Although it might seem like a lot, give yourself
at least 4 days
in Sapporo. The journey to Hokkaido is often a long one, so you’ll want to unwind a bit and not push yourself too much. Besides, there’s plenty to keep you busy in Sapporo in that time, both in and out of town.
How do you get around in Sapporo?
Take the JR Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (4 hours) and transfer to the Hokuto limited express to Sapporo (3.5 hours)
. The entire one way trip costs around 29,000 yen and takes around eight hours. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass.
Is it easy to drive in Hokkaido?
Driving on Hokkaido in winter is not easy and can be very dangerous
. Roads can be very slippery or completely blocked. If you do want to drive in winter, prepare well and make sure you have snow chains, a blanket, water and some food when you hit the road.
What is the best month to visit Hokkaido?
For those looking for outdoor adventures, the
summer
may be the best time to visit Hokkaido. Long sunny days and cool nights give ample time to enjoy every day. July is famous for the blooming of myriads of flowers, and August is the best time to get out and enjoy all of Hokkaido’s lush scenery and the outdoors.
How far is Sapporo from Hokkaido?
The distance between Sapporo and Asari(Hokkaido) is
26 km
. The road distance is 29.3 km.
Can you see Northern Lights in Hokkaido?
Yes, it’s very rare to see the northern lights in Hokkaido
and, even if you do, they aren’t the colourful displays that you’d see in northern Canada for example.
Do you need a car in Hokkaido?
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost point, is so large that
sightseeing often requires a car
. However, public transportation in the biggest city, Sapporo, is well-developed and there is plenty to see.
How long is the bullet train from Tokyo to Hokkaido?
The Hokkaido Shinkansen route is connected Honshu (the main island of Japan) to Hokkaido, allowing direct access from Tokyo Station to Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Station. The bullet train journey takes
approximately four hours
and costs 23,210 yen.
Can JR Pass use in Hokkaido?
The JR Pass is valid on all Shinkansen services on the Hokkaido Shinkansen
, including the super fast Hayabusa Shinkansen. The value of the JR Pass is outstanding on this route, as a normal ticket would cost 22,690yen for one way.
Is Sapporo worth visiting?
Sapporo itself is a nice city. However,
it’s not worth a 2-day trek when you factor in money and time cost
. Also, March is between seasons with snow starting to melt, yet there is still a lack of greenery so the scenery can be quite bare.
Can I use Pasmo in Sapporo?
At present, smart cards that can be used in Sapporo are SAPICA (Sapporo Municipal Transportation), Kitaca (JR Hokkaido), Suica (JR East), PASMO, manaca, TOICA, PiTaPa, ICOCA, Hayakaken, nimoca, and SUGOCA.
Should I rent car Hokkaido?
Because Hokkaido’s attractions are quite spread out and not very well-connected by public transport,
renting a car is almost mandatory
.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Hokkaido?
Car rental in Hokkaido Prefecture
You can expect to spend around
$72 per day
on average on a rental car in Hokkaido Prefecture. Depending on what city you plan to visit, cheaper daily rental prices can be around $37 per day or as high as $128 per day, which is a 71% difference.
Does Japan’s traffic run on the left or the right?
Japan drives on the left side
! that drives on the right hand side, it’s important to know you will be driving on the opposite side in Japan! However, if you are from a place where they drive on the left side, you’re a-okay!
What food is Hokkaido famous for?
Unlike other parts of Japan, Hokkaido is a large consumer of
mutton and lamb
. One of Hokkaido’s most famous dishes is the whimsically named “Genghis Khan”, which consists of lamb and vegetables like kabocha pumpkin, cabbage, and bean sprouts cooked on a helmet-shaped grill and dipped in a special sauce.
How much is king crab in Hokkaido?
King crab price:
10,000 – 13,000 yen/kg
Typically it’s boiled or steamed, but it is also delicious when baked. The price is around 10,000 to 13,000 yen per kilogram in winter, when the volume of distribution increases.”
What is Hokkaido best known for?
Hokkaido is renowned for the
high quality and freshness of its seafood
, as the cold waters surrounding Japan’s northernmost prefecture are ideal for fish and sea vegetation. Within the prefecture some areas are particularly famous for a certain product, such as the uni (sea urchin) of Rishiri and Rebun.
Why is Sapporo famous?
Sapporo became world famous in 1972 when the Olympic Winter Games were held there. Today,
the city is well known for its ramen, beer, and the annual snow festival held in February
.
Is Sapporo beer good?
Drinking Sapporo beer feels like drinking a clean, crisp summer breeze. As a result, the beer has a richer hop flavor and a sweeter aroma, making it
the best beer throughout the world
. There is a strong taste to Sapporo imported beer, and it has also been voted as one of the most favorite canned Japanese beers.
Is Sapporo a rice beer?
You may not know it, but you’ve probably had rice beer.
Most Japanese beers like Sapporo, Kirin and Asahi are rice-based
and even Budweiser uses rice along with barley. That said, those brews alone shouldn’t inform your opinion of rice beers, which can be creamy, refreshing and pleasantly sweet.
What is the difference between Sapporo and Hokkaido?
It is the capital city of Hokkaido Prefecture and Ishikari Subprefecture.
Sapporo lies in the southwest of Hokkaido, within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, which is a tributary stream of the Ishikari
. It is considered the cultural, economic, and political center of Hokkaido.
What month is the cheapest to fly to Japan?
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Japan
High season is considered to be January, November and December. The cheapest month to fly to Japan is
April
.
Can you see the aurora in Japan?
SAPPORO – The aurora borealis has been photographed by an astronomical observatory in Hokkaido — the first time in 11 years the northern lights have been observed in Japan.
How big is Hokkaido?
32,222 mi2
