[Sapporo] Various Ways That Can Be Enjoyed, For Example, Night View, Tasty Foods, Onsen, Events and Shopping Are Found in Largest Tourist City in Hokkaido

SAPPORO

Sapporo (札幌) that about 1,960,000 people live is the largest city in Hokkaido. Although there are various theories, its origin of the name is "Dry Big River (乾いた大きな川)" in Ainu language. A population of the Sapporo is the 4th largest city after Yokohama, Osaka and Nagoya in japan, and the population accounts for 36 % of Hokkaido's population! So the Sapporo has been flourished as the center of the Hokkaido. The area of the Sapporo is 1,121.26 km2, and is about as big as Hong Kong, and is the 7th largest city in the Hokkaido. The Sapporo is also famous as a tourist city, and about 15 million people come. As for a climate, it is hot that temperature rises to nearly 25 degrees in a summer, but it is easy to live without moisture. I always feel a little cool. It is cold that temperature falls to nearly -10 degrees in a winter, and amount of snowfall sometimes has more than 1 m.

Movie of Sapporo

I think the attraction of the Sapporo is that it is easy access to the tourist attractions in a relatively short time because various tourist attractions gather in the downtown. The Hokkaido is very large, so the distance to the next destination is sometimes over 100 km. It takes a long time to move in the Hokkaido, and means of transportation are sometimes limited. Only Sapporo has a subway in the Hokkaido, so tourists do not have toruble with the means of transportation even in a summer and a winter. The subway seems to be rare in a snowy region globally. In addition, a streetcar is in service, too. Even around Sapporo Station and Odori Park, there are a lot of famous tourists attractions, tasty restaurants and tasty sweets shops.

In spite of such the large city, it takes 30 minutes to reach the tourist attractions with full of nature such as Mt. Okura (大倉山), Mt. Moiwa (藻岩山) and Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill (羊ケ丘公園), and a part of Southern Sapporo has been designated as Shikotsu-Toya National Park. The Sapporo is the only government-designated city designated as a national park in the Japan. In addition, the night view of the Sapporo is well-known as one of the 3 best night views in the Hokkaido together with Hakodate and Otaru, and has been chosen as one of the new 3 best night views in the Japan together with Nagasaki and Kitakyushu since 2015.

The Sapporo is also well-known as a gourmet town. Fresh ingredients such seafood, vegetables and meat as gather from all over the Hokkaido. Typical dishes of Hokkaido, for example, Sushi, Mongolian Mutton Barbecue, Ramen, Buckwheat Noodles, Sake, Beer, Bread and Sweets can be savored. Speaking of typical dishes of the Sapporo, I think that those are Sapporo Ramen, Soup Curry and the Mongolian Mutton Barbecue of Beer Hall. As for the ramen of the Sapporo, miso broth ramen is well-known by Japanese people. It is one of the 3 most famous ramen in the Hokkaido together with Hakodate Ramen and Asahikawa Ramen. Furthermore, famous sweets shops and antenna-into-the-future shops gather from all over the Hokkaido, and tourists can eat tasty foods from all over the Hokkaido even in the Sapporo. I often hear that the tourists gain weight to eat too much while staying in the Sapporo. Everybody, please be careful of overeating!

Speaking of highly reputed restaurants in the Sapporo, Hanakoji Sawada (花小路 さわ田), Sushi Miyagawa (すし 宮川) and Moliere (モリエール) are given 3-star by Michelin Hokkaido, and Shubo Shinsen (酒房 しんせん), Sushi Ikko (鮨 一幸), Suyama (壽山), Tenpura Araki (天ぷら あら木), Nukumi (温味), Sushisai Wakichi (鮨菜 和喜智), Ryoriya So (料理屋 素) are given 2-star by the Michelin Hokkaido. Kastukani-no-Hanasaki (活カニの花咲), Takeoka Takeshi, Meli Melo (メリメロ), Aki Nagao, Hanare Ajishige (はなれ 味重), Kisui (貴水), Quenelle (クネル), Kokon Yamahisa (古今山久), Sushizen Susukino Branch (すし善 すすきの店), Sushidokoro Arima (鮨処 有馬), Sushi Hidetaka (寿し ひでたか), Susukino Sushikin (薄野 鮨金), Takuzhushi (田久鮓), Marusushi (まる鮨), Le Mansa (ル マンサ), l'Auberge de l'ill Sapporo (オーベルジュ・ド・リル サッポロ), Cotedor (コートドール), Santoku Rokumi (三徳六味), Komatsu (こまつ), Sushizen Head Office (すし善 本店), Takao, Taku Maruyama, Handemade Soba Kohashi (手打蕎麦 こはし), Toraya (とらや), Banquet (バンケット)、Masaki (眞), Lien (リアン), Le Musee (ル・ミュゼ) and L'enfant Qui Reve (ランファン・キ・レーヴ) are given 1-star by the Michelin Hokkaido.

