colors with the season. For the best view of the changing leaves, October has the most vibrant colors. Nature is abundant near the city, and you have the best of both worlds coming to Sapporo.

As it gets closer to winter, temperatures will drop to as low as 20s °F or single digits °C, so bring a thick jacket (and don’t forget the gloves!)

Winter (December-march)

If you are coming to Sapporo and are interested in snow sports, then you have to come in the winter. Sapporo and Hokkaido are famous for their powder-soft snow, and lots of it! You’ll get to do all the snow activities you’re dreaming of. Just don’t forget to pack a thick jacket, and bundle up!

February is also when the famous Sapporo Snow Festival takes place, which brings in millions of viewers annually. There are beautiful models of famous landscapes that will take your breath away. Artists come up with innovative, creative designs that are colorfully lit up at night. It’s a must-see!

Outlets

Japan plugs use the same type A plugs as the United States, so you won’t have any trouble charging your essentials. I bought a plug adapter just in case, and it became dead weight in my suitcase because I never used it.

You’ll be able to charge your phone and laptop with ease. Leave the hair dryer at home, because all Japanese hotels provide it, along with many other amenities! One hotel I stayed at had a VR headset you could rent. No, really.

Anyways, visitors from the States will have no problem with outlets in Japan. However, the voltage used in Japan is lower than what devices use in the United States. If you need to operate something that requires a high voltage, then look into getting a plug adapter (though I really don’t think you’ll need it).

If you’re not sure whether you want to go to Sapporo yet, check out my post to see if Sapporo is worth it for you.

Wifi

While in previous years, pocket WiFi was essential when visiting Japan, I feel like free WiFi is now widely accessible in most areas. Cellular companies have also improved and offer relatively low rates per day for international travelers.

There is almost always a free WiFi network available in Sapporo for travelers; you just have to sign in by email or phone. It can be tedious when the login resets, but I was able to get by with the free WiFi and only sparingly used my 3G cellular data.

As long as you have minimal 3G coverage, you should be able to get by. However, if you’d rather ensure that WiFi is always accessible or don’t have access to any cellular data while you are visiting, pocket WiFi is a great option.

Cash

Sapporo is a very developed city, so almost all places (restaurants, buses, trains) accept credit cards and tap-to-pay. Japan is so technologically advanced that you can conveniently pay for everything with your card or phone wallet. I only experienced one bus that didn’t accept transit cards or credit cards, and that was in Hakodate (3-4 hours away from Sapporo).

For reference, I brought around $1000 USD for a 2-week trip, and it was excessive. Not to say that I didn’t spend a lot of money (😔), but I was able to use my credit card for everything. By the end of it, I just started buying my meals in cash to use it up.

Nevertheless, it is always a good idea to bring some cash with you on your travels. I believe that $500 USD for two weeks would be more than sufficient. You’ll probably only use cash when you visit shrines or more rural areas.

How to get to Sapporo

USA TO TOKYO

Okay, here’s where it gets a little tricky. There’s no way for people in the United States to fly directly to Sapporo. You’ll have to take a flight to Tokyo (NRT or HND) first, then take a second, (or in my case, third) flight to get to the Hokkaido region.

I took two flights to get to Tokyo (14.5 hours including layovers), then took another 2-hour flight to Sapporo after a 3-hour layover. That’s right, it took me almost 20 hours to reach Sapporo! That’s pretty long, don’t you think?

I know that may deter you from heading over to Sapporo, but trust me. This city is well worth the extra effort. It’s absolutely beautiful here, not to mention fun!!

If you need a rest break before heading over to Sapporo, you can start your trip off in Tokyo for a couple of days before heading over to Sapporo. I was on a time crunch because we wanted to see the cherry blossoms, so we did all three flights in one day.

Looking for a Sapporo itinerary? I got you! ⛄

TOKYO TO SAPPORO

By Plane (NRT):

When I landed in Narita (NRT), we landed in the International Terminal 1. During our 3-hour layover, we also printed out our SUICA Transit cards and shipped our luggage.

We entered Gate 74 for our Jetstar flight, but little did we know that we were in the wrong terminal! Jetstar flights are in Terminal 3, so you have to take a bus from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3. Don’t sweat too much though, because buses run every 15 minutes and the ride itself is only around 10 minutes.

