From the thrilling winter sports scene to the world-famous February Snow Festival, Sapporo is a must-see city for too many reasons to count. Luckily, with a local insider leading the way, you’ll experience the real city. You could see the sights that narrate Japan’s history, like 150-year-old Hokkaidō Shrine, century-old Nijo Market, or the Historical Village of Hokkaidō – an open-air museum housing 60 structures from the “frontier days” of the mid-1800s. Or maybe you’ll get a taste of modern Sapporo – like neon-lit nightlife hubs, Kit Kat stores selling 100 unique flavors, and an exciting new festival every month on the expansive lawns of central Ōdōri Park. Whatever you choose, a draft of Sapporo beer is the only way to end your day. 

In buzzing central Sapporo, you could explore some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, like the Sapporo TV Tower, the Clock Tower, and the world-famous Sapporo Beer Museum, or you could get swept up with salarymen in the city’s own “Little Tokyo” – entertainment hub Susukino, lined with cozy izakaya, dimly-lit cabaret clubs, and tiny restaurants serving a must-try Sapporo specialty: the oddly-named Genghis Khan (barbecued mutton). If the city center gets too dizzying, downtown Nakajima Park is the perfect place for a moment of peace before heading southwest to the city’s famous snow-capped mountains for a dip in the onsen (natural hot springs) or a stroll through Sapporo Art Park’s outdoor installations and sculpture garden.