When to visit Sapporo?

Two to three days cover the essentials: Sapporo Brewery, Nijo Market, Odori Park, TV Tower, Susukino in the evening. Add a day for an excursion to Otaru (30 min by JR) for the canal and the seafood. If you are there during the Yuki Matsuri (early February), allow an extra day to fully enjoy the snow sculptures and the evening illuminations. As a base for exploring Hokkaido, Sapporo also works well as a launch pad for Niseko (2h), Furano (2h15) and Noboribetsu (1h30).

Sapporo's miso ramen was born in the 1960s in the Susukino area, and the best addresses are still concentrated there. 'Sapporo Ramen Yokocho' (the ramen alley), in Susukino, brings together about a dozen specialist shops focused on miso ramen — an authentic atmosphere, deep broths and intimate counter seating. Key names include Sumire (often queuing, famous for its buttered miso ramen), Yume wa Nishehe and Keyaki. The average price for a bowl of miso ramen is ¥900-1,400 (€6-10).

The Yuki Matsuri (Sapporo Snow Festival) runs for about one week in early February each year, typically from 5 to 11 February (exact dates vary). Hundreds of snow and ice sculptures, some 10 to 15 metres tall, are built at three main sites: Odori Park (monumental sculptures and evening illuminations), Susukino (transparent ice sculptures) and Tsudome (winter games and family activities). Admission is free at all sites. How to prepare: book flights and accommodation at least four to six months ahead (the city sells out completely); pack extremely warm clothing (temperatures between -10 and -5 °C); plan your evenings for the illuminations (7pm-10pm), which are the centrepiece of the event.

Yes, with several options depending on your level and budget. __Niseko__ (2h by road or coach from Sapporo) is the world reference for powder — but expensive and very busy. __Rusutsu__ (1h45 by road) is a quality alternative with three mountains and fewer crowds. For a day trip from Sapporo, __Sapporo Teine__ (30 min by car, 50 min by shuttle) is ideal: 17 varied runs, panoramic views over the sea and city, open from December to March. Regular ski bus shuttles depart from Sapporo's major hotels.

The fastest option is to fly: 1h30 from Tokyo Haneda or Narita to Sapporo New Chitose Airport (CTS), with more than twenty flights a day operated by ANA, JAL, Peach and Air Do. Prices range from €60 to €200 return depending on how far ahead you book. From Chitose Airport, the JR Rapid Airport Express connects to Sapporo's central station in 37 minutes (¥1,150, covered by the Japan Rail Pass). It is also possible to take the Shinkansen to Hakodate (4h10 from Tokyo, JR Pass covered via the Seikan tunnel) and then a limited express to Sapporo (approx. 1h15).

Nijo Market (Nijo Ichiba), a 10-minute walk from central station, is the unmissable reference: open from dawn, its stalls overflow with Hokkaido sea urchin, whole king crab, giant scallops and salmon at fair prices. Most vendors let you taste on the spot — a kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) costs ¥1,500-3,000 depending on sea urchin generosity. The restaurants bordering the market serve remarkable kaisendon from 7am. The Susukino district also holds many excellent seafood restaurants for evenings, particularly for kaisendon and fixed-price boiled king crab.

Sapporo is famous for its heated underground gallery network — the most developed in Japan — which allows you to move between the main hotels, shopping centres, restaurants and the central station without ever stepping outside, even when it is -15 °C and a snowstorm is raging. The main network (Sapporo Chikagai, Pole Town and Aurora Town) covers about 4 km of commercial galleries under the central streets. This winter mobility system is a unique feature of Sapporo and a very practical lesson in Arctic urban design for travellers.