1 Day in Sapporo Itinerary (From a Local’s Perspective)
If you’re heading to Sapporo and only have one day here, trust me, this is everything that you need to do! We’re locals living in Sapporo and have been able to visit all of the tourist hot spots, find the hidden gems in the city and the food places that only the locals are eating at. You won’t find this itinerary anywhere else on the internet, it’s been trialled and put together by us!
If the weather isn’t on your side, or if you’re visiting with kids, we have detailed extras that you can swap out to make it the perfect fit for you and your families needs.
One day in Sapporo? Here’s everything you need to be doing to make the most of your time in the capital of the north!
1 Day in Sapporo Itinerary (From a Local’s Perspective)
Looking for a place to grab breakfast to start your day nice and early? You’ll find that in Japan many restaurants and cafes don’t open until 10am, so if you don’t have breakfast at your hotel, we recommend heading to a Komeda’s – a classic cafe chain in Japan.
It’s super cosy and they do a great breakfast set, a drink of your choice and toast. It’s super affordable and a great place to set yourself up for the day ahead.
If you fancy something truly Hokkaido style for breakfast and you like fish, head down to the Nijo Fish Market (060-0052 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Minami 2 Johigashi, 1 Chome, 南３条東１丁目〜２丁目) which opens from 7am and try the Hokkaido famous kaisen-don (sashimi rice bowl).
9am – Head Up The TV Tower In Odori Park
Location: 1 Chome Odorinishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0042
Odori Park is about as central as you can get in the city, and where better to start your day itinerary in Sapporo.
The TV Tower is an iconic landmark in Sapporo and it can be enjoyed throughout all of the seasons. Go up to the top and take in the sweeping mountainous views and the entirety of Odori Park. It looks completely different no matter what season you go in, it’s one of the best ways to take in the city from a different perspective.
It can get busy here during peak season and times, so getting started at 9am and you should be finished by 10am to move onto the next part of your day, stress free.
10am – Walk Through Odori Park
So, you’ve seen the sights of Sapporo from 90m high, but now it’s time to take Odori Park in on ground level. On your way through, grab some infamous corn from the corn wagon (available from Spring through to early November), or a buttered potato – both local food specialities in Hokkaido!
Depending on what season you visit Sapporo, there’s always some kind of festival, event or things to look at in Odori Park. Enjoy the snow festival in the winter (February), appreciate the blooms of the Lilac festival in May and then the beer festival takes over the park in July/August.
We have a whole season by season guide on Odori Park for even more information, and details on things to do to help you plan the best trip.
10:30am – Visit The Red Brick Government Building (Get The Limited Edition Snack!)
Location: Kita 3-jo Nishi 6-chome 1, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
The Former Hokkaido Government Building is a must visit, for its beautiful architecture, the surrounding grounds, a museum inside, and a limited edition snack that you can only get from here!
It’s only a 1.2km walk from Odori Park which will take you around 10 minutes. This cultural property has various rooms on the history of he building, Ainu culture and history, and Hokkaido heritage and culture.
If you want to learn more about Hokkaido, this is where to do it. This part of the building does have an admission fee of ¥300. You can even go up the octagonal tower for ¥1,200, please note that this only takes place 4 times a day on the following times though – 11:00/12:00/14:00/15:00.
If you don’t fancy exploring the historical side here, you can still enter the cafe and shop area where there isn’t an admission fee.
The Shiroi Koibito Akarenga sweets labo cafe is on the first floor of the building, offering a range of drinks and snacks, along with plenty of Shiroi Koibito souvenirs that you can purchase. The Akarenga biscuit sandwich is a must try, it’s limited edition and only available here.
The outer biscuit has been designed to look like the red brick building with a red bean paste and white cream inner which was absolutely delicious! Don’t forget to purchase some Shiroi Koibitio cookies to take home. The perfect mid morning snack to fuel the rest of the morning in Sapporo!
11:30am – Visit The Clock Tower
Location: 2 Chome Kita 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0001
This historical landmark is a cornerstone of Sapporo city. The building is of American design and is one of the few surviving Western-style buildings in Sapporo, the clock still chimes every hour, so it’s worth exploring inside and waiting around for the chime at midday!
It costs ¥350 yen for admission inside where you can learn more about the history of the clock tower, along with photo opportunities on the first floor of the building.
12:30pm Cafe Nagayama Rest For Lunch & Parfait
Location: 060-0032 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Kita 2 Johigashi, 6 Chome−2−番地 永山記念公園内
It’s time to grab some lunch! I know, there is honestly so many places to eat in Sapporo that it can feel daunting on where to go. One place we highly recommend, if only for a parfait is Cafe Nagayama Rest. This retro style cafe is a true hidden gem in Sapporo, they have a great menu of pizza toast, omurice and delicious drinks, and perhaps the true star of the show here is their shime parfait.
Parfait culture is huge in Sapporo and it is such an indulgent treat! The parfaits below are the Nagayama and Strawberry parfait. They are layered with ice cream, cream, cake, mochi balls and fruit, and they are so good.
The cafe is so relaxed and has the most beautiful retro interior. What I liked about it here is that they cater to solo diners too, with a view overlooking the inside of the building. So, take your time with a good book, and a dose of parfait before heading back out into Sapporo for the afternoon.
The inside of the building is well worth looking around too, and it’s completely free to explore.
