About Sapporo
Basic Information about Sapporo
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Sapporo is the capitol of Hokkaido and the fifth largest city in Japan in terms of population. The city is best known as host of the 1972 Olympic Winter Games and the city’s name is synonymous with the Sapporo Beer brand. The city’s name is derived the language of the Ainu, the indigineous people of Hokkaido. Possible derivitives include "Sari-Poro-Pet" (River lined with large reed bed) or "Sat-Poro-Pet" (Large dried-up river). The city was established in 1922. Population: 1,919,959 *Now Sapporo has the 5th largest population in Japan. Area: 1,121km² (432.87 sq mi) Location: 43°11′N, 141°30′E Mayor: Fumio Ueda, Mr. (2003-Present) Sister Cities: Portland, Oregon, United States (since 1959) Munich, Germany (since 1972) Shenyang, China (since 1980) Novosibirsk, Russia (since 1990) Daejeon-Gwangyeoksi, Korea (since 2010) |
Municipal Area (2006)
Latitude & Longitude
| North | 43° 11’ N.lat. |
| South | 42° 46’ N.lat. |
| East | 141° 30’ E.long. |
| West | 140° 59’ E.long. |
| Longest distance from east to west | 42.3 km |
| Longest distance from north to south | 45.4 km |
| Total area | 1,121.12 km² |
| *14th largest city in Japan in terms of area, as of April 1, 2007 | |
| Land used for building | 140.58 km² |
| Cultivated land | 42.17 km² |
| Forests | 642.13 km² |
| Uncultivated land | 51.12 km² |
| Miscellaneous land | 84.93 km² |
| Other | 160.19 km² |
| City planning areas (as of March 31, 2007) | 567.95 km² |
| Urbanization promotion areas | 249.30 km² |
| Urbanization control areas | 318.65 km² |
| Densely inhabited districts (as of 2005) | 227.50 km² |
Population Trends (as of October 1 of every year)
| 1975 | 1,240,613 | 1995 | 1,757,025 |
| 1980 | 1,401,757 | 2000 | 1,822,368 |
| 1985 | 1,542,979 | 2005 | 1,880,863 |
| 1990 | 1,671,742 | 2007 | 1,894,344 |
Sapporo’s total population represents 1.5 % of Japan’s population (127,770,000)
33.7 % of Hokkaido’s population (5,600,000)
Climate (2006)
| Average temperature | 9.1 C° |
| Highest temperature | 32.8 C° |
| Lowest temperature | 12.3 C° |
| Precipitation | 1,145.5 mm |
| Snowfall | 543 cm |
Chronological Timetable
| 1869 |
Kaitakushi (Development Commission) established Commissioner Shima laid out the City of Sapporo |
| 1876 | Sapporo Agricultural College (present Hokkaido University) inaugurated |
| 1878 |
Drill house for Sapporo Agricultural College (currently Clock Tower) completed |
| 1880 |
Hoheikan (guest house) opens Train service begins between Sapporo and Otaru |
| 1922 | Municipal administration adopted for Sapporo |
| 1927 | Municipal bus service begins |
| 1930 | Waterworks begins |
| 1937 | 1st Sapporo Snow Festival held |
| 1950 | Centennial of the City of Sapporo |
| 1968 | City’s population reaches one million |
| 1970 |
Underground Shopping Mall openedNamboku subway line begins operation City Hall rebuilt |
| 1971 |
11th Winter Olympic Games heldSapporo designated as an “autonomous city” |
| 1972 | Tozai subway line begins operation |
| 1976 | 1st Northern Intercity Conference held |
| 1982 | 1st Northern Intercity Conference held |
| 1984 | Sapporo Int’l Trade Fair held |
| 1986 |
1st Winter Asian Games held Sapporo’s Scheme for the 21st Century set up |
| 1987 | Anti-studded tire regulation enacted |
| 1988 | Toho subway line begins operation |
| 1989 | 44th National Athletic Meet held |
| 1990 |
2nd Winter Asian Games held 1st Pacific Music Festival (PMF) held |
| 1991 | Winter Universiade ’91 Sapporo held |
| 1995 | APEC Senior Official Meeting held |
| 1997 | UN Conference on Disarmament Issues held |
| 1998 | Moerenuma Park (planned by Isamu Noguchi) opened |
| 1999 | 50th Sapporo Snow Festival held |
| 2000 |
4th Sapporo Long-Term Comprehensive Plan (2000~2020) and 1st Five-Year Plan (2000~2004) started |
| 2001 | Sapporo Dome opened |
| 2002 |
PIARC 11th International Winter Road Congress held FIFA World Cup™ held DPI (Disabled People’s International) 6th World Assembly held |
| 2003 |
IUGG (Int’l Union of Geodesy and Geophysics) General Assembly held Sapporo Convention Center opened |
| 2004 | 2nd United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues in Sapporo held |
| 2005 | IX International Mammalogical Congress (IMC9) |
| 2006 |
The 17th World Children’s Baseball Fair 2006 in Hokkaido, Japan held 1st Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market heldThe 16th International Microscopy Congress heldDigestive Disease Week-Japan 2006 heldSapporo City University opened |
| 2007 |
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Sapporo 2007 held The 19th United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues in Sapporo held |
July
It is now high summer. It is not unusual that daytime high temperatures reach 30°C.