Although the Sapporo is such the large city, hot springs gush out. Jozankei Onsen (定山渓温泉) that is one of the 3 largest hot spring rezort in the Hokkaido, Hoheikyo Onsen (豊平峡温泉) that is famous for large open-air baths and Koganeyu Onsen that sulfur hot springs can be enjoyed are famous. By the way, the Sapporo is famous as a shooting place for a movie or setting of Japanese Anime or Japanese comics. Japanese movie "Phone Call to the Bar (探偵はBARにいる)" that Mr. Yo Oizumi (大泉洋), a popular actor, and Mr. Ryuhei Matsuda, a popular actor, played leading characters used the Sapporo as a shooting place, and Animal Doctor (動物のお医者さん), a popular manga, and WORKING!!, Servant x Service and Kanon, Japanese anime, used the Sapporo as the setting. So visiting the real-life locations are popular, too.

Movie of Phone Call to the Bar

Movie of WORKING!!!

Movie of Servant x Service

The Sapporo has much events, too. Jozankei Yukizanmai (定山渓雪三舞) is held in mid January, and Jozankei Onsen Snow Light Path (定山渓温泉雪灯路) is held from late January to early February, and Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり) is held in early February, and Sapporo International Ski Marathon (札幌国際スキーマラソン) and Snow and Rainbow Festival (雪と虹のまつり) are held only in a day, early February, and Jozankei Onsen Keiryu koinobori (定山渓温泉渓流鯉のぼり) is held from mid April to early May, and Hiraoka Park Ume Festival (平岡公園梅まつり) is held from late April to mid May, and Sapporo Ramen Show (札幌ラーメンショー) is held from mid May to late May, and Sapporo Lilac Festival (さっぽろライラックまつり) is held from mid May to late May, and Jozankei Nature Luminarie is held from June to late October, Yosakoi Soran Festival (YOSAKOIソーラン祭り) is held between 5days in early June, Hokkaido Shrine Festival (北海道神宮例祭) is held between 3days in mid June, and Sapporo Flower Carpet (サッポロフラワーカーペット) is held between 4days in late June, and Flower Festa (花フェスタ) is held in late June.

Then, Hokkaido Makomanai Music Fireworks Festival (北海道真駒内花火大会) is held only in a day, early July, and Yobangai Festival (四番街まつり) is held between 2days in early July, and Pacific Music Festival (パシフィック・ミュージック・フェスティバル) is held from early July to late July, and SAPPORO CITY JAZZ is held between 9days in mid July, and Susukino Omotenashi Enichi (薄野おもてなし縁市) is held between 3days in late July, Culture Night (カルチャーナイト) is held only in a day, late July, and Sapporo Odori Beer Garden (さっぽろ大通ビアガーデン) is held from late July to mid August, and Sapporo Summer Festival (さっぽろ夏まつり) and Tanuki Festival (狸まつり) are held from late July to late August, and Doshin and UHB Fireworks Display (道新・UHB花火大会) is held only in a day, late July, Susukino Festival (すすきの祭り) is held between 3days in early August, and Sapporo August Festival (さっぽろ八月祭) is held between 2days in early August, and Toro Nagashi is held on August 15, and Hokkaido Marathon (北海道マラソン) is held only in a day, late August, and Soseigawa Park Thank You Festival (創成川公園サンキューフェスティバル) is held from late August to early September, and Sapporo Autumn Festival (さっぽろオータムフェスト) is held from mid September to late September, and Moerenuma Artistic Fireworks (モエレ沼芸術花火) is held only in a day, early September, and Sapporo Marathon (札幌マラソン大会) is held only in a day, early October, and Kamokamogawa Nostalgia (鴨々川ノスタルジア) is held on some days from October to November, and Sapporo Chrysanthemum Festival (さっぽろ菊まつり) is held between 3days in early November, and Sapporo White Illumination (さっぽろホワイトイルミネーション) and Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo (ミュンヘン・クリスマス市 in Sapporo) are held from late November to December, and SAPPORO CITY JAZZ in Winter is held between 7days in mid November.

