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

In this travel report, I will show you everything about my multi-day trip to Japan's northernmost island - Hokkaido! I share my tips and experiences with you on how to get to Sapporo and what local culinary specialties you can expect here. Hokkaido offers a unique landscape, frosty climate, and great attractions that make this prefecture unique.

From Tokyo to Sapporo

By Plane

Sapporo is located in Hokkaido, which is the northernmost island of Japan. For our trip to Hokkaido, we therefore traveled by plane from Haneda to Sapporo. The cost for a round trip was 37,000 yen (approximately 228 euros) per person. The flight took about 1.5 hours and I recommend being at the airport about 1-2 hours before departure. The security check was quick due to the domestic flight and the gates were easily accessible. However, the food at the gate itself was not recommended. Before the security check at Haneda International Airport, there is 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 generally also the option to drive by car from Tokyo to Hokkaido. However, it is a very long journey - approximately 17 hours according to Google Maps. Along the way, there are several toll booths and you have to take the ferry, which incurs additional costs. Therefore, I recommend taking the plane and renting a car locally instead.

By Train

There is also the option to travel to Hokkaido by Shinkansen , but the travel time from Tokyo Station is approximately 8 hours. Furthermore, you can only take the Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, after which you must transfer to a regional train to Sapporo. Of all the options, I definitely recommend investing the money and traveling by plane to save time.

How to Rent a Car

Upon arriving in Sapporo, we decided to rent a car . This allows you to be flexible on-site and not reliant on public transportation, especially since it is not as well developed in Hokkaido as, for example, in Tokyo.

For our exploration tours in Hokkaido, we rented a car from Toyota Rent a Car . At the airport, we could go directly to the counter and received a number. Subsequently, we were taken to the counter by a special bus, where we paid the amount and were shown the car. Since we rented a hybrid car, we only spent an additional 4,000 yen on fuel or transportation throughout the trip, even though we did not use public transportation. A big plus for everyone who does not understand Japanese: the staff at the Toyota Rent a Car counter in Sapporo could also speak English!

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

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Our Accommodation - The Hotel "Sapporo Granbell"

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

The hotel also has a parking garage where a robot parks the car. You are allowed to park and retrieve the car as often as possible during your stay. The cost for the parking garage is 2,000 yen per day, which is cheaper than the local parking spaces. However, at check-out at 11:00 am, you must collect the car directly, otherwise 200 yen will be charged per hour. We were able to store our luggage for free at the hotel on our departure day, allowing us to enjoy the last day without luggage.

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

*Booking.com: Sapporo Granbell Hotel

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Food in Hokkaido

Our multi-day trip to Hokkaido was a great reason to try as many local culinary specialties as possible. In the next sections, you will learn about the dishes we tried.

Sushi with Scallops

The island of Hokkaido is known for its selection of seafood, especially super fresh sushi. I particularly recommend the very large scallops available here. Sushi with scallops is also very popular in Hokkaido. Of course, we tried various types of sushi to sample everything.

Hokkaido Crab

If you enjoy eating crab, you definitely must try Hokkaido crab. I recommend Kaniya Sapporo Crab House (Main Branch) as the place to go. The cost per person varies depending on the menu and ranges between 6,000 yen and 20,000 yen. It is somewhat on the pricier side, but the visit is definitely worth it! In addition to the quality of the food, the atmosphere of the restaurant speaks for itself.

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

Jingisukan Yakiniku

Another local specialty that you must try in Hokkaido is Jingisukan Yakiniku (ジンギスカン, "Genghis Khan" Yakiniku). It is a grilled lamb meat dish prepared on a convex metal griddle or another type of grill. The dish is often grilled with soybean sprouts, mushrooms, onions, and peppers and served with a sauce made from soy sauce or sake. It is tasty, but due to the lamb meat, it is very hearty and was a bit too greasy for me. Nevertheless, I would recommend trying it if you are in Hokkaido.

Miso Ramen

When it is 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) that, in my opinion, served some of the best ramen I've had so far! The soup was not too salty, which is often a problem in my eyes. However, the soup base was very smoky, and the meat was super tender. The bamboo shoots were also noticeably fresher than in other standard ramen restaurants. The price for this very good quality was, however, reasonably affordable - as almost always in Japan. You just need to know the right places.

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

Food at the Izakaya "rukku & uohei"

If you are looking for a very good izakaya in Sapporo, I recommend the izakaya "rukku & uohei" . This restaurant, in the typical "izakaya" style, is located in the heart of Sapporo and we really ate very well here. You will find more about the dishes we had there in the next sections.

