Travel advice for Japan
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Japan
Book your individual trip, stress-free with local travel experts
written by Rebecca Hallett
updated 21.07.2021
But the problem with visiting world-famous cities whose reputations precede them is that… well, their reputations have preceded them. If you really want to surprise yourself, you’ll need to head somewhere a little different.
This is where Sapporo comes in. This chilled-out city is the capital of Hokkaidō, Japan’s northern island which has 22 percent of the country’s landmass but only five percent of its population.
Your reward for heading so far from Tokyo is a completely different vision of Japan, one which keeps all the best bits while maintaining its own way of doing things.
Here are just a few things you might spot – but to really feel the difference, you’ll just have to go there yourself.
To find more interesting Japanese destinations have a look at our list best things to do in Japan.
13 days / from3535 USD
Small Group Tour: Splendours of Japan
Discover the allure of Japan on our small group tour (max 16 guests). Unveil Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka, and Okayama through guided explorations. Immerse in tea ceremonies and relish in the captivating beauty of these iconic destinations. Regular departures ensure an unforgettable journey.
view tour ⤍14 days / from4070 USD
Small Group Tour: Secrets of Japan
Embark on an exceptional small-group tour, available monthly, unveiling Tokyo, Hakone, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, and beyond. Uncover Japan's hidden gems, from serene shrines to bustling cities, and immerse in enchanting forests.
view tour ⤍10 days / from2795 USD
Small Group Tour: Highlights of Japan
Exciting small-group tour with monthly departures. Immerse in Japanese culture, challenge a pro in a sumo suit, wander Arashiyama's bamboo groves in Kyoto, and relish a kaiseki feast with Maiko entertainment - all included in this fascinating small group tour.
view tour ⤍7 days / from4000 USD
Japan highlights: Tokyo to Osaka
From Tokyo to Osaka, this Japan trip features fantastic experiences. View a sumo session, visit ancient temples, and climb the Tokyo Skytree tower. Explore the resort town of Hakone in Mt Fuji’s shadow, savor a tea ceremony in Kyoto, and see cherry blossoms, in season, to complete a wonderful trip.
view tour ⤍10 days / from3000 USD
Self-Guided Adventure Tour in Japan
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural beauty, history, enchanting culture and warmhearted people of Japan, with our self-guided tour of Japan. Walk-through a bamboo forest, see how sake is made, join Samurai lesson, go bar-hopping in Tokyo and Osaka and extend your journey to Hiroshima
view tour ⤍10 days / from6000 USD
Culinary tour across Japan
This trip takes you from Tokyo to Kyoto, where you will experience authentic Japanese foods, visit morning markets in the local cities, learn how to make Japanese food and enjoy a unique stay at a monastery. A once in a lifetime experience.
view tour ⤍13 days / from3706 USD
Hiking the Japanese Alps
Traverse Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, hike Kamikochi's ancient forest, and marvel at Yake volcano. Explore Tokyo's palaces, Kyoto's temples, and Mt. Fuji's beauty. Relax in tranquil hot springs and discover Kanazawa's Kenroku-en Garden, along with Shirakawago's charming villages.
view tour ⤍12 days / from3415 USD
Japan Winter Tour with Monkey Onsen
Zip through snowy landscapes on a bullet train, exploring Tokyo, Kyoto, and Kanazawa's iconic attractions. Encounter snow monkeys in Nagano, wander through Shirakawa-go's picturesque village, and unwind in a traditional onsen ryokan. Experience Japan's winter charm at its finest!
view tour ⤍15 days / from5155 USD
Family Adventures in Japan
Discover Tokyo's shrines, Hakone's Mt. Fuji views, and Nagoya's Toyota Museums. Traverse Nakasendo's historic trails, experience Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine and Nijo Castle, and savor a traditional tea ceremony. End in Osaka with a cooking class and a visit to Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway.
view tour ⤍9 days / from2495 USD
Japan Essentials
Experience Japan's essence! From Tokyo's modernity to serene Hakone, historic Kyoto, and bustling Osaka. Marvel at Mt. Fuji, cruise Lake Kawaguchiko, stroll Fushimi Inari-Taisha's torii gates, and savor Kansai's cuisine in Dotonbori. This journey captures Japan's diverse beauty and culture.
view tour ⤍Let’s start with the obvious one: yes, it’s Sapporo like the beer. If you’re interested in the brewing process you can visit the Beer Museum and Biergarten to the east of the city centre, set in the brewery which opened back in 1891. If you just want to enjoy a nice cool brew, though, you can pop into any bar, restaurant or convenience store; unsurprisingly, it’s sold everywhere.
