1-Day Walking Tour in Sapporo: Historical Sights of Sapporo

This tour will take us to popular sights that will offer insight into Sapporo, a “mocked” courtroom, a shopping arcade and will conclude at Cococo Susukino (in the heart of Sapporo’s entertainment district) for sake tasting. Explore the city with your tour guide and learn about the history of Sapporo, capital of the mountainous northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

Highlights

• A visit to The Clock Tower ( a symbol of Sapporo). On the 1st floor we will tour the museum with displays of The Clock Tower history as well as the history of Sapporo. On the 2nd floor  are displays about the inner workings of the clock. 

• From the top observation deck of The Sapporo T.V. Tower, we will enjoy 360 degree panoramic views of the entire city of Sapporo.

• At the 2jo Fish Market we will observe about 15 fisheries and fishmongers sell that day’s fresh catch. We will have lunch at one of the “eat in options” serving up fresh delicious mouthwatering seafood. Obviously, this tour is for those who love various kinds of seafood(both cooked and uncooked). 

• At The Sapporo Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade (which is one of the oldest shopping streets in Hokkaido), you will have some FREE TIME. You can go window shopping, buy postcards, souvenirs, and countless other gift items for family and friends back home. 

• See the inside of a “mocked courtroom/used for mock trials” at The Court of Appeals Building(Shiryokan).

• Sake tasting in the newly built Cocono Susukino entertainment/shopping complex in the heart of Susukino(Sapporo’s Entertainment District).  Sample many different types of sake throughout Hokkaido and Japan.” A must” for sake enthusiasts.

Description

This tour will start at Sapporo Station in front of “Myomu”(The Circular Stone Structure) in front of the South Exit of Sapporo Station. Can not miss it! Please meet there at 9a.m. Your guide will greet you there and after brief introductions and smiles we will be off on our wonderful tour.

Our tour will begin here at the Sapporo Clock Tower known in Japanese as Tokedai. This is the oldest clock tower in Japan. The building is of American design and is one of a few western-style buildings left in Sapporo. This is truly a symbol of Sapporo. An unusual aspect (which you will observe), is that the tower’s clock is powered solely by the force of gravity. We will tour the quaint little museum on the 1st floor before heading to the 2nd floor to see the inner workings of the clock and how gravity works to keep time. Your guide will provide additional information on what is seen in the museum during the tour.

Next, we will walk to nearby Sapporo T.V. Tower which was built in 1957, and stands 147.2 metres tall. This tower was designed and built by Tachu Naito, a Japanese architect who is also famous for planning the Tokyo Tower. We will head up to the top observation deck where you will enjoy spectacular 360 degree daytime views of the entire city of Sapporo. Your guide will be able to point to various aerial directions from the observation deck and inform the guests as to what specific location that is.

The 2jo Fish Market is next on the itinerary. This fish market acts as a focal point for the freshest catches for the entire Island of Hokkaido. The array of seafood on display is endless and too numerous to even mention.Suffice to say, any sea-lovers palate will be satisfied here. In fact, we will have lunch here at one of the cozy stall type restaurants within the fish market. Your guide will help identify the various types of fish from their Japanese names and translate them into English.

After lunch, it is time to “walk off” that full tummy stuffed with fresh seafood. We will have a brisk 20 minute walk through Odori Park to The Old Court of Appeals Building(now known as The Sapporo City Museum).This impressive building at the far western end of Odori Park was built in 1926, of porous-tuff stone, to serve as Sapporo’s High Court. Inside are a few galleries with exhibitions on local history. What visitors find particularly interesting is “a mocked” exhibition of a Criminal Courtroom. This courtroom has been restored from the Appeals Court era, which is open to the public and where visitors can borrow legal uniforms and take photos inside of the courtroom. Above the main entrance is a blindfolded statue of the Goddess of Law, and on either side are reliefs of a balance and a sword. The goddess is blindfolded because she represents equality before the law in spite of wealth or power. This is an interesting experience and one you should try!

This shopping arcade is one of the oldest in Hokkaido. It covers 7 blocks with approximately well over 200 stores/eateries. Here, your guide will give you “free time” to roam on your own. You can window shop and find countless items to buy as souvenirs for yourself and family back home. At the designed time and place, you will reunite with your guide and we will head to Sapporo’s Entertainment District for sake tasting.

The final activity on the tour will take us to Susukino, known as Sapporo’s Entertainment District. Here, we will enjoy Japanese Sake Tasting at Cocono Susukino. Although most of the sake will originate from Hokkaido, there are different types of sake from throughout Japan. We will be able to sample various “shots of sake” from several bottles. Your guide will be able to briefly explain some of the different types of sake and the regions they come from.  This is a must” for sake enthusiasts. Obviously, this event is only for those who enjoy sake and drinking. Tour participants must be 20 years of age or older to partake in this event. 

TOUR MEETUP POINT

SAPPORO STATION @ 9:00 A.M.

After exiting the main JR gates of Sapporo Station TURN LEFT. Walk towards the
South Exits(南出口) of Sapporo Station. After a very short walk(in the near distance)
you will surely notice “MYOMU”(The Circular White Stone Structure/see above picture). Your guide will be standing in front of this stone structure wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag. You are kindly asked to be at this meetup point at 9a.m.

NOTES

Included

• English speaking tour guide
• Transportation fee from Sapporo Station to all listed destinations and activities as stated on each tour itinerary
• All entry/admission tickets to each attraction/sightseeing spot listed on the tour itinerary

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation

Other Information

• Please check the weather forecast before heading to the meetup point and prepare umbrella or raincoat if necessary.
• Clothes worn should be appropriate for the given season. Otaru(being a port city) gets windy at times, so a good coat and/or windbreaker is recommended.
• In winter, ice and snow will be prevalent on the ground. Thus, caution is advised to all  guests while walking on the tour.