Discover Sapporo! 3 Day ESCAPE To North JAPAN!

Discover Sapporo! 3 Day ESCAPE To North JAPAN!

There are over 30 million people crammed into the world’s largest city, Tokyo, in an endless sprawl as far as the eye can see. But we aren’t in Tokyo today, are we? We’re in Hokkaido, Sapuro City, the star of the north. Sapoto actually covers twice the size of the Tokyo metropolitan area. But compared to their tens of millions of people, Sapuro has just two, which means you can spread out, relax, and enjoy all that this incredible destination has to offer. And while most people have a view of Hokkaido covered in a blanket of snow, I prefer it like it is today with a cool early autumn breeze and vibrant colorful trees. So join us as we discover the secrets, the sights, the sounds, and arguably most important, the tastes of Sapuro. Separated from mainland Japan in the far north, Hokkaido has a culture that is uniquely its own. But the first step in any adventure is just how you get there. Flights from Tokyo directly into Sapuro take just an hour and a half, which makes it the perfect spot for a multi-day detour in this fantastic destination. You can even reach Hokkaido by train. And with future direct Shinkansen access planned, Japan’s north is only becoming more accessible. One of the first few points I noticed was just how shockingly simple it is to get around here. Anyone that’s come face to face with the tangled spaghetti monster mess of Tokyo’s metro map will breathe a sigh of relief at Surals with its straightforward cardinal direction-based design, a feature of being a relatively new city by Japanese standards. In 1857, the population of Sapro stood at just seven people. This is by far the easiest city in Japan to navigate between its trains, buses, and adorable retrostyle street cars that brought a smile to my face every time they passed. When walking, the locals prefer the underground arcades, which are fantastic in the winter months. But on a day like this, I prefer a walk through the city, getting in those steps that I’ll so desperately need. As our first step is the legendary Gansol ramen, Yoko in Suzukino. The one thing that you’ve got to try when you come to Hokkaido is its famous buttercorn ramen. Let’s go. What sets Saporo’s ramen apart is its rich miso based broth fortified with locally sourced ingredients and adapted to a cold weather flavor profile. Of course, I opted for a sensible light lunch. Butter. Buttercorn. That’s one I got to try. Can I get like the maximum butter? like a whole the whole sticker of butter. Oh my god. I have to say as someone who’s been looking forward to this in particular for years, Ichigura definitely delivered with their hearty delicious broth, which was good to the last drop. Suzu Kino is the glamorous heart of entertainment and nightife. So, we’ll return here after dark. But first, there is something that can’t be missed on any trip to Sapuro in a ride just 30 minutes away. The Atama Dibbutsu or Hill of the Buddha is perhaps one of Japan’s most perplexing cemeteries, but one with a fascinating history and philosophy. The giant 13 m Buddha statue used to stand alone in a field fully exposed until 2015 when one of Japan’s most renowned architects, Tadaw Ando, proposed the concept of showing the whole by showing the part. An idea that our imagination is peaked by that we cannot see. The surrounding hill, reflection pool, and tunnel, which amplifies your footsteps, was then constructed before being topped with lavender, which make for an absolutely stunning sight when in full bloom in July, we are of course a little bit late in the season to see those. But of all the dabbutsus that can be seen across Japan, this one is the first that really made me slow down and contemplate the idea of less is more. I also had time to contemplate why is there a fully sized Stonehenge and further the dozen or so Easter Island Moai, which which is kind of off-brand but very cool at the same time. They really do have a bit of everything up here. Why would you go anywhere else? Oh, and uh no need to worry. All of these gratuitous drone shots were taken ethically. Next, to get those panoramic views of the city, we’ll head up to the Mount Oka Observatory, but not before a quick stop and uh clearly deserved second lunch recommended by my local guide, Utah, at Sabi, a cozy small camping lifestyle shop and cafe to try their famous curry. Japanese curry is one dish that many travelers tend to pass over in favor of the more well-known options, but it has to be one of the country’s most underrated meals and a staple of many of my own travels. And this one absolutely lived up to my expectations with a slightly sweet sauce over fresh Hokkaido vegetables, ample cheese toppings, and a savory pork sausage. Now testing the limits of my belt, we arrive at Okura Ropeway, Olympic ski jump location, Museum and Observatory. Unfortunately, perhaps due to the aforementioned two lunches, no one was willing to share my chair lift to the top. Going up by myself. No one wants to ride with me. Okay, that’s fine. I understand. But after a relaxing