However, be aware that local flights in Japan have a carry-on weight limit of 7-10 kg! For Jetstar, my carry-on had to be 7 kg (around 15 lbs). If you take ANA, it’s 10 kg (20 lbs). Make sure to verify if there’s a weight limit regarding your local Sapporo flight. I’m a tiny bit of an over-packer, so this was pretty difficult for me.

✅ Pro tip: Use Japan’s luggage shipping service to ship your check-in around Japan. I put my carry-on in my check-in, and then shipped it to Sapporo. I only brought a personal item on my weight-restricted Jetstar flight.

Once you get off that Sapporo plane, the hard part is over! Now you can focus on the best vacation of your life!

By Train

Before I forget, I should also include that you can reach Sapporo from Tokyo by train. But the total journey would take about 7.5 hours. I wouldn’t really want that, but each to their own. I recommend you work around the weight limit and hop on a local flight.

Sapporo Airport (CTS) to City Center

By Train (Recommended)

You might be surprised to find out that the closest airport to Sapporo is not actually in Sapporo, it’s in Chitose, which is 35 minutes away from the city center by train, or an hour by car.

I strongly urge you to take the train, because the Japanese have gotten public transit down to a science!

The Rapid Airport Train departs from New Chitose Airport (CTS) to Sapporo every 15 minutes. It’s a quick and sweet 35-minute ride, and it’s ¥1150 ($7 USD) for a one-way trip.

You can add reserved seats for 530 yen more if you’d like, but it’s not necessary. I got on the train around 9:30 PM on a Monday, and it was crowded but everyone had a place to sit. And the seats are very comfortable! America could never.

Including the train transit, it took me around 21 hours to get to Sapporo. It was long and arduous, but totally worth it. If you decide to get to Sapporo in one day, be aware that your entire day will be dedicated to travel.

By Airport Bus

There are also regular airport buses that run from CTS to Sapporo. While ticket prices are cheap (¥1,100) I don’t particularly recommend them because they take around an hour and 20 minutes to reach Sapporo Station, whereas the Rapid Airport train takes 40.

However, there are a couple of advantages to taking these buses. The first is that there is lots of space for your luggage to be stored. However, I saw many people bring their check in luggage on the Rapid Airport train with no problem. Also, if you plan on shipping your luggage to Sapporo, then you don’t need the space.

Secondly, many of the buses stop at designated hotels in Sapporo, so you might actually save time if the bus stops at your hotel. I would check the official website to see if your hotel is included on the designated stop list and make your decision from there.

By Car rental

If you plan on traveling to more rural areas in Hokkaido that are not easily accessible by train, then you can consider getting a car while you are in Sapporo. However, unless you are staying for longer than a week, I don’t recommend a car rental.

If this is your first time visiting Japan or Hokkaido, I would instead encourage you to use public transit and book a tour for the days that you plan to visit attractions that are not accessible by train. I find that it’s much easier in some cases to go on a tour rather than renting a car, but I understand that tours can be pricey, are fast paced, and are not for everyone.

If you rent a car, be aware that you need an international driver’s license first. During the winter, snow tires will also be a necessity.

There are car rental counters at New Chitose Airport, which include Nippon, Times, Nissan, and Toyota. Booking in advance will expedite the rental pickup process, which we all know can take a long time!

It will take about an hour to drive from CTS to Sapporo, depending on traffic conditions. There will also be a toll that will charge you around 1,330 yen.

🚗 Book your car rental in advance here! Klook is a reliable booking service frequently used in Japan.

By Taxi/Airport Transfer

You can also book an Airport Transfer from the New Chitose Airport to Sapporo if you’d like to save the hassle of transferring from the train.

✈️ Book your Airport Transfer from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo here! 🚖

Getting around Sapporo

Sapporo By Foot

If you chose a hotel anywhere near Sapporo Station, Susukino, or Odori Park, good for you! That makes getting around to most of Sapporo’s attractions super easy. Most of Sapporo’s main attractions like Hokkaido Shrine, Odori Park, and the Sapporo Beer Museum are only a 10 minute walk away.

Many of the malls and shops are located centrally next to these 3 areas, so you can explore most of the city on foot.

Sapporo By Subway

I love Japan’s subway system so much. It is tremendously easy to get around by train, and the trains are known for almost always being on time!

Subway fares start at ¥210 (less than $2 USD) per ride.

Sapporo is very accessible by train, and uses three main subway lines: Namboku (Green), Tozai (Orange), and Toho (Blue). These trains are indicated by color, and signs are displayed in both Japanese and English.

