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A visit to Japan during the winter season is best spent with a visit to Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido which is on the northern part of Japan.
We visited within the first two weeks of February to be able to witness the different festivals held on different areas around Hokkaido.
Here is a list of the places including festivals to visit and things to do I highly recommend while staying in Sapporo.
1. Sapporo Snow Festival
One of the night illuminations among a number of amazing snow sculptures at the Odori site of the Sapporo Snow Festival. Those colors are alive with animations at night!Watch the night illuminations and marvel at the amazing snow sculptures along the 1.5-km Odori Park and ice scultpures along Susukino Street during the famous Sapporo Snow Festival.
Enjoy good food among the food stalls and restaurants around the area during the festival which lasts for only one week usually on the first week of February.
One of the ice sculptures at the Susukino site of the Sapporo Snow Festival. Those are real creatures inside!Nearest train station:
•Odori Station for the snow sculptures
•Susukino Station for the ice sculptures
(Note: You can walk to both sites which are just one train station from each other. Sapporo Station is also just one station away from Odori Station.)
Admission: Free
2. Asahikawa Winter Festival
My favorite among the amazing snow sculptures during the Asahikawa Winter Festival. I’ve never been this close to Master Yoda, Darth Vader, and R2-D2!Enjoy snow sculptures, ice sculptures, a giant ice slide, a snow boat ride, and so much more in one stop right beside a wonderful view of the river and the Asahibashi bridge at the Asahibashi site of the Asahikawa Winter Festival.
Walk through the Heiwa Dori site to marvel at amazing ice sculptures left and right seemingly endlessly stretched along the street of Kaimono Koen for the annual World Ice Sculpture Contest.
Food stalls and fun activities for everyone surround the area on the duration of the festival usually held for one week within the first two weeks of February.
Ice sculptures like this are lined up along Heiwa Dori Kaimono Koen street for the Ice World Sculpture Competition during the Asahikawa Winter Festival.Nearest train station: Asahikawa Station
How to go to the Asahikawa Winter Festival from Sapporo
By Train
1. Ride the JR Soya-Sarobetsu Soya line train from Sapporo station to Asahikawa station. (Travel time: ~1.5 hours, Fare: JPY5220 ~ Php2600)
2. Walk to the Asahikawa Winter Festival sites.
By Bus
1. Ride the bus from Sapporo Eki mae Bus Terminal to Asahikawa Eki mae. (Travel time: ~2.5 hours, Fare: JPY2100 ~ Php1000)
2. Walk to the Asahikawa Winter Festival sites.
Admission: Free
3. Otaru Snow Light Path Festival
Candles and snow statues will guide you as you walk through the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival.Walk with candles and snow statues guiding and illuminating your path as you head to the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival.
Visit both the Temiyasen Kaijo site along the former Temiya line railway and the Unga Kaijo site along the Otaru Canal for an altogether heartmelting experience of mixed emotions through each display.
The festival is usually held within the first three weeks of February.
Snow formed into hearts, igloos, snowman couples, and more will make you walk smiling all throughout at the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival.Nearest train station: Otaru Station
How to go to the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival from Sapporo
1. Ride the train from Sapporo Station to Otaru Station (Travel time: ~40 minutes, Fare: JPY1280 ~ Php600
2. Walk to the former Temiya line railway (600 meters from Otaru Station) for the Temiyasen Kaijo site.
3. Walk further to the Otaru Canal (1 km from Otaru Station) for the Unga Kaijo site.
Admission: Free
4. Sapporo Teine Ski Resort
Amazing overlooking view at the longest beginner course from the summit Mt. Teine!Enjoy snow tubing, sledding, skiing or snowboarding at Sapporo Teine Ski Resort, a 1972 Oympic Games venue.
Ride the gondola and the lifts all the way up to the summit of Mt. Teine at an altitude of 1,023 meters, and enjoy powder snow everywhere and the scenic view around.
Visit the resort’s website here for updated rates and details.
Such an amazing view at Sapporo Teine Ski Resort!How to go to Sapporo Teine Ski Resort from Sapporo:
1. Ride the train from JR Sapporo Station to Teine Station (Travel time: 15 minutes, Fare: JPY340 ~ Php170)
2. Ride the bus from Teine Station to Sapporo Teine Ski Resort. See bus schedule and more access details here. (Travel time: 16 minutes, Fare: JPY380 ~ Php190)
5. Mt. Moiwa
Ring the bell of happiness while enjoying an overlooking view of Sapporo at Mt. Moiwa!Ride a ropeway and a cablecar up to the Mt. Moiwa Observation Deck to enjoy an overlooking view of Sapporo from an altitude of 531 meters.
