My 5 Absolute Favorite Things I Did in Sapporo, Japan!
Looking for fun things to do in Sapporo? Well, there’s certainly no shortage of them, but narrowing it down can be difficult!
So if you need some clarity on the true must-dos in the capital city of Hokkaido, I’m going to share my 5 favorite things I did here.
Bailey and I have traveled Japan extensively and spent a lot of time in Sapporo. We’ve done way more than 5 things, but we’ve carefully selected our top picks that showcase the best of what the city has to offer. From bar hopping and fun food experiences to extensive sightseeing tours, we’re going to take you through the best things to do in Sapporo.
1. Sapporo Bar Hopping and Food Tour (Must Do!)
- Duration: 3 hours
- Highlights: Visit 3 hidden izakaya bars for food and drinks, explore the Susukino and Odori Park neighborhoods, free photos sent to you after the tour
- Inclusions: 3 drinks, food at each bar, English-speaking guide, tour photos
- Rating: 5 Stars (Check 60+ reviews here)
- Free cancelation: Yes, up to 24 hours before the tour starts
- Price: Check price here!
Bailey and I had an incredible time on this bar-hopping food tour, hence why it’s my #1 pick for things to do in Sapporo! I would actually recommend booking it for as soon as you arrive so that you can get the lay of the land. We went back to the izakayas we visited later on in our trip, and our guide gave us a ton of great recommendations, which helped us to discover even more hidden gems that weren’t in the guidebooks.
On the night of the tour, we met our guide and fellow participants. Group sizes for this tour are kept really small as izakayas tend to have limited seating, so it was a super personal experience. We went to three izakayas which were well hidden, and since their signage was in Japanese, we would never have found them on our own.
We got to have a drink at each stop and we could choose whatever we liked, but our guide gave us some great recommendations, so we got to try local specialties, including sake, Japanese highballs, and Japanese sours, which are like a more interesting version of a vodka, lemon, and soda! We tried tons of different food and bar snacks, too, that we wouldn’t have known to order by ourselves, so it really was so worth going with a local guide. We ended the night feeling full and very happy, because this tour is an absolute blast.
Book our FAVORITE tour in Sapporo in advance as it tends to sell out!
2. Soba Noodle Making Class
- Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Highlights: Making soba noodles by hand, visiting a local restaurant outside of the touristy areas, and eating your creations afterwards!
- Inclusions: Tools and ingredients
- Rating: 5 Stars (Check 60+ reviews here)
- Free cancelation: Yes, up to 24 hours before the tour starts
- Price: Check price here!
What we loved about this noodle making tour is that it’s a very authentic experience. So if you’re keen to experience local life in Sapporo, then this tour is just the ticket. It was a real highlight of our time in the city!
The hosts of this tour own a small soba restaurant in the Nishi Ward, which is a super local area. We took the train here because the restaurant is only a 2-minute walk from the station, and it was super easy. Alternatively, it’s a 15-minute taxi ride from the center of Sapporo.
This is a private experience, so we had our guides’ full attention. They didn’t speak the best English, but knew enough to communicate effectively. We started by hand mixing the dough, and then learned the traditional method for cutting the noodles. After that, our hosts cooked them for us and served them along with a delicious sauce. We left very full and actually skipped dinner that night!
We also had the option to make tempura. We didn’t choose this but now, I wish we had! However, we ended up purchasing ready-made tempura vegetables and shrimp to accompany our noodles for 1,000 JPY (around $6 USD). There was tea and beer available to buy, too.
All in all, this tour was a fun, wholesome, and delicious experience. We would highly recommend it for anyone looking to get off the typical tourist trail. It’s also very family-friendly, so this is our top choice in Sapporo for those traveling with kids!
Book this fun experience here and pay later!
3. Private Full-Day Tour of Nikka Whisky Distillery and Otaru
- Duration: 6 hours
- Highlights: Nikka Whisky Distillery, Sakaimachi Street and Sankaku Market in Otaru
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup, English speaking guide (if option selected), private transportation, highway fare
- Rating: 5 Stars (Check reviews here)
- Free cancelation: Yes – up until the day before the tour
- Price: Check price here!
