The BEST Places to Stay in Sapporo, Japan (2024)
Last Updated on September 4, 2024 by Audrey
Looking for where to stay in Sapporo? Here are the BEST places to stay in Sapporo!
Sapporo is a magical place. Known as the biggest city in the northern Hokkaido region, this city has so much to do inside and around the region.
Known for the magical Sapporo Ice Festival, its amazing culinary dishes, and its namesake beer, you’ll have the best time while you’re here. There’s no doubt your experience will be taken to even greater heights by picking the best location to stay at!
It’s difficult to choose where you’ll set up camp while exploring this amazing city, but I’ve made that easy for you. I’ve compiled the best places to stay while in Sapporo, based on your specific preferences!
After this read, you’ll know exactly where you want to stay, and will be an expert on Sapporo before you know it!
Short on time? Here’s my top recommendation for where to stay in Sapporo for the first time! 👇
✔️ My neighborhood choice: Sapporo Station for easy transit around the city and Hokkaido, or Susukino for all the restaurants and activities.
My top picks of the best places to stay in Sapporo:
👉 Hotel in Sapporo Station: Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo West has big, luxurious rooms and a large public onsen.
✔️ Hotel in Susukino: Sapporo Stream Hotel, a brand new hotel that has cityscape views in every room.
👉 Ryokan in Susukino: Onsen Ryokan Yuen, for a high-end ryokan and onsen experience that you don’t have to leave the city to experience.
✔️ Hostel in Susukino: Wise Owl Hostels Sapporo, with many different room options to choose from, and consistently high reviews from returning customers.
Image Credit: Onsen Ryokan Yuen
Before I forget, don’t forget to check out my other Sapporo posts! 👇
Unlocking Sapporo: What Makes It Worth Visiting In 2024
The Best 5-Day Sapporo Itinerary For First-Timers
Where to Stay in Sapporo 2024: Sapporo Neighborhood Guide
Sapporo Station
Sapporo Station is one of my favorite neighborhoods to stay in when I’m in Sapporo because it makes traveling around so much easier! You can use Sapporo as a base and travel around northern Japan with ease. There are many places you can easily visit in a day when staying in Sapporo. If you’d like, you can check out my blog post about easy Day Trips from Sapporo.
In addition to ease of travel, there are tons of restaurants and shops near the train station. There are three different shopping malls in Sapporo Station: Paseo, Stellar Place, and Apia. I had a ton of fun shopping in Sapporo Station, and there are a couple more department stores adjacent to the station that are more geared towards bargain shoppers as well.
Due to its convenience, easy accessibility to the subway and shops, and delicious food all around the area, I think it’s one of the best places to stay if you’re visiting Sapporo for the first time or if you plan on traveling to other cities!
Odori Park
This huge park is located right in the heart of Sapporo! Odori Park is a street park that stretches for 12 blocks and takes 30 minutes to walk the whole length. It’s an oasis in the middle of a vibrant city.
Featuring 92 types of trees and flowers, it’s a beautiful place to walk through on a sunny afternoon. It also hosts several festivals every season, such as the Snow Festival in the winter or the Lilac Festival in the spring.
It’s very close to iconic landmarks of the city such as the Sapporo Clock Tower and the Sapporo TV Tower, an iconic 147-meter-high tower that is a notable symbol of the city, located at the end of Odori Park.
It’s perfectly in the middle of everything, and is about a 10-minute walk to all your favorite places: Nijo Market, Hokkaido Shrine, Susukino, and Sapporo Station. If you want to know how to fit everything in, check out my Sapporo Itinerary.
Susukino
Alright, I’ll be honest. Susukino is my favorite neighborhood in Sapporo. If you enjoy a fun nightlife in the city, love to make new friends, or are a big foodie, this is probably the best neighborhood for you.
Susukino is Sapporo’s entertainment district and one of the largest in Japan. It has tons of stores, bars, restaurants, clubs, and pachinko parlors. You can go out and do anything you want, really! However, it is also a red-light district, so you may see some adult-only areas.
