All about the city of Sapporo, Japan

History of Sapporo

On the second largest island of Japan lies the prefecture of Hokkaido , the administrative center of which is the city of Sapporo. It is known that before the founding of the city, the Ainu, the ancient people of the islands of Japan, lived on the territory of present-day Sapporo. The year of foundation of the city is considered to be 1868. During its short existence, just over 150 years, Sapporo from a small village with a population of 7 people has turned into a Japanese city with a population of over a million. The name Sapporo translates as “dry great river.” This name is not surprising, because the largest river on the island, the Ishikari River, flows city

The city's population is 1.952 million.

Hokkaido University: what to see

Tourists coming to Sapporo must visit the famous Hokkaido University, which is famous for its scientific achievements in the fields of humanities and agriculture.

The botanical garden, which belongs to the university, is very popular among tourists, as it contains amazing plants from all over the world. Almost 4,000 different trees, shrubs, and flowers grow on an area of ​​more than 13 hectares.

There are two museums here, one of which - the University Museum - tells about all the achievements and discoveries over several years, and the second - the Ainsky Museum - is dedicated to the story of the life and life of the people of the northern territories of Japan.

Particularly popular is the large collection of stuffed birds created by the English biologist Blakiston and housed in the museum. He, like many other scientists who came out of Hokkaido University, made a significant contribution to the systematization of birds.

Attractions of Sapporo

Sapporo is popular not only for its large shopping centers and variety of Japanese cuisine, but also for its unique attractions. In Sappora there is a lot to see and get both aesthetic pleasure and broaden your horizons.

Shiraito Falls

Shiraito means “silk”, and this is not surprising, since the water flowing from a height resembles silk threads. The waterfall was formed as a result of groundwater breaking out to the surface. This is the widest waterfall in Japan (150 m), and it is located at the foot of Mount Fuji. It is a world cultural heritage and natural monument.

Nakajima Park

The park is located in the city center and is 5 minutes from Nakojima Koen Station (Sapporo Subway). This is a vast area with lots of green space and a lake. A wonderful place for rest and relaxation. On the territory of the park there are museums, temples, an observatory, and a concert hall. In summer, the park is popular for boating on Lake Shobu, and in winter it hosts ski races and provides free equipment.

Important information! Smoking is prohibited in central Sapporo, both in public places and on the street. There are specially designated places and establishments for this.

Beer Museum

Sapporo is home to Japan's only beer museum. By visiting this museum, you will learn a lot of new and interesting things. They will tell you the history of the creation of this foamy drink, how to pour it and drink it correctly. The brewery will demonstrate the brewing process, and in a special tasting room you can taste rare beers that are produced only in Japan, but are valued all over the world. Entrance to the museum is free. The museum is open every day except Monday.

Odori Boulevard

The central street of Sapporo, which runs through the entire city and divides it into southern and northern parts, has the beautiful name Odori. Odori is translated as “Big Street”, since its length and width are about 100 meters. There are 2 large museums on the boulevard: the Scientific University Museum and the Historical Ainu Museum. Also on the street there is a television tower, 147 m high and an observation deck from which offers an amazing view of the entire city. And at the base of the tower there is a planetarium. From beginning to end the street is decorated with original flower beds.

Mount Capelin

For those who want to admire the city from a bird's eye view, you should visit Mount Moiwa. The way to the mountain is very exciting - by cable car. The journey time is only 5 minutes and after the cable car a free shuttle bus will take you to the top of the mountain. The view from the mountain is impressive. And both during the day and at night.

For those who do not like cable cars, you can get to the top of Moiva by a specially equipped road.

At the top of the mountain there are many souvenir shops and cafes.

Chocolate Factory – “Isia”

A visit to the chocolate factory will be interesting not only for those with a sweet tooth. On the territory of the factory, a funny performance takes place every hour: soap bubbles are released and a huge mechanical clock with “chocolate” figures strikes the time.

In the factory itself, you will have the opportunity to observe how the confectionery products so beloved by the Japanese are created and visit the chocolate museum.

There is a store on the territory of the factory where you can buy fresh confectionery.

This is interesting! The Japanese favorite confectionery product is Shiroi Koibito, two cookies joined together by a thick layer of white chocolate.

Sapporo

Sapporo is one of the largest cities in Japan (ranked 4th, behind only Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka). It is a major industrial and economic center, as well as one of the most important educational and cultural centers of Japan.

Sapporo is home to the famous Snow Festival. In addition, the city is famous for its resorts: in its vicinity there are many thermal springs.

general information

For people who are not too interested in the history and culture of Japan, the city is known primarily for the fact that the 2017 Asian Winter Games were held in Sapporo. But where exactly is the city of Sapporo, on which island?

The city is located on the island of Hokkaido, with Sapporo being the capital of the region. It is not difficult to find Sapporo on a world map: it is located in the west of Hokkaido, not far from the coast, almost at the same latitude as Vladivostok. The city stands on the banks of the Ishikari River, which flows into the Sea of ​​Japan.

Sapporo was founded in 1868 - immediately as the administrative center of the island. The city developed rapidly; already in 1907, a college was founded here, which became part of Tohoku University.

The city of Sapporo in Japan has a special status: it is a “city designated by special government decree.” There are only 13 settlements in the country with the same status as Sapporo, and in Hokkaido it is the only one of its kind.