Highway buses are in service between the Sapporo and each towns in the Hokkaido. In the Northan Hokkaido, a highway bus "Hamanasu-go (はまなす号)" runs between the Sapporo and Wakkanai, and a highway bus "Limited Express Esashi-go (特急えさし号)" runs between the Sapporo and Esashi, and a highway bus "Limited Express Haboro-go (特急はぼろ号)" runs between the Sapporo and Toyotomi or Haboro, and a highway bus "Kosoku Rumoi-go (高速るもい号)" runs between the Sapporo and Rumoi, and a highway bus "Kosoku Nayoro-go (高速なよろ号)" runs between the Sapporo and Nayoro, and a highway bus "Kosoku Asahikawa-go (高速あさひかわ号)" runs between the Sapporo and Asahikawa. In the Eastern Hokkaido, a highway bus "Kosoku Ryuhyo Monbetsu-go (流氷もんべつ号)" runs between the Sapporo and Monbetsu, and a highway bus "Kosoku Engaru-go (高速えんがる号)" runs between the Sapporo and Engaru, and a highway bus "Dreamint Okhotsk-go (ドリーミントオホーツク号)" runs between the Sapporo and Kitami or Abashiri, and a highway bus "Eagle Liner (イーグルライナー)" runs between the Sapporo and Utoro, and a highway bus "Potate Liner (ポテトライナー)" runs between the Sapporo and Obihiro, and highway bus "Star Light Kushiro-go (スターライト釧路号)" and "Kuhsiro Limited Express New Star-go (釧路特急ニュースター号)" run between the Sapporo and Kushiro, and a highway bus "Aurora-go (オーロラ号)" runs between the Sapporo and Nemuro.

List of Highway Bus in Northan Hokkaido and Eastern Hokkaido

Refer to following companies for the highway bus service between the Sapporo and each towns.

Hokuto Kotsu(北都交通)	From Sapporo to Wakkanai	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Hokuto Kotsu(北都交通)	From Wakkanai to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Soya Bus(宗谷バス)	From Sapporo to Esashi	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Soya Bus(宗谷バス)	From Esashi to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Engan Bus(沿岸バス)	From Sapporo to Toyotomi or Haboro	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Engan Bus(沿岸バス)	From Toyotomi or Haboro to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Rumoi	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Rumoi to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Nayoro	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Nayoro to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Asahikawa	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Asahikawa to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Monbetsu	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Monbetsu to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Engaru	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Engaru to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Kitami or Abashiri	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Kitami or Abashiri to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Utoro	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Utoro to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Obihiro	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Obihiro to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Kushiro	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Kushiro to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Hokuto Kotsu(北都交通)	From Sapporo to Nemuro	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Hokuto Kotsu(北都交通)	From Nemuro to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten

In the Central Hokkaido, a highway bus "Kosoku Furano-go (高速ふらの号)" runs between the Sapporo and Furano, and a highway bus "Kosoku Takikawa-go (高速たきかわ号)" runs between the Sapporo and Takikawa, and a highway bus "Kosoku Shintotsukawa-go (高速しんとつかわ号)" runs between the Sapporo and Shintotsukawa, and a highway bus "Kosoku Mikasa-go (高速みかさ号)" runs between the Sapporo and Mikawa, and a highway bus "Kosoku Yubari-go (高速ゆうばり号)" runs between the Sapporo and Yubari, and a highway bus "Kosoku Iwamizawa-go (高速いわみざわ号)" runs between the Sapporo and Iwamizawa, and a highway bus "Kosoku Kuriyama-go (高速くりやま号)" runs between the Sapporo and Kuriyama, and a highway bus "Kosoku Otaru-go (高速おたる号)" runs between the Sapporo and Otaru, and a highway bus "Kosoku Yoichi-go (高速よいち号)" runs between the Sapporo and Yoichi, and a highway bus "Kosoku Iwanai-go (高速いわない号)" runs between the Sapporo and Iwanai, and a highway bus "Kosoku Shakotan-go (高速しゃこたん号)" runs between the Sapporo and Shakotan, and a rapid bus runs between the Sapporo and Toyako Onsen, and a highway bus "Kosoku Niseko-go (高速ニセコ号)" runs between the Sapporo and Niseko.

