Sapporo
Entertainment

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As you would expect from a city with the size and vitality of Sapporo, you will not be stumped for things to do. Options here range from the most sophisticated cultural events to pure hedonistic delights of the flesh.

Attractions

The top of Sapporo TV Tower is a good place to start sightseeing with an uninterrupted view of the city and surroundings. Although Sapporo is very modern, there are many historical buildings to enjoy. One of these is the Hokkaido Jingu, which is particularly worth visiting in May when more than 1200 cherry trees cover the area with a canopy of pink. The Old Hokkaido Government Building (Akarengo) and Sapporo Brewery are both buildings of tremendous importance to the city. The Brewery stages guided tours and beer tastings, and it also houses the famous Sapporo Beer Garden.

Parks

If you want to be close to nature, Nishioka Suigenchi and Nopporo Forest Park, just two of Sapporo’s many areas of green and wildlife, are a mere bus ride away from the downtown area. The city also has botanical gardens, numerous parks and the Maruyama Zoo.

Museums

Sapporo’s fine museums include the Historical Museum of Hokkaido, which is dedicated to the development of this northern isle, the Hokkaido Ainu Center, and the Sapporo Winter Sports Museum a must-see for winter sports fans. Besides the excellent Sapporo Art Park, which exhibits sculpture both indoors and throughout its extensive grounds, there are many other smaller galleries catering to all possible tastes in the visual arts.

Live Music

You can hear live music of just about every genre—from classical and opera to blues, rock and jazz—performed by some of the world’s top stars. The Sapporo Concert Hall (Kitaro), for example, is one of the top music venues in Japan. If you prefer to perform rather than listen, take to the stage in a karaoke bar like Karaoke Super PIA.

Cinema

You will not be short of movie options in Sapporo, either. All of the latest Hollywood blockbusters hit the city and are shown in English in theaters such as the Paramount Universal Cinema 11. If you are a little more cerebral in your selection of movies, you might want to check out Marion Gekijo. This excellent theater shows foreign movies with more intense content than the usual Hollywood offerings.

Sports

Sapporo is the ideal vacation spot for sports fans and athletes. It has some of the best winter sports facilities in Japan, including the Sapporo Kokusai Ski Area, which offers a whole range of skiing options for all levels. There are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, such as the Hiragishi Swimming Pool, skating rinks, tennis courts and fitness centers like the Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center, where you can also participate in soccer, basketball and baseball as well as the usual personal training. J-League soccer games and professional baseball games are staged in the Sapporo Dome, and the Sapporo Racecourse features horse racing with gambling opportunities throughout the season.