May 274 min read

Discovering Hokkaido: A 4-Day Itinerary through Sapporo and Otaru

Hi there!

I’m back in Japan, and excited to share more adventures! This time, I take my adventure north to Hokkaido and spent time in Sapporo and Otaru, as well as Lake Toya (another blog post coming soon!). It’s my second time in Hokkaido, and yet, this prefecture still has a lot left to be explored. I have only explored Hokkaido in the summer so far, so be sure to accommodate your travels accordingly to the season.

In my itineraries, I do my best to make the most logistically sound guides to get from one place to another, while feeling fun, relaxed, and fulfilled. At the same time, it’s not inclusive of all the major attractions in Sapporo and Otaru. Both cities have a lot to offer, and it wouldn't be fun to fit everything into four days. It's supposed to feel like a vacation!

Now let’s get to it.

Here is my 3 nights, 4 days itinerary in Sapporo and Otaru!

Day 1 – Travel to Sapporo

Depending on what time you arrive in Sapporo, travel days usually tire me out, so I personally don’t pack too many things on my first day.

Tanukikoji Shopping Street A shopping arcade or shotengai in the heart of Sapporo. You can find a lot of restaurants, entertainment, and shopping under one roof.

AOAO Sapporo Can be accessed from Tanukikoji. An indoor aquarium that feels like a modern living art museum.

Admission: ¥1100 per adult

Susukino Known as the red-light district in Sapporo. Besides the abundance of adult entertainment, there are plenty of restaurants and bars in the area that you can still enjoy.

Take the nORIA ferris wheel on top of nORBESA mall Although it may be a little pricey for a short ride… The night views of the city were enticing to watch and perfect way to end the night (or start)!

Admission: ￥1000 per adult.
Time: Sunday - Thursday, holidays　11:00 - 23:00 Friday/Saturday/holiday 　 11:00 - 1:00 the next day

Day 2 – Day Trip to Otaru

An old major port city in the first half of the 20th century, Otaru is just a 40 min train ride from Sapporo Station to Otaru Station.

Sankaku Market A small and narrow fish market with various restaurants to eat at. Most restaurants start closing around 5-6pm, so be sure to grab a bite before then!

Otaru Canal One of Otaru’s most famous attractions. The canal runs through the old and restored warehouses that were previously used in the city’s busy port days.

Otaru Beer Warehouse Teleport yourself to Germany. Take a free tour of the history and brewing methods of their local ‘Otaru Beer’. Grab a beer (or their delicious apple juice) and take it to their terrace right alongside the canal.

Denuki Koji An alleyway with several restaurants and shops squeezed next to each other. Most restaurants open in the evening… but I grabbed a delicious melon ice-cream here.

Sakaimichi Street An old merchant street with many glass and music box shops and museums. Also a lot of goodies to eat. Some places to check out:

LeTAO
Music Box Museum
Otaru Steam Clock
Glass workshops

Take the train back from Minami-Otaru to Sapporo Station

Day 3 - Sapporo

Starting from the east side of the city, we will end our last full day in Sapporo with a sunset over on the west side.

Sapporo Beer Museum Home to one of Japan’s iconic beers: Sapporo Beer. (Don’t get it mixed up with the Sapporo Beer Factory!)

Admission: Free
Tasting: ¥1000 for 3 types of their beers

Rent a bike and take a ride along the Toyohira River Download the bike share app and follow the instructions through the site. You can typically find these rental bikes near train stations or hotels.

My cost: ~¥330 for 50 mins, from Naebo Station to Nakajima Koen

Nijo Market One of Sapporo’s popular fish markets. Grab lunch here or… Buy lunch to picnic at the next place….

Nakajima Koen A pleasant park to walk around – or even take a boat around the small lake.

Admission: Free
Boat ride: ¥800
Other things to see:
Hohei Kan
Hokkaido Museum of Literature

Hokkaido Jingu A shinto shrine built under Emperor Meiji. A pleasant place to walk around. Also another place to catch the sakura blossoms in late spring.

Admission: Free

Mt. Moiwa One of many mountains over Sapporo, but this one is known for its views, especially during sunset. It seemed like a popular place for couples too.

Admission: ¥2100 per person roundtrip from Sanroku Station, through Chufuku Station, to Sancho Station (the top!)

Day 4 – Travel Day

Other sights and things to do in Sapporo!

Shiroi Koibito Park
Picnic at Odori Park under the Sapporo TV Tower
Sapporo Art Park

That wraps up my 4 days in Sapporo and Otaru. For my Hokkaido trip, I continued my fourth day onto Noboribetsu and Lake Toya. Stay in tune for another post on this!

Curious where I ate in Sapporo? Here are my recommendations!