In the Central Hokkaido and the Sothern Hokkaido, a highway bus "Kosoku Hiroo Santa-go (高速ひろおサンタ号)" runs between the Sapporo and Hiroo, and a highway bus "Kosoku Erimo-go (高速えりも号)" runs between the Sapporo and Erimo, and a highway bus "Kosoku Pegasus-go (高速ペガサス号)" runs between the Sapporo and Urakawa, and a highway bus "Kosoku Hidaka-go (高速ひだか号)" runs between the Sapporo and Hidaka, and highway buses "Kosoku Tomakomai-go (高速とまこまい号)" and "Huscup-go (ハスカップ号)" run between the Sapporo and Tomakomai, and a highway bus "Onsen-go (おんせん号)" runs between the Sapporo and Noboribetsu Onsen, and a highway bus "Kosoku Muroran-go (高速むろらん号)" runs between the Sapporo and Muroran, and a highway bus "Kosoku Date Liner-go (高速伊達ライナー号)" runs between the Sapporo and Date, and highway buses "Kosoku Hakodate-go (高速はこだて号)" and "Hakodate Limited Express New Star-go (函館特急ニュースター号)" run between the Sapporo and the Hakodate.

List of Highway Bus in Central Hokkaido and Southern Hokkaido

Refer to following companies for the highway bus service between the Sapporo and each towns.

JR Hokkaido Bus(JR北海道バス)	From Sapporo to Erimo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
JR Hokkaido Bus(JR北海道バス)	From Erimo to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
JR Hokkaido Bus(JR北海道バス)	From Sapporo to Hiroo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
JR Hokkaido Bus(JR北海道バス)	From Hiroo to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Donan Bus(道南バス)	From Sapporo to Urakawa	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Donan Bus(道南バス)	From Urakawa to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Donan Bus(道南バス)	From Sapporo to Hidaka	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Donan Bus(道南バス)	From Hidaka to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Tomakomai	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Tomakomai to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Donan Bus(道南バス)	From Sapporo to Noboribetsu Onsen	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Donan Bus(道南バス)	From Noboribetsu Onsen to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Muroran	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Muroran to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Donan Bus(道南バス)	From Sapporo to Date	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Donan Bus(道南バス)	From Date to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Hakodate	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Hakodate to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Hokkaido Bus(北海道バス)	From Sapporo to Hakodate	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Hokkaido Bus(北海道バス)	From Hakodate to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten

I introduce about tourist attractions in the downtown of the Sapporo on the 1st page, and introduce about tourist attractions in the suburbs of the Sapporo and events on the 2nd page, and introduce about tasty foods on the 3rd page, and introduce about sweets, onsen and activities on the 4th page.

Tourist Attractions near Sapporo Station

A lot of standard tourist attractions of the Sapporo are built around the Sapporo Station. SAPPORO STELLAR PLACE (札幌ステラプレイス), JR Tower Observation Deck T38 (JRタワー展望室T38), Hokkaido University (北海道大学 * a road lined with poplar trees, a road lined with ginkgo trees and Hokkaido University Museum), Seikatei (清華亭), Former Hokkaido Government Office (北海道庁旧本庁舎), Sapporo Clock Tower (札幌市時計台), Sapporo Sosei Square (さっぽろ創世スクエア), Odori Park (大通公園), Sapporo TV Tower (さっぽろテレビ塔), Former Sapporo Court of Appeals (札幌市資料館), Hokkaido University Botanical Garden (北海道大学植物園), Sapporo Underground Shopping Malls (さっぽろ地下街), Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade (狸小路商店街), Susukino (すすきの), NORBESA (ノルベサ), Nakajima Park (中島公園), Sapporo Factory (サッポロファクトリー), Former Takeshiro Nagayama Residence (旧永山武四郎邸), Nijo Fish Market (二条市場), Chitosetsuru Sake Museum (千歳鶴酒ミュージアム), Sapporo Beer Garden (サッポロビール園), Sapporo Beer Museum (サッポロビール博物館), Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art (北海道立近代美術館), Migishi Kotaro Museum of Art (北海道立三岸好太郎美術館), Hokkaido Governor's Official Residence (知事公館), Sapporo Racecourse (札幌競馬場) and Sapporo Central Wholesale Market Curb Market (中央卸売市場場外市場) are roughly famous.

