I have a confession: it wasn’t until I booked a trip to Sapporo for a snowboarding trip back in 2019 that I realized that Sapporo Beer was named after a real place, specifically the capital city of Japan’s northernmost Hokkaido prefecture. And if Hokkaido sounds familiar, it’s because it’s home to the best Hokkaido uni, snow crab, scallops, and milk. Sapporo is indeed most well-known for it’s food and beverage exports, which makes it makes an excellent destination to explore.
This snowy city is your entry point to the powder capital of Niseko and other ski resorts in the area, but there’s plenty to do in Sapporo that warrants its own trip. I had the pleasure of visiting for 36 hours on 2 separate occasions while on my snowboarding trips, so here are my top picks for where you should go.
Where to Stay in Sapporo
Since we’ve only ever stayed for one night, we chose the centrally located Hotel Forza Sapporo Station just a few blocks from Odori Park. The rooms are small, but affordable and have views of the city and mountains.
Where to Eat in Sapporo
Sushi Toriton
My favorite conveyor belt sushi restaurant in the world thanks to the high quality Hokkaido seafood you can get at incredibly affordable prices. Since the pandemic, you now order from a tablet and can customize the levels of rice and wasabi. Toriton has a several locations around Sapporo (though I’ve been to their Toyohira branch both times). It’s a favorite amongst locals and tourists alike, so I recommend going before they open or off peak to avoid long wait times. It’s a great way to start the day before exploring the rest of the city.
Ganso Ramen Yokocho
Butter miso ramen is a must-try in Sapporo, with a big pat of butter to add extra richness to your broth. While the place we originally tried it from has since closed, Sapporo has a whole Ramen Alley (or Ganso Ramen Yokocho) filled with shops serving miso ramen, including the most famous Sapporo Ramen Haruka.
Nijo Market
Think of this outdoor seafood market as a small scale version of Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market, with stalls selling the freshest snow crab, kaisendon with your pick of fish, and oysters.
Sapporo Beer Garden & Museum
Sapporo’s world famous beer has a museum you can tour, but the real fun is at their beer garden where you can enjoy all-you-can-drink beer with all-you-can-eat lamb BBQ. This local Sapporo delicacy is known as jingisukan, or Genghis Khan, originally inspired by Northern Chinese lamb dishes. At Sapporo Beer Garden, you even cook your lamb along with other meats, seafood and vegetables on a cast iron plate shaped like Genghis Khan’s helmet.
Soup Curry King
Soup curry is another Sapporo specialty, with a thin, fragrant broth and lots of vegetables instead of the thicker curry that’s normally found around Japan. Soup Curry King was recommended by a local and you’ll always find a line here, but it’s worth the wait for a big bowl of soup curry with your choice of tender meat, 11 different types of veggies and a big plate of rice.
Milk Mura
This cute, kitschy ice cream bar serves Hokkaido milk soft serve with a variety of liqueurs to spoon onto each bite.
Top Things to Do in Sapporo
Odori Park
This sprawling tree-lined space is at the heart of Sapporo, perfect for long strolls. If you can time your trip right, it’s home to different festivals including the annual Sapporo Snow Festival where giant sculptures are carved out of snow (the 2026 iteration is from Feb 4-11 if you want to make a last minute trip!).
Tanukikoji Shopping Street
A few blocks from Odori Park is Sapporo’s covered shopping street, featuring around 200 outlets spanning 7 blocks. There’s a wide variety of big chains like Don Quixote and small thrift stores to check out, plus plenty of food and cafes.
Check out Mermaid Coffee Roasters for a pick-me-up, and don’t miss The Soft Cream House for the creamiest Cremia soft serve ice cream.
Where to Drink in Sapporo
mrw
Mrw is a cool neon-lit bar hidden behind a fridge door. They have DJs spinning vinyl and tabletop shuffleboard, making it a great spot to hang out over drinks
The Nikka Bar
The world famous Nikka Distillery has their own bar where you can make a tasting flight to sample 3 different varieties of their whisky. The vibe is cozy and classy, and you can look out onto the snowy streets while you sip on rare blends
42Bar
Pay 3,000 yen for all-you-can-drink cocktails with a wide range of drinks in a fun, lively atmosphere
Traveling elsewhere in Japan? Check out my guide to Niseko and Tokyo