Ring the bell of happiness, dine at one of the restaurants or simply enjoy the sunset or the city lights at night.
The city night lights of Sapporo from 531 meters up at the summit of Mt. Moiwa.How to go to Mt. Moiwa from Sapporo Station:
1. Ride the Namboku line train from Sapporo Station to Odori Station (1 stop, 1 minute, JPY210 ~ Php100). Take Exit 10 and walk 170 meters to Nishiyonchome Station.
2. Ride the Sapporo Shiden line streetcar from Nishiyonchome Station to Ropeway Iriguchi Station (9 stops, 19 minutes, JPY200 ~ Php100).
3. Ride the free shuttle bus nearby or walk 600 meters slightly uphill to the Mount Moiwa Ropeway lower station from Ropeway Iriguchi station.
4. Ride the ropeway from Mount Moiwa Ropeway lower station then transfer to a cable car on the way to the observation deck. (17 minutes, JPY900 ~ Php450 one way)
Admission: JPY1700 ~ Php850 (With roundtrip ropeway and cable car ride)
6. Asahiyama Zoo
Watch a penguin parade in front of you as the penguins go for a physical exercise at Asahiyama Zoo!Watch a penguin parade, get close encounters with winter animals, and enjoy an overlooking view of Asahikawa at Asahiyama Zoo.
Wolves, polar bears, raccoons, and other wild animals are housed in the zoo with labels for your learning experience. Follow the map and visit every corner to make the most of your visit.
Overlooking view of Asahikawa at Asahiyama ZooHow to go to Asahiyama Zoo from Sapporo:
By Train
1. Ride the JR Soya-Sarobetsu Soya line train from Sapporo station to Asahikawa station. (Travel time: ~1.5 hours, Fare: JPY5220 ~ Php2600)
2. Walk to the bus terminal at Asahikawa Station and find the bus stop for Asahiyama Zoo.
3. Ride bus number 41, 42, or 47 from Asahikawa Station to Asahiyama Zoo. (40 minutes, JPY440 ~ Php220)
By Bus
1. Ride the bus from Sapporo Eki mae Bus Terminal to Asahikawa Eki mae. (Travel time: ~2.5 hours, Fare: JPY2100 ~ Php1000)
2. Walk to the bus terminal at Asahikawa Station and find the bus stop for Asahiyama Zoo.
3. Ride bus number 41, 42, or 47 from Asahikawa Station to Asahiyama Zoo. (40 minutes, JPY440 ~ Php220)
Admission: JPY820 ~ Php400
7. Sapporo Beer Garden
The Sapporo Beer Garden and Museum building since 1890!Try the famous Genghis Khan lamb dish paired with Sapporo Beer for dinner inside the century-old bricked building of Sapporo Beer Museum at Sapporo Beer Garden.
Time-travel back to the history of Hokkaido in the 1900s as you dine near a century-old giant kessel at the Kessel Hall, explore the museum with its red bricks and towering chimney, and enjoy the area and the other buildings around with the barrels outside.
Dine with friends at the Kessel Hall of Sapporo Beer Garden right below that kessel which was built way back in 1912!How to go to Sapporo Beer Garden:
Ride the Loop 88 Factory Line bus from Sapporo Ekimae in front of Seibu Department Store at Sapporo Station to Sapporo Beer Garden (8 stops, 16 minutes, JPY210 ~ Php100)
See Sapporo Beer Garden’s menu here.
8. Nijo Market
Have a fresh seafood breakfast like this at Nijo Market in Sapporo!Start your day afresh with a fresh seafood breakfast at Nijo Market in Sapporo.
Dine at one of the restaurants inside the market, buy goods or dried seafood at the stores, or eat ice cream while you enjoy the snow and the cold on winter.
Nearest train station: Odori Station (or a 1.4-km walk from Sapporo Station)
Eating ice cream with the Sapporo TV Tower behind me as I enjoy the cold and the snow. Yikes!There is more to Sapporo and Hokkaido than these destinations. Explore more of their culture during your stay as you get to visit more places and connect with locals.
My visit to Sapporo for the winter festivals and experiences made me go back home so happy and appreciating more of Japan and its culture.
Where else do you recommend to visit when in Sapporo? Tell me about your Sapporo experience!
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Otaru Snow Light Path Festival Day Tour from Sapporo
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Natasha is a full-time banker who gets to take a breather when she travels. She loves being challenged. Adventures and whatever engages her logic get her excited.
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