Sapporo: Culture, Parks and Specialties

Sapporo offers a variety of discoveries: the history of Sapporo Agricultural College comes to life at the Clock Tower, sculptures stand amid woodland at Sapporo Art Park, and Sapporo TV Tower affords sweeping views across the city. Parks, historical exhibits and local specialties each add their own distinctive touches. When choosing your holiday rental, consider which of these sides of Sapporo you’d like to make the focus of your trip.

Discover the city’s history and art

The Sapporo Clock Tower was built in 1878 as a drill hall for Sapporo Agricultural College. Today, it houses an exhibition featuring documents, photographs, models and videos about the building’s history. Alongside the historic structure, the exhibition also presents the story in a variety of ways. If you’re interested in Sapporo’s development, you can complement this visit with the Historical Village of Hokkaido: the open-air museum recreates the industries, ways of life and cultures of Hokkaido’s pioneer era—from the Meiji and Taisho periods through the early Showa period.

Sapporo Art Park offers a different way to experience culture. Spread across 7.5 hectares surrounded by woodland, it features 74 sculptures by 64 artists. Rather than being confined to a single gallery, the art can be found throughout the expansive grounds. In winter, visitors can explore the park wearing kanjiki, traditional Japanese snowshoes. The site thus combines sculpture with a seasonal experience in a woodland setting.

Parks, panoramas and getting active

Odori Park stretches 1.5 kilometres from east to west through central Sapporo. In winter, it is one of the venues for the Sapporo Snow Festival. Local food also adds to the park’s character: vendors sell grilled corn on the cob. The park brings together a central green space, a venue for winter events and a distinctly local snack.

For views across the city, Sapporo TV Tower has an observation deck 90.38 metres high, offering a 360-degree panorama. If you’d rather include a short hike in your trip, Moerenuma Park has a clearly marked destination: a ten-minute hike leads to the summit of Mt. Moere. These offer two different perspectives on your stay—the all-around panorama from the observation deck and the climb to a summit.

The Forest of the Zoo covers about 2 hectares on the boundary between Maruyama Zoo and Maruyama Primeval Forest, a natural monument. It adds a connection to woodland and a natural monument to the city’s parkland. The approximate area indicates its size without implying an exact boundary.

Markets and Sapporo specialties

Nijo Market was first established in the early Meiji period. Today, it serves sashimi rice bowls and sushi made with fresh seafood that arrives in the morning. The market can therefore be appreciated both for its long history and for a specific culinary specialty.

At Sapporo Beer Garden, you can enjoy draft beer with Genghis Khan, a regional specialty. Classic is also served there, a beer available only in Hokkaido. Sapporo Beer Museum offers another highlight: its experiences include a premium tour where you can sample “Fukkoku Sapporo Bakushu.” For planning your trip, market dishes, the combination of draft beer and a regional specialty, and a guided tasting cater to different culinary interests.

Whether you’re most interested in city history, art in the forest, views, outdoor activities or food, Sapporo offers plenty of specific ways to shape your stay. A holiday rental in Sapporo can serve as a starting point for planning your trip; the experiences that appeal to you most will help determine its focus.

More destinations to explore: Koshimizu, Abashiri, Kiyosato, Shakotan District, Samani, Pippu, Makkari, Asahikawa.

Return to the regional travel overview: Hokkaido.