Hokkaidō’s climate also makes it ideal for viticulture, unlike much of the rest of Japan, and there are several wineries in Sapporo. You can visit one for a tour and tasting, or pop into one of the city’s many wine bars.
Japanese cuisine is famously light on dairy, but Hokkaidō is definitely the exception. Large-scale farming was only introduced in the late-nineteenth century, and the combination of a cooler climate and European and American involvement led to a radically different type of agriculture. Now, you’ll see the island’s outline stamped onto butter, cheese, milk and ice cream containers throughout Japan.
Sapporo, unsurprisingly, is the culinary capital of Hokkaidō, and the perfect place to sample some surprisingly un-Japanese Japanese dishes – and not only dairy. Batā-kōn ramen is a bowl of noodles heaped with corn and butter, while jingisukan (“Genghis Khan”) is lamb barbecued on an unusual domed grill, said to be shaped like the famous warrior’s helmet.
In shops and department stores throughout the city you’ll see delicious fusion foods like miso-marinated cheese and soft cream (soft-serve ice cream) in flavours like yuzu, matcha and lavender.
There are plenty of sports you might associate with Japan – sumo, judo, karate, even the perennially popular baseball. But up here, winter sports rule.
There are several places to brush up on your skiing or snowboarding skills near the city, and as winter comes round you may be tempted a little further afield by the world-famous powder at Niseko, only a couple of hours away.
For more low-key winter attractions you can stay within the city limits. Some of the best spots include the open-air museum Kaitaku no Mura, a historic village where you can ride a horse-drawn sleigh; Hitsujigaoka, an observatory hill with amazing views and slopes which will tempt even the biggest kids to go sledding; and Ōdōri-kōen come mid-February. This is when the annual yuki matsuri, or Sapporo Snow Festival, is held, and the whole park is filled with stunning ice sculptures.
The festival also uses two other sites, one just south at Susukino and one further out at Tsu Dome, where you can try snow rafting and snow slides after admiring the sculptures.
If you don’t fancy having to contend with several feet of snow on your holiday, maybe consider a summer visit instead of a winter one. Unlike the rest of Japan, Hokkaidō doesn’t have a rainy season – so there’s no need to endure those days of sticky heat, humidity and sudden downpours. Bliss.
If you don’t mind the crowds, try to time your visit to the summer festival. Held in late July and early August, this matsuri is centred around a huge beer garden in Ōdōri-kōen, the long line of parkland cutting through the city – a refreshing way to end a summer’s day.
Though Sapporo is within easy reach of gorgeous countryside – the mountainous Shikotsu-Tōya National Park is just 80km south – there are also plenty of natural escapes in the city itself. One of the loveliest spots is Maruyama Park, home to Hokkaidō Jingū, the island’s main shrine. Wander through the leafy grounds, or pick up an omikuji (fortune) in the grand central courtyard.
Alternatively, head to Hokkaidō University Botanical Gardens, established in the nineteenth century, a large and relaxing space surprisingly close to the main station. Within the gardens is a small museum with exhibits on the Ainu, Hokkaidō’s main indigenous population – shockingly only officially recognised as such by the Japanese government in 2008.
Sapporo balances these natural escapes with all the advantages of a big city: it has an exciting restaurant scene, well-established arts and cultural venues, the largest nightlife area north of the capital (Susukino), and a healthy, if low-key, LGBT scene.
But the city’s green spaces, friendly locals and more relaxed pace of life mean you can take your time and enjoy all these things, rather than feeling like you need to rush from one to the next. And that’s Sapporo in a nutshell: even in the summer heat, it’s the perfect place to chill out.
Rebecca flew between London and Tokyo with Finnair, and travelled to Sapporo with a JR Pass. If you want to do some research before you go, try checking your nearest JNTO office, and explore more of Japan with The Rough Guide to Japan. Compare flights, book hostels and hotels for your trip, and don’t forget to purchase travel insurance before you go.
written by Rebecca Hallett
updated 21.07.2021
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From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Japan