Despite the color coding and English translation, it can still be a little difficult to find your way around if you’re still getting use to the transit system. There is always an available information desk, and the workers are so kind! Don’t be shy, they are very used to helping foreigners and can point you to the right way.

SUICA Card

I highly recommend you purchase a transit card for the subway. Japan uses multiple IC/Transit cards, and they are used interchangeably. You can use them on train rides, convenience stores, vending machines, and even some shops and restaurants!

I used SUICA because SUICA and PASMO seem to be the easiest to load via Apple Pay. You can buy it at JR East Travel Service Center in New Chitose Airport, and pretty much any airport or train station. The card itself is ¥1000 to purchase, then you must load it with money (¥1000-¥10,000 at a time).

Buying the SUICA or any IC transit card makes it extremely easy to ride the subway or train. You no longer need to buy a train ticket at the ticket vending machine and attempt to navigate the English directions. It also negates the possibility of buying the wrong train ticket.

Once you load the card, in order to use it you simply just tap the transit card to the train station entrance machine, and that’s it! It makes traveling faster, and easier.

Loading IC card via Apple Pay

I never had to physically load money into my SUICA card, other than the initial time (which can be done at the ticket machine). To add it to your Apple Wallet, simply go to the Wallet App and press Transit Card. You’ll see SUICA near the bottom, along with PASMO and ICOCA.

Press Transfer Existing card, and enter the last 4 digits of your SUICAID Number, as well as your Date of Birth. After that, you’ll hold the SUICA card on top of your phone. After some Apple technology magic, the card will be loaded, and you’re good to go!

It does take a few minutes for the card to transfer over though, so you don’t want to transfer it while you’re on the go.

After you convert SUICA to a virtual card, you can no longer use the physical card. Whenever you run low on funds, you can simply transfer money from an existing card on your Apple Wallet! It makes things much easier. If you run into any errors, updating your phone typically will fix the problem.

Use Up Your IC Card Before the Trip Ends

One thing to note is you cannot transfer SUICA funds back into your regular credit card or cash. It’s basically use it or lose it. Once it’s loaded, you have to make use of it or you’ll still have the SUICA funds after you return from Japan.

However, since you can use it for pretty much anything, it’s not that hard to get rid of the funds as the end of your trip approaches. You can use it on vending machine drinks, or convenience store food, so don’t sweat it too much.

One-Day Passes

If you’re going to be making multiple subway trips in one day, you can buy a One-Day Ticket for the subway. It costs ¥830 for adults and ¥420 for children, and can be purchased at any subway ticket-vending machine or transit pass sales offices.

You can also opt for the Donichika Ticket, which is a one-day ticket for the subway that can only be used on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays (including Dec. 29-Jan 3.). The Donichika Ticket is ¥520 for adults and ¥260 for children.

JR Hokkaido Pass

If you’re planning on traveling all around Hokkaido, you may want to consider the JR Hokkaido Pass. It offers unlimited travel within the Hokkaido region via JR Hokkaido Trains (including Limited Express/Express and local trains), as well as JR Buses.

It’s relatively affordable, costing ¥20,000 for a 5-day pass for the whole Hokkaido Region. One huge bonus to the pass is that you can reserve seats in advance, which is perfect when traveling long distances. However, note that the local subway lines you’ll be taking are not JR, so the pass will not work. It’s really more for long-distance travel between cities, like a day trip.

Before you purchase it, you should use a Japan Rail Pass Calculator to determine if the places you want to visit will cost more or less with the pass. In my case, I was taking a long train ride at 7 am and I wouldn’t be able to pick up the pass in time because the ticket office opened at 8 am the next day. After I used the pass calculator, I realized I was breaking even with or without the pass, so I didn’t end up purchasing it.

You can read more about it on the official website to determine if it suits your schedule.

✅ Pro Tip: The Hokkaido JR Pass can only be picked up in Hokkaido areas, such as New Chitose, Sapporo, Noboribetsu, and Asahikawa. You cannot pick the pass up in Tokyo or areas that are not Hokkaido.

Sapporo By Local Buses

You can use the local bus system to get around Sapporo. A popular loop bus is called the “Sapporo Walk” bus (Chou Bus 88), that heads to the Sapporo Beer Garden and Sapporo Factory. The Fare is ¥210 for adults, and ¥110 for children one way.

