Sapporo (札幌) Hokkaido Trip - Travel Guide Tips and my experience

In this travel report, I'll show you everything about my multi-day trip to Japan's northernmost island - Hokkaido! I'll share my tips and experiences on how to get to Sapporo and which local culinary specialties await you here. Hokkaido offers a unique landscape, frosty climate, and great sights that make this prefecture truly special.

From Tokyo to Sapporo

By plane

Sapporo is located on Hokkaido, which is Japan's northernmost island. For our trip to Hokkaido, we therefore traveled by plane from Haneda to Sapporo. The cost for a round-trip ticket was 37,000 yen (about 228 euros) per person. The flight took about 1.5 hours, and I recommend arriving at the airport about 1–2 hours before departure. Security went quickly because it was a domestic flight, and the gates were easy to reach. However, the food at the gate itself was not recommended. Before security in International Haneda Airport, there's a good selection of restaurants—but since we had a domestic flight, it was a different terminal and we couldn't eat there this time.

By car

There is also the general possibility of driving to Hokkaido from Tokyo by car . However, it's a very long trip—about 17 hours according to Google Maps. Along the way, there are several toll stations and you'll need to take a ferry, which adds extra costs. That's why I recommend flying and then renting a car on site instead.

By train

There is also the option of taking the Shinkansen all the way to Hokkaido, but the travel time from Tokyo Station is about 8 hours. You can only get as far as Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station by Shinkansen, after which you need to transfer to a regional train to Sapporo. Of all the options, I definitely recommend investing the money and flying to save time.

How to rent a car

Once we arrived in Sapporo, we decided to rent a car . This way you're flexible and not dependent on public transportation, which on Hokkaido is not as well developed as, for example, in Tokyo.

For our explorations around Hokkaido, we rented a car from Toyota Rent a Car . At the airport, we could go straight to the counter and received a number. We were then taken on a dedicated bus to the counter, where we paid and were shown the car. Because we rented a hybrid car, we spent only an extra 4,000 yen on gasoline/transportation during the entire trip, even though we didn't use public transportation. A big plus for anyone who doesn't understand Japanese: the staff at the Toyota Rent a Car counter in Sapporo also spoke English!

Official website (English): https://rent.toyota.co.jp/eng/

Our Accommodation – the "Sapporo Granbell" Hotel

During our stay in Sapporo, we stayed at the "Sapporo Granbell" hotel *. We booked a slightly larger room, and the hotel had a really special experience for us: an onsen, freely available for guests on the roof of the hotel. Especially in winter, that's a wonderful experience.

The hotel also offers a parking garage where a robot stores the car. You can park and retrieve the car as often as you like during your stay. The cost is 2,000 yen per day, which is cheaper than the local parking lots. At check-out at 11:00 am, you need to pick up your car directly afterwards, as otherwise they charge 200 yen per additional hour. We were able to store our luggage for free at the hotel on our departure day so we could enjoy our last day without bags.

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Here’s the hotel*

*Affiliate link

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Find more hotels in Sapporo

Go to the hotel*

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/giPB9PZK1MJAVZ579

Eating in Hokkaido

Our multi-day trip to Hokkaido was a great excuse to try as many local culinary specialties as possible. Which dishes we tried, you'll find out in the next sections.

Sushi with scallops

Because of its location, Hokkaido is known for its selection of seafood and above all, super fresh sushi. I especially recommend the very large scallops you get here. Sushi with scallops is also very popular in Hokkaido. Of course, we ate different kinds of sushi to try everything.

Hokkaido crab

If you love crab, you absolutely have to try Hokkaido crab. I recommend the Kaniya Sapporo Crab House (Main Branch) as an address. The cost per person varies depending on the menu and ranges between 6,000 yen and 20,000 yen. It is on the pricier side, but a visit is definitely worth it! Besides the quality of the food, the atmosphere of the restaurant also stands out.

Kaniya Sapporo Crab House (Main Branch): https://maps.app.goo.gl/89WZdyCgMknxE7PG8

Jingisukan Yakiniku

Another local specialty you absolutely have to try in Hokkaido is Jingisukan Yakiniku (ジンギスカン, "Genghis Khan" Yakiniku). This is a grilled mutton dish prepared on a convex metal pan or other type of grill. The dish is often grilled together with bean sprouts, mushrooms, onions, and peppers, served with a sauce based on soy sauce or sake. It's delicious, but because of the mutton it’s very hearty—and it was a bit too fatty for me. Still, I recommend trying it when on Hokkaido.

Miso ramen

When it's cold and unpleasant outside, ramen (noodle soup) is especially comforting. During our trip, we tried a restaurant (らーめん吉山商店 狸小路店) which, in my opinion, served some of the best ramen I've had! The soup wasn't too salty (often a problem in my opinion). The broth was very smoky, and the meat was super tender. The bamboo shoots were also much fresher than in other standard ramen restaurants. For this very good quality, the price was fairly average—as is almost always the case in Japan. You just have to know the right places.

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tr2o8ZGV2MhBZSoz9?g_st=ic

Food at Izakaya "rukku & uohei"

If you’re looking for a really good izakaya in Sapporo, I recommend the izakaya "rukku & uohei" . This restaurant in the typical izakaya style is right in the middle of Sapporo, and we ate very well here. More about the dishes we had there in the next sections.

Kaisendon

Another culinary highlight on Hokkaido was kaisendon – a sashimi donburi with super fresh fish on soft, fluffy rice. Our kaisendon consisted of several local fish varieties, shrimp, and salmon roe—all, of course, raw. The fish tastes especially fresh on the island, and Hokkaido is famous for its incredible quality! So you shouldn't miss trying a fish dish here. I especially recommend the sashimi dishes!