couple of minutes, we were at the top and affording us a beautiful view of Sapo City, which really puts into perspective just how massive it is. Autumn days like these are some of the best for visibility with views stretching out all the way to the horizon on a clear day. Sometime they they held the event uh by Red Bull. People run up the hills. How far do you think you could make it? probably like at the at at the very top of it. You think you make it all the way? Some some people do that. I think I get halfway up and then just roll down. Yeah. Yeah. And after a quick ride down, admiring the view alone again, mind you. You dropped your bullet. I have to go back and pick it up. You had to go back up. The Olympic Museum offers a fascinating look into the history of winter sports and even allows you to virtually try some yourself. cross-country skiing, bobsledding, and even the long jump itself. However, there will be no gold medal for me today. My score being 50 m shorter than the lovely little Abachan who went right before me. Slightly embarrassed, but uh at least still enjoying myself, it was time to flee back down to the city and check into my hotel. And I was greeted with a pleasant surprise and a small taste of Hokkaido’s hospitality. All right, here’s the room. And they said that there was going to be a surprise. So, let’s take Oh. Oh, this is nice. Oh, look at that. Happy birthday. A, that’s so nice. They gave me black tea and chocolate. Excellent. Then heading back to the center of Sapotto’s Entertainment District, Tanuki Koji Street, and Suzukino, which is absolutely cinema. [Music] Suzukino is the main district of Sakuro. The five like with the nail lights that is well known for the the area that never sleeps. Tanuki Koji it’s the main shopping street in Sapuro with the arcade on top. The arcade part is seven blocks and one to four. It’s more like shopping clothing store. The farther you go more authentic you it gets. Japan is a country renowned for its seafood. But even among the Japanese, Hokkaido is held to the highest regard due to the cold, pristine waters and nutrientrich currents that encircle the island. All across Japan, people have told me that if you visit Hokkaido, you cannot leave without trying their seasonal catch. To put this to the taste test, we’ll be having dinner at Tenohhira, a central izakaya, literally across the road from the iconic Nika sign. There really is nothing like having your sashimi prepared right in front of you. So, I recommend sitting at the counter for the full experience. Fresh fish, scallops, temper fall mushrooms paired with local sake and craft beer. This was absolutely a five-star day, and I was blown away because I could really taste the difference in the Hokkaido Uni. It especially stood out as it was rich and creamy without a single hint of bitterness. Even among the sea urchin that I’ve tried while living in New Zealand, this is the best that I’ve ever tasted. And we couldn’t help ordering dish after dish as we enjoyed the night until we simply couldn’t eat anymore. Though that didn’t stop us from trying. Looks like we’re uh out of ginger. You know what they say. The natural world and Hokkaido are inseparable. And today the natural side of Saporoto is what I want to experience. And what better way to start the day than taking a walk through the city park where I ended up spending much too much time trying to get shots of these adorable squirrels who were busy preparing for the winter months until I reached Hokkaido Jingu. And there was something really special about this. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it was the relaxing earthy tones or the trees standing inside the grounds instead of being cleared away, but it was different in just the right serene relaxing way. And uh after stalking a few more squirrels, it was time to head to the Onsen Valley of Joank. I’ll be staying at the Shettu Grand Hotel tonight, which can be reached directly from Saporo Station by shuttle bus in a little under an hour. The geothermal paradise discovered by a monk in 1866 when he opened a healing spa is still technically a part of Sapuro and due to its proximity to the city center developed smaller compared to other onen towns, which is exactly what makes it so beautiful. While I do recommend staying overnight for the full experience, Joank has many foot baths that can be enjoyed freely and several Rioans offer day entrances to their onsen baths for a small fee which makes the valley a perfect side trip even if you’re staying at accommodation in the central city. You will however be rewarded for choosing to stay here as night illuminations combined with the gently rising geothermal steam transforms the valley into something out of spirited away. [Music] Having these spots to yourself in the evening or early morning is a priceless moment that you won’t soon forget. Seasons in Japan are all very distinct. Each is celebrated for what makes them unique. And apart from autumn’s cool, refreshing weather and vibrant fall colors, it is most well known for its seasonal flavors of the harvest