If you’re planning a visit to Japan’s Hokkaido island and its capital, here’s an overview of where to stay in Sapporo!
The regional capital of Japan’s Hokkaido Island, Sapporo is Japan’s fifth-largest city, with a population of 1,948,262. The city is crossed by the Toyohira River and bordered by the Ishikari River to the north. The climate is very cold in winter, but more bearable in summer than in other Japanese cities: with a latitude of 43° north – the same latitude as Narbonne – the average temperature range is -4.6°C in January and 21.7°C in July. Renting accommodation in Sapporo will be expensive, so let’s face it.
The city of Sapporo is symbolized by the lilac, the lily of the valley and the cuckoo, and is home to many tourist attractions and other must-see activities. This Ainu town – named after the indigenous people who have lived here since prehistoric times – was colonized by the Japanese in 1866 at the instigation of Emperor Meiji, and is also famous for its eponymous beer, Sapporo.
Typical regional cuisine, vast green spaces, a vibrant art scene, numerous places to go out at night, internationally renowned sporting events and countless museums and concert halls: this is all Sapporo has to offer its residents and visitors. Here’s where to stay in Sapporo.
Susukino
Photo credit: Flickr – Tyler Black
Susukino is located in the city center. This is Sapporo’s most festive and nightlife district. Here, Sapporo beer flows freely in 4,500 restaurants and bars. Be warned: this is a noisy area in which to stay in Sapporo, so if you’re looking for peace and quiet, don’t go there! Susukino is especially lively at night, and it’s not uncommon to see employees at the end of their shift coming to the downtown taverns for a drink.
It’s not all about the drink here: this is where you’ll find the region’s best seafood (crabs, sea urchins, scallops, squid), as well as Genghis Kan (grilled lamb) and Sapporo râmen. If you love the cold and snow, come and visit Sapporo in February for the Snow Festival and its huge ice sculptures in Odori Park and Tsudome Stadium.
Between the fish and seafood markets, the temples and Shinto shrines, the tourist monuments – Clock Tower, JR Tower, Sapporo TV Tower (90 meters high for superb panoramic views of the city) – Nakajima Park or Kitara Concert Hall, the many bars and restaurants of Susukino, no one will be bored. This effervescent district, which never sleeps, is an ideal place to stay in Sapporo, but beware: it’s also teeming with people.
Higashi
Photo credit: Flickr – MIKI Yoshihito
North of Susukino, a large district stretches from the Clock Tower to the banks of the Ishikari River: Higashi. This is the place to go to visit the Sapporo Beer Museum, or stroll through Moerenuma Park.
It’s a very academic and student district, with numerous high schools and university campuses dotting the pavement. So, staying in Higashi will bring you into contact with a rather young and trendy population, frequenting the bars and restaurants, the art galleries or simply creating a lively nightlife. Generally speaking, we love it!
Chuo
Photo credit: Flickr – Kasim
Chuo is the district between the city center and the southwest mountains. It’s the district where most of Sapporo’s hotels are located, and where you can visit the city without wasting too much time in transport.
On the green side, Sapporo’s Maruyama Zoo – home to lions, giraffes, hippos, kangaroos, a variety of monkeys and birds – stretches around a primeval forest that attracts locals and tourists alike: a true national monument. You can also visit the Hokkaido University Museum, home to 400,000 plants, two million insects, 190,000 fish samples and over 2,000 invertebrates.
Main Photo Credit: Pixabay – Chaos_sun
Map of hotels and accommodations – Sapporo