Neil Hartmann

In addition to its renowned ski resorts, there are plenty of spots to enjoy Sapporo’s wonderful snow throughout the city! At Asahiyama Memorial Park, you can rent snowshoes and take a stroll through nature. You can also try snowshoeing at Nakajima Park, located not far from the city center. After a busy day in the cold, nothing beats warming up with a bowl of Sapporo’s famous ramen.

Proximity to nature is one of Sapporo’s greatest charms. The cityscape is set amidst picturesque mountains, and public transport provides easy access to rewarding trekking experiences. In Part 2, we head to Mt. Moiwa. After experiencing the beauty of autumn leaves, we’ll enjoy a magnificent night view.

Proximity to nature is one of Sapporo’s greatest charms. The cityscape is set amidst picturesque mountains, and public transport provides easy access to rewarding trekking experiences. In Part 1, we explore Mt. Sankakuyama, which is ideal for even beginners, and Mt. Okurayama, known for its historic Olympic ski jump.

Easy access to other cities and towns is just one of Sapporo’s many charms. A little under an hour on the expressway from downtown Sapporo takes us to the town of Yoichi, famous for its wine, whisky, and seafood… and a surprising connection to the Space Shuttle. The town of Shakotan is renowned for ‘Shakotan Blue’, the breathtaking scene of magnificently clear seas from Cape Kamui.

Sapporo’s famous shopping arcade is Tanuki Koji, also known as “Ponpoco Champs-Élysées”. The covered arcade is 7 blocks long and about 1 kilometer in length! The original dates back to 1869 when many merchants began setting up shops along the street. You can find many types of shops including some that have been in business for several generations! An eclectic mix of theThe eclectic mix ranges from classic Japanese craft shops to modern fashion and food choices! Tanuki Koji is a great representation of Sapporo and Hokkaido in general. It’s well worth spending a day exploring all the little specialty shops. In this episode I uncover a few hidden gems and do my best to highlight some of the main features along the historical shopping street!

Sapporo Moiwa is truly the icon of this northern city. The ski area and courses built into the mountain make it a unique spot to ski when you visit. Night skiing provides a great view of the city below!

Sapporo Teine ski resort will always be my favorite spot for quality snowboarding and skiing close to the city of Sapporo. With its north facing aspect the snow quality is always great and the mountain has a lot of interesting history as one of the sites during the 1972 Winter Olympic games!

Sapporo city has 6 ski resorts and Sapporo Kokusai is the largest and highest elevation among them. Great snow quality, courses for all levels, and all this set deep in the mountains of the Shikotsu Toya National park! A great one day trip from the city of Sapporo!

When you visit Sapporo you will not want to miss a visit to Shikotsu lake, the gem of the Shikotsu Toya national park

There is a lot to see and do in the village of Jozankei Onsen! Hot springs, shopping, hotels, trekking, canoe tours, and much more!