Want to play arcade games until 4 in the morning? Or go to a fun bar or club? Then Susukino it is. I went out to a club at 9:30 PM on a Tuesday night, and there were still a lot of people in the club! Have I hyped it up enough for you?!
Regardless of where you end up, you’ll have a ton of fun in Susukino. A lot of places are open, and lots of people are around to meet and make friends with.
Nakajima Park
Nakajima Park is a beautiful urban park located right next to Susukino, in downtown Sapporo. It’s next to an astronomical observatory, a zoo, and several places to eat or shop around. But the highlight of this neighborhood is of course the stunning park itself.
The park has several trees and flower viewing areas, and the central highlight is the large Shobu-ike pond that you can even go boating in. In the winter, the park has a cross-country skiing course with free equipment rentals!
It’s the perfect place to take a relaxing stroll through. If you want a more scenic area, are bringing your family and want a large area for kids to play in, or just want to take in a different sight of the city, Nakajima Park may be the place for you.
South Sapporo
The south neighborhood of Sapporo is next to many scenic points, and is a super beautiful place to stay in. You’ll be near Mt. Moiwa, where a summit observatory provides breathtaking panoramic views of Sapporo. In fact, Mt. Moiwa Ropeway has been listed as one of the three major night views of Japan.
However, if you decide to stay here, you’ll have to rely on buses, taxis, or rent a car to get around the city. It’s a bit far from accessible subway stations. That’s the price to pay for such amazing views!
North Sapporo
I’m categorizing North Sapporo as upwards of the Toyo River, but not including the condensed areas such as Sapporo Station, Odori Park, and Susukino which are technically in the area range. I’ll be focusing on North Sapporo which is a little ways east from these denser neighborhoods.
North Sapporo has a couple of key attractions, such as the Sapporo Beer Garden and Moerenuma Park, which is usually quite out of the way to get to. It’s also where Hokkaido University is located, which is an attraction in its own right with a beautiful campus and garden.
There are limited options on where to stay if you’re interested in northern Sapporo, but it’s quieter than the city center and provides a more relaxing atmosphere.
Where To Stay In Sapporo For First-Time Visitors: Sapporo Station
If I was coming to Sapporo for the first time, I would choose to stay around Sapporo Station. My reasoning is that you probably will want to hop around Hokkaido a little bit and see as many sights as you possibly can. However, if you intend to only stay in Sapporo (not likely), then I would recommend Susukino instead.
Being near the station will help you tremendously and save precious time spent commuting around the city. Not only that, but it will be easy to take day trips and it’ll be a quick walk back home when you return late in the evening.
There are also a ton of shops and restaurants located inside the JR station. I’m talking about three different malls in the station alone! You won’t run out of places to eat at, either.
Where To Stay In Sapporo Station
⭐ Budget/Mid Range Hotel: HOTEL MYSTAYS Sapporo Station
HOTEL MYSTAYS is a great budget option for couples and/or families. It’s also probably the cheapest hotel option on this list close to the JR station.
If you get lucky, a room with a double-sized bed can be as cheap as $60 a night! Double beds can be a little hard to find when you’re looking for budget options, as many lower-priced hotels will opt for twin beds.
It’s in a prime location, being only a 2-minute walk to Sapporo Station. There’s even a breakfast option and free cancellation!
⭐ Budget/Mid-Range Hotel: Sapporo Washington Hotel Plaza
Sapporo Washington is another affordable option, located 5 minutes away from the station. Rooms have air conditioning, a TV with satellite, a fridge, and even a desk if you need to work remotely.
There is a buffet breakfast available every morning. The front desk is staffed 24/7, so you can check in anytime!
A typical night will cost around $70-90, depending on the month you decide to visit.
