landmark
Otaru Canal
A charming historic port city near Sapporo with a picturesque canal lined by converted stone warehouses and gas lamps.
32 km · about 35 min drive
AsiaJapanHokkaido
Sapporo
Hokkaido, Japan · Asia
About Sapporo
Sapporo sits on the route: 20 minutes from Ebetsu, 32km from Otaru Canal.
Sapporo is in Hokkaido, Japan, with about 2 million people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Ebetsu, about 17 km away.
Sapporo is a designated city in Hokkaido, Japan. Located in the southwest of Hokkaido, it lies within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, a tributary of the Ishikari River. Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido Prefecture and Ishikari Subprefecture. As of August 1, 2026, the city has a population of 1,962,596, makingRead more
it the largest city in Hokkaido and the largest north of Tokyo. It is the fifth-most populous city in Japan and is Hokkaido's cultural, economic, and political center.
Originally a plain sparsely inhabited by the indigenous Ainu people, the area contained a few trade posts of the Matsumae domain during the Edo period. The city began as an administrative centre with the establishment of the Hokkaido Development Commission headquarters in 1869. Inspired by the ancient cities of Kyoto and Heijō-kyō, it adopted a grid plan and developed around Odori Park. After World War II, it replaced Otaru as Hokkaido's commercial hub, and its population surpassed one million by 1970.
After being unable to host the 1940 Winter Olympics due to World War II, Sapporo hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics ever held in Asia, and the second Olympic Games held in Asia after the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The Sapporo Dome hosted three matches during the 2002 FIFA World Cup and two matches during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Additionally, Sapporo has hosted the Asian Winter Games three times, in 1986, 1990, and 2017, and also hosted the 1991 Winter Universiade.
The annual Sapporo Snow Festival draws more than 2 million tourists. Other notable sites include the Sapporo Beer Museum and the Sapporo TV Tower located in Odori Park. It is home to Hokkaido University, just north of Sapporo Station. The city is served by Okadama Airport and New Chitose Airport in nearby Chitose.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Sapporo?
Within an hour or so of Sapporo: Otaru Canal (32 km).
Where is Sapporo?
Sapporo is in Hokkaido, Japan, about 17 km from Ebetsu.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,973,832
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Hokkaido
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 43.0667, 141.3500
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Japan
Japan Helpline (24h English assistance): 0570-000-911. An International Driving Permit (1949 convention) is required to drive.
Full driving guide for JapanTags
Worth the detour from Sapporo
1 notable place within an hour's drive.
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