Sapporo: the city where you can have it all

A major city rich in culture, first-class cuisine and multifunctional facilities that is also a stone’s throw from lush nature where a myriad of activities are possible all year long – you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere that balances the metropolitan and the great outdoors the way Sapporo does. Here, in Japan’s northern capital, you do not have to choose between urban excitement and a relaxing natural getaway on your holiday.

Enjoy a tour of the bustling, vibrant city centre and then, just minutes away by subway, find yourself immersed in trees as you hike a mountain and discover Hokkaido wildlife. This is the Sapporo privilege, the everyday way of life in a place that shows you at every turn that you can have it all.

Sapporo is no exception to the cleanliness, efficient transportation and spirit of hospitality that Japan is famous for, while exuding a unique, stylish aura all of its own. With an endless supply of fresh seafood and local produce, stunning natural views in all four seasons and art spaces and indigenous culture found nowhere else in Japan, it is not hard to see why Japanese citizens rank Sapporo as one of the top three most attractive cities in their country. From long, white winters filled with the world’s best powder snow to hit the Sapporo slopes with, to a crisp, refreshing green season that shimmers like a verdant oasis compared to hot mainland summers, every time is the best time to visit.

Sapporo embraces and epitomises growth and transformation. In the 152 years since modern-day Hokkaido’s naming, it has blossomed into Japan’s fifth most populous city, seen the Kaitakushi’s vision for Japan’s first domestically produced beer flourish into a world-renowned brand, and become a trusted venue for international events, from hosting the Winter Olympic Games in 1972 to the upcoming 2021 Adventure Travel World Summit – the first host city in Asia for both. Tourism is evolving here as well: Sapporo is a well-known destination within Asia, and the city is working hard to welcome more visitors from the Americas, Europe and Oceania, too.

The ABTA Guide to Sapporo will be your key to getting to know our beloved city better, and we hope it inspires you to head north to eat, explore and relax your way through the unforgettable trip of a lifetime.

Tourism & MICE Promotion Department, City of Sapporo

Find out more

In December 2020, the City of Sapporo launched a new tourism promotion website, Visit Sapporo. In addition to introducing various websites related to sightseeing in Sapporo in seven languages, One Day from Sapporo – a video project where foreign residents in Sapporo show how to enjoy the city – can also be found on this page. These resources will be able tell you even more about Sapporo, so if this guide piques your interest in the city, please check out the site and videos.

See more at visitsapporo.jp  and subscribe to the YouTube channel here

The ABTA Magazine Guide to Sapporo is produced by Waterfront Publishing on behalf of the City of Sapporo. ABTA Magazine is the official title of ABTA, The Travel Association.

Contacts

Editorial
Anthony Pearce, director
anthony@waterfront-publishing.com

info@abtamag.com
020 3865 9360

Design
DJMWeb, The Studio

Sub-editor
Nathaniel Cramp

With thanks to: Peter Ellegard, Emily Eastman

Sales and partnerships

Sam Ballard, director
sam@waterfront-publishing.com

Bryan Johnson, senior sales manager
bryan@waterfront-publishing.com
0203 865 9338
075 3270 9734

About ABTA

Waterfront Publishing is an independent publisher based in central London. It has two in-house magazines, Cruise Adviser and Solus, both aimed at the travel trade. It has also produced magazines on behalf of ABTA; Travelzoo; and Emerald Waterways. Its design agency The Studio by Waterfront offers copywriting, proofreading and design for print, digital, advertising and branding.

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