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Sapporo
Snow festival, seafood and cool summers
- Best time to visit
- Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
- Currency
- JPY
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Country
- Japan
Hokkaido's capital, a grid of wide streets famous for its February Snow Festival, miso ramen and seafood, and a cool escape in summer.
- Tokyo
- Yokohama
- Osaka
- Nagoya
- Sapporo
- Kyoto
Quick facts
- Country
- Japan
- Capital
- Tokyo
- City population
- 2M
- Population of Japan
- 123.8M
- Country area
- 377,975 km²
- Official language
- Japanese
- Currency
- Japanese Yen (JPY) · 1 USD ≈ 158 JPY
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Calling code
- +81
- Drives on the
- Left
- Elevation
- 20 m
- Plugs
- A / B · 100V
- Emergency numbers
- 110 · 119
- Best time to visit
- Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Temperatures through the year
Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.
Temperatures through the year
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | -1° | 0° | 4° | 11° | 17° | 21° | 25° | 26° | 22° | 16° | 8° | 2° |
| Low | -7° | -7° | -3° | 3° | 8° | 13° | 18° | 19° | 14° | 7° | 1° | -4° |
Best time to visitOther months
Approximate daily cost
Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.
- ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$66
- HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$140
- LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$365
Top things to do
- Free
Ōdōri Park and the TV Tower
The long central park where the Snow Festival's ice sculptures stand in February, with a view deck on the TV Tower.
- Half day
- Ōdōri and Susukino
- Good for kids
- ≈ $18
Mount Moiwa ropeway at night
A ropeway and mini cable car to one of Japan's best night views over the city grid.
- Half day
- Mount Moiwa
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
- ≈ $15
Day trip: Otaru
A canal port 40 minutes by train, with stone warehouses, glass workshops, music boxes and fresh seafood.
- Full day
- Otaru
- Good for kids
- ≈ $20
Nijō Market seafood breakfast
Crab, sea urchin and salmon roe bowls at small counters in a market near the centre.
- Half day
- Ōdōri and Susukino
- Good for kids
- ≈ $10
Shiroi Koibito Park
A chocolate-biscuit factory with a European-style garden, a factory line to watch and a baking class.
- Half day
- Northern districts
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- ≈ $12
Miso ramen and Susukino lights
Sapporo invented miso ramen: eat a bowl in Ramen Yokochō, then walk the neon of Susukino.
- Half day
- Ōdōri and Susukino
- Indoors
- Good in the evening
Before you go
Entry and visas
Many nationalities can visit visa-free for short stays; others need a visa, and some can apply for an eVISA online. Visit Japan Web lets you fill in immigration and customs forms before you land.
Official websiteFrom the airport
New Chitose Airport has flights from Tokyo (1.5 hours) and some international routes; the JR Rapid Airport train reaches Sapporo station in about 40 minutes.
Getting around
Subway lines and a tram loop cover the city; IC cards work. For Hokkaido's lakes and flower fields, rent a car in summer.
Local tips
- Book early for the Snow Festival in early February.
- Winter pavements are icy: wear shoes with grip or buy slip-on cleats.
- Summer is mild, a break from the heat of Tokyo and Osaka.
- Try Genghis Khan (grilled lamb) and Hokkaido milk soft-serve.
Areas worth knowing
- Mount Moiwa
- Northern districts
- Ōdōri and Susukino
- Otaru
The UK Foreign Office last updated its advice for this country on August 28, 2026.
Read the advice on GOV.UKMore cities in Japan
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Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: visas · Sapporo Travel (official) · Japan National Tourism Organization