4 Day Sapporo Itinerary By a Local: What To See, Eat & Do
Living in Sapporo, we’ve been able to explore all of the tourist hot spots, and find those off the beaten track gems and amazing places to eat, that only locals have had the time to know about, and experience.
So, in this 4 day Sapporo itinerary, we have pulled together some of the best things to do in Sapporo, close by day trips from Sapporo so you’re not endlessly walking around the city for 4 days trying to find things to do. PLUS, this is a no car itinerary, so everything can be accessed easily by public transport.
This is a jam packed 4 day itinerary, so you can do it all, extract bits you like or move things around to best suit your travel plans – let’s get into it!
4 Day Sapporo Itinerary By a Local
Day 1
For your first day in the capital of the north, let’s keep it local in the city! If you’re getting over jet lag or want a slower first day, whilst plenty of steps are still guaranteed, exploring everything around you is one of the best ways to kick off your itinerary.
You may notice that things don’t open particularly early in Japan, most sightseeing spots open at 10am, and breakfast options are also limited pre 10am.
If you’ve not got breakfast where you’re staying, places such as Komeda and Doutor are open early if you fancy a Japanese breakfast set experience (we love Komeda’s, it’s such good value, and the bread is incredible!). Gusto also offers an all you can eat breakfast buffet between 7-10am on weekends only, family friendly and only costs ¥1,199 per person – a great mix of Japanese and Western food items!
Sapporo Clock Tower
Location: 2 Chome Kita 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0001
Only 5 minutes walk from Odori Park station, the clock tower is an iconic landmark of Sapporo, and it opens at 8:45am so a perfect bit of sightseeing to start early in the day, you’ll also avoid crowds at this time and be able to get photos freely.
There’s a little museum inside which costs ¥350 for admission, you’ll learn more about the history of the clock tower and upstairs there’s a great place for a photo opportunity!
Odori Park & TV Tower (Take in sweeping views of the city!)
A stones throw away from the clock tower is the beautiful Odori Park which feels like a central hub in the city. Depending on what time of the year you visit here, you’re guaranteed a unique, and seasonally distinct experience at Odori Park. The famous Sapporo snow festival takes place in February, the Lilac festival in May, the beer festival in the summer, and then watch of the leaves turn a fiery red in autumn, and so much more!
Enjoy the beauty of the park before heading up the TV Tower. Entry is ¥1,200 per adult. There are other places in the city that you can take in a similar view, but for central location, this is one of the best places to do it! Allow around 40 minutes for the experience before heading onto the next stop of the day.
Nakajima Park (Grab the best sandwiches!)
Jump onto the Namboku subway line over to Nakajima Park, this is one of our favourite places in the city of Sapporo. Where you can be so close to the bustling city, but also get a slice of calm and peace, whilst enjoying the stunning Japanese gardens.
You might be feeling a bit hungry, so head over to Hasamiya – they do the most incredible sandwiches, served in foil and they’re steaming hot. Sit in or what we like to do, is take them down to the park, find a bench and take in the beauty of the area. We highly recommend the ham and cheese toastie or the classic Reuben sandwich!
There’s plenty to explore at Nakajima and you can walk around the proximity of the lake, hire a row boat in the warmer months, or grab a soft serve from one of the street vendors.
Like Odori Park, here’s just some of the different things you can enjoy season by season here;
- Late April to early May – cherry blossoms
- Late April to late October – Row boats return to Shobu Pond at Nakajima
- June 14th-16th – Hokkaido Jingu Annual Festival
- Late October to early November – Autumn Illumination Festival
- Spring through to Autumn (check dates and opening hours online) – Nakajima Park Flea Market
Red Brick Government Building
Location: 〒060-0003 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Kita 3 Jonishi, 6 Chome 1番地
The Red Brick Government Building is a lesser known tourist attraction, but something that’s well worth including in your itinerary, and there’s a limited edition snack to try here too!
To get here from Nakajima, jump back onto the subway and take exit 10 of Sapporo Station on the Namboku Subway Line. It’s then a short 10 minute walk here.
This is the former Hokkaido government building and the architecture is certainly a sight. It costs ￥300 for entry and there are numerous exhibitions to explore inside on Hokkaido heritage and culture, Ainu culture and history and the history of the red brick building.
On the ground floor there’s a cafe and souvenir shop and they sell limited edition Akarenga biscuit sandwiches, which are just as delicious as they look below! The outer biscuit is modelled on the Red Brick building, and this is the only place you can find and eat them in Hokkaido!
Underground Shopping
There’s plenty of opportunities for shopping all over the city of Sapporo, but perhaps the most unique part is the underground shopping and the two shopping malls here.
Why? This entire other city has been built underneath because of the harsh winter, allowing residents and tourists to continue with their everyday life, and honestly, it’s like a rabbit warren down here!
