What to do in Sapporo
92 places curated from 23 travel vlogs — the more a spot gets mentioned, the higher it ranks























Housed in a red-brick former sugar factory turned brewery, this museum traces the history of Sapporo Beer since its founding in 1876. Visitors can tour the exhibition and do a paid tasting of three beers including the classic Black Label.


















A sprawling 1.5km park at the heart of the city that hosts several festivals including the famous Sapporo Snow Festival. The hosts stumbled upon Sapporo Autumn Fest here, with dozens of international food stalls.













A central market close to the Sapporo TV Tower offering crab, kaisendon (seafood rice bowls), and other market goods. Convenient location makes it a popular alternative to the more distant Crab Market.













A narrow alleyway in the Susukino entertainment district lined with small noodle shops specializing in Sapporo-style miso ramen.












Iconic retro tower completed in 1957, standing 147m tall with panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains. The open-sided elevator adds to the vertigo experience.











Covered shopping arcade stretching about one kilometer through downtown Sapporo, dating back to the 1870s. Houses a huge variety of shops across multiple floors and is ideal for escaping the heat.










Historic western-style building built in 1878, originally used by Sapporo Agricultural College. Its Howard & Davis clock from Boston has kept time for over 128 years and it is a symbol of the city's development.









Sapporo's main entertainment and nightlife district, full of bars, restaurants, shops, and neon lights. Described as the city's action hub and the recommended area to stay.









A mountain about 25 minutes from the city center offering skiing, snowboarding, and a stunning panoramic viewpoint over Sapporo. Recommended to visit close to sunset for golden-hour views.








A large park designed by sculptor Isamu Noguchi, featuring vast open spaces, large sculptures, a glass pyramid observation deck/art space, and an artificial hill called Moa Mountain with panoramic views over Sapporo. Especially scenic in winter under snow.







Major Shinto shrine in Sapporo's Maruyama district, set within forested grounds near the foot of Mount Maruyama.







A riverside hot spring town about one hour from downtown Sapporo, famous for its onsen. Features public foot baths along the river and a relaxed nature atmosphere with surrounding forests.







A striking red-brick building whose charms are especially vivid in winter against the snow-powdered pines.







A confectionery theme park and factory built around the famous Shiroi Koibito cookies, described as a cross between Disneyland, Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, and a European village. Visitors can watch cookies being made on the assembly line and customize souvenir boxes with their own photo.






A large green park in western Sapporo with 1700 cherry trees, walking paths, and a primeval forest with giant old-growth trees. Includes bear warning signs on the forest trail and feels like an escape from the urban environment.





Urban park with a large pond, walking trails, and historic buildings. The hosts' hotel overlooked this park and they explored it for the first time in sunshine.





A wholesale market where visitors can select fresh seafood (including king crab and hairy crab) downstairs and have it cooked—steamed, grilled, or as sashimi—in the upstairs restaurant. Opens at 7 a.m., last cooking call at 2:30 p.m.; tax-free with passport.





An annual winter event held in February, featuring snow sculptures ranging from small statues to giant snow castles, alongside food stalls, concerts, and cultural events. Walking the full event can take around 90 minutes.




A ropeway ($12 round trip, cars every 15 minutes) ascending to one of Japan's premier observation points. Arriving 30 minutes before sunset delivers a 360-degree panorama from Ishikari Bay to the surrounding mountains, turning into a dazzling sea of city lights after dark.




Popular soup curry restaurant famous enough to draw 40-minute queues. Sapporo's signature soup curry style features a light, soupy broth with fried chicken, vegetables, and customizable spice level.



A large seafood market about 20 minutes northwest of the city center by public transport, famous for live Hokkaido crab including king crab and hairy crab. Many vendors sell and cook crab on-site.



A former brewery converted into a mall with shops, a beer hall (pints ~$4.20), and a glass atrium, located a 10-minute walk from Odori Station.



Zoo located in the Maruyama neighborhood at the foot of Mount Maruyama, one of several attractions clustered in the area.



An outdoor museum showcasing historical buildings from Hokkaido's Meiji and early Showa periods, including the old Sapporo Station building. Horse-drawn carriages are available in summer and winter to tour the village.



