Best Things to Do in Sapporo, Japan in the Winter
When it comes to winter wonderland destinations, nothing beats Sapporo Japan! If you’ve ever wondered what life is like inside a snow globe, you will find out when you visit Sapporo Japan in the winter! I’ve heard of JaPow, but to experience it in person was a whole other level. I have been waiting my whole life for powder this deep. My week in Sapporo went by way too fast; I can’t wait to come back to Sapporo for more winter adventures!
Things to Do in Sapporo in Winter
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that skiing is one of my favorite things to do in the world. After just a few days skiing that famous JaPow, I can confidently say that skiing in Sapporo is better than skiing anywhere else!
Sapporo Teine Ski Resort is located just outside the city center and was the first Winter Olympic Venue in Asia when Sapporo hosted in 1972. This wasn’t my first time to Teini, as I hiked this same mountain in September. I had such an awesome day of skiing here.
Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort is on the other side of the mountain, and still just about an hour from Sapporo City Center. Again, another phenomenal ski day at a Sapporo ski resort.
After my trip to Sapporo, I spent some time at Niseko, Asia’s year-round adventure resort destination. The area is known for receiving the best winter powder. While I enjoyed skiing at Niseko, I much prefer the vibe in Sapporo. Because Niseko is a resort town, it’s very much an international destination. Skiing in Sapporo was much more local, in part because there are no lodges at the Sapporo mountains. Skiing in Hokkaido is amazing no matter which resort you choose.
And the best part of skiing in Japan? The food, of course! Forget the French Fries and chili; spicy Ramen and a Sapporo Classic are my go-to ski lunch now.
Need another reason to visit Sapporo in the winter? The Sapporo Snow Festival is so much fun! This annual festival is held each February for a week, and I got to be there on opening day this year. The festival began in 1950 and has gotten bigger and better each year since then. There are around 400 snow sculptures, live music, ice slides, a snow maze, and of course, fantastic food. Coca-Cola even makes a special can for the festival every year.
Snow Candle Way is another beautiful winter event in Sapporo. For one week each year, one thousand snow candles made by locals are placed in the grounds of the Jozankei Shrine. This annual event began in 2011 and continues to this day. A free shuttle bus even runs from the Jozankei onsen town to the shrine. Seeing 1,000 snow candles just confirms that Sapporo is the most beautiful winter destination I’ve experienced. (Don’t forget to bow as you enter the gates of the shrine - it’s supposed to bring you good fortune!)
I also got to join Friluftsliv for a Snow Rafting excursion. We took a raft trip down the river to admire the snow from a different angle and stopped along the way to make s’mores. With the proper winter gear, this is a beautiful way to spend a winter day in Sapporo.
Snowshoeing is another fun way to experience Sapporo snow; there are guides available and you can choose if you want a hearty workout or a slow stroll through the woods.
Of course, you cannot come to Japan in the winter without an onsen experience. I had several onsen experiences, including at my accommodations. (More on that below) But the most unique experience was cooking onsen eggs. We went to a park where the onsens contained sulfur water, and we boiled eggs in the water. I was very skeptical of eating the egg, as it was quite soft, and I fully expected to bite into a raw egg in the center. It’s a unique taste, but it was actually pretty good.
What to Eat in Sapporo
I don’t even know where to start with the food in Sapporo. Everything I had was so amazing, and it was just the icing on top of an already incredible trip. Here are a few highlights that I loved, including sushi for breakfast!
I’m obsessed with Lawson’s egg sandwiches. Lawson is a Japanese convenience store, like 7-11, and they have the best egg sandwiches in the world. I had at least one per day, sometimes more. It’s something about the Japanese mayo and the fluffy milk bread. I can’t get enough.
Before visiting, I only knew of Sapporo as a brand of beer. Naturally, a visit to the Sapporo Beer Museum and Beer Garden was a must. You can get the classic version all over, but in Hokkaido, you can only get the Five-Star at the beer garden. We also had a delicious lunch here, where we cooked our own wagyu beef over a tabletop grill.
We had an exquisite Kaiseki dinner experience at Elm Garden. This multi-course dinner started with frozen salmon sushi, and each course was a performance art of magnificent food.
Wagyu Ishizaki is another excellent dining experience. You can cook your own beef at this Japanese barbecue spot.
Of course, I couldn’t miss Nijo Market, one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite spots in Sapporo. The seafood rice bowls here are so good! You have to visit the fish market when you visit Hokkaido.
Parfaiteria PaL is the best nightcap in town. This late-night spot cures any sweet tooth with a glamorous selection of local products crafted into the perfect parfait.
Another favorite sweet treat was the black sesame mochi we had on our snowshoe trip. It was so good, I had to hunt down more after our excursion because I just had to have it!
We also visited the Trans Brewing Beer Stand for a flight of their unique and popular beer. They only just opened last year, but are already becoming quite famous for their brews.
When you are dining out in Japan, there is zero expectation of tipping as it’s just not part of the culture. However, they have warmed up to tipping and are more likely to accept a tip, whereas it would have been refused not too long ago. That said, it’s not at all expected.
Where to Stay in Sapporo
I got to experience two very different accommodations in Sapporo and I loved both! First, we stayed in a Ryokan or a traditional Japanese inn. After two nights at the Ryokan, we moved to a more modern hotel. When you plan a trip to Sapporo, you will have plenty of accommodation choices, and if you’ve never experienced a ryokan before, I highly recommend it!
The stunning Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei is a Ryokan on the outskirts of Sapporo. This is a MUST-DO bucket list experience! After some long travel days, I cannot imagine a more relaxing place to rest and recharge. Unlike most hotels, a ryokan has certain customs and etiquette. You will trade in your outdoor shoes for slippers when you arrive, and you’ll be given a cozy cotton robe to wear around the property. My private room was equally amazing, with my own private onsen. With the snow falling outside, I could not get over how stunning my room was!
For the remainder of our trip, we stayed at the brand-new Sapporo Stream Hotel. If you want a more modern and urban experience, this is the spot. I loved the decor and the vibe and the fact that they have a Lawson’s attached to the hotel didn’t hurt! I had amazing city and mountain views from my meticulously appointed room.
Getting to Sapporo
Sapporo sits at the Southern end of Hokkaido à Sapporo sits in the Southwest region of Hokkaido. From Tokyo to Sapporo, it’s about 1,200 kilometers, which is about the same length as California.
From the States, you will most likely first fly to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. You can take the Shinkansen train, which takes about 8 hours. However, if you’re anxious to arrive in the winter wonderland that is Sapporo, you can fly to New Chitose Airport in about 90 minutes. If you’re really into slow travel, there’s also a ferry that takes about 19 hours.
Part of what I loved most about Sapporo, besides the amazing food, cozy onsens, and world-famous skiing is the fact that Sapporo still feels like a small town, with fewer tourists, but you can still have high-end urban experiences like our dinner at Elm Garden. Have I convinced you to book a trip to Sapporo next winter?