⭐ Mid Range/Luxury Hotel: Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo West
Image Credit: Mitsui Garden Sapporo West on Booking.com
If you want to try staying in an onsen during your stay in the city, Mitsui Garden has fantastic reviews. A public onsen is available here for those who’d like to experience public bathing (with tattoo stickers if needed)!
Just a 5-minute walk from Sapporo Station, Mitsui Garden is equipped with large, comfortable rooms. A big hotel room is rare in Japan, and these rooms have a luxurious atmosphere to them.
There’s a delicious Western-style breakfast and plenty of available amenities such as coffee and soda machines, robes, washers and dryers, and more. You won’t regret it if you stay here.
Although you may find a great deal If you come during the off-season, this hotel averages around $150 a night.
⭐Luxury Hotel: JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo
This four-star hotel has it all. It’s located inside the train station, making transportation easier than, well, anything really. You’ll have all the restaurants and shops to choose from.
The hotel itself has two restaurants that offer panoramic views of the city on the 35th floor of the building. There’s even a public onsen with various sauna rooms.. on top of the train station! It’s simply beautiful and top-of-the-line!
If you plan on taking the subway and exploring a lot of Hokkaido, you’ll love staying here. It has everything you could possible need, with tremendously easy transportation. If you have the budget for it, and don’t mind a splurge, this is the best luxury option out there.
⭐ Ryokan: Nakamuraya Ryokan
There are very few ryokans available next to the train station. Nakamuraya Ryokan is the only one that really fits the bill, and luckily is quite affordable too! It’s a 10-minute walk from the train station, next to the Hokkaido Government Office and bordering between Sapporo Station and Odori Park.
You can sleep in a traditional Japanese room here, with comfortable futons and tatami mats. The main highlight of this ryokan is the 24-hour public onsen! It’s extremely hard to find an onsen open all night.
With vending machines, washers and dryers, and a flat-screen TV, you’ll get the modern experience of traditional Japanese living. One caveat is although there is a dining area, it doesn’t look like this accommodation is currently serving breakfast. However, make sure to confirm the current status.
An average night is around $115. There is free cancellation as well, so you don’t have to stress about refunds.
⭐ Extended Stays: Super Convenient Sapporo Apartment for 2-4 people
If you plan on staying in Japan for a few weeks or more, I like this location that’s only a 6-minute walk from Sapporo Station. It comfortably sleeps 2 people but can accommodate up to 4 people with a double and single bed, as well as a double-sized sofa bed.
It even has a fully equipped kitchen with two real burners so you can cook for yourself during your stay! Along with a washer/dryer, rice cooker, and water boiler, you have all the essentials for a comfortable trip along with the additional space to have some friends over.
Since it’s in an ideal location right next to the JR station, you’ll be able to explore all of Hokkaido effortlessly. The average nightly rate is around $100/night.
⭐ Extended Stays: FANCY2 Apartment for 4-8 people
This apartment is a bit further north and is a 12-minute walk to Sapporo Station. It has 2 bedrooms, with 3 double beds and 2 sofa beds. You can fit up to 8 people in here if you really want to! However, keep in mind that this apartment has 1 bedroom, so 4 people would be a comfortable fit.
This apartment has a kitchen with real burners, and separated bedrooms. It comes with essential amenities (washer/dryer, microwave), as well as some fun accessories like a vinyl record player! And is that a massage chair I see in the corner?!
This apartment rents for around $200 a night, so would be very affordable if split by a group of people. Contact the host if you’re interested in booking for longer than a month!
Best Things To Do Around Sapporo Station
🚆 Since it’s easy to hop on a train to anywhere here, take a day trip to other areas of Hokkaido like Otaru, Jigokudani, or Toya Lake. You can check out easy day trip ideas from Sapporo to give you an idea of where to go. The natural beauty that you can find simply by hopping on a quick 30-minute train out of the city is incredible.
🏫 Walk around Hokkaido University and check out their free museum and botanic garden.
🏤 See the Former Hokkaido Government Office, which holds historical significance and is a beautiful building structure made of red brick.