Charming port town about 40 minutes from Sapporo by train, known for its historic canal, glass crafts, and old Western-style architecture. The vlogger recommends the train ride itself and a wander through the snowy streets.



An unusual attraction on the outskirts of Sapporo featuring moai statues, a giant Buddha emerging from a lavender-covered hill, and a Stonehenge replica. Reached by Metro to the end of the line and then bus 106.


Popular Hokkaido bakery and wagashi shop offering unique items like chikuwa-pan (fish cake bread), melon bread made with Hokkaido milk, and a cream-filled French bread called Chamonix. Considered one of the best places for bread in Sapporo.


Popular soup curry restaurant in Sapporo known for long lines.


A historic waterway lined with converted stone warehouses that transforms at night when gas lanterns flicker on, turning the canal into a romantic liquid mirror reflecting golden light.


A sprawling campus serving as a beloved public park, with tree-lined pathways, historic buildings, tranquil ponds, and wild foxes occasionally roaming. Open to the public as a peaceful morning sanctuary.


A free-admission museum on the Hokkaido University campus (open Tuesday–Sunday from 10 a.m.) showcasing exhibits on the region's natural history, indigenous heritage, and ongoing scientific research.


Observation deck atop the Okurayama ski jump ramp used in the 1972 Winter Olympics. Offers panoramic views over Sapporo and is accessible from the Maruyama area.


Dining and shopping complex attached to Sapporo Station with a wide variety of restaurants, good for lunch after morning activities.


A history museum one bus stop or a 10-minute walk from the Historic Village of Hokkaido, covering the island's history from early human civilizations to the present day.


A 38-floor tower with a 160-metre-high observatory called Tower 38 offering 360-degree views over Sapporo. The complex includes shops, restaurants, department stores, a hotel, and a café/bar on the observatory deck.


Popular museum in Otaru dedicated to antique and handcrafted music boxes. Mentioned by the vlogger as a notable attraction they skipped in favor of wandering.


A futuristic dome venue used during the Sapporo Snow Festival for snowball battles, toboggan races, and snowman-building competitions.


Scenic inland town about two hours from Sapporo, visited for skiing and hot-pot dining. Known for lavender fields in summer and ski resorts and snow activities in winter.


A ramen shop in Sapporo famous for its Sapporo-style miso ramen and its unusual custom of offering unlimited free boiled eggs. The host praises the rich double-miso broth, chewy noodles, and melt-in-your-mouth chashu pork.

One of the first western-style buildings in Sapporo, originally constructed in 1880 as a guest house for dignitaries during the Meiji era. Emperor Meiji visited here in 1881; the building blends western and Japanese architectural elements, with pleasant Japanese gardens outside.

A large outdoor museum focusing on contemporary art integrated into a natural forested landscape. The Sapporo Arts Forest open-air section (700 yen) features 74 sculptures along stream-side paths and stepping stones through lush greenery.

An annual Munich-themed Christmas market held in Odori Park with free admission, selling German food (sausages, hot beer with Hokkaido cherry, glühwein, pretzels) and Christmas ornaments, candles, and decorations. Considered by the hosts to be the best Christmas market in Japan.

Famous ramen shop specializing in shrimp miso ramen, with options for original (pure shrimp) or moderate (shrimp and pork) broths. Highly praised for its rich, umami-balanced miso broth.

A popular Genghis Khan (jingisukan) restaurant in the city center where guests queue in the cold for charcoal-grilled mutton on a distinctive helmet-shaped grill. Praised for tender, gaminess-free mutton and flavorful dipping sauce.

A small, popular oyster bar in Susukino with minimal seating and long queues; arrive early. Offers an extensive menu of oysters prepared multiple ways including sesame oil, deep-fried panko, baked with cheese, and scallops with butter and soy sauce — all at very affordable prices (around US$30 for two).

A soup curry restaurant offering Hokkaido-style soup curry with customizable spice levels. Their juicy chicken with grated radish vinegar seasoning is listed as a specialty exclusive to this restaurant; cash only.

Hokkaido-exclusive convenience store chain known for exceptional onigiri, fried chicken, and local food items. The hosts rate it as one of the must-try food experiences in Sapporo.