There are so many amazing shops to explore, restaurants and cafes. We recommend taking a look in Stellar Place and Daimaru (up market department stores that sell everything!) and don’t forget to try Kinatoya apple pie and their award winning Hokkaido milk soft serve which is honestly one of our favourites in Hokkaido.
Susikino
Where better to spend your first evening than in Susikino, the neon lights and bustling area that’s synonymous with Sapporo. It’s on the same Namboku line and is only two stops away from Sapporo Station.
Whilst there’s plenty of restaurants to explore and hidden places, you can’t beat trying the infamous Ramen Alley and trying a Sapporo ramen to kickstart your trip.
If you fancy some evening entertainment, book a booth for Karaoke or go to Round1 to try and win something on their 100’s of claw machines.
Before heading back to your hotel for the night, if you’ve still got an appetite, lean into the late night parfait culture here in Sapporo. Parfaits are one of our favourite sweet treats here – topped with ice cream, cake, mochi balls, cream and so much more. There are some super elaborate parfaits on offer in Sapporo, and we’re currently working our way through most of them so we can recommend the best ones to try!
Day 2
After a busy first day in the city, it’s time to head out into Hokkaido and experience the vast nature that this incredible prefecture offers. Lake Toya is one of the most picturesque spots and can easily be accessed via public transport from the city of Sapporo.
The fastest route is by train. From Sapporo Station, take a JR limited express service to Toya Station. The journey takes around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. Once you arrive, you’ll need to transfer to a local bus, which takes about 15 minutes to reach the main lakeside area at Toyako Onsen.
Lake Toya
Arriving here mid morning, there is a lot to do! We have a whole itinerary on Lake Toya alone to show you how you can map out your day. But pick and choose what things you might like to do most, and of course, weather dependent!
Walking around Lake Toya really gives you a perspective on how beautiful and peaceful life is here in Hokkaido. You’ll find a lake side natural foot spa to enjoy, there’s cafes dotted around, and in the spring/summer you can hire swan pedal boats to take out onto the water.
Whilst Mount USU ropeway isn’t open during the winter, if you visit here during the rest of the year, we’d highly recommend a visit. Take the Mt. USU ropeway to the top to take in the breathtaking views of Lake Toya below and of Mt. USU. If you have the time and like hiking, you can also take a hike to the inner crater of the volcano. It takes around 1 hour each way and there is a lot of stairs, so you need to be relatively fit to do it.
Needless to say, just getting the ropeway to the top is worth it, we came here early autumn and it was freezing, there’s a little drinks place here and it honestly tasted like the best hot chocolate we’ve ever had!
For lunch, Cafe House Raidojuku is the sweetest hidden gem at Lake Toya. It’s just off from the lake and it’s run by a lovely elderly couple. There’s a limited, but delicious menu with pancakes, curries and hot drinks.
Why we love the location so much? Literally across the road is a roadside foot spa called Foot Bath Pocket Park Yakushi-no-Yu, it is so gloriously hot and much needed after all the walking you’ve been doing.
As you make your way back into Sapporo for the evening, you might fancy an easy dinner. If you fancy a tasty Japanese place to try, check out Nandeyanen, an unassuming restaurant that you just wouldn’t see from street level. It’s tucked away in a high rise building and is the cosiest restaurant serving the most incredible and authentic okonomiyaki – highly recommend getting the mini gyozas too!
Day 3
What I love most about living in Sapporo is there’s honestly so much to do, and you can only come half an hour away from the city to experience something totally different. And, that’s exactly what day 3 of this itinerary is about!
Hill of The Buddha
Location: 2 Takino, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-0862
The hill of the Buddha is quite a staggering sight to see, it’s one of the most uniquely designed buddha statues which staggers at a height of 13.5m! From central Sapporo, take the Namboku Subway Line to Makomanai Station, then hop on the 108 or 106 bus towards Takino Cemetery. The journey takes around an hour in total. It opens at 9am, so one worth ticking off your list early in the day, with entry costing ¥1,000 per person.
You’ll know you’re in the right place when you arrive, as you you’ll be greeted by the row of Moai statues and see the top of the Buddha’s head bridging over the landscape.
Takino Park
Location: 247 Takino, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-0862
You’re in the right proximity for Takino Park after visiting the hill of the Buddha, and much like everywhere in Sapporo, you’re in for a different, and unique visit no matter what season you come here in.
To get to Takino Park take the Hokkaido Chuo Bus (Bus #106) from the Takino Toge stop (滝野峠) to the Suzuran Koen Higashiguchi (Suzuran Park East Gate) stop which takes just over 10 minutes to get there.
In the winter it transforms into Takino Snow World – an incredible place for beginners to skiing (you can rent all ski equipment on site) and you can take part in snow tubing and snow shoeing, which is completely free!