🛍️ Shop until you drop at the shopping complexes inside the train station: Paseo, Stellar Place, and Apia. Or venture a few steps outside to Esta (discount shopping), Daimaru, and Sapporo Factory.
🍽️ Eat at one of the hundreds of delicious restaurants in the train station. My favorite was Kineya, Sapporo APIA, which served an amazing eel and udon special when I went in May!
Where to Stay in Sapporo for Couples: Susukino or Jozankei
I traveled to Sapporo with my partner and had an amazing time. There are so many things that you can do that are romantic, and fun. I recommend that couples stay in the downtown area, near Susukino as there are bars and nice restaurants there, with lots of attractions nearby.
If you really want to have a memorable, romantic vacation, then I would encourage you to stay at a romantic ryokan with a private onsen. It’s an amazing experience to enjoy a private Japanese bath with your partner, and you’ll never forget those memories. That was the romantic thing I did during my entire stay in Japan, and I can’t recommend it enough.
There are limited private onsen options in Sapporo, so you could consider taking a weekend trip to Jozankei Resort and Spa. Jozankei is very close to Sapporo (less than an hour) and is a very popular day trip and weekend getaway option. There is a convenient Kappa Liner bus that runs straight from Sapporo to Jozankei.
Since it has become such a popular hot spring destination, there are tons of ryokan, restaurants, and shops for visitors to browse through. There are free foot baths with natural spring water to try out around town. If you manage to go during fall, Jozankei turns into a stunning red-gold landscape with changing autumn foliage. Regardless of the season, you’ll enjoy a wonderful bath together with the quiet backdrop of nature. The romance meter will break off, I assure you.
Where to stay in Susukino, Sapporo
⭐ Ryokan: Onsen Ryokan Yuen
It’s extremely rare to find a ryokan with an onsen so close to the city, but Yuen makes it work!
With beautiful, serene rooms decorated in a traditional modern wabi-sabi style, a sauna, and a hot spring bath, Yuen is ideal for couples looking to add romance effortlessly. You’ll get to experience a ryokan without having to travel outside of the city.
The hot spring is definitely the highlight of this hotel, featuring Karurusu hot spring water transported from Noboribetsu, in a soft stone open-air bath. It’s luxurious and quite beautiful.
The nightly rate of this hotel is around $200. I recommend staying at least 2 nights to receive the full ryokan experience, to enjoy breakfast featuring Hokkaido seasonal specialties, and to pamper yourself in the onsen.
⭐ Hotel: Sapporo Stream Hotel
This brand-new hotel just opened in January 2024, and it looks awesome! The rooms are big and modern and have stunning views of Sapporo’s skyline.
If you want to splurge on a premium room, you also get access to a moody, luxurious lounge, a large onsen and sauna, and a rooftop lounge that all provide impressive views of the stars and the city.
This hotel provides the perfect intimate ambiance for a romantic vacation while also making you feel like a king and queen. Rooms start at $130/night.
Romantic things to do in Sapporo
🗼 Rent out the Sapporo TV Tower, an iconic landmark of the cityscape, for only 10,000 yen ($60 USD). You’ll get a complimentary bottle of wine and can light the tower up in any color you want! Plus you can display a personalized message!
🐠 Enjoy a late-night date at Aoao Aquarium, a fun aquarium with a famous penguin exhibit that is loved by locals and tourists alike. It’s open until 10 PM so you can go after a dinner date!
⛩️ Stroll around Hokkaido Shrine and Maruyama Park, which have a variety of blossoming trees throughout the year. Not only do you get to enjoy a beautiful sight, but you can pick fortunes and buy good luck charms for your future together!
Eat dinner or visit a bar with a grand view of the Sapporo skyline. I recommend Sky J in Sapporo Station or The Jewels Restaurant at Mt. Moiwa Outlook!
Where to stay in Jozankei, Sapporo
If you decide to spend some time in Jozankei, hands down you must stay in a ryokan with an onsen. It’s a hot spring town, so you have to get the whole experience here!