Jingisukan (grilled lamb) restaurant the hosts visited and highly praised. They recommend eating the lamb with just pepper and salt, and describe it as the best lamb they have ever had with no gamey smell.

Miso ramen restaurant the hosts visited and recommend. Wait times can be around 40 minutes but they issue numbered tickets so you can shop while waiting.

Miso ramen restaurant described as one host's all-time favourite Sapporo-style miso ramen spot. They did not visit this time due to the long line.

Dessert bar located on the second floor of a building inside Tanukikoji shopping street, specialising in shime parfait (boozy ending parfaits). The hosts highly recommend it for quality local-ingredient parfaits paired with cocktails or herbal tea.

Popular restaurant specialising in zangi, Hokkaido's style of fried chicken. The hosts praise the zangi as amazing and highlight the very reasonable prices.

A popular local coffee chain open from 7:30 a.m. offering a complimentary morning service: thick toast with premium Hokkaido butter and jam served automatically with a $5.50 coffee order.

A ski resort about 40 minutes from central Sapporo via JR train to Teine Station then bus 70. Features two zones — Highland and Olympia — with English-speaking instructors offering beginner lesson packages (including equipment) for around $75.

A free-entry museum housed in the former Bank of Japan building offering a fascinating glimpse into Otaru's economic and port city history.

A preserved merchant district in Otaru featuring beautiful glass workshops, boutique stores, and food vendors. A good alternative when tour groups flood the narrow streets.

A famous patisserie on Sakaimachi Street known for its double fromage cheesecake, described as a heavenly confection and an unofficial symbol of Otaru's culinary excellence.

A traditional public bathhouse (sentō) where for just $6 you can soak in mineral-rich waters alongside neighborhood residents, offering an authentic glimpse into Japanese community bathing culture.

A lively cluster of food stalls near Susukino Station serving local treats such as grilled scallops and miso butter corn for $3.50, a cheap and delicious evening snack stop.

A Ferris wheel in the Susukino entertainment complex costing $4.20 per ride, offering a final aerial view of Sapporo's glowing skyline at the end of the evening.

A famous zoo in Asahikawa, 2 hours by train from Sapporo ($32 round trip), known for close-up penguin parades and other animal exhibits; entry is $5.80.

Upscale residential and tourist neighborhood built around Mount Maruyama in western Chuo ward. Home to the zoo, Hokkaido Jingu Shrine, and Okurayama ski jump observation deck.

Crab-specialist sushi restaurant located along the Tanuki Koji arcade area. Known for exceptional crab dishes including crab don (kani don); the crab is particularly praised.

A ramen food hall on the 10th floor of the Esta building (S2 building) attached to Sapporo Station, featuring multiple miso ramen specialty restaurants.

A kaisendon specialist tucked behind a souvenir shop inside the wholesale market, praised as one of the freshest seafood bowl spots in all of Hokkaido. The signature bowl is loaded with uni, ikura, abalone, king crab, salmon, fatty tuna, scallops, squid, octopus, and shrimp for around 3,000 yen.

A newly opened ramen shop tucked in a tiny hidden alleyway, supervised by a Michelin French restaurant chef and run by a former Italian cuisine chef. Signature chicken paitan ramen has a creamy milky-white broth topped with rosemary foam, woodfire oil, baked shirako cod milt, and roasted lily root.

An all-you-can-eat crab restaurant just a 3-minute walk from Susukino subway station. The course includes snow crab (zuwai), hairy crab (kegani), and king crab (taraba) along with sushi, tempura, and egg pudding.

A ramen shop hidden inside a small food hall off Tanuki Koji, run by two brothers — one a sushi chef, the other a Chinese cuisine chef. Specializes in spicy miso ramen with Hokkaido horumon (intestine) and local pickled garlic (gyoja ninniku), a rare regional delicacy.

A distinctive soft-serve ice cream parlor in Sapporo known for serving ice cream in mugs with a complimentary chaser of liquor, offering free refills and a choice of up to three different liquor shots.

A chocolate factory tour experience offering a look at how Hokkaido's famous Shiroi Koibito white chocolate is made, with an on-site restaurant, cake buffet, robot show, and Toy Museum on the premises.