As spring arrives, take in the beauty of the tulip fields, the flower events going on in Sapporo in late spring are absolutely incredible. Even into summer, the park comes alive even more, you can buy BBQ items from the restaurant, or even take a walk down to Ashiribetsu falls.
Mount Moiwa Ropeway
Location: Sapporo city Chuo ward Fushimi 5-3-7
Start making your way back into the city and stop by the Mount Moiwa Ropeway to take in a completely new perspective of the city. The ropeway costs ¥2,100 for adults and ¥1,050 for children. You take a ropeway, followed by a mini cable car to the summit, and the whole journey takes around 30 minutes when it’s not busy.
The views at the top are nothing short of spectacular, take in the surrounding views of the city – we’ve done this in the day for sunset and when it’s night time, and both offer a really different viewing experience. There’s also a little cafe at the top with drinks and soft serve ice cream.
However, if you really want to level up your experience, we recommend booking a table at The Jewels Restaurant which is at the summit of Mt.Moiwa. We came here for our wedding anniversary, and wow. It was easily the best dining experience we have had in Sapporo. We booked the luxury seats and we literally had the entire view to ourselves from a comfy sofa. It was a 7 course luxury dining experience and the food was nothing short of incredible.
A slightly more expensive experience than your typical restaurant in Sapporo, but honestly worth it for such a special occasion, and if you want to go all out on your trip in Sapporo, this is the place to do it! Highly recommend booking a table for around sunset so you can enjoy the full experience into the evening.
Day 4
Let’s finish the last day of your trip to Sapporo with another unforgettable location, and another totally different side to life in Sapporo. A great day trip from the city of Sapporo is Jozankei onsen town. Of course, we couldn’t let you leave Hokkaido without a true onsen experience!
Jozankei Onsen Town
Getting here by public transport is really straight forward and the easiest option is the direct Jotetsu Kappa Liner bus, which departs from JR Sapporo Station and reaches Jozankei in approximately 60 minutes. This is a reservation-only service, so it’s recommended to book at least one day in advance.
There’s honestly so much you can do at Jozankei, and it’s up to you whether you want to spend just a few hours here or a full day. We actually have a full day guide to exploring Jozankei if you want to check that out.
To start of your day, head over to a public onsen, after all of the walking and travelling it will reset you and well, it’s a true Japanese experience that you need to try at least once on your trip to Japan.
There’s actually 10 public/day bathing onsens you can try in Jozankei, however, the best one for access without a car is the Jozankei Manseikaku Hotel Milione.
After a hot onsen, take a walk alongside the Toyahira river towards the red suspension bridge, and grab an apple pie from our favourite cafe called ふる川果日 J.glacée, and if you like eggs… cook your own onsen eggs by buying some from the little souvenir shop in the town before cooking them at the Ontama-no-yu by the Jozan Gensen Park.
You can even bathe your feet in the nearby foot spa for 20 minutes whilst they cook! Once ready, eat them as is, or take them back over to the souvenir shop cafe where they will provide you with some little bowls and salt for your eggs.
As you can imagine, there’s so much to Jozankei, and you could spend a couple of days here quite easily as there’s hiking, breathtaking dams to visit and you can even go river rafting in the warmer months!
Susikino Shopping
After heading back into the city after a jam packed day at Jozankei, stop by Susikino for the evening to take in the last of city life here in Sapporo. We always left our bulk of shopping and souvenirs to our last day in Japan before packing our cases up, and Tanukikoji Shopping Street is a great place to do that!
Situated centrally to the Susikino area, there are around 200 shops, restaurants and cafes to explore here. For souvenirs Don Quijote is a great place that literally stocks everything you could want, however, it can get pretty busy during peak hours. As a local, we never shop here anymore! The drugstore, pharmacies are where it’s at because they are so much quieter, stock more luxury brands of skincare/beauty and the prices are often that little bit cheaper.
There are actually two pharmacies opposite Don Quijote in the shopping street, with Matsumoto Kiyoshi being one of the best as they stock literally every brand.
Keep on walking through the shopping alley and see where the evening takes you, if it’s a rainy day in Sapporo, this is always one of the best places to head as everything is underneath cover.
Finish your evening with a ramen, seafood or your favourite konbini foods! There’s genuinely so many places to eat at, that as we work our way around the city eating, we still won’t have tried everywhere in a years time!
If you’re looking for more Sapporo eating ideas around the city, do follow us at Nicole and James in Japan over on Instagram where we share daily updates, life in Japan and places to visit.
We’ve put together a handful of Hokkaido itineraries, including a one day Sapporo itinerary and a 2 day trip in this capital of the north, so you can find plenty of unique things to do on your next trip. Not sure when to visit? We’ve put together a guide on the best time to visit Sapporo, ranked by the month!
Let us know below if you have any questions, we hope you have the best trip to Sapporo!