The population of Sapporo is almost 2 million people. Many of them are employed in the tourism industry, but the city also has a well-developed industry: heavy (mechanical engineering, woodworking, paper, metalworking) and food. The city is home to Hokkaido University, one of the 7 National Universities of Japan.

Climatic conditions

The climate in Sapporo is humid continental. Summer here is usually hot and quite dry. The temperature rises to +22…+26°С, the maximum recorded temperature is +36.2°С. September is usually slightly warmer than June. It still rains in the summer; June is the driest month of the year, with only about 47 mm of precipitation, and in July and August there are already 83 and 124 mm, respectively. The driest months of the year, besides June, are April and May.

In winter, Sapporo is quite cold: usually in December the air temperature is about -3...-4°C, January and February are colder, the thermometer drops to -6...-8°C. But there are also much frostier winters, when the temperature drops to -17...-20°C. Winters are snowy: the total depth of snow cover is about 590-600 mm.

Resorts

In Sapporo there are the ski resorts of Sapporo Teine (located within the city limits) and Sapporo Kokusai (near the city); from the latter you can quickly reach the Snow World resort of Kiroru. In addition to ski resorts, the city also has thermal resorts. A significant part of them are located in the Jezankei recreation area.

What to see in Sapporo?

The clock tower is considered the symbol of the city; it is she who is most often depicted in photos of Sapporo, which is quite unusual for Japan - temples are the “calling cards” of other cities. It is worth climbing the TV tower, which offers beautiful views of the city, as well as the Hyakunen Kinentou Memorial Tower.

Other attractions of Sapporo, atypical for Japan, are the Beer Museum and the Ishiya Chocolate Factory, where you can taste Shiroi KoiBito, a white chocolate that is produced only here in the country.

Also worthy of attention:

• Art parks, Odori, Nakajima, Makomanai;
• Salmon Museum;
• Botanical Garden;
• Modern Art Museum;
• pioneer village.

Some travel companies offer Russian-language excursions to Sapporo, during which you can get acquainted with the city's attractions, learn about the history of the city, its temples and other buildings.

Events in the city

The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the most popular non-public holidays in Japan. Its other name is the Snow Figure Festival. It has been held annually since 1950, when local schoolchildren built several snow figures in the central park. The festival lasts a week, during these days about 2 million people come to Sapporo.

Where to live?

The city offers a wide variety of accommodation options - from the cheapest to the most elite and expensive, and 5* hotels in Sapporo are considered one of the best in Japan. There are few bed and breakfast hotels in Sapporo: even 2* establishments usually provide more services to their guests. The best inexpensive options include:

• 3* JR Inn Sapporo-eki Minami-guchi;
• 2* Hotel Relief Sapporo Susukino;
• 3* JR Inn Sapporo-eki Minami-guchi;
• 3* APA Hotel TKP Sapporo Eki-Kitaguchi Excellent.

And of the more expensive options, the best are rightfully considered:

• Premier Hotel – Tsubaki – Sapporo;
• Sapporo Grand Hotel;
• Hotel Okura Sapporo;
• Cross Hotel Sapporo.

Restaurants

The city has many restaurants and cafes where you can taste national Japanese cuisine. Even the "budget" eateries look very attractive and offer the best quality food. Among the most popular inexpensive establishments are:

• Aji No Tokeidai cafe, where ramen noodles are their specialty;
• Sapporo Beer Garden bar, located near the Beer Museum. Here, visitors pay a certain amount to enter, after which they can enjoy any drinks and snacks at the bar for 100 minutes;
• Hiraku seafood restaurant.

Purchases

The city is sometimes called the shopping capital of Japan. Residents of other cities, even large ones, come to Sapporo for shopping. The main place for shopping is the Tanuki Koji shopping street; it is completely covered and consists exclusively of shops and cafes. There are shopping arcades even underground.

How to get to Sapporo?

The fastest way to get to the city is by air. The airport serving Sapporo (it is called Chitose and is located 5 km from the cities of Chitose and Tomakomai) accepts both international flights (from East Asian countries - China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, as well as from Russia - from Sakhalin) and domestic flights : Flights arrive here from almost every city in Japan.

How to get from Tokyo to Sapporo? The fastest way is by air; A direct flight lasts one and a half hours, a flight with a transfer lasts 2 hours 20 minutes. You can also get there by high-speed train, the journey will take about 9 hours. If you go by car, depending on the route you choose, the journey will take from 16 to 19 hours.

Transport

The city has well-developed public transport. The Sapporo subway opened ahead of the Winter Olympics, which took place here in 1972. The second line began operating in 1976, and the third in 1988. Now the total length of the lines is 48 km.

In addition, trams operate in the city. The first one went on line in Sapporo in 1910. And the most popular type of transport in the city is JR trains, which, without exaggeration, can get you anywhere in the city.

Active holidays in Sapporo

Sapporo gained worldwide fame in 1972, after the XI Winter Olympic Games were held in the city.

A ski center was built especially for the Olympic Games, where ski lovers still come every year.

The ski resort is suitable for an active family holiday; there are special areas for children. The resort has trails of varying difficulty that are suitable for both beginners and experienced skiers. The center is also equipped with lifts and equipment rental.

You can break up your active holiday by soaking in the hot springs of the resort.