as well as foraged mountain vegetables and mushrooms. And the best way to experience these flavors is in a kiiseki, a traditional Japanese multicourse meal, a specialtity of resorts and ricans. They are definitely something that you should go out of your way to try. And as luck would have it, my hotel is meant to have one of the best. Starting off with an original autumn orchid cocktail with cinnamon honey syrup, followed by seven small appetizers highlighting themes of autumn and Hokkaido. refreshing our palette with a fresh and springy soup before the sashimi course with shrimp hokey flounder and red snapper contrasted perfectly by a meat course with Hokkaido beef shabu shaboo which is cooked right at the table when the flame extinguishes it’s time to eat naturally I needed to uh try some homegrown Hokkaido sake and beer to compliment this meal which was excellent dessert will be held upstairs in the lounge that looks right over the river running through the town. And I should mention another key point of autumn is sucini or moon viewing. But tonight, as luck would have it, there is a special suc zake event, mixing sake with your choice of flavors under the clear autumn sky and watching the full moon. And I just adore these little kappa themed bottles, which is the symbol of Joank. So, I think I’ll enjoy myself a uh after dinner night kappa before bed. There really is something magical about fall mornings in Japan and it shows in Joanke. The hot geothermal steam clashes with the crisp cold morning air and this has got to be the valley at its most beautiful. Having it all to myself makes it for all the better. Recently in parts of Kyoto and Tokyo over tourism is the word of the hour. But in a place like this I can hardly imagine it even being a problem. And this is what autumn travel is all about. Getting up early when no one else is around and just enjoying nature to yourself. Absolute perfection of a morning. All right. So, this is one of my favorite foot baths that I saw last night because it has these gorgeous lanterns that light up. But look at this. Got this all to myself. I have this incredible morning view with the light coming through the leaves. And it’s not really even that early. It’s only uh about 7:45. You know, this is a really cool feature of this one. I never really thought about it, but even if you’re in a wheelchair, you can come here and uh soak in the hot water. Aha. So, this is why the coppers in this town are so rich. They’re charging 300 yen for a towel. Although, that might make for a nice souvenir, actually. So, I might grab one. [Music] Oh, look at that. Actually, really like that. Honestly, as magical as the night experience was with its soothing music and light projections making for a jibli magic moment, this is what I prefer. A foot bath myself, cold morning air, and the hot natural spa. So, no matter where you go in Japan, there’s a really cool detail you can look for, and that is the manhole covers. Check this out. You can see here we’ve got the salmon that’s up the river. You got the town’s clock tower. Absolutely beautiful design. After my nice chill morning walk, it was time to warm up in Akashi Kitty Onsen. These are private baths that you can reserve at most hotring resorts and are ideal for people that enjoy their privacy, have tattoos, or just want to experience something special, as this one has a stunning view of the geothermal river that simply can’t be beat. And not to be shown up by the night’s dinner before, breakfast was a delight served in one of the most fascinating upside down pyramid boxes that make me wish that every food pyramid was upside down. But before heading back to meet up with UT for our tour of the Sapuro inner city, I spotted something that truly surprised me. For the first time in many years living in Japan. So, one of the best things about travel is just seeing something new. And check this out. The fifth convenience store, Seiko Mart, and they’ve got Hot Chef. What a time to be alive. As it is still early October, Joank Valley is beautiful, but not quite at peak fall colors. During the night’s previous dinner, the friendly staff informed me that just a 20-minute ride away, was the Kokasai Ski Resort, which in a matter of weeks will be covered in snow, but for now just has that autumn splendor that I’ve been searching for. And a quick gondola ride to the top really sated that colorful leaf desire. And then I spotted what is perhaps the most interesting Tory gate in the world. This is actually crazy because tortois are always a certain size. So I actually feel like I’ve been shrunk down. But the crazy thing is it makes sense because if it’s snowing up to like here, it’s a regular size to even smaller. It was quite a bit colder at the summit. But fortunately, a friendly American chap has a nice warm cafe to grab a coffee with a menu that uh really made me wish that I could have stayed longer. It was time to head back down. But Uta, clearly noticing that I’m all skin and bones from my time in the mountains, suggests we should visit one of his favorite local establishments, Suare, for