Flights from Rotorua to Sapporo

Need to know

• Set in northern Japan, Sapporo is a city with plenty to offer. From its stellar food through to its plentiful attractions, there’s no shortage of things to see, do and experience in Sapporo.
• Home to almost 2 million people (and taking out the title of Japan’s fifth largest city), Sapporo offers plenty of great options when it comes to dining. From cheap eats through to high-end dining experiences, there are countless opportunities to please your palate, tantalise your tastebuds, and try something new. Sink your teeth into fresh sushi, steaming hot ramen or one of the city’s other local specialities. The city is also the birthplace of the popular Sapporo beer, so be sure to make your way to one of the city’s bars to sample the iconic brew.
• Designed by architects from Europe and the USA in the 19th century, the streets of Sapporo are wide, tree-lined, and interspersed with plenty of public parks. Spend some time people watching, settle in for a picnic, or simply enjoy a short break from exploring all that the city has to offer.
• As the transport hub of the island of Hokkaido, Sapporo is a great starting point for discovering more of what the island has to offer. Hit the slopes at one of the nearby ski fields or resorts, immerse yourself in the beauty of the region, and enjoy a uniquely Japanese experience.

Getting around

Unlike most Japanese cities, Sapporo has the unusual benefit of being laid out in a strict grid design. This, combined with its flat streets, makes Sapporo a very easy city to navigate on foot or by bicycle. The busy traffic and parking in central Sapporo often make driving more of a hinderance than a help, but the hard-to-reach attractions and beautiful scenery just outside the city can make it worth hiring a car for a day. Within Sapporo, the subway lines and JR trains are a fast and convenient way to explore the city and surrounding suburbs. Choose between single-use tickets, one-day subway passes, and reloadable SAPICA cards.

Best Time to Visit

Sapporo is home to a highly variable climate with mild summers (16 to 24 degrees) and cold winters (-6 to 1 degrees). Sapporo is known for its remarkably snowy winters, receiving almost 6 metres of snowfall per season. For this reason, Sapporo is a popular destination among snowboarders and skiers from December to February. Summer is also a busy time of year in Sapporo, as the pleasantly mild weather draws Japanese tourists escaping the heat of the south. Visiting outside these two periods will allow you to take advantage of lower rates. Those looking to enjoy the snow on a budget should aim to visit towards the end of the season in March.

Airports in Sapporo

New Chitose Airport

New Chitose Airport is located about 50 kilometres southeast of central Sapporo. Flights travel to New Chitose Airport from a number of destinations including Tokyo, Seoul, Osaka, Hong Kong and Denpasar. A bus or taxi from the airport should take about an hour to reach the city centre.