Sapporo : book your hotel

Sapporo is the relaxed, food-obsessed capital of Hokkaido, Japan’s fifth-largest city by population, yet one of its youngest, having only been formally established in the late 1800s. That late start matters. Unlike most Japanese cities that evolved organically, Sapporo was planned on a grid, inspired in part by American frontier towns. The result is a city that feels unusually spacious, logical and breathable by Japanese standards, even when it’s buried under snow.

And buried it often is. Sapporo averages close to five metres of snowfall each winter, more than almost any major city on Earth. Instead of fighting it, the city engineered around it with underground pedestrian corridors stretching for more than two kilometres beneath the CBD, linking stations, shops and office buildings so locals can comfortably commute. The annual Sapporo Snow Festival pulls in more than two million visitors over a single week, filling Odori Park with towering ice sculptures.

Then there is the food. Sapporo consistently ranks near the top of Japan’s domestic travel wish lists, largely because people eat extremely well here. Miso ramen, butter corn, soup curry, jingisukan lamb barbecue and seafood pulled from some of the coldest waters in the Pacific are everyday meals, taken seriously.

Sapporo also drinks more beer per capita than anywhere else in the country, a legacy of being home to the country’s Japan's first commercial brewery. Even now beer halls here feel civic, places for long lunches and longer conversations.

Summers are mild, rarely climbing into the sticky discomfort common further south, and winters are crisp rather than punishing. It is Japan with space to think, room to walk, and seasons that assert themselves loudly. Sapporo rewards travellers who slow down, eat well, and let the city reveal itself between planned highlights - and choosing the right hotels in Sapporo makes all the difference.

Odori Park slices cleanly through the city centre, acting as Sapporo’s civic spine and festival ground. It is also where winter’s ice sculptures take over each February, a spectacle best experienced on foot. Staying nearby at Grand Mercure Sapporo Odori Park keeps you close to seasonal events and transport links.

The Sapporo Beer Museum tells the story of how brewing helped shape the city, while the adjacent Sapporo Factory complex marks the transition from industry to lifestyle precinct. Nearby, Hotel Sosei Sapporo – MGallery Collection anchors the area with heritage character and contemporary polish.

For views, Mt Moiwa delivers a night panorama that justifies the short ropeway ride, while Susukino offers a very different experience: neon, late-night ramen and compact bars. Mercure Sapporo places you right in the middle of that energy without sacrificing comfort.

For super affordable accommodation that doesn't feel like a compromise, try the bright, friendly ibis Styles Sapporo. The hotel pairs simple Scandi-style comfort with the kind of clever Japanese design that makes small spaces feel surprisingly generous. Rooms are neat and functional, with big beds, clean lines, family-friendly layouts and you’ll be grateful in January for the solid insulation and soundproofing that keep out the howling winter winds.

You’ll find the hotel in Susukino, Sapporo’s lively entertainment district, meaning late-night ramen, neon-soaked bars and steaming bowls of soup curry are just a few minutes’ walk away. The Susukino subway station is around the corner, making it easy to reach Odori Park’s snow sculptures in winter or hop a train to Sapporo Station for day trips. ibis Styles Sapporo nails both affordability and atmosphere while being warm, efficient and stylish.

Hotel Sosei Sapporo – MGallery Collection sits on the site of a former brewery, and its design pays tribute to that industrial past with exposed textures, deep timbers and a palette inspired by the city’s heritage brickwork. Inside, it’s all about thoughtful details like curated art, tactile finishes and an intimacy that makes your stay feel really personal.

Its location beside Sapporo Factory, a sprawling complex of shops, cafés and a cinema housed in another converted brewery, adds an appealing blend of history and urban buzz. You’re also walking distance from Odori Park and the city’s heart, without ever feeling swallowed by the crowds.

On the service side, staff are quietly attentive, and the on-site restaurant champions seasonal Hokkaido produce with an international touch. Rooms range from generous King Superior layouts to the serene Executive Deluxe, many with heritage views and that pristine Japanese sense of order.

A short ride away, the Grand Mercure Sapporo Odori Park offers a more classic take on luxury with broad city vistas, polished service and smartly spacious rooms that frame the changing scenes of the park below. Think cherry blossom in spring, a glowing light festival in winter and green calm in between.

Sitting right in the thick of Susukino, the city’s bustling nightlife and dining district, the Mercure Sapporo gives you instant access to ramen alleys, izakayas and underground shopping arcades. Inside, the vibe is modern and unfussy: muted tones, practical layouts and beds you’ll actually want to come back to after a day of exploring snow festivals or brewery tours.

Rooms are compact but cleverly organised, with larger options for families or anyone wanting a bit more elbow room. There’s a hearty breakfast buffet heavy on Hokkaido dairy, pastries and local seafood, and a casual in-house bar that’s a handy prelude to a night in Susukino.

Mercure Sapporo suits couples, solo travellers and business guests who want a dependable base with a global brand’s polish and a local touch. It’s urban efficiency at its most user-friendly, thoughtful, clean and close to everything.

Despite its wintery reputation, Sapporo is an easy city for families. Streets are wide and easy to navigate with prams, public transport runs like clockwork, and the city’s biggest attractions, from Odori Park’s seasonal festivals to the Maruyama Zoo, are all compact enough for half-day adventures.

At ibis Styles Sapporo, the rooms are bigger than you might expect for Japan, with thoughtful layouts that actually work for parents travelling with kids like double queen beds, space for luggage, and plenty of warmth when the temperature plunges outside. There’s a generous breakfast spread with options picky eaters will love, and staff are known for being relaxed and patient with younger guests.

The hotel’s location near Nakajima Park and the Susukino tram stop keeps things easy, putting playgrounds, cafés and convenience stores all within a short walk. After a day of exploring, families can unwind somewhere quiet without feeling removed from the action. It’s flexible, fuss-free and designed around real-world travel—exactly what you need when wrangling mittens and maps at the same time.

Sapporo is an infinitely romantic city. Softly falling snow, misted windows and streets glowing under paper lanterns. For couples chasing this kind of understated magic, Hotel Sosei Sapporo – MGallery Collection sets the tone perfectly. Housed on a converted brewery site, it blends historic character with modern restraint—warm lighting, stone and timber accents, and a quiet hum that makes the world outside feel miles away. Rooms are elegant without being showy, and some offer heritage views that shift beautifully with the light.

The atmosphere is intimate. Couples can unwind over drinks in the lounge, stroll through the neighbouring Sapporo Factory for boutique shopping, or take an easy walk to Odori Park when the snow festival takes over in winter. Service is attentive in that effortless, just-right way that feels tailored rather than timed.

Those after something a little more traditional will find it at the Grand Mercure Sapporo Odori Park. The hotel leans into Sapporo’s refined side, with spacious suites, elegant dining and views across the park that glow at night when the city lights hit fresh snow. Mornings stretch with long, lazy breakfasts, and evenings invite slow walks through tree-lined avenues or cosy dinners tucked away from the chill.