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City guide

Sapporo (Hokkaido), Japan

Sapporo is a designated city in Hokkaido, Japan. Located in the southwest of Hokkaido, it lies within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, a tributary of the Ishikari River.

Type CityPopulation 1,962,596

Why go

  • City in Hokkaido, Japan.
  • Served by Sapporo Okadama Airport (OKD).

History

Sapporo is a designated city in Hokkaido, Japan. Located in the southwest of Hokkaido, it lies within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, a tributary of the Ishikari River. Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido Prefecture and Ishikari Subprefecture. As of August 1, 2026, the city has a population of 1,962,596, making it the largest city in Hokkaido and the largest north of Tokyo. It is the fifth-most populous city in Japan and is Hokkaido's cultural, economic, and political center.

Airports

New Chitose Airport (CTS) 42 km to the centre
Sapporo, 01, JP — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 23 airlines (All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines Domestic, Hokkaido International Airlines, Skymark Airlines…) · direct flights to 37 destinations incl. Tokyo, Sendai, Nagoya, Osaka, Seoul… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 23 airlines, 37 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Sapporo Okadama Airport (OKD) 6.1 km to the centre
Sapporo, 01, JP — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
UFO Park Airfield 32 km to the centre
Ishikari, 01, JP
Outdoor
Yoichi Agricultural Airfield / Appleport Yoichi 47 km to the centre
Yoichi, 01, JP
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Sapporo Okadama Airport (OKD); 12 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: CTS has direct flights to 37 destinations on 23 airlines (incl. Tokyo, Sendai, Nagoya, Osaka, Seoul…).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Sapporo (Hokkaido), Japan. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Trains & rail

Rail operator
National rail
National rail
National rail
National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Charter, management · Gulfstream, Global · Tokyo and Hong Kong business-jet operator.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.