Sapporo(札幌), like many other magnificent Japanese cities, is not known so much by the majority of the people because of the huge importance Tokyo and Kyoto represent in Japan. Aside from the Sapporo beer (a very tasty one by the way) what do you know about this city ? First it is located in the Northern part of Japan on the island of Hokkaido(北海道). Home to many Aïnou people, Hokkaido is a unique and amazing piece of nature and tradition in Japan. Let us see more in details how amazing is this city.
Contents
- Shikotsu-Toya National Park(支笏洞爺国立公園) : The best place in Japan for trekking
- Sapporo Beer Museum(サッポロビール博物館) : The best place to drink beers
- Jogai Ichiba(札幌場外市場) : The best place to eat seafood
- Susukino(すすきの) : The best place to go out
- Sapporo Snow Festival(さっぽろ雪まつり): The best festival of the island
- Odori Avenue Park(大通公園): The best scenery
Shikotsu-Toya National Park(支笏洞爺国立公園) : The best place in Japan for trekking
The Shikotsu-Tōya National Park(支笏洞爺国立公園) near Sapporo contains in its three separate parts a wide range of beautiful volcanic landscapes, along with many crater lakes and hot springs. The largest section of the National Park lies at the very gates of Sapporo, making it an ideal day trip just an hour's bus ride away. A highlight is the 1,893-meter-tall Yotei(羊蹄山), an extinct volcano that towers above the town of Kutchan(倶知安), which serves as a good base for those wanting to make the four-hour climb to the three summit craters known as the Father, Mother, and Little Cauldrons. Also worth seeing is the Nakayama Pass(中山峠) and crystal clear Lake Toya(洞爺湖), a circular lake so warm it can't freeze over even in the severest of winters.
Shikotsu-Tōya National Park (支笏洞爺国立公園) Address: Shisamunai, Chitose-shi, Hokkaidō 066-0284 |
Sapporo Beer Museum(サッポロビール博物館) : The best place to drink beers
Japanese beer isn't German beer, but it's still pretty good. You can have a free tour of the factory and the museum to find out how beer is made and what the history of beer is in Japan. However, the real treasure is at the end of the tour, when you can have a half-hour tasting of all the beer you would ever want. There is also a pretty famous beer garden inside the building that serves Genghis Khan, a local Hokkaido dish made with mutton that is so good you will never in your life think you'd associate the word "delicious" with the name "Genghis Khan."
Sapporo Beer Museum(サッポロビール博物館) Address: 9 Chome-1-1 Kita 7 Johigashi, Higashi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 065-8633 |
Jogai Ichiba(札幌場外市場) : The best place to eat seafood
If there is one thing that Hokkaido is all about it's food. The produce, meat and seafood in Sapporo are always super fresh and taste exactly the way they are meant to taste. At the Jogai Ichiba, you'll find seafood and locally grown produce at real prices. If you can't buy anything because you don't have a kitchen or just don't know how to cook it, no fear the best thing about the market is that there are restaurants using all of this fresh, fresh food.
Jogai Ichiba(札幌場外市場) Address: Kita 11 Jōnishi, 21 Chome−2, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 060-0011 |
Susukino(すすきの) : The best place to go out
Susukino(すすきの) is where you leave the kids at the hotel and give your oldest a few bucks to babysit for a few hours. But really: Susukino is Sapporo's entertainment and nightlife district, and unless you're having a ramen dinner somewhere along the Ramen Yokocho in this area, which only serves Sapporo ramen, and planning on heading back right away, the place can get pretty wild at night. The area is also historically Sapporo's red-light district, and some places still carry that business with them. On the other hand, this is where you'll find most of Sapporo's bars, restaurants, karaoke and pachinko. It's worth a visit, especially if you've never been to Japan before.
Susukino(すすきの) Address: 4 Chome−16, Minami 4 Jōnishi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 064-0804 |
Sapporo Snow Festival(さっぽろ雪まつり): The best festival of the island
The Sapporo Snow Festival(さっぽろ雪まつり) held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, is a big event held in February that represents Japan. There is a slide made of ice, giant snow and ice statues and you can enjoy playing in the snow ! The Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri) is an extravaganza of snow and ice held annually in Sapporo city, Hokkaido in early February. Started 70 years ago, it has become a big winter event where not only the Japanese but also people from around the world visit to enjoy snow statue displays of various sizes and shapes.
The Sapporo Snow Festival(さっぽろ雪まつり) Season: End of the January to Middle of the February |
Odori Avenue Park(大通公園): The best scenery
In Sapporo's downtown core, Odori Avenue Park(大通公園) is an oasis of green that slices through the city. It stands in stark contrast to the high rises and offices around it and serves as the best place from which to begin exploring this dynamic destination. This delightfully wide one-and-a-half-kilometer-long stretch of park with its open space and gardens, fountains and art sculptures connects many of the city's most interesting attractions such as the Sapporo TV Tower and various museums and galleries, as well as shopping and entertainment districts. It also serves as an important venue for cultural events, including the spring Sapporo Lilac Festival and the always-popular Sapporo Snow Festival. Odori Avenue Park is close to the underground shopping area and business district of Sapporo.
Odori Avenue Park (大通公園) Address: 7 Chome, Odorinishi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 060-0042 |
What are you waiting for ? Sapporo is waiting for YOU !
Fabien Mizart
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