Sapporo Travel Forum

Hi all,

I am planning to visit Sapporo in April next year, most likely will be flying from Singapore to Narita International Airport, any best way to reach Sapporo? Heard of JR pass, is it worth it? I will be staying around Hokkado for about 10 days, any places to recommend?

Regards
lily

I would definitely go to Otaru if I were you. I was only there for 1 day but it was lovely there. They have some excellent boutiques to browse in as well, esp some glass factories. Otaru is a port city (alot of ships going to & from Russia) & is famous for their canal that runs through the city.
It will still be cold in April so be sure to dress warm. Try to visit an onsen (hot spring). If you stay in a ryokan, it may have an onsen.

Unless you want to stop in Tokyo for a couple of days, it's probably best to get airfare all the way through to Sapporo.

Even if you do stop in Tokyo, flying to Sapporo is likely to be the best way for you to go.

It is one of the great train rides of my lifetime going to the north country there. It's a lot less crowded along the way. Clean, new city of Sendai is a great first stop. Then you go through the world's longest transportation tunnel, almost 800 feet below the Pacific. Hakodate is a beautiful harbor, and then one of the "Hokuto" (Big Dipper) trains lifts you out of Hakodate and over the mountains to the north, beautiful scenery -- especially in winter. Takes all day to get to Sapporo, but worth it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Hi there

It totally depends what you want to do. The JR might be worth it. If you have time and dont mind spending the best part of the day on the train, it is a great way to see the landscapes outside of the cities. Another option is the overnight train from ueno to sapporo station. You might have to pay extra on top of your pass, but it saves on a nights accomodation. I think it leaves about 7 and it arrives in sapporo about 8 or 9 ish. Its a really relaxed way to travel and goes directly from one city centre to another with out the hassle of transfering airports. As only one or two flights fly from narita and you will have to transfer to haneda airport.

Good luck with the planning!