Discover Sapporo with the JR Hokkaido Pass
On the main island of Japan, Honshu, there lies a myriad of cities and breathtaking destinations to discover.
Travellers enjoy exploring the dazzling capital of Tokyo, ancient Kyoto, Osaka Japan's kitchen town and Kobe, home of wagyu beef, to the south. However, the splendour of Honshu, the country's northernmost island of Hokkaido, is certainly not one to be looked over.
The snowy landscape of Hokkaido is a breath of fresh air in itself. The island's capital Sapporo is known for welcoming its visitors with its stunning landscapes, framed by mountains and parks. We're giving you a sneak preview of what to expect on a trip to Sapporo, and how you can maximise your time with a JR Hokkaido Pass.
Meet Sapporo
Although it's one of Japan's major cities, Sapporo is the youngest. In the mid-1800s, its population totaled just seven! The city was originally settled by the Ainu people, and for many years, it was no more than a simple fishing and hunting town.
After it was established as a trading post in the 1820s, Sapporo was declared the capital of Hokkaido and further development followed. Carefully planned out and designed by Western architects, Sapporo's wide avenues and city grid system give it an international flair, unlike many of the older Japanese cities.
Sapporo became renowned for its excellent beer, as well as gaining global attention when it hosted the Winter Olympic Games back in 1972. Now the population is just shy of 2 million, and Sapporo remains a wonderful destination to add to any travel itinerary.
Sapporo is a modern, vivid city on the island of Hokkaido.What to see
While you're in Sapporo, make a visit to Moerenuma Park, a sprawling green space designed by the Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. An architectural delight, this inspired park features rolling green hills, as well as a variety of large-scale sculptures - including a glass panelled pyramid. At the heart of the park is an incredible fountain and wading pool, where you can cool off in summer, and admire the light display once the sun begins to set.
You can't talk about Sapporo without mentioning the famous Snow Festival, taking place annually in February. Also known as Sapporo Yuki Matsuri, this event is incredibly popular, and for good reason. Each February, the Susukino district is taken over by breathtaking ice sculptures.
The origin of the festival came when local school children displayed snow sculptures in Odori Park, a tradition which has grown into an event that now draws 2 million visitors. The works are made by both local and international teams, and sculptures are interspersed with playful elements such as an ice bar, snow slide, live performances and beautiful lighting in the evenings.
The snow festival in Sapporo is a popular event year in and out.Food and drink
As we mentioned earlier, Sapporo is known for its eponymous beer, and you can find out more about it in Japan's only beer museum, the Sapporo Beer Museum and Biergarten. Here, you can learn more about the history of beer in Japan, as well as sample some of the brewery's fine products. The German-inspired Biergarten is a charming, red-brick restaurant, serving Genghis Khan barbecue lamb and fresh beer.
In addition to a good brew, Sapporo is also synonymous with excellent ramen. Embedded in the Susukino entertainment district is the Ramen Yokocho, a narrow lane packed with shops and restaurants serving up some of the country's best ramen. This delicious noodle and soup dish is a staple of local cuisine, and can be served with a range of meat and vegetables.
For a little help talking to the locals, check out our Japanese mini-phrasebook in our recent blog post.
Ramen and Sapporo beer are both local favourites.Getting around
To make the most of any trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, you need to travel Japan by train. The Japan Rail Pass offers you flexibility and freedom to explore the countryside without the restriction and costs of point-to-point tickets.
If Sapporo is on your list of places to see, get in touch with Rail Plus today to arrange a JR Hokkaido Pass. It encompasses unlimited travel on JR Hokkaido lines of the Hokkaido Railway Company and also includes travel on several JR Hokkaido Bus lines. You can find out more about the details for the JR Hokkaido Pass here.
The pass is available in Ordinary Class only, and you have the option to choose from a 3, 5, or 7-day pass for travel on consecutive days. There is also a pass for four days' travel over the course of a 10-day period.
When you get your Exchange Order from Rail Plus, you'll need to swap it for the real thing at a JR station with a Rail Pass Exchange Office. You can find a list of locations here. There, you can nominate a start date for your Rail Pass within one month of the date you redeemed it.
To find out more, be sure to get in touch with our expert team at Rail Plus.