I traveled to Otaru and Sapporo in Hokkaido for four days and three nights.

Otaru is a city that once flourished as a hub of trade and played a central role in the development of Hokkaido. Even today, historical streets that retain the atmosphere of that era still remain.
Sapporo, with a population of approximately 1.96 million, is the largest city in Hokkaido. The Hokkaido Shinkansen is scheduled to be extended to Sapporo by 2030.
(May 14–17, 2025)

Day 1
Departure from Itami Airport: 08:30 (ANA Flight 771)
Arrival at New Chitose Airport: 10:15
Departure from New Chitose Airport: 10:50 (Limited Express Airport No. 53)
Arrival at Otaru Station: 12:04

After arriving at Otaru Station, if you walk straight ahead without going down the stairs toward the ticket gate, you will find a life-size panel of Yujiro Ishihara. He has a special connection to Otaru, as he spent part of his childhood here. Next to the panel, there is a commemorative plaque engraved with the words, “Yujiro Ishihara stood here on May 15, 1978.” If you visit Otaru, be sure to stop by before heading to the ticket gate. For lunch, I had a “Sanshoku-don” (three-colored rice bowl topped with crab, salmon, and salmon roe) at Sankaku Market, located right next to the station. It’s a very popular spot, and the place was packed with people. After dropping off my luggage at the hotel where I would be staying that night, I visited the Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi Street shopping district, and the former Temiya railway line. Along the way, I took a break at “Kitaichi Hall,” a café inside the Kitaichi Glass Building No. 3. The interior is lit solely by 167 oil lamps, creating a magical and nostalgic atmosphere where you can enjoy sweets and tea. The café is also known for its wide variety of soft-serve ice cream flavors. However, please note that video recording and flash photography are prohibited inside the café. I took photos using my DSLR camera set to night mode. After checking into my hotel, I had dinner at “Wagyu Kurosawa Honten,” located nearby. I ordered the “Beef Cutlet Set Meal” with a beer—it was delicious. At this time of year, the sun sets around 7:00 p.m., so I headed out to the Otaru Canal, about a 10-minute walk from the hotel, to capture the night scenery. There were already many tourists, and the area was bustling. I heard many foreign languages, including Chinese and Korean, which showed just how popular the area is among international visitors. The canal area had a nostalgic, retro atmosphere and was incredibly charming.

[GRIDS Premium Hotel Otaru]















Day 2
Departure from Otaru Station: 09:22 (Rapid Airport No. 52)
Arrival at Sapporo Station: 09:56

After arriving at Sapporo Station, I planned to leave my luggage at the hotel before starting my sightseeing. Since the hotel was located on the north side of the station, I headed toward the north exit. However, I accidentally exited through the north exit on the east ticket gate side. Due to nearby construction, I ended up getting lost. While checking Google Maps and taking a longer route, I eventually made it to the hotel.

After dropping off my luggage, I had no trouble finding my way back to the station. Upon checking more carefully, I realized that I should have exited from the north exit on the west ticket gate side in the first place. From there, I walked through the station to the south exit and headed toward Odori Park. Along the way, I visited several landmarks, including the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, the Sapporo Clock Tower, and the Sapporo TV Tower. At Odori Park, the Sapporo Lilac Festival was taking place. The park had a refreshing café terrace atmosphere, with stalls offering sweets, light meals, and coffee. More than 50 wineries from across Hokkaido were participating, offering over 200 types of Hokkaido-produced wine. Food stalls were also set up along the north and south ends of the park, drawing large crowds and creating a lively atmosphere. After enjoying lunch and a relaxing break there, I strolled around Nijo Market, Susukino, and Tanukikoji Shopping Street before returning to the hotel. For dinner, I went to a restaurant in Daimaru Department Store, which is adjacent to JR Sapporo Station. I had a steak set meal and beer.

Finally, I headed to JR Tower, which was the highlight of the day. First, I took an elevator up to the 6th floor, then transferred to another elevator that took me to the observation deck on the 38th floor. The view from the top was truly breathtaking, and I was once again reminded of how large and vibrant the city of Sapporo is.

[HOTEL MYSTAYS Sapporo Aspen]















Day 3
In the morning, I took the Toho Subway Line from Sapporo Station to Fukuzumi Station. From there, I boarded a local bus to the Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill. While the subway runs frequently throughout the day, the local buses operate only twice per hour. If you miss one, you’ll have to wait about 30 minutes for the next.

Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill is one of Hokkaido’s most popular tourist spots. From there, you can enjoy a panoramic view of downtown Sapporo looking toward the southeast. One of the most iconic sights is the full-body statue of Dr. William S. Clark, famous for his outstretched arm and inspiring message, which makes for a well-known photo spot. The entrance fee is ¥1,000, which felt a little expensive to me personally. In the afternoon, I visited ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO, a place I had long wanted to see. I took a train from JR Sapporo Station to Kitahiroshima Station. From there, you can either walk or take a shuttle bus to the stadium. The shuttle buses depart from the west exit about every 30 minutes. If you choose to walk, it takes about 30 minutes (approximately 2 kilometers) from the east exit. I chose to walk. The stadium is a large multi-purpose facility. The 1st and 2nd floors feature food courts, while the 4th and 5th floors are equipped with accommodations. In addition to baseball games, the venue also hosts concerts and basketball games. Even though it was a weekday with no scheduled games, the stadium was bustling with people, and I was amazed by its sheer scale. On non-game days, you can freely enter the outfield area, and if you purchase a ticket, you can join a guided tour around the field. One particularly popular spot was the wall mural located along the 1st floor concourse. It features Yu Darvish and Shohei Ohtani, and many visitors were gathered there taking commemorative photos.

[HOTEL MYSTAYS Sapporo Aspen]













Day 4
Today was the final day of my trip to Hokkaido. The weather was expected to worsen, with rain in the forecast for the evening. After breakfast, I relaxed at the hotel for a while and then went for a walk to Hokkaido University, which is located nearby. The weather was perfect for a stroll. The campus features expansive lawns and a flowing river, making for a pleasant and nature-filled walk. There was even a Seicomart convenience store on campus, which seemed quite convenient for the students. A long, straight road continued further into the campus, but since the grounds are very large, I decided to turn back and return to the hotel partway through. After checking out, I explored souvenir shops inside Sapporo Station, and then boarded the Rapid Airport train bound for New Chitose Airport. The airport was extremely crowded with tourists. I had a seafood bowl at a restaurant inside the terminal, marking the end of my trip to Hokkaido.

  • Departure from Sapporo: 13:04 (Rapid Airport No. 90)

  • Arrival at New Chitose Airport: 13:47

  • Departure from New Chitose Airport: 17:50 (ANA Flight 780)

  • Arrival at Itami Airport: 19:45