10 Things to Do in Sapporo on a Small Budget
What are the Cheap Things to Do in Sapporo?
Visiting Sapporo on a budget is possible thanks to its endless attractions that one can enjoy for little or no money. There’s an underground passageway that allows travellers to navigate the Sapporo city center with ease, and you might want to go cycling on one of its main roads (another money saving option). For lunch, head to an affordable dining establishment where you can enjoy the full flavors of Hokkaido. On a sunny day, nothing beats a picnic in picturesque Asahiyama Park.
For after-dark entertainment, there’s a sake museum if you fancy a digestif or a racecourse if you’re feeling lucky and want an inexpensive flutter on the horses. You can also admire the art of the indigenous Ainu culture or learn about the region’s winter sports at its riveting museums. Our list of great things to do in Sapporo on a budget is concluded nicely with a trip to a shrine, where you can pray for good luck, before soaking in thermal hot springs at a nearby onsen.
What are the best things to do in Sapporo on a small budget?
1. Hokkaido Shrine
The largest shrine on the island
Good for: Budget, History, Photo
Hokkaido Shrine is a sightseeing wonder where you can take a stroll free of charge. Maruyama Park is next door and well worth a visit. Take a 15-minute walk from Maruyama-Koen Station on the Tozai Subway Line, and follow the straight Omotesando path through the Torii gate. If you visit in early May, you can also enjoy the enchanting and ethereal cherry blossoms too.
Head through the shrine gates and you’ll come to the main temple. In the precincts, you can see wild fauna including red-spotted woodpeckers and squirrels. Sapporo Festival, which takes place every June, has been held for more than 100 years at this expansive Hokkaido shrine. Gorgeous floats and portable shrines made in the Meiji and Taisho periods parade across the city to the sound of Taiko drum beats. In the precincts, you can also enjoy street performances, old Japanese court music, and stalls.
Location: 474 Miyagaoka, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0959, Japan
Open: Daily from 6 am to 5 pm
Phone: +81 (0)11-611-0261
Hokkaido Shrine
2. Sapporo Olympic Museum
For sports fanatics of all kinds
Good for: Budget, Families, Unusual
Sapporo Olympic Museum at the Okurayama Jump Stadium offers an epic Olympic experience. On the first floor, you’ll find six types of winter sports booths. Here, you can experience a virtual ski jump in front of a large screen and ride a full-sized bobsled at 130 km per hour. You can also become an ice hockey goalkeeper or train for speed skating.
The Winter Sports Theater and Panorama Theater are full of impressive images and dramas from past competitions. There’s also an exhibition of the equipment used by Japanese Olympic athletes, which is well worth a closer look. Admission is ¥600 yen for adults, but junior high school students and younger can enter for free.
Location: 1274 Miyanomori, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0958, Japan
Open: May 1st-October 31st: Daily from 9 am to 6 pm and November 1st-April 30th: 9.30 am to 5 pm
Phone: +81 (0)11-641-8585
Sapporo Olympic Museum
3. Chi-Ka-Ho Underground Passageway
Traverse the city even in the winter
Good for: Budget, Unusual
Chi-Ka-Ho Underground Passageway is a 520-meter underground walkway that connects the Sapporo Station and Odori areas, allowing you to enjoy the city comfortably, even in the depths of winter. There are three event spaces called “Intersection Plazas” where you can enjoy free events including exhibitions of local products, commercial promotions, and live music. There are also large screens on the walls for watching sports. Plus, photography and art exhibitions are held in the rest areas from time to time.
On the way, why not take a break at the free Shikishima Garden? There’s also a bakery and a convenience store, with tables and chairs to eat at. Take Exit 4 for the Hokkaido Government Office, Exit 9 for Sapporo Clock Tower, and Exit 13 for Odori Park and other sightseeing areas.
Location: Kita 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0003, Japan
Open: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Phone: +81 (0)11-211-6406
Chi-Ka-Ho Underground Passageway
4. Asahiyama Memorial Park
For panoramic views of the city
Good for: Adventure, Budget, Families
Asahiyama Memorial Park is a nature-rich park that was built on a hill next to Mount Moiwa and Maruyama in 1970. The observation deck is at an altitude of 137.5 meters and overlooks the city of Sapporo, the Ishikari Plain, and the Sea of Japan. The Learning Forest is full of typical trees found in Hokkaido like the Ezo alder, Ezo pine, and Kitakobushi. Also, make sure you take a walk along the “Forest Path” in search of wild birds.
With its playground equipment, suspension bridges, and grassy open spaces, the park is ideal for weekend leisure pursuits with your children. At “Picnic Square” you can enjoy an al fresco lunch in a gorgeous setting. There’s something to do here in every season: cherry blossoms in spring, fountains in the summer, and sledging on the slopes in winter. It’s also a popular nightspot for after-dark vistas.
Location: 4 Chome-1-3 Sakaigawa, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0943, Japan
Open: 24-hours
Phone: +81 (0)11-200-0311
Asahiyama Memorial Park
5. Chitose Tsuru Sake Museum
Sip sake and learn about its history
Good for: Budget, Couples, Unusual
Chitose Tsuru Sake Museum, which opened in 2002, offers free admission. It’s a great place to learn about the history of sake and enjoy some tastings of this traditional rice wine beverage. Chitose Tsuru is a local sake from Sapporo that’s made using Ginpu rice from Shintotsugawa Town and the water of the Toyohira River, which flows 150 meters below the ground. The museum’s ceiling is made of old materials from a mid-Meiji era miso soy sauce warehouse.