Yet you feel cool in the morning and evening, so you won't need to worry about
an uncomfortable night's sleep. The dry and refreshing heat makes Sapporo ideal
as a summer retreat.
Average Temperature: 20°C Humidity: 78%
◆main sightseeing spot
Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium
| Address | Miyanomori 1274, Chuo-ku (011-641-1972) |
| Description |
 Commanding views across the vast Ishikari Plain can be seen from the start point (elev.: 300 m), which is gaining in popularity with tourists. The Sapporo Winter Sports Museum is also housed on the premises here to introduce the history of winter sports. It also has simulators in which visitors can experience winter sports. |
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Hours [Lift] |
April 16 – 30: 9:00 – 17:00 May 1 - October 31: 8:30 -18:00 (June -September: 8:30 -21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays) November 1 - April 30: 9:00 – 17:00 |
| Closed | April 1 – 15 (for maintenance) |
| Lift fees |
O/W 250 yen, R/T 500 yen for junior high school students and older O/W 150 yen, R/T 300 yen for elementary school students* Preschoolers must ride with a parent or guardian. |
| Access |
Ride the JR Bus (Maru 014) Araiyama sen from Maruyama koen Subway Station (Tozai Line[T06]) to Okurayama jump kyogijo iriguchi bus stop and walk about 10 minutes.* Circular buses are available from the Sapporo Station Bus Terminal everyday between April 29 and November 3 (fare required). |
| URL | http://www.sapporo-dc.co.jp/eng/okurayama/ |
Miyanomori Ski Jump Stadium
| Address | Miyanomori 1-jo 18-chome, Chuo-ku (011-642-1972) |
| Description |
 The Winter Olympic Games in 1972 reached their peak at the 70-m ski jump, as Japanese jumpers swept the gold, silver and bronze at this ski jump stadium. Visitors can go close to the platform, and take pictures. Please note that ordinary visitors cannot use the lifts to the top. |
| Hours | 9:00 – 17:00 |
| Access |
From Maruyama koen Subway Station (Tozai Line[T06]), take the Maru 14 JR Hokkaido Bus Araiyama sen to the Miyanomori Schanze mae bus stop, and then walk 10 minutes. |
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Mt. Moiwa |
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Mt. Moiwa Ropeway (011-561-8177) [Access to the Ropeway Sanroku Streetcar Stop]
[Time required for the ropeway] The ropeway departs every 15 minutes.
[Ropeway operation times]
* Closed: April 1 – 8, November 20 – December 9 Observation deck
The observation deck at the summit commands a splendid view of the Ishikari Plain, the Ishikari River, Ishikari Bay and Mt. Eniwadake in the vicinity of Lake Shikotsu.
Mt. Moiwa Sightseeing Road (011-571-7131) Approximately 4-km-long route passing longitudinally through the south side of Mt. Moiwa.
[Hours]
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[Route to the entrance of Mt. Moiwa Sightseeing Road.]
