With winter fast approaching maybe now is the time to think about a holiday in Japan's fifth largest city, Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido and one of the nation's youngest cities. Everyone must have seen the wonderful images of the snow sculptures that fill the city, images that are transmitted round the world every February.
Sapporo has grown from a hamlet of just seven people in the mid 19th century to a major resort and business centre today. It was the Winter Olympics in 1972 that set the city on the map, although the snow statues and sculptures had been started as far back as 1950 when a group of high school students built the first snow sculptures in Odori Park. Today the wonderland created at the annual snow festival in February attracts crowds from all over the world.
For those who cannot attend the snow festival in February, Sapporo still holds attractions (apart from the excellent Ramen Beer). Below are a few recommended sights.
Moerenuma Park. Sapporo
A large park in the north east of the city reached by the Toho Subway Line or by local bus or taxi. The park was designed by Japanese American sculptor Samu Noguchi who was entrusted with the creation of the park which opened in 2005.
Impressive man-made features offer a unique experience. Mount Moere stands 62 metres tall with great views of the park and surrounding area. Play Mountain is smaller and is reached via a gentle path to the top. A creative playground designed for children is located in the easternmost area and a sea fountain in the middle of the park shoots water 25 meters into the air during daily shows.
The Sapporo Beer Museum
Hokkaido is the birthplace of beer in Japan and Sapporo Beer is one of the oldest and most popular brands, brewed in Sapporo since 1877. The Sapporo Beer Museum which stands on a former brewery, opened in 1967 in order to introduce the history of beer and the beer-making process to visitors. Despite few explanations being available in English, the tour is still fascinating and afterwards, beer tastings are available.
Next door is the Sapporo Beer Garden where a relaxing meal can be enjoyed at the Garden Grill. If your choice should be for more hearty fare, then try the Genghis Khan Hall where on offer is all the beer you can drink accompanied by an all you can eat mutton BBQ.
Access the Beer Museum by the Loop 88 Factory Line bus that stops in front of Seibu Department Store near Sapporo Station, 9.00 – 18.00 Closed Mondays, admission free.
Sapporo Factory Entertainment Complex
This is a large shopping and entertainment mall in the centre of the city with about 160 establishments that cater for those who want souvenirs, clothing, shoes, restaurants, cafés and movie theatres. It was opened in 1993 and provides a spacious place in which to wander. There is also a small functioning brewery within the building and the beer itself can be enjoyed in the red brick Akarenga beer hall.
It is a five minute walk from the Sapporo station or catch the Loop 88 Factory Line outside the Sapporo Beer Museum.
Sapporo Snow Festival 2012
One of Japan's most popular winter events is the Sapporo Snow Festival, nowadays a commercialized event featuring spectacular now and ice sculptures that attracts more than 2 million visitors from across the globe, and found on three sites. Best view of the Park is from the Sapporo TV Tower, open from 9.00 to 22.30 during Festival time.
The Odori Site, centrally located to better show off the festival's largest snow sculptures, some of which measure more than 25 metres wide and 15 meters high, is the Festival's main site. Concerts and other events take place in this area, and they use the sculptures as their stage.
The Susukino Site, one subway stop south of Odori Park, is in Sapporo's entertainment district and exhibits over 100 ice sculptures. These sculptures are lit up daily until midnight.
The Tsu Dome Site is a family oriented site with snow slides, snow rafting and more snow sculptures. Inside the Dome are food stalls and a stage for events, open daily from 9.00 to 17.00. Shuttle buses run from the Odori Site.
Sapporo can be a magical place during the Snow Festival, but outside that period, it has a lot to offer the visitor, not least parks and gardens, good hotels and great food.
Mari Nicholson - Award Winning travel writer and historian, member of British Guild of Travel Writers.Travelwriters.co.uk, and Society of Women Writers and ...