Jozankei is well known for its natural salt hot spring, which has a myriad of healing properties such as pain relief and muscle relaxation, and is said to aid several aspects of the body like gastrointestinal function, blood pressure, and autonomic dysfunction. The hot spring water is gentle and soothing to the skin.
Taking a romantic bath in a private onsen while sipping tea and watching the leaves fall… I’m impressing myself just imagining this right now.
Staying in a Ryokan
You’ll find that most of the available hotels are ryokan, which comes with public and occasionally private onsen. They typically will have breakfast and traditional kaiseki dinner options available.
Staying at a ryokan gives you the experience of staying at a traditional Japanese hotel, where every aspect of your stay is thought about and the staff provide the most comfortable experience possible. It is a little more expensive than a regular hotel, because you get many more amenities.
Most of them also offer free shuttle service to and from Sapporo Station, so you can come for a quick weekend getaway!
⭐ Ryokan: Jozankei Yuraku Soan
Yuraku Soan is absolutely gorgeous and is the perfect place for a romantic weekend getaway. It’s decorated luxuriously and uses natural materials like stone and wood throughout, with the amazing natural landscape as the highlight feature.
There are seven different public baths and four different private baths that you can use for free as many times as you want! Each private bath has an absolutely stunning view of the forest.
The hotel offers several other free amenities like free ice cream and drinks and complimentary yukata! You can book a massage here to enjoy an ultimate relaxation experience during your stay.
This resort is around $700/night, but it currently is on sale for $300/night! It’s a great value and is well worth it for a special occasion. If you’re looking to celebrate something special, or just want to treat yourself, look no further!
⭐ Ryokan: Hana Momiji
This lovely 80-room ryokan has 3 public and 3 private baths that are accessible to guests, with top floor panoramic views of Jozankei National Park to be enjoyed while bathing!
It has amazing breakfast and kaiseki dinner dining options and is also close to some of the top attractions in the town, such as the Futami Tsuribashi Suspension Bridge.
An average night here is around $250/night.
⭐ Hotel: Jozankei View Hotel
This 16-story mega spa resort is ideal for families or those who want to experience Jozankei while saving a bit of money and don’t mind staying in a larger hotel. It has huge communal baths and an indoor heated “lagoon” with water slides and a wave pool!
This hotel is only $115/a night and is in a convenient location that is right next to a bus stop. You’ll have spectacular views of the mountains which are especially stunning during autumn.
Romantic Things to do for couples in Jozankei
💧 This one should be obvious, but… try out the onsen! Enjoy a romantic bath together in a private onsen and admire the lush color-changing landscape of Jozankei. Or take a dip in the public onsen individually, then reconvene for ice cream post-bath!
⛲ Soak your feet in the Jozan Gensen Park foot bath, a spacious foot bath located in a beautiful park. Maybe even cook a hot spring egg while you’re there!
🌉 Walk the Jozankei Futami Suspension Bridge, the iconic red bridge that overlooks Jozankei Town and shows off the bright, seasonal foliage.
🐎 If visiting in the winter, try dog sledding or horseback riding for an exciting experience through the powder-white snow!
🍂 Grab some lunch and picnic at the top of Hoheikyo Dam, which has one of the top autumn foliage viewing spots in all of Japan!
Where to Stay in Sapporo for Solo Travelers: Odori Park or Susukino
If you’re solo traveling to Sapporo, I recommend either Odori Park for its close proximity to Sapporo’s top attractions, or Susukino because it’s the best neighborhood to go out and meet other people.
If you want to meet other travelers or save a big on your lodgings, and don’t mind sharing common spaces like bathrooms and lounges, definitely look into staying at a hostel. The hostels in Japan are very clean, and make excellent use of small spaces! You’ll get to meet all kinds of different people and will make friends along the way.
