Sapporo

Sapporo is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the political and administrative center of Hokkaido. It is also the home to the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, the Sapporo Clock Tower, and other buildings from Hokkaido’s pioneer period. The annual Sapporo Snow Festival is an unprecedented event that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Red Five-Pointed Star

An ordinary red five-pointed star has a unique and profound meaning in Sapporo. This red five-pointed star, representing the North Star, was painted on the flag of the Hokkaido Development Commission in the 1870s. It is now can be seen on the facades of the Former Hokkaido Government Office, Sapporo Clock Tower, Sapporo Beer Museum, and Hoheikan (豊平館).

The Former Hokkaido Government Office Building

Once the political center of Hokkaido

The Former Hokkaido Government Office Building is located in Kita Sanjo-dori, Sapporo, which was once the political center of Hokkaido. Built in 1888 in the neo-baroque style with an iconic octagonal tower on the roof, the Former Hokkaido Government Office was also known as the Red Brick Hall because of its red facade.

Sapporo Clock Tower

The Pendulum of History Never Stops

As a landmark of Sapporo city, the Sapporo Clock Tower is one of the few remaining buildings from the developing period of Hokkaido, welcoming visitors from all over the world throughout the year. It was originally the drill hall of the former Sapporo Agricultural College and was moved to this location in 1906. The clock at the top of the tower automatically chimes the time at all hours.

Sapporo Beer Garden And Sapporo Beer Museum

Red Brick Beer Factory and Garden

The Sapporo Beer Museum, opened in 1987, was the first beer-themed museum in Japan and is located in the very factory where the original Sapporo Beer was made. The Sapporo Beer Garden is built by the museum and features beautiful scenery and several restaurants.

Imprints of Pioneering Era

In 1869, the Emishi (蝦夷) region of Japan was renamed “Hokkaido” and the Hokkaido Development Commission was established, marking the beginning of the pioneering era of Hokkaido. After a century and a half of growth and development, Sapporo became the fifth largest city in Japan. When you walk through the bustling streets of Sapporo, you can still find many remnants of the pioneering era.

Hokkaido Jingu Shrine

Guardian of Hokkaido

Hokkaido Jingu Shrine is located near Sapporo Maruyama Park and dates from the Meiji period. The shrine is dedicated to Hokkaido's guardian deities and early explorers, and was spiritual support for the local people during the developing period of Hokkaido. The shrine is surrounded by greenery and attracts many wild animals.

Historical Village Of Hokkaido

Historic Buildings From Pioneering Days

Historical Village of Hokkaido is a collection of 52 historical buildings that were moved from all over Hokkaido, mostly built in the Meiji, Taisho and early Showa periods. Walking through this open-air museum, it's like one has stepped back in time to the developing days of Hokkaido a hundred years ago.

Hokkaido Centennial Memorial Tower

Glorious Pioneering Days

The Hokkaido Centennial Memorial Tower is located in Nopporo Forest Park, a five-minute walk from the Hokkaido Museum, and was built in 1970 to commemorate the centenary of the developing of Hokkaido, with an eight-story observation deck at the top overlooking Sapporo city.

Hokkaido Museum

1.2 Million Years of History

Established in 2015, the Hokkaido Museum is a merger of two museums, the Historical Museum of Hokkaido and the Hokkaido Ainu Culture Research Centre. The museum introduces Hokkaido's nature, history, and culture from different aspects, including the transformation of Hokkaido and the history of the Ainu people.

Aerial view of Sapporo

Mt. Moiwa in the western suburbs of Sapporo is 531 meters high and was selected as one of Japan’s top three night scenes in 2015. Ainu people used to call it “the place where you can see the distance”. The Sapporo TV Tower, located in downtown Sapporo, is 147.2 meters high. The observation deck at the top of the tower is the best place to see the venue of the Snow Festival in Odori Park.

Mount Moiwa

New Three Night Scenes in Japan

At 531 meters high, Mount Moiwa is the perfect place to see the city of Sapporo from above. A cable car ride takes you to the observation deck at the top of the mountain, where you can see the entire city of Sapporo, and at night the city is lit up like a sea of stars, making Mount Moiwa one of the Top Three Night Views in Japan in 2015.

Okurayama Viewing Point

Olympic Arena in Sapporo

Okurayama Viewing Point, which was the ski jumping venue for the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympic Games, is now a tourist attraction in Sapporo with a high view. From the 300-meter-high observation deck, you can see landmarks such as Odori Park, Sapporo TV Tower, and Sapporo Dome.

Sapporo TV Tower

Great view of Odori Park

Completed in 1957, the Sapporo TV Tower is a city landmark in Sapporo, standing 147.2 meters high and featuring a 360-degree observation deck at a height of 90 meters from the ground. The observation deck is the best place to see the Odori Park venue during the Sapporo Snow Festival every year.

Sapporo Dome

All-weather Olympic Stadium

The Sapporo Dome was completed in 2001 and is the youngest of the five major dome stadiums in Japan. It is a venue for both baseball and football, with an outdoor football field that can be moved to the dome if required, and a 360-degree view glass observation deck.

Attractions in Sapporo

• Sapporo TV Tower
• Sapporo Odori Park
• Sapporo Clock Tower
• The Former Hokkaido Government Office Building
• Mount Moiwa
• Okurayama Viewing Point
• Sapporo Maruyama Park
• Hokkaido Jingu Shrine
• Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade
• Sapporo Dome
• Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill
• Sapporo Beer Garden And Sapporo Beer Museum
• Shiroi Koibito Park
• Historical Village Of Hokkaido
• Hokkaido Museum
• Hokkaido Centennial Memorial Tower