2pm – Explore The Shops (Underground Shopping Streets)
You don’t need to walk far in any direction to find a whole host of shops in Sapporo, whether you like designer shopping, hitting up Don Quijote for a skincare haul or love the kawaii culture, there is something for everyone here.
Don’t leave Sapporo without devoting a little bit, or a lot of time to the shops! Daimaru is one of our favourite department stores (head to Sapporo Station) where you will find everything from a huge floor devoted to food (head to Sapporo Agricultural College concession for the best dairy products), high end clothing and Pokemon! Stellar Place is also well worth a visit whilst you’re in the vicinity.
The underground shopping street is unique to Sapporo and even on a nice day it’s worth having a look. Ever wondered how everything keeps moving and people keep warm and continue shopping during the height of the snow in winter? There is literally a whole city underground and you can walk across the entire city underneath which is pretty cool!
It’s honestly like a rabbit warren down here, there are tons of shops to explore and delicious places to eat. Don’t leave without trying the Kinatoya Hokkaido milk soft serve which is ranked the best in Hokkaido, it’s so creamy, tall and delicious.
4pm – Mount Moiwa Ropeway
Location: Sapporo city Chuo ward Fushimi 5-3-7
There’s nowhere better to watch the sunset and start your evening than ascending the Mount Moiwa Ropeway, Sapporo city is so unique to be such a huge city, yet still be surrounded by mountains that can be viewed from the city centre, and it’s a perfect quick escape from the city to take in some of the incredible nature that Hokkaido offers.
The best way to get here from the city is to take the tram. Take the tram to the Ropeway Entrance, then board the free shuttle bus that runs every 15 minutes from the free shuttle bus stop to the Ropeway Base Station. Alternatively, grab a taxi which takes around 15-20 minutes from the city centre.
It costs ¥2,100 for adults and it’s honestly one of the best places in the city to take in a sunset, and watch the city come alight at night. Depending on the day and time you visit, it can get incredibly busy and it can take around 2 hours from start to finish, depending on how long you spend at the top.
6pm-7pm – Susikino For The Evening
Location: Minami 6 Jōnishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0806
As the evening is just getting started, Susikino is the place that comes alive at night in Sapporo, and there’s no better place to be, with so many places to eat, city lights to take in, and things to do.
Head to the infamous ramen alley to have a signature Sapporo ramen for dinner and a classic Sapporo beer. What about dessert? Enjoy the late night culture here and grab a parfait too before heading home for the night.
But, if you fancy a little bit of fun, head over to Round1 (location: 3 Chome-6-1 Minami 5 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0805) for some Karaoke, bowling or the thrill and anticipation of the many claw machines they have. That’s your jam packed day in Sapporo that features culture, shopping, sights and local foods that you can only get in Hokkaido!
Rainy Day Alternative
If weather is not on your side, be it rain or heavy snow, swap some of the main elements out for these rain proof alternatives in Sapporo city!
Underground shopping is always a good idea, no matter the weather, and shops and restaurants are open late here so you can really explore the entire city from underground without getting wet or cold.
Next door to Cafe Nagayama Rest is the Sapporo Factory (location: 4 Chome Kita 2 Johigashi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0032) – this place is seriously cool and everything is indoors! Catch the coolest Sapporo beer lift in action, explore the many food places on offer and do a spot of shopping.
There’s also a Lawson Cinema in this building too so you can watch the latest blockbuster film all in the same building! If you’re a native English speaker, just make sure to choose the screen with Japanese subtitles, not dubbed.
With Kids Version
You don’t have to have kids to make this swap, if you’re also a chocolate lover, you must visit the Shiroi Koibito Park! But it’s not just traditional chocolate that you’ll find here, it is home to the manufacturing of the Hokkaido famous, Shiroi Koibito cookies, since 1976. They are white chocolate sandwiched, buttery biscuits which you’ll get your first taste of as you purchase your tickets to go inside. There are plenty of interactive elements through the sections to keep kids entertained.
If you don’t want to do the full tour, you can access the cafe, restaurants and shop on-site without an admission fee. (Do try the Shiroi Koibito ice chocolate, it’s so good!).
Some of the Round1 chain in Japan offers something called “Spo-cha” (Sports Challenge) for unlimited time play, you pay a set amount for 90 minutes or 3 hours and you can play any of the games they have on offer, and there is a lot!
There is karaoke, old school video games, go karting, roller blading, sports games such as badminton, an extensive child’s play area and so much more. It’s honestly so much fun and the variety of games will keep even the most energetic kids entertained, this is so much fun for adults on a rainy day or spare evening too. (Round One Stadium Sapporo Shiraishi Hondori features Spo-cha).
We often get asked by visitors with families where the best places are to eat for those with kids, and actually, you’ll find in Hokkaido and Sapporo in general that a lot of places are family friendly. However, these food chains are particularly family friendly (often called family restaurants) – Bikkuri Donki, Royal Host and Gusto.
Yep, that really is a sweet potato parfait below from Bikkuri Donki!
We hope you find this one day itinerary in Sapporo helpful for your next trip, do feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions! We share lots of Travel Hokkaido guides, recommendations and day trip ideas from Sapporo if you’re looking for more inspiration for your next trip.
Staying for longer? Take a look at our full 2 day itinerary guide packed full of recommendations and sights to see in Sapporo, and if you’re considering staying for longer, we have a jam packed 4 day Sapporo itinerary as well!