Where to stay in Odori Park for Solo Travelers
⭐ Hostel: Plat Hostel Keikyu Sapporo Ichiba
Plat Hostel Keikyu is a short 6-minute walk to Odori station and very close to main attractions like Nijo Market, Odori Park, Susukino shopping districts and restaurants, and convenience stores.
Guests can choose between single beds in dormitory rooms with other travelers, twin beds, or family rooms that can accommodate up to 8 people. Rooms are as cheap as $26/night!
⭐ Hotel: La’gent Stay Sapporo Odori Hokkaido
La’gent Stay is a 5-minute walk from Odori Station, and close to all the main attractions. It features a stunning natural hot spring bath, restaurant, and bar. It also has a convenient Family Mart on the first floor for when you want to grab a late-night snack before relaxing in the onsen to unwind for the night!
Prices can be as low as $60/night for solo travelers.
Where to stay in Susukino for Solo Travelers
⭐ Hostel: Theatel Sapporo
Theatel is a capsule hotel hostel, with futuristic bed pods that have excellent space utilization. Common facilities like showers and lounges are shared.
You can book a cool capsule bed in a gender-separated or mixed dormitory, or also have the option to book a private quadruple room that comes equipped with a projector for a movie night. Beds are available for $30/night.
⭐ Hostel: Wise Owl Hostels Sapporo
Wise Owl Hostels Sapporo have a variety of different room options, such as mixed dormitories, gender-separated dormitories, or even private rooms with double beds.
It’s a great accommodation choice for solo travelers, pairs, or even groups of four who would like to meet other travelers.
It’s an easy 7-minute walk to Susukino station. Sapporo Clock Tower, and Nakajima Koen Park.
An average night is $28/night for a dormitory room or $40-80/night for a private room.
⭐ Hotel: Quintessa Hotel Sapporo Susukino
Quintessa has a perfect location in the heart of the city’s nightlife district, right next to the subway entrance, with many restaurants and bars close by.
The rooms are modern, clean, and spacious, and breakfast is available.
Solo travelers can book a room for as little as $50/night! This is a great option if you want to go out at night and enjoy Susukino.
Things to do in Sapporo for Solo Travelers
🏞️ Take a guided tour to explore the surrounding areas of Hokkaido, and see natural wonders like “Hell Valley” Jigokudani, Lake Toya, and Jozankei.
🦀 Sample fresh seafood at Nijo Market, and try Hokkaido specialties like crab, uni, and sashimi.
🎹 Watch a concert performance at Sapporo’s Concert Hall Kitara.
🍺 Visit a local bar where you can mingle with locals and other foreigners alike. I recommend Bearfoot Bar!
Nakajima Park: Where To Stay In Sapporo With Family
Nakajima Park is best for families who are exploring Sapporo because it’s next to several attractions that families will love: a zoo, an observatory, and the amazing Nakajima Park which has blossoming trees and a large pond.
Kids will love the large open spaces that they can roam and explore safely, and it’s a wonderful place to take a stroll through that older adults will enjoy.
It’s a bit farther away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and is quieter, safer, and features beautiful nature views.
Where To Stay In Nakajima Park
⭐ Inn: Vessel Inn Sapporo Nakajima Park
Vessel Inn is only a 1-minute walking distance from Nakajima Station and Nakajima Park. Ideal for enjoying the natural beauty of the park while still being close to the city center. There’s a delicious breakfast and free drinks, and the rooms are spacious and tidy. Family rooms are available that can accommodate up to five adults, and kids stay for free! The average night is around $100/night.
⭐ Hotel: HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Sapporo Park
Hotel Mystays has bigger rooms available for families, with cribs available! The highlight of this hotel is its awesome onsen, a facility for kids that includes baby soap, bathing mats, chairs, and toys. A fitness center and several restaurants are on-site, and it is only a 4-minute walk to Nakajima station and Nakajima Park. Rooms start around $60/night.