The tourist attractions that tourists should visit is difference depending on what you want to enjoy. I introduce some the tourist attractions on my own judgment. If you want to enjoy good views or night views, I recommend the JR Tower Observation Deck T38, the Sapporo Sosei Square, the Sapporo TV Tower, Sapporo City Hall (札幌市役所) and the NORBESA. If you want to get great peace of mind by green plants, the Hokkaido Unversity, the Odori Park, the Hokkaido University Botanical Garden and Hokkaido Governor's Official Residence are suitable. As for shopping, the SAPPORO STELLAR PLACE, the Sapporo Factory, the Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade, Aurora Town (オーロラタウン), Pole Town (ポールタウン), department store and shopping malls around the Sapporo Station and the Odori Park are good.

JR Tower Observation Deck T38

JR Tower (JRタワー) is a commercial complex in Chuo ward, Sapporo city. Sapporo Station (札幌駅) is united with shopping facilities and office facilities, and it is one of the largest shopping centres in Hokkaido. APIA, PASEO, ESTA, Sapporo Stellar Place, Daimaru (大丸), Pharmarise Medical Mall (ファーマライズ医療モール札幌), JR Tower Office Plaza Sapporo, JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo and JR Tower Observation Deck T38 (JRタワー展望室 タワー・スリーエイト) are at the buildings. The JR Tower has opened a business since 2003, and becomes a new tourist attraction in the Sapporo. After tourists get off a train at the Sapporo Station, it is convenient for when they go those in a moment. Especially, the JR Tower Observation Deck T38 at the top floor of the tallest building in Hokkaido with 173 m in height is very popular because visitors can overlook the downtown of the Sapporo from here built at 160 m above sea level, and about 250,000 tourist visit. In addition, the night views from here has a good reputation, and it is also popular as a date destination. Article is here

Sapporo Clock Tower

Sapporo Clock Tower (札幌市時計台) is a historical building built in 1978 in Chuo ward, Sapporo city, and has been designated as a national important cultural property. It is well-known as a symbol of the Sapporo, and one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Sapporo. The clock tower is next to Sapporo City Hall (札幌市役所), Hokkaido Newspaper Head Office (北海道新聞本社) and Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (札幌商工会議所), and is also near Odori Park (大通公園) and Sapporo Sosei Square (さっぽろ創世スクエア). The appearance is lit up in the evening. Admission fee is JPY 200. A parking lot is not provided. Article is here

Hokkaido University

The Hokkaido University is a university in Kita ward, Sapporo city, and is close to the Sapporo Station. Its common name is Hokudai (ほくだい). Its antecedent is Sapporo Agricultural College (札幌農学校). Dr. Clark, one of founders, and his words "Boys be ambitious" become well-known. The area is 1.77 million m2 in the center of the Sapporo, and the site looks like a park. A part of university grounds are open to the public, and visitors can look around. Bust of Dr. Clark (クラーク博士の胸像), Furukawa Building (古河講堂), Elm Forest (エルムの森), Hokkaido University Museum (北海道大学総合博物館), Monument in Honor of Dr. Inazo Nitobe (新渡戸稲造博士顕彰碑), Ono Pond (大野池) and a road lined with ginko trees (イチョウ並木) are famous. The university is a long site that extends north to south, and stretches 4 subway stations, from the Sapporo Station to Kita-24Jo Station. I suppose that it takes 30-120 minutes on foot. Tourists can feel an idyllic impression in a scenery of green plants and the sky and school buildings.
Campus Map of Hokkaido University

Movie of Tourist Spots in Hokkaido University

Admission fee	Free of charge
Parking lot	Pay parking is provided
Business hour	Open 24 hours * Defference depending on spots
Regular closing day	Open year all round
Telephone number	+81-11-716-2111
Home page	Home page is here

Lined Gingko Trees with Fall Foliage in Hokkaido University

Lined Gingko Trees with Fall Foliage in Hokkaido University (北海道大学イチョウ並木) is a beauty spot for fall foliage near Sapporo Station. It takes about 1 minute from Sapporo Subway Namboku Line Kita 12 Jo Station (地下鉄南北線「北12条駅」) to here. The Hokkaido University is commonly called Hokudai (北大), and becomes popular nationwide. The total site area of the Hokkaido University include various forests used for research is about 66,000 km2, and is comparable with about 1/570 of Japanese land. It is very vast site. Article is here

