Photo by Sho: night view from JR Tower, Sapporo
Hokkaido · Private tour

Sapporo on foot, from the station to Odori Park

We walk from Sapporo Station to the red brick government office, the Clock Tower and Odori Park. With more time, we take the subway out to Hokkaido Jingu. Up to six people.

Ask for a free quote →See the routes
LengthsHalf day · Full day · Two days
GroupPrivate, up to 6 guests
LanguageEnglish (Japanese on request)
Meeting pointSapporo Station, South Exit. I'll confirm the exact spot with you before the day.
Overview

A city centre you can walk

We meet at the South Exit of Sapporo Station. The Former Hokkaido Government Office is about 8 minutes away on foot. It was finished in 1888 with about 2.5 million bricks, and it was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1969.

The building reopened on 25 July 2025 after restoration that ran from 2019 to 2025. Entry is 300 yen, and it's open from 8:45 am to 9:00 pm.

From there we walk to the Sapporo Clock Tower and on to Odori Park, about 1.5 kilometres of flowerbeds, lawns and fountains. The Sapporo TV Tower stands at its east end.

Highlights

  • Walk through the Former Hokkaido Government Office, reopened in July 2025
  • See the Sapporo Clock Tower, about 5 minutes from Odori Station
  • Go up the Sapporo TV Tower at the east end of Odori Park (half day)
  • Have lunch at Nijo Market or in the covered Tanuki-koji arcade
  • Take the Tozai Line to Hokkaido Jingu (full day)
  • See the city at night from JR Tower Observatory T38, 160 metres up (optional)
Routes

Pick the length that suits your day

Half day (3 to 4 hours)

Red brick, the Clock Tower and Odori Park on foot, then the TV Tower and lunch.

  1. Former Hokkaido Government Office and the Clock Tower.
  2. Odori Park.
  3. Sapporo TV Tower deckat the east end of Odori Park, 1,200 yen.
  4. Lunch at Nijo Market or in Tanuki-kojiNijo Market shops open roughly 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, and hours vary by shop.

Full day (7 to 8 hours)

The city centre, a shrine by subway and an evening in Susukino.

  1. Former Hokkaido Government Office and the Clock Tower.
  2. Odori Park and the TV Tower deck.
  3. Lunch at Nijo Market.
  4. Hokkaido JinguTozai Line from Odori to Maruyama-Koen Station, then about 15 minutes on foot. Free to enter.
  5. Susukinothe entertainment district south of Odori, to finish.

Optional: JR Tower Observatory T38 at night, open until 10:00 pm (last entry 9:30 pm). Or visit the Sapporo Beer Museum, open 11:00 am to 6:00 pm (last entry 5:30 pm).

Two days

Day one is the full day. Day two depends on the season.

  1. In May: Hiraoka Park plum groveabout 1,200 red and white plum trees. Tozai Line to Oyachi Station, bus 66 or 67 to Hiraoka 5-jo 6-chome, then 5 minutes on foot.
  2. At other times: Sapporo Beer Museum and Tanuki-kojithe museum reopened on 1 July 2026 and entry is 1,000 yen. Tanuki-koji is about 900 metres of covered arcade.

The plums usually bloom in early to mid May, but the timing varies by year. I'll check the bloom before your date.

Photos

Sapporo through my lens

Details

Before you book

Included

  • Sho as your private guide for the length you book, in English (or Japanese, if you prefer)
  • A route planned for your group before the day
  • Food stops checked ahead for any allergies you tell me about

Not included

  • Subway and bus fares (adult subway fares are 210 to 380 yen)
  • Entry, if we go in: Former Hokkaido Government Office (300 yen), Clock Tower (350 yen), TV Tower deck (1,200 yen), T38 (740 yen), Sapporo Beer Museum (1,000 yen)
  • Food and drinks

Good to know

  • A one-day subway pass is 830 yen on weekdays. On weekends and holidays, the Donichika ticket is 520 yen. Both are cash only when you buy them, and Suica and Kitaca cards work for normal fares.
  • Rain and snow plan: Chi-Ka-Ho, about 520 metres underground between Sapporo Station and Odori Station, and the covered Tanuki-koji arcade.
  • The Former Hokkaido Government Office is closed from 29 December to 3 January, and the Clock Tower from 1 to 3 January.
  • In autumn, I check Hokkaido Jingu's notices before we go. Bears were sighted in the grounds in November 2025, and hours were shortened for a week.
  • I look after the day itself. Train tickets, hotels and any entry tickets you want to book ahead are yours to arrange. I'll tell you exactly where and when to meet me.
  • We get around by subway, bus and on foot, the same way locals do. I don't drive guests, and I'll show you how the ticket machines work as we go.
Your guide

I'm Sho, and I'll be your guide

Sho, your guide

In January 2011, in my last year of junior high, I left Japan for Brisbane. I stayed until I'd finished university in March 2020. That's nine years of Australian school, uni and part-time jobs.

I speak English and Japanese without any trouble, and I don't get shy around people from other cultures. What I care about most on the day is simple: that you're having a good time.

I'm based in Yokohama. I've been photographing planes since 2009. Since moving back to Japan in 2020, photography has taken me to airports and towns all over the country. Every area I guide is somewhere I've been myself.

I have a serious kiwi fruit allergy (anaphylaxis) and react to some fruit in the rose family. So I check our food stops with the restaurants before the day. If there's anything you can't eat, tell me when you first get in touch.

  • Nine years in Brisbane, from junior high to the end of university
  • Comfortable in English and Japanese
  • Has been to every area on this site
  • Checks food stops ahead of the day
Pricing

Quotes in six currencies

Free quote

Quotes are provided in USD, CAD, AUD, NZD, GBP or EUR, so you can skip the hassle of currency conversion. Other currencies are quoted in USD. Each quote covers your whole group of up to six people. When you send an enquiry, please include your preferred dates and the kinds of experiences you'd like.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Can we do this in winter?

Yes. On snowy days we keep the outdoor walking short and use Chi-Ka-Ho, the underground walkway between Sapporo Station and Odori Station. The Sapporo Snow Festival 2027 runs from 4 to 11 February 2027, at Odori, Susukino and Tsudome.

Is the Clock Tower worth going inside?

It depends on your group. Entry is 350 yen, and it's open until 5:10 pm (last entry 5:00 pm). If you'd rather keep moving, we'll see it from outside and spend the time at Odori Park instead.

Free quote

Sapporo on your list

Send me your date, group size and anything you can't eat, and I'll put together a route and a free quote.

Ask for a free quote →

More places I can take you

AsakusaShibuyaShinjukuYokohamaKamakura, Shonan & EnoshimaHakoneMt Fuji areaAtamiShimodaOsakaKyotoKanazawaFukuoka, Dazaifu & YufuinHaneda AirportKansai's three airports

Ask me about other areas.

Chat on LINE