The best things to do in the capital of Hokkaido, Japan – picked by the Time Out team
Soup curry is one of Sapporo's best-known culinary inventions – sample it with shrimp-based soup and chunky veg at the original branch of Soup Curry Okushiba Shoten, which is set inside a traditional Japanese-style house.
14-2-2 Minamihachijo Nishi Chuo-ku
Climb the 531-metre-high Mount Moiwa for a stunning view of Sapporo and, on fine days, Ishikari Bay. Couples who lock a padlock up on the deck and ring the 'Bell of Happiness' are said to live – you guessed it – happily ever after.
Milk no Sato, an 'agricultural amusement park', aims to teach and inspire. Take a tour of the milk factory and try some freshly made soft-serve in the building next door. Open from late April to early November.
573-27 Okadama-cho Higashi-ku
Home-roasted, hand-drip coffee in Morihico, found within a gorgeous 70-year-old wooden house – your mid-afternoon break doesn't get much better than this. If you're feeling peckish, try the excellent croque monsieur or something off the extensive dessert menu.
26-2-18 Minami 2 Nishi Chuo-ku
In Sapporo, even the conveyor-belt sushi is something else: the nigiri at Kaitenzushi Toriton Maruyama goes for as low as $1.70, but the quality can't be faulted. This branch is a little out of the way, which means you probably won't have to queue up to savour treats like local scallops and prawns.
Various locations, including 2-15 Hiragishi Toyohira-ku
Hidden among the lush greenery of a 20-hectare grove is one of Hokkaido's most important shrines: the Hokkaido Shrine, famed for its sakura and plum trees. June's matsuri (traditional festival) is a great time to visit – when you do, keep an eye out for the resident squirrels.
474 Miyagaoka Chuo-ku
One of the many parks in central Sapporo, the Nakajima Park offers everything from a concert hall to boating opportunities, and is located just a 10-minute walk from the city's central entertainment district of Susukino.
Make your way around the dozen or so small watering holes and restaurants housed in M’s Space, a building just off the Tanuki-koji shopping arcade. Dishes range from soup curry to street grub – but take note: most eateries only open in the evening, perfect for padding your stomach.
Minami 2 Nishi 7, Chuo-ku
The waterfalls and flowers of Takino Suzuran Hillside Park are beautiful in spring and summer, but where this park really shines is in the winter fun department: try skiing or sledding down a 200-metre tube at full speed.
Old-school sweets are the speciality at the venerable Senshuan Honten. Try the bean paste-filled Northman, a pastry that hasn't changed much since hitting shelves back in 1974. Also take the opportunity to sip fresh ground water, which it uses in the bakery.
Various locations, including Basement 2 Marui Imai, Minami 1 Nishi 2-chome, Chuo-ku
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