Odori Park

Odori Park (大通公園) is in the very center of Sapporo city, and is located between Sapporo Station and Susukino. Offices and commercial facilities are built around the park, and it is just at very center of the big city. But 92 types 4,700 trees such as lilac, Japanese elm and cherry tree are planted, and fountains and flower beds are built, so the park is well-known as a place of relief for Sapporo citizens as well as tourists. The park has been chosen as one of The 100 Best Roads in Japan (日本の道100選), Japanese City Park Best 100 (日本の都市公園100選), The 100 Best Townscapes (都市景観100選) and Japan's Top 100 Historical Parks (日本の歴史公園100選), so it is one of the most famous parks in Japan. Article is here

Hokkaido University Botanical Garden

Botanic Garden Hokkaido University (北海道大学植物園) is a botanical garden in Chuo ward, Sapporo city. The official name is Hokkaido University Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere Agro-ecosystem Research Station Botanic Garden (北海道大学北方生物圏フィールド科学センター耕地圏ステーション植物園). It was established by Dr. William Smith Clark's suggestion in 1886. * The W. S. Clark is the first president of the Hokkaido University. About 4,000 types of plants are planted, and historical buildings have been maintained and preserves the condition from those days. The area is 133,000 m2, and I suppoese that it takes about 2 hours to look around carefully on foot. The botanical garden is well-known as a green oasis of the downtown of the Sapporo. The distnace is about 1 km away from main buildings of the Hokkaido University, so be careful not to make a mistake. Besides, here is also famous as a good place to see fall foliage, and the best time to see it is from mid October to late October. Admission fee is JPY 420. A parking lot is not provided. By the way, here is open to the public for free on May 4 (Greenery Day (National Holiday). Article is here

Hokkaido Governor's Official Residence

Hokkaido Governor's Official Residence (北海道知事公館) is an apartment house for the Governor of the Hokkaido in Chuo ward, Sapporo city, and was built as a second house of Mitsui in 1936. The building has been used as the Hokkaido Governor's Official Residence since 1952. The site area is 51,623.25 m2. The building and a garden are built at the large site in the downtown of the Sapporo. Most of the site is covered with green plants, so it is called an urban oasis, and here is a secret peaceful place for Sapporo citizens, too. Admission free. A parking lot is not provided. Hokkaido Museum Of Modern Art (北海道立近代美術館) and Migishi Kotaro Museum of Art (三岸好太郎美術館) are also nearby here. Article is here

Sapporo Factory

Sapporo Factory (サッポロファクトリー) a commercial complex in Chuo ward, Sapporo city, and has been opened a business since 1993. Here used to be the first beer factory "Hokkaido Development Commission Brewery (開拓使麦酒醸造所)" in Japan. The ruins of buildings utilized an old atomosphere were rebeared as one of the largest shopping malls in the Japan. About 7,000,000 people come. Brick Building (レンガ館) has beautiful ivied walls, so superb fall foliage can be enjoyed in an autumn. Article is here

If you want to enjoy drinking, the Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade, the Susukino, the Sapporo Factory, the Chitosetsuru Sake Museum, the Sapporo Beer Garden and the Sapporo Beer Museum are famous, and there are also good bars, good izakaya, good restaurants, and so on around the Sapporo Station and the Odori Park. If you want to see historical buildings, I recommend the Seikatei, the Former Hokkaido Government Office, the Sapporo Clock Tower, the Former Sapporo Court of Appeals, the Hokkaido University Botanical Garden, the Nakajima Park, the Sapporo Factory, the Former Takeshiro Nagayama Residence and the Hokkaido Governor's Official Residence. As for art, you can savor it at the Sapporo Sosei Square, the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art and the Migishi Kotaro Museum of Art. Underground shopping malls has been developped from the Sapporo Station to the Susukino, and tourists can choose one of some transfer such as on foot, by a subway or by a street car around the Odori Park. Tasty restaurants and sweets shops are built there, so enjoy looking around!