Sapporo is a fantastic city, but I really think it would be a shame not to get out and explore the wider region. This full-day tour made it so easy, and we like that you can opt for an English-speaking guide if you like, or choose the self-guided option and just enjoy the convenience and flexibility of private transportation. Either way, you’re in for a great time!
After a seamless pickup at our hotel, our driver took us to the Nikka Distillery, where we took an in-depth tour. The Viator page for this tour states that the distillery visit isn’t included, but it’s actually free of charge! This was one of our favorite parts of the day because the tour was really interactive and we learned a ton about Japanese whisky and got to do a free tasting.
Then, we continued on to the town of Otaru which was so beautiful. We loved exploring the cute main street and walking along the canal, as well as the Sankaku Market, where we got to sample fresh seafood. It was a great way to get off the beaten path and I would definitely recommend booking this tour if you like to get out of the touristy areas and explore more authentic, local spots. We hardly saw any other foreigners all day!
4. Private Full-Day Sightseeing Tour in Sapporo
- Duration: 6 hours
- Highlights: Moerenuma Park, Mount Moiwa, Nijo Market, the Jozankei Onsen – but this tour can be tailored to your interests!
- Inclusions: Local, government-licensed guide, customizable itinerary
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check 30+ reviews here)
- Free cancelation: Yes, up to 24 hours before the tour starts
- Price: Check price here!
I think that this sightseeing tour is the best option for those who are short on time. It’s a private full-day tour of Sapporo that ensures you’ll see all of the top sights in one day, so it’s well worth it if you don’t have long here.
And better still, since it’s a private tour, it’s fully customizable so you get to see what interests you the most. It also offers the chance to take advantage of fun seasonal events, like the famous Sapporo Snow Festival.
Typically, you’ll be able to hit 3-4 major sights in one day with this tour, and there’s a HUGE list to choose from. Seriously, we were spoiled for choice! So whether you want to enjoy the iconic beer museum, visit a chocolate-themed entertainment park, have fun in the Susukino entertainment district or get off the beaten path, Sapporo is truly your oyster.
One thing we really loved about this tour is that our guide spoke fantastic English and was super knowledgeable about the history of Sapporo, so we learned a ton about the city. By the end of the day, we really felt like we knew the place so much better! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to see a lot without a lot of planning and organization involved.
For an easy way to see the best of Sapporo, book this tour here!
5. Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour of Hokkaido
- Duration: 8 – 10 hours
- Highlights: Asahiyama Zoo, Biei’s Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls, and Furano’s Ningle Terrace
- Inclusions: Hotel pick up and drop off, highway fees, private transportation and guide
- Rating: 5 stars (check reviews here)
- Free cancelation: Yes, up to 24 hours before the tour starts
- Price: Check price here!
Hokkaido is one stunning island, and this full-day tour allows you to experience some of the most beautiful spots in just one day. And let me tell you, what a day it was!
We kicked off the tour with a visit to Asahiyama Zoo, where we loved seeing all of the animals. Then, we went to the Shirogane Blue Pond, which is so beautiful it could honestly rival our beloved Moraine Lake in Canada during the summer. It’s not as bright blue during the winter, but it still looks incredible, as the snow and ice gives it a Narnia-esque feel! We also got to visit the dramatic Shirahige Falls, which were also frozen over, but I think that actually made them look even more spectacular.
We ended the day with a visit to Ningle Terrace, which I can only describe as a fairytale village! It’s filled with log cabins, cute shops, and fairy lights, so we loved strolling around here.
Honestly, this tour delivers a magical day out and I have to give a special mention to our guide and driver, Kate, who took such great care of us. She was so thoughtful and a really informative guide. We would recommend this tour to anyone, but especially to those who don’t have a ton of time to explore Hokkaido by themselves. The region is just way too beautiful to miss!
Book this magical day trip to Hokkaido here for free cancellation options!
Thanks for reading!
There’s our short and sweet version of the must-do activities in Sapporo! We loved exploring this city and these tours really helped us get the most of our visit the last time we were here. I hope you have as much fun in Sapporo as we did!
For more help planning a trip to Japan, check out our full blog here. We’ve traveled across the country and have lots of tips to share for first-time travelers or those of you lucky enough to come to Japan often!
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