Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido and the largest city in Japan’s far north. It’s a young city by Japanese standards, laid out on a grid in the 1870s, and it’s best known for three things: a February snow festival, beer, and ramen. It’s also the usual base for a trip to the rest of Hokkaido.
| Population | about 1.97 million |
|---|---|
| City planned | from 1869 |
| Odori Park | about 1.5 km long, 105 m wide |
| Clock Tower | built 1878, the oldest clock tower in Japan |
| Snow Festival 2027 | 4 to 11 February (per travel agencies, unconfirmed) |
A city built on a grid
The Japanese government began building Sapporo in 1869 as the administrative center of Hokkaido, then newly renamed. The planners took Kyoto as a model, which is why central Sapporo has a grid of numbered streets and a wide east-west axis, Odori Park. Today it’s the northernmost city of its size in Japan, with a population of about 1.97 million, and more than 14 million visitors a year came in fiscal 2023.
Odori Park
Odori Park runs about 1.5 kilometers through the city center, 105 meters wide, and divides the offices and government buildings to the north from the shops and the Susukino entertainment district to the south. Sapporo’s main events are held here: the Snow Festival in February, the Lilac Festival, the YOSAKOI Soran dance festival, a summer festival, the autumn food festival, and winter illuminations. Odori station, beneath the park, is served by three subway lines, and underground passages connect it to Sapporo Station and Susukino.
The Snow Festival
The 77th Sapporo Snow Festival is scheduled for 4 to 11 February 2027, according to travel agency pages; the organizers’ site will confirm the dates. Book flights and hotels as early as you can, because it’s the busiest week of the year. See our guides to Japan in winter and Hokkaido in winter.
The Clock Tower
The Sapporo Clock Tower is a white wooden building with a clock on its roof, built in 1878 as a drill hall for the Sapporo Agricultural College, the predecessor of Hokkaido University. The clock was added in 1881, and the building is the oldest clock tower in Japan and an Important Cultural Property. It’s small, and now sits between office towers, so most visitors give it half an hour. In 1966 the city council decided to keep it where it is, after residents objected to moving it.
Sapporo Beer Museum
Sapporo is Japan’s best-known beer city, and the Sapporo Beer Museum is the only museum in Japan devoted to beer. It’s in a brick building put up in 1890 as a sugar factory, which the brewery bought in 1903 and used until 1965. The museum opened in 1987. A self-guided visit is free, with tastings extra, and there’s a beer hall next door. Hours and closing days change, so check before you go.
Sapporo ramen
Sapporo ramen in its modern form dates back to about 1946, when stall cooks in Susukino began serving noodles in a rich pork-bone broth. Miso ramen was developed in 1955 at a shop called Aji no Sanpei, and became the city’s signature after a firm began making thick, springy noodles that suit it. Most shops serve soy-sauce and salt versions too, so don’t feel you have to order miso.
When to go
Winter is the main draw for the snow and the festival. Summer and early autumn are good for Odori Park’s festivals and for day trips into Hokkaido’s countryside. See our guide to the Hokkaido region for what lies beyond the city.
Getting there
Sapporo is reached by air, most often from Tokyo, and it’s the main gateway to Hokkaido. See our Tokyo private tour guide and our Japan tour packages for routes that include Hokkaido.
Planning Sapporo with Absolute Asia Tours
Absolute Asia Tours has planned private trips in Asia since 1989. For Sapporo that means hotels booked ahead for the festival, a private guide for the city and a driver for day trips, and a ramen and beer route that avoids the lines. We’re rated 4.8 out of 5 across about 900 traveler reviews. Have a look at our Japan tours or tell us your dates.
Sources (read in Japanese, Japanese Wikipedia): 札幌市, 大通公園, 札幌市時計台, さっぽろ雪まつり. Last checked November 2026.
Sapporo: FAQ
What is Sapporo known for?
The Snow Festival in February, beer, miso ramen, and Odori Park.
When is the Sapporo Snow Festival in 2027?
4 to 11 February 2027, according to travel agencies. Confirm on the organizer’s site.
How many days do you need in Sapporo?
Two days for the city. Add more for day trips into Hokkaido.
Is Sapporo Beer Museum free?
The self-guided visit is free, and tastings cost extra. Check the current hours.
Where did miso ramen come from?
It was developed in Sapporo in 1955 at a shop called Aji no Sanpei.
What is the Sapporo Clock Tower?
A wooden building from 1878, once a drill hall for the Sapporo Agricultural College. It’s the oldest clock tower in Japan.