another of Saporo’s cold weather specialtities, soup curry. A favorite among locals and visitors alike with rough cut chunky vegetables and smoky roasted meat. No two curry shops are alike, each with their own distinctive blend of spices. And as a support soul food, it doesn’t surprise me to learn that many soup curry chefs were former musicians who once tasting the dish themselves decided to put their own unique flare and personal tastes into the meal. And I can only imagine just how satisfying it would be to spend a long down the slopes of Hokkaido before coming out of the snow and diving into this delicious bowl. I opted for a roast chicken and vegetables with a topping of barbecue lamb. And make no mistake, this was the most surprising taste of the whole trip. Everything we’ve had so far has been delicious, but this was just unlike anything I’ve tasted in Japan. The smoky, spicy flavor was a perfectly balanced, and it’s almost tragic for me to consider that I won’t be able to find this close to my own home. Fueled up, it was time to explore just how beautiful the city is. And what better way than with a bird’s eyee view from Sapodoro TV tower designed by the very same man as Tokyo Tower, but taking the age-old idea of taking something great and putting a clock in it. Much much better. UT was of course there as well to provide the deepest of the towers lore. This is the unofficial character of the TV tower called TV Daddy. TV Daddy. TV Daddy. Okay. Okay, the official one wasn’t cute. From the top of the tower, the layout of Saporoto is clearly on display with the Odori Park running right through the middle, which in just a few months will be the location of its most well-known event, the Yuki Matsuri Snow Festival. Sapodor’s historic streets and buildings are at times almost Victorian. The red brick former government office is in particular very aesthetic. Definitely worth a visit, not only for the historical intrigue and the cultural insights into the people of Hokkaido, but they also have a really great little cafe with sweets made from the island’s dairy farms. And since I’ve been eating so healthy the last few days, I clearly deserve a little treat, rewarding myself with their red brick sand. Yum, yum. The inner part of Sapodoro is just so walkable that I love it. And from here, it’s just 20 minutes walk back through the park to the Nijo fish market, which leads back into the end of Tanuki Koji Shotenguy. I could spend days just taking night photos and exploring these streets, but there is still one big important thing that we need to do on our list. Do you like fried chicken? Of course. In fact, I’m a bit of an expert. Provided it has fammy in the front of the name. Well, we can do something better. Oh, yeah. What’s that? Surprise special for chicken. Oh, really? Yeah. Oh, it sounds perfect. Let’s go. Zangi is Japanese fried chicken taken to the next level, marinated overnight with a sweet soy sauce. It’s bursting with juiciness. These crispy chicken chunks are fried to perfection. We just had to order two plates. Not only are they tasty, they’re great value. As Ben Zen even offers a 30 minutes or you can eat chicken for just $1,200 yen, which is just over $7. Hokkaido has been on my Japan bucket list for the longest time, and I’ll definitely be returning in winter. You will have to subscribe to see that. In the meantime, I’ll post all of the activities below.

Want to ESCAPE those crowds and still have the Japan Trip of a Lifetime? DON’T miss out on Sapporo! Japan’s City with a little bit of everything! Sapporo makes for the perfect 3 day (or much longer!) side trip with easy access from Tokyo in under 2hrs. Make no mistake the food here has got to be the best in Japan, and as one of the younger Japanese cities its much, much easier to find your way around and to all the best spots, Nature, Adventure, Night-life and Ramen with Sticks of BUTTER! What could be better? Check comments for breakdown on our 3 day trip.
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Need a Sapporo Guide? Check out Ezoshika: https://kapposapporo.ezosika.co.jp/
Find Sapporo Events & Updates at: https://visit.sapporo.travel/
Follow Sapporo HERE: https://www.instagram.com/visit.sapporo/
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CHAPTERS
00:00 3 Days in Sapporo
01:00 Getting To & Navigating Sapporo City
02:00 MUST TRY Hokkaido Ramen
02:57 Mystery of Sapporo’s Atama Daibutsu
04:20 Japan’s MOST Decedant Curry
05:00 Where to Get Best View of Sapporo City
06:50 Susukino – Nightlife in the North
07:30 Where to Get Best Seafood in Japan!
08:37 Day 2 – Natural Side of Sapporo
09:17 Spirited Away to Jozankei Valley
10:30 What Makes Autumn Special in Japan
11:38 Tsukimi Fall Tradition in Japan
12:01 Day 3 – Escape the Crowds & City Tour
14:17 Best Way to Enjoy Onsen Bathing in Japan
14:47 The Legends are True..
15:12 Mystery of the Long Long Torii
16:02 My New Favorite Food in Japan
17:25 Sapporo’s Tower Daddy
17:45 What to See in Sapporo City
18:42 Zangi – Something Great, Made BETTER!
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