In the brewery’s material display corner you’ll find brewing tubs, brewing diaries, and PR posters that were used back in the day. At the tasting counter, you can compare the taste and aroma of sake, liqueurs, and amazake. If you find a favorite, why not buy a bottle as a souvenir at the direct sales corner?
Location: 5 Chome-2 Minami 3 Johigashi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0053, Japan
Open: Daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Phone: +81 (0)11-221-7570
Chitose Tsuru Sake Museum
6. JRA Sapporo Racecourse
A thrilling day at the horse track
Good for: Budget, Couples, Photo
JRA Sapporo Racecourse is home to the summer Hokkaido Series and is popular for watching horse racing without spending too much money. Turf Park is great fun for children and adults, with buggies that can be taken out onto the racecourse, along with miniature horses and horse drawn carriages.
Check out the special events like shows for children, horse riding experiences, and grass course walking events. On race days, you’re best off using public transportation because it can get really crowded. Sapporo Racecourse is about a 10-minute walk from JR Kuwazono Station, and about a 15-minute walk from Nijuyonken Station on the Subway Tozai Line.
Location: 16 Chome-1-1 Kita 16 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0016, Japan
Open: Hours vary by season
Phone: +81 (0)11-726-0461
JRA Sapporo Racecourse
7. Cycling on Shiroishi Kokoroado
Bike under the cherry blossom trees
Good for: Adventure, Budget, Photo
Shiroishi Kokoroado is a road for bicycles and pedestrians that runs from Sapporo Convention Center in Shiroishi Ward to JR Kitahiroshima Station. Along this tree-lined stretch are 120 Sekiyama cherry blossom trees. No wonder it’s one of Hokkaido’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spots. Around May, lilac flowers bloom along the roadside. There are several parks along the way where children can enjoy playing in the summer. In autumn, you can enjoy the color-changing birch trees.
If you’re tired of walking, take a break at Azumaya along the way. The Rainbow Bridge over the Atsubetsu River connects Shiraishi Ward and Atsetsu Ward. The Atsubetsu section is called Yodamari Road and the Kitahiroshima City section is called Elfin Road. The total length of the three sections forms an 18.5 km cycling course that can be travelled non-stop without pausing at traffic lights.
Location: Shiraishi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Open: 24-hours
Cycling on Shiroishi Kokoroado
8. Dosan Saishoku HUG
Gourmet eats in Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade
Good for: Budget, Food
Head to Dosan Saishoku HUG if you’re after the best Hokkaido foods that are served at a reasonable price. Here you’ll find the HUG Eat restaurant street, which is a great option for a cheap and tasty lunch. There are seven restaurants here where you can taste delicious Hokkaido delicacies like oysters from Akkeshi, Hokkaido seafood including Okhotsk atka mackerel (hokke) and saury, grilled Hokkaido chicken, as well as succulent pork bowls. At night, it’s transformed into a bustling Japanese-style pub (izakaya).
At HUG Mart, you’ll find special products from various parts of Hokkaido that arrive daily. You’ll also find a wide variety of seasonal fresh vegetables, natural yeast breads that have been made using wheat, honey, and yogurt, as well as Hokkaido ham and sausages, and mountains of organic rice. There’s even a service where they’ll pack the things you buy at the shop and send them on your behalf—an excellent way to give a distant family member or friend a taste of gourmet Hokkaido.
Location: Tanukikoji Shopping Street, Nishi 1-7 Chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0062, Japan
Open: Hours vary. See individual businesses for opening times.
Phone: +81 (0)11-241-5125
9. Shinrin Park Spa KIYORA
A soothing wellness sanctuary
Good for: Budget, Couples, Luxury
Moor Onsen at Shinrin Park Spa KIYORA is a rare brown hot spring that can be enjoyed only in Germany and parts of Hokkaido. Even without staying overnight at a hot spring inn, you can enjoy a reasonably priced thermal experience on a day-trip. It’s effective in treating neuralgia and joint pain, and it’s great for recovery when you’re feeling tired.
There are indoor and open-air baths direct from the source, and a sauna too. If you want a little extra luxury, try a family bath. Shampoo and body soap are provided in the restroom, and bath towels can be rented. You can drop in whenever you feel like it.
Location: 7 Chome-1-1 Atsubetsu Higashi 4 Jo, Atsubetsu Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 004-0004, Japan
Open: Daily from 11 am to midnight
Phone: +81 (0)1-897-4126
Shinrin Park Spa KIYORA
10. Sapporo Pirika Kotan
A glimpse into the life of the indigenous Ainu people
Good for: Budget, History, Unusual
Sapporo Pirika Kotan (or the Sapporo Ainu Cultural Exchange Center) is a facility that’s located in front of the Toyohira River. This fascinating venue allows you to learn about the history, culture and life of the Ainu people. A carved wooden monument welcomes you when you enter the building. The street gallery is filled with traditional Ainu crafts and modern artworks.
In the information section, you can freely browse over 500 books on Ainu culture. Meanwhile, the exhibition room showcases around 300 items including traditional Ainu costumes and everyday articles that you can actually touch. Outside, the houses and breeding pens of historic Ainu people are reproduced, and there’s also a restoration of a 15-meter-long ship that was used for trade and fishing. There are tow other facilities nearby where you can enjoy a day trip to the hot springs at Koganeyu Onsen.
Location: 27 Koganeyu, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 061-2274, Japan
Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm (closed on Sundays)
Phone: +81 (0)11-596-5961
Sapporo Pirika Kotan
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