⭐ Hotel: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Sapporo Nakajima Koen
This hotel has an amazing public onsen, spacious rooms, an awesome breakfast buffet, and… (wait for it) TVs have Netflix and Chromecast available! Okay, that might not really seem like a big deal, but it’s actually quite hard to come by in Japanese hotels.
It’s right next to Nakajima Park, and a 2-minute walk to the subway station. Susukino is a short walking distance away as well. Triple rooms are available for small family groups, or you could separate the rooms if your kids are slightly older. This hotel averages around $140/night.
Best Things To Do In Sapporo for Families
🦆 Take a scenic stroll in Nakajima Park, and go boating next to the ducks in Iris Pond.
🌌 Check out the stars and planets with the telescope in Sapporo City Observatory!
🛷 If visiting in winter, go sledding in Nakajima Park, then hop over to Odori Park to check out the awesome ice sculptures at the Sapporo Snow Festival.
🍫 Visit Shiroi Koibito Park, a famous chocolate theme park where you can make your own cookies!
🐧 Watch the Northern Rockhopper penguins hop around their hexagon habitat at Aoao Aquarium in Susukino.
Where To Stay In Sapporo On A Budget: North Sapporo
If you’re looking for a decent, private place to stay in Sapporo and don’t mind traveling a bit farther to reach the main attractions of the city, then I recommend venturing out farther north.
The Toyo River separates North and South Sapporo into two distinct areas. However, I’ll exclude the densely populated neighborhoods of Susukino, Sapporo Station, and Nakajima Park that technically fall under the area of North Sapporo.
Where to stay in North Sapporo
⭐ Apartment: Wayado Sapporo Ciao
Head up a few blocks north from the Sapporo Beer Museum, and you’ll find Wayado Sapporo Ciao, apartments available to rent for the low cost of $50/night.
Awesome amenities are included, such as a kitchen, TV, game console, a desk, and everything you could possibly need for a comfortable stay in Hokkaido’s greatest city.
⭐ Hotel: APA Hotel TKP Sapporoeki-Kitaguchi Excellent
I thoroughly enjoy APA Hotels, and TKP Sapporoeki-Kitaguchi has great amenities (toothbrushes, lotion, combs, the works!). It has both an indoor and outdoor onsen for use as well!
It’s a few blocks up north from Sapporo Station but is a quick 7-minute walk. Parking is available for only 1,500 yen a night if you have a car.
Things to do in Sapporo on a budget
🌼 Wander through Odori Park and check out the seasonal blooms, ending your stroll at the top of Sapporo TV tower to get a great view of the city.
🏫 Check out the Sapporo Clock Tower, Hokkaido University Museum, and Hokkaido University Botanic Garden all for free around Northern Sapporo.
🌃 Visit Mt. Moiwa Outlook and get a stunning view of the city for around 2,000 yen.
⛩️ Walk through the Torii gate tunnel at Sapporo Fushimi Inari Shrine, and get some stunning photographs of a beautiful cultural landmark, modeled after the iconic shrine in Kyoto.
🎣 For 1,400 yen, visit the Hokkaido Museum and Historical Village of Hokkaido, which provides knowledge on the culture and history of Hokkaido. Learn about the lives of the people during the frontier days when Sapporo was just beginning!
Where To Stay In Sapporo For Nightlife: Susukino
This should be a no-brainer, but if you want to be where the action happens, you’ll want to stay in Susukino (can you tell I’m a little biased?) All the latest bars, clubs, and restaurants are bound to be in or around this area, so staying in Susukino will make it easy for you to return home after a fun night out!
Best Things To Do In Susukino for Nightlife
🍸 Grab a drink at Bearfoot Bar, which is popular for intermingling locals and foreigners who are looking to meet new friends and exchange conversation.
👾 Win some crane machine toys at the 24-hour Round 1 in Susukino, where people play all night long!
🎰 Gamble at a Pachinko Parlor in Sususkino. Pachinko is a popular gambling game in Japan reminiscent of pinball and slots.