There are even some buses that take you to Mt. Moiwa, Otaru, and even as far as Jozankei hot springs, which is an hour away. You can learn more on the official website here.

Sapporo By Streetcars

There are local trams known as Sapporo Streetcars (Shiden), which are loop trams that will take you around central and western Sapporo. You can use these streetcars to get to Mt. Moiwa, and popular neighborhoods like Susukino.

The Dosanka pass is available for purchase on Saturday, Sunday, and national holidays. It’s a one-day pass that is ¥360, allowing you to hop on and off the streetcar.

Sapporo By Tour Package

Booking a tour is my preferred method for exploring numerous landmarks within a limited timeframe. Tours offer convenient access to places that might be challenging to reach without a car, or if you have a lot of sites that you want to see that require lots of driving around the city.

While you may spend less time at each spot, the opportunity to see a diverse range of attractions in a relatively short period is worth it. And having someone else drive you is a big win for me!

I was able to see Lake Toya, Otaru, Jozankei, Noribetsu and other cities near Sapporo by booking a tour, and I recommend doing the same if you have a couple of extra days to explore!

Places to shop in Sapporo

My favorite place to shop in Sapporo is Tanukikojo Shopping Arcade, because it’s right in the heart of downtown and has lots of restaurants, vintage shops, and the awesome department store Mega Don Quijote.

My second favorite is Sapporo Station, mostly due to the convenience of having tons of shops right next to the train station! I’ll also include a couple more shopping malls here, so check them out before your trip!

What to eat in Sapporo

Sapporo is well known for its delicious foods, and has many regional Hokkaido specialties that you should try while you’re there!

Miso Ramen 🍜

Ramen with a rich and flavorful broth. Miso paste, a traditional Japanese seasoning made from fermented soybeans, gives it a distinct savory and slightly sweet taste.

Soup Curry 🍛

Sapporo is famous for its soup curry, featuring a lighter broth and an abundance of vegetables.

Jingisukan (lamb barbecue) 🍖

Jingisukan isn’t just a delicious lamb barbecue, it’s also about the ambiance! Try some delicious lamb barbecue with family or friends in a casual setting for a great time.

❔ Did you know? Cooking barbecue under the cherry blossom trees during spring is considered a tradition.

Sapporo Crab 🦀

There are so many varieties of crab that are sold in Sapporo. Try the humongous tarabagan, the largest type of king crab.

Sushi 🍣

The quality of the fish in Sapporo is outstanding! There is delicious toro (fatty tuna), salmon, uni, and even crab sashimi!

Where to stay in Sapporo

For the sake of convenience, I recommend staying either near Sapporo Station or in Susukino, where most of the city’s nightlife and restaurants are located. Either of these areas would make a good base with plenty of hotel options and easy access to transportation. Check out my guide on where to stay in Sapporo for more details!

Since you’ll likely be traveling mostly by train, being close to a train station is beneficial. Sapporo can get chilly at night, so ensure your hotel is conveniently located near a station.

Sapporo Travel Tips

The locals living here are tremendously polite and nice, so make sure to return the same manners! Here are some tips to keep in mind while you are enjoying your time in Japan.

Don’t talk too loudly on the subway

I’m sure that you’ll be riding on the subway quite frequently during your trip. While it doesn’t matter in America, it’s generally considered impolite to talk loudly while you are on the subway in Japan, so be mindful!

Don’t litter!

You’ll find that there aren’t many trashcans around the city, so you will have limited opportunities to throw trash away while you are out. It’s best to bring an extra bag you can use to store your trash until you find a trashcan to unload it.

Smoking is still prevalent in Japan

While it is not very common, smoking is still prevalent in Japan compared to the United States. There are designated smoking areas in some public places like train stations, cafes, and restaurants.

It never really bothered me because the areas are well separated, and I didn’t really smell smoke often. However, if you have a sensitive respiratory system, it’s good to be aware that you may encounter people smoking more often in Japan.

The Ultimate Sapporo Guide: Conclusion

Now, I think you’re ready to head over to Hokkaido’s biggest city! There is so much more to Sapporo than meets the eye.

Sapporo truly is a city that has something for everyone. Its blend of natural beauty, culinary delights, and urban sophistication ensures a wonderful trip that you will never forget. So pack your bags, prepare your itinerary, and get ready to explore the captivating city of Sapporo!