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Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill |
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Address |
Hitsujigaoka 1, Toyohira-ku (011-851-3080) |
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Hours |
May – June: 8:30 – 18:00 |
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Closed |
Open all year |
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Admission fee |
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Access |
From Fukuzumi Subway Station (Toho Line[H14]), take the Chuo Bus (Fuku 84) to the Hitsujigaoka tenbodai bus stop. |
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Description |
Sheep graze on the hill, which affords a view of Sapporo over the grassland. There is also a famous statue of Dr. Clark (one of the founders of Sapporo Agricultural College, the predecessor of Hokkaido University) in the area, in addition to the following highlights:
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JR Tower Observation Deck T38 (Tower Three Eight) |
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Hours |
10:00 – 23:00 (Last admission: 22:30) |
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Closed |
Open all year |
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Admission Fee |
Adults 700 yen, junior high and high school students 500 yen, children 300 yen |
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Access |
Connected to JR and Subway Sapporo Station[N06,H07]. Buy a ticket at the 6th floor (Observatory Entrance Floor) of JR Tower and take a special elevator to the 38th floor. |
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Description |
This observation deck (160 m above the ground) on the top floor (38F) is the highest viewing room north of the Kanto region, and visitors can enjoy marvelous scenery. |
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Sapporo TV Tower |
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Address |
Nishi 1, Odori, Chuo-ku (011-241-1131) |
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Hours |
April 1 – May 31: 9:30 – 21:30 |
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Closed |
November 4 (Wed), January 1 – 2, February 22 (Mon.) |
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Admission fee |
Adults: 700 yen |
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Access |
Close to Odori Subway Station[T09,N07,H08] |
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Description |
The view from the observation deck 90.38 m above the ground affords a panorama of the symbol of Sapporo, Odori Park, the mountains around Sapporo and the Sea of Japan. |
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Sapporo Dome (Observation deck, Dome tour) |
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Address |
Hitsujigaoka 1, Toyohira-ku (011-850-1020) |
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Hours |
Observation deck: 10:00 – 18:00 |
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Closed |
Please inquire at the dome. (depending on events) |
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Admission fee |
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Access |
10-minute walk from Fukuzumi Subway Station (Toho Line[H14]) |
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Description |
An all-weather, multipurpose dome for large-scale sporting events, concerts and conventions. |
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Noria (A Ferris wheel on the roof of the Norbesa Bldg.) |
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Address |
Minami 3-jo, Nishi 5-chome, Chuo-ku (261-8875) |
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Hours |
11:00 – 23:00 (weekdays, last admission: 22:50) |
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Closed |
Open all year |
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Fee |
(per gondola) |
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Access |
2-minute walk from Susukino Subway Station (Namboku Line[N08]) |
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Description |
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This 45.5-meter-wide Ferris wheel – the first in Sapporo – stands 78 m above the ground and has a total of 32 gondolas. The four-seater gondolas take approx. 10 minutes to go round. Since all the gondolas are barrier free, people in wheelchairs can also enjoy Noria. Thanks to electric heating, visitors can enjoy "air walking" in Sapporo throughout the year.
◆others
Sapporo Snow Festival
The largest snow and ice festival in Hokkaido attracts nearly 2 million domestic and foreign visitors every year.
http://www.snowfes.com/english/
Sapporo Lilac Festival
An event held in early summer in Odori Park in the center of the city. Lilac is the official tree of Sapporo.
http://www.sweb.co.jp/kanko/lilac/
YOSAKOI Soran Festival
A dance festival that combines Soran-bushi (Hokkaido traditional folk song) and the Yosakoi Festival of Kochi Prefecture in western Japan.
Sapporo Summer Festival
This festival features summer traditions in Sapporo such as outdoor beer gardens, Bon festival dances, firework displays and more.
Sapporo Autumn Fest
Sapporo Autumn Fest showcases the richness of food production around Hokkaido and its capital city Sapporo.
Get embraced with the autumn harvest from all over Hokkaido.
It is only possible in this time of the year at Sapporo Autumn Fest!
http://www.sapporo-autumnfest.jp/english/
Sapporo Chrysanthemum Festival
This festival features carefully-made, exquisite chrysanthemum artworks such as large-flower chrysanthemums, cascading kengai-style flower arrangements, bonsai and others.
http://www.sweb.co.jp/kanko/kiku/
Sapporo White Illumination
Fantastic illuminations make the Sapporo Station area and Odori Park bright and colorful in early winter.
http://www.white-illumination.jp/