💃 Drop by Precious Hall, an underground nightclub known for its amazing sound system featuring techno, house, and dancing music.
Where to Stay in Sapporo for Foodies: Susukino
Susukino stays winning for being the place to be if you’re looking for the best bites. Most of the best restaurants are located around this area, so if you’re coming for the food, make sure to stay around here!
Best things to do in Susukino for foodies
🍛 Try soup curry at Suage+ or Garaku, a regional specialty. Don’t leave Sapporo without trying this at least once!
🍖 Barbecue Lamb Genghis Khan barbecue (Jingisukan) at Sapporo Beer Garden.
🐟 Have a taste of incredibly fresh seafood at Nijo Seafood Market.
🍜 Slurp Miso Ramen in Ramen Alley, a special little alley in downtown Susukino.
Where to Stay In Sapporo, Japan: FAQs
How do I get to Sapporo?
You can’t fly internationally into Sapporo, you’ll have to make a stop at Tokyo (either Narita or Haneda Airport) first before you’re able to travel to Sapporo.
You can either hop on a second flight for a few hours (recommended) or take a very long 8-hour train ride (do not recommend) to get there. I go more in-depth about this topic in my Sapporo Guide post.
Where should I stay in Sapporo?
My favorite neighborhoods are around Susukino, or around Sapporo Station. It ultimately depends on your travel goals and who you are traveling with!
How Many Days Is Enough For Sapporo?
3-5 days are perfect to explore the city, while also getting to take a day trip or two to see the adjacent areas of Hokkaido. However, Hokkaido is such a vast region, that even up to a week or more to explore the area wouldn’t be excessive.
Where is good to stay in Sapporo for the Winter?
It gets really cold in Sapporo, and I hate being outside when it’s raining or snowing! I’d recommend either staying in Susukino to be close to restaurants and shops, Odori Park if you’re coming for the festivals, or Sapporo Station for easy transit.
Is Sapporo Safe?
Sapporo, and Japan in general, are tremendously safe to travel in! Even Susukino, the city’s entertainment district, feels quite safe while walking around. People are very kind, considerate, and helpful. You should have no trouble while you are visiting.
What to Pack for Sapporo
🔋 Portable Battery
This first one is absolutely essential!!! You’re going to be having the time of your life in Sapporo, and you don’t want to stress about running out of battery and not being able to navigate your way home.
I like chargers that already have a cable built into them. I recommend this charger that I personally use and love!
👚 Extra Layers, Winter Coats
It gets very cold in Sapporo since it’s far up north! Pack some layers and one thick coat for when the night comes. Even the short walk from the train station to your hotel can make your teeth start chattering. Or maybe it was just me.
💴 Just a little cash
There are a few places where you’ll still use cash and yen, but you’ll be able to get by mostly with credit cards. I brought $1,000 USD (around 150,000 yen) for a two-week trip and it was wayyyyy too much. You could definitely get by with a couple hundred USD (around 30,000 yen) for two weeks.
☂️ Umbrella
Even when I visited Sapporo in the springtime, it rained quite often. I’d recommend packing an umbrella just in case there’s a chance of cloudiness or rain when you are visiting. I had to buy a budget umbrella from a convenience store and it was pretty poor quality.
👟 Walking Shoes
You’re going to be hitting a lot of steps when you visit Japan, it’s a walking city after all! Pack a pair (or maybe even two) of some comfortable walking shoes, because your feet will get quite sore after hitting 10,000 steps every day for multiple days on end.
The Wrap-Up: Where To Stay In Sapporo, Japan 2024
There you have it! I hope I was able to break down Sapporo’s main neighborhoods and give you some good insights on where you might like to stay when you come over to Hokkaido. I absolutely loved my time there and I know that you’ll enjoy it too, regardless of where you end up staying.
If you haven’t already, you can check out my other Hokkaido posts for some more ideas and inspiration to plan your trip. If you have any questions or suggestions, leave me a comment, I’d love to hear what you think!
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