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RnBqN2iEyVPUnSXf9

Salmon Nabe

Another dish we had at the izakaya "rukku & uohei" was salmon nabe . This is a hot pot that’s especially warming on cold days and is served with salmon and vegetables. The fish in the stew is cooked right in front of you on a small hot plate. It's the perfect meal in the cold season and a real culinary highlight!

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RnBqN2iEyVPUnSXf9

Ikura Don

If you’re a fan of roe, I recommend Ikura Don. It's a salmon roe donburi – that is, a bowl of fluffy, warm rice topped with salmon roe. Here, the dish was served as a show—the staff pours a heap of fish eggs over your warm rice bowl with a large wooden spoon, so much that it almost overflows with salmon roe. This was definitely a unique experience, and the show made it unforgettable.

Sights in Hokkaido Prefecture

Jigokudani (Hell Valley) 登別地獄谷

During our Hokkaido trip, we visited several sights and places. One of them is Jigokudani (Hell Valley), a fascinating landscape with hot, bubbling lakes and rivers that look like something from another world. Different colors like white, green, and blue are created by bacteria in the area, giving the scenery a unique appearance.

If it's snowing, it's especially beautiful, but even without snow it's definitely worth a visit! You can get there by car in about 1.5 to 2 hours, or take the bus—which takes about 2 to 3 hours.

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/29CTGfqYStRdip8Y8?g_st=ic

Yubari Region

During our trip, we also visited the Yubari region, which is known for its delicious melons. These melons are considered a delicacy and are prized all over Japan. Their sweet taste sets them apart. Many farms in the Yubari region are dedicated to growing this special variety of melon. Unfortunately, we had bad luck with the weather and it started snowing heavily. That's why we couldn’t see the local attraction of the bridge or the Chidorigataki waterfall. Still, it was interesting to explore this region by rental car.

Mount Moiwa

One attraction with a breathtaking view of the region is the Mount Moiwa observation deck. The platform can be reached via two cable cars. A ticket for the cable car/observation deck costs 1,400 yen per person. There are also discounts for children, students, and seniors. Depending on the season, the observation deck is open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. In summer it opens half an hour earlier so visitors can enjoy the view longer. The last cable car goes up at 9:30 p.m. Whether by day or at night, you get an incredible view of the area. We went in the evening and had a wonderful view of the city lights.

Official website: https://mt-moiwa.jp/en/guide/

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/igbe7sKEdtBnmeqc9

The TV Tower: Sapporo TV Tower

A well-known attraction right in Sapporo is the TV tower. It's beautiful from the outside and also shows the time. Its shape is a little reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower! You can not only look at it from below, but also enjoy the view of Sapporo from an observation platform at the top. However, the price of 1,000 yen per person was a bit too expensive for us, so we didn't go up this time.

Official website: https://www.tv-tower.co.jp/en/

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Lcevdjm3Ri9DS4Ug9

Christmas market at Sapporo TV Tower

To my surprise, there was a small Christmas market right at the foot of the Sapporo TV Tower! Fitting for the Christmas season, it created a lovely and cozy atmosphere. There was even German apple wine, roasted almonds, wine and beer from Germany, as well as Eisbein (pork knuckle) and many other German products and dishes. Of course, compared to the original in Germany, it was quite expensive. But with the view of the illuminated TV tower, the whole thing felt very Christmasy and festive.

The port city Otaru

Otaru is a port city on Hokkaido, located northwest of Sapporo on the Ishikari Bay. The city is known for its glass production and distilleries. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling well that day, so my girlfriend explored Otaru on her own. The canal, lined with converted old warehouses now used as cafés and shops, is particularly interesting. You can even take a little canal cruise to see the area. Especially in the evening, there's a beautiful view of the illuminated canal.

The ticket prices during the day are 1,800 yen (about 11 euros) for an adult and 2,000 yen (about 13 euros) in the evening.

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6BwTE8P75c3Kj6Pp9

Otaru Canal Cruise (official website): https://otaru.cc/en/

One tip for any Japan trip: Kuroneko Yamato

A real insider tip for any trip to Japan is the Kuroneko Yamato delivery service. With this service, you can send your heavy and bulky luggage from one hotel to another within Japan—even when it's in another prefecture! You can usually find forms for this in hotels in Japan, and you can check about the service right there. Prices vary based on the weight and size of your luggage.

Official website: https://www.global-yamato.com/en/hands-free-travel/

Conclusion

Hokkaido Prefecture and the city of Sapporo have a lot to offer. Japan's northernmost prefecture impresses with unique attractions and landscapes as well as culinary specialties. Since it's located in the north, you should be prepared for it to be very cold and to snow often. In particular, winter starts earlier here than elsewhere in the country. Make sure to bring good footwear, as many roads are neither de-iced nor plowed, which means things can get extremely slippery. Salt isn't used either. I was surprised to see that there doesn't seem to be a rule about snowfall here, and the city doesn't seem to do much about it. So you should prepare yourself as well as possible so you can enjoy your trip to Hokkaido.

Discover Sapporo with a local—you decide what you want to see: famous highlights or hidden gems, just as you like.

Book your adventure.*

*Affiliate link: If you book an activity on viator.com via my widget or link, I receive a small commission. It does not cost you anything extra, and you support my blog. I'm very grateful and wish you a great time traveling (^_^)