The most popular and premium jingisukan (Hokkaido grilled lamb) brand, with about a dozen locations in Susukino. Famous enough to draw long queues; recommended if you want the iconic photo-op spot.

Uni (sea urchin) specialist restaurant near Nijo Market known for photogenic presentations of fresh Hokkaido uni. Pricey — the uni bowl runs around $60 — but praised for freshness and visual impact.

One of Sapporo's most famous soup curry restaurants, located near Susukino. Known for long queues; the host suggests considering alternatives on a short trip.

Soup curry restaurant in the Karaku neighborhood, right next to Tanukikoji arcade. Recommended as a less-crowded alternative to Karaku with equally good flavor.

Soup curry chain with a new Tanukikoji branch; stands out for a wide variety of soup bases (including rich tomato) and unusual toppings like hamburger steak and cheese rice. The thicker, heavier soup style is its signature.

Miso ramen shop about a 10-minute walk from Susukino, popular with local Japanese diners. Praised for delivering the ideal, textbook-perfect miso ramen flavor; arrive before opening to avoid a long wait.

The host's personal top-ranked miso ramen spot, offering a complex tori-paitan style broth blending pork and chicken. Located walkable from Susukino near Kajima Park, with a distinctive and memorable house style.

Impressive downtown ramen shop built around a unique shari (vinegared-rice broth) base, with choice of shio, shoyu, or miso flavoring. Has a main downtown store and an airport branch; the main store is recommended.

A popular ski resort on the outskirts of Sapporo accessible as a day trip from the city, offering excellent powder snow and slopes for skiing and snowboarding.

The creator's favorite coffee shop in Sapporo, described as a must-visit morning stop. The group visited for coffee and spent time browsing the space.

A sushi and seafood restaurant in the Susukino entertainment district serving Hokkaido specialties including piran sashimi, nishiruki (herring fermented in koji), jagaimo (buttered Hokkaido potatoes), corn tempura, kumayi cod, and fresh abalone.

A wood-fired pizza and gelato restaurant whose name means 'rainy days and snowy days.' Uses Hokkaido wheat and local ingredients; praised as one of the best pizzas the hosts have ever had.

An onsen resort hotel in Jozankei whose name means 'song of the forest'; lobby and rooms designed to feel like the inside of a forest. Offers a top-class onsen bath, dinner and breakfast buffets, evening illumination walk (Jozankei Nature Luminar), and marshmallow roasting.

A seasonal illumination event along a riverside forest trail ending at a suspension bridge, with nature projection mapping on the ground; held at the Jozan Kuruga Resort Spa Morino grounds.

A western-style hotel built in 1880 by the Hokkaido Development Commission (Kaitakushi), now a national important cultural property. Features an ultramarine blue facade, chandeliers, and a preserved room where Emperor Meiji once stayed.

A Hokkaido craft beer taproom in Susukino with 12 rotating taps, all brewing from Hokkaido ingredients including the local Kamuran hop variety; cool atmosphere with good vibes.

Popular ramen restaurant located in the underground Pearl Town area beneath Sapporo Station. Known for Hokkaido-style miso ramen, with a signature Genghis Khan miso ramen DX and a wasabi garlic miso ramen variant.

The pioneer of Sapporo's 'shime parfait' culture — ending the night at a cafe with an elaborate parfait instead of more drinks. Known for beautifully crafted seasonal parfait creations.

A shrine near Nakajima Park featuring a tunnel of torii gates symbolizing passage from the earthly realm into the sacred, where visitors can leave ema prayer plaques.

Celebrates the glorious 1972 Sapporo Winter Games, featuring a 440-foot ski jump where visitors can watch skiers in action.

Beloved sandwich shop selling chicken katsu sando and cream corn croquette sando for only 350 yen each. Praised for excellent value, soft bread, crispy panko, and balanced flavors.

Famous crepe shop known for its simple sugar butter crepe, with crispy ridges and barely-melted sugar crystals inside. A local staple that forgoes the usual over-the-top toppings.

A confectionery theme park and factory built around the famous Shiroi Koibito cookies, described as a cross between Disneyland, Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, and a European village. Visitors can watch cookies being made on the assembly line and customize souvenir boxes with their own photo.