Sapporo

Sapporo, capital of the mountainous northern island of Hokkaido, is famous for its beer, skiing, and annual Sapporo Snow Festival, featuring beautiful snow statues and enormous ice sculptures.

Literally surrounded by ski areas, the city is the entry point for the avid alpine enthusiast. With Hokkaido being home to thriving farming and fishing industries, Sapporo is blessed with a treasure trove of ingredients – the city is renowned for its ramen noodles, soup curry, and Genghis Khan lamb.

Relatively easy to navigate, Sapporo is set out in a grid layout – in the center of town you’ll find Odari Park, a long narrow green oasis which runs along the length of the main street, and in summer is full of beer gardens, whilst in winter becomes the location for the snow festival.

This tends to be the most popular time to visit Sapporo, so be sure to book well in advance to enjoy the festivities.