Kaisendon

Another culinary highlight in Hokkaido was kaisendon - a sashimi donburi with super fresh fish on soft, fluffy rice. Our kaisendon consisted of various local fish varieties, shrimp, and salmon roe - all, of course, raw. The fish on the island tastes especially fresh, and Hokkaido is famous for its incredibly excellent quality! So you definitely should not miss trying a fish dish here. I especially highly recommend the sashimi dishes!

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

Lachs Nabe

Another dish we had at the izakaya "rukku & uohei" was salmon nabe . This is a stew that warms you up on particularly cold days and is served with salmon and vegetables. The fish in the stew is cooked on a small stove top right before your eyes. It is the perfect meal for the cold season and a true culinary highlight!

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

Ikura Don

For lovers of roe, I recommend the Ikura Don. It is a salmon roe donburi - a bowl of fluffy, warm rice topped with salmon eggs. The dish was served here with a show - the service staff fills a large amount of fish eggs into the warm rice bowl with a large wooden spoon right before your eyes, causing it to almost overflow with salmon roe. It was definitely a unique experience and especially unforgettable with the show.

Attractions in the Prefecture of Hokkaido

Jigokudani (Hell Valley) 登別地獄谷

During our Hokkaido trip, we visited various attractions and places. One of them is Jigokudani (Hell Valley), a fascinating landscape with hot, bubbling lakes and rivers like something from another world. Bacteria in the surrounding area create various colors such as white, green, and blue, giving the landscape a unique appearance.

When it snows, it is especially worth seeing, but it is definitely worth a visit even without snow! The journey by car takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, or you can take the bus - but then it 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 popular throughout Japan. They are characterized by their sweet taste. Many farmsteads in the Yubari Region are dedicated to growing this special variety of melons. Unfortunately, we had bad weather, and it started to snow heavily. Therefore, we were unable to visit the local attraction of the bridge and the nearby Chidorigataki Waterfall. Nevertheless, it was interesting to explore this region by rental car.

Mount Moiwa

An attraction with a breathtaking view of the surrounding region is the Mount Moiwa Observation Deck. The viewing platform can be reached via two cable cars. A ticket for the cable car and the observation deck costs 1,400 yen per person. However, there are also discounts for children, students, and seniors. Depending on the season, the observation deck is open from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm. In the summer, it even opens half an hour earlier, giving visitors more time to enjoy the view. The last cable car goes up at 9:30 pm. You get a great view of the surroundings both during the day and in the evening. We were there in the evening and had a beautiful 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 directly in Sapporo is the TV Tower. It not only looks beautiful from the outside but also displays the time. Its shape resembles that of the Eiffel Tower a bit! However, you can not only view it from below but also enjoy the view of Sapporo from the observation deck at the top of the TV Tower. The price of 1,000 yen per person was a bit too expensive for us, so we did not visit the observation deck.

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

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

Christmas Market at the Sapporo TV Tower

To my surprise, there was a small Christmas market right at the foot of the Sapporo TV Tower! In line with the current Advent season, it contributed to a nice and cozy atmosphere. There was even German apple wine, roasted almonds, wine and beer from Germany, as well as Eisbein and many other German products and dishes. Unfortunately, it was, of course, very expensive compared to the original in Germany. However, with the view of the illuminated TV tower, the whole thing already felt very Christmas-like and festive.

The Port City Otaru

Otaru is a port city in Hokkaido, located northwest of Sapporo on the Ishikari Bay. The city is known, among other things, for its glass production and distilleries. Unfortunately, I was not feeling well that day, so my girlfriend set off alone to explore Otaru. Particularly interesting here is the canal, lined with converted old warehouses that are now used as cafes and shops. You can also take a small canal cruise to see the surroundings. Especially in the evening, you have a beautiful view of the illuminated canal.

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

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

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

A Tip for Any Japan Trip: Kuroneko Yamato

A real tip for any Japan trip is the Kuroneko Yamato delivery service. With this, you can have your heavy and bulky luggage sent from one hotel to another within Japan - even if it is in a different prefecture! Generally, you can find forms in hotels in Japan and can inquire about this service on-site. Prices vary depending on the weight and size of your luggage.

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

Conclusion

The prefecture of Hokkaido 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 is located in the north, you should be prepared for very cold weather and frequent snow. In particular, the winter season starts here earlier than in the rest of the country. Therefore, you should equip yourself with good footwear, as many streets are neither de-iced nor plowed, which can make them extremely slippery at times. Salt is also not used. I was surprised that there apparently seems to be no regulation regarding snowfall here and that the city does not do much about it. Therefore, you should best prepare yourself as much as possible so that you can enjoy your trip to Hokkaido.