Former Hokkaido Government Office

Former Hokkaido Government Office (北海道道庁旧本庁舎) is a historical building in Chuo ward, Sapporo city, and is located in the downtown of the Sapporo, so it also is close to Sapporo Station and Odori Park (大通公園). Current Hokkaido Government Office is adjacent to the Former Hokkaido Government Office. Its common name is "Akarenga (赤レンガ * Red Bricks)" by Hokkaido people, and it was built as a neo-baroque style building using a lot of red bricks in 1888, and has been designated as a national important cultural property. A designer is Mr. Seijiro Hirai (平井晴二郎). The Bureau of Hokkaido Development used to be established here, and has been the center of the Hokkaido politics since the old days. The Current Hokkaido Government Office, North Pond and South Pond are built at the site, too. Here is a peaceful place for Sapporo citizens, too, and about 650,000 tourists come to a popular tourist attraction. The Former Hokkaido Government Office is famous as a popular photo spot because of photogenic appearance. Admission free. A parking lot is not provided. * The building is planning to close to renewal in Octorber 2019. Article is here

Sapporo TV Tower

Sapporo TV Tower (札幌テレビ塔) is a tower for broadcasting in the east end of Odori Park, Sapporo city, and was built for TV waves of NHK (日本放送協会) adjacent to the Sapporo TV Tower in 1956. Mr. Tachu Naito (内藤多仲) that designed Tokyo Tower (東京タワー) and Nagoya TV Tower designed the tower. Its height is 147.2 m, and it is well-known as the 2nd highest building in Hokkaido after JR Tower. The tower has been famous as a symbol of the Sapporo since a long time ago, and is one of famous school trip spots. About 360,000 tourists come. Article is here

Susukino

The Susukino in Chuo ward, Sapporo city is the largest entertainment district in the Hokkaido, and is one of the 3 major entertainment districts in the Japan together with Kabukicho in Shinjuku and Nakasu in Fukuoka. A lot of hostess bars are well-known as night sightseeing spots, but there are a lot of restraunts and sweets shops, so visitors can enjoy eating and drinking. Ganso Sapporo Ramen Street (ラーメン横丁) and Kani Shogun (かに将軍 * General Crab) are famous in particular, and finishing　parfait as well as finishing ramen become popular lately. It is said that the Susukino is relatively safe in the Japan. But incidents and crimes sometimes occur, so beware of those. I got involved in trouble in those days, and strangers punched me in the face on December 31...

Moive of Susukino

My visited restaurants, bars and izakaya are as follows. Their dishes are tasty. There are a lot of restaurants, bars and izakaya that I have never been, so I want to visit those.

Nakajima Park

Nakajima Park (中島公園) is a comprehensive park of 236.295 m2 nearby Susukino (すすきの) in Chuo ward, Sapporo city, and has opened since 1886. It has been chosen as one of Japanese City Park Best 100 (日本の都市公園100選) and Japan's Top 100 Historical Parks (日本の歴史公園100選), and is famous as a park with rich nature at the downtown of the Sapporo city. The park has Shobu Pond (菖蒲池), Japanese Garden (日本庭園), Hoheikan (豊平館), Concert Hall Kitara, Astronomical Observatory, Hassoan (八窓庵), Kogumaza Puppet Theater (こども人形劇場こぐま座), Nakajima Sport Center (中島体育センター), Hokkaido Museum of Literature (北海道立文学館), Nakajima Tennis Courts (中島公園庭球場), Yahiko Shrine (弥彦神社) and Nakajima Park Boat Pier (中島公園ボート乗り場), and a lot of people come. Here is also well-known as a good place to see cherry blossoms in a spring and fall foliage in an autumn, and is a peaceful place for Sapporo citizens. The best time to see the cherry blossoms is about late April to early May. The best time to see the fall foliage is about from mid October to late October. Cosplay photography sessions are sometimes held, and they look fun. Admission free. A parking lot is not provided. Article is here

Sapporo Racecourse

Sapporo Racecourse (札幌競馬場) is a racecourse near Soen Station (桑園駅) in Chuo ward, Sapporo city, and is an unusual racecourse next to Hokkaido University in the center of the big city. The racecourse is one of 10 Japan Racing Association racecourses, Tokyo, Nakayama, Kyoto, Hanshin, Chukyo, the Sapporo, Hakodate, Nigata, Fukushima and Kokura. The Sapporo Racecourse built in 1907 is one of the 2nd oldest racecourse together with the Nakayama racecourse and the Hanshin racecourse after the Hakodate racecourse. Horse racings are held as a completion of Hokkaido series about from August to September. Admission fee is JPY 100. A toll parking lot is JPY 1000. Except horse racing season, the facility is used as an off‐course betting office, and the toll parking lot is JPY 500 in that time. A shuttle bus is operated for free between the Sapporo Racecourse and the Soen Station or Subway Tozai Line Nijuyonken Station (地下鉄東西線「二十四軒」駅). Article is here