Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [446]
POST
Sapporo Chūō Post Office (748-2313; N6E1-2-1 Higashi-ku) This branch is located just east of Sapporo JR station. Take the north exit, turn right, walk towards the giant white bowling pin and the building is right across the first major intersection. Like many larger post offices, it is open evenings and weekends and offers a variety of services. The ATMs stay open longer than the window.
Sapporo Ōdōri Post Office (221-4280; 2-9 Ōdōri-nishi, Chūō-ku) Adjacent to Sapporo City Hall on the edge of Ōdōri-kōen.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Hokkaidō-Sapporo Food & Tourism Information Centre (; 213-5088; fax 213-5089; www.welcome.city.sapporo.jp/english/index.html; N5W3 Chūō-ku, JR Sapporo station Nishi-dōri Kita-guchi; 8.30am-8pm) Located on the 1st floor of Sapporo Stellar Place, inside JR Sapporo station. This is the island’s mother load of tourist information, so stock up on maps, timetables, brochures and pamphlets, and be sure to make use of the friendly and helpful bilingual staff.
Sapporo International Communication Plaza Foundation (211-3670; www.plaza-sapporo.or.jp/english/index_e.html; 1st fl, MN Bldg, N1W3 Chūō-ku; 9am-5.30pm) An extensive list of English resources, as well as free internet access; just opposite the Clock Tower (Tokei-dai).
TRAVEL AGENCIES
IACE Travel (219-2796; fax 219-2766; N3W3 Chūō-ku, 9th fl, Kita San Jō Bldg; 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat, closed Sun) A popular Japanese travel agency that also caters to foreigners, and is useful for making international travel arrangements.
JTB Shop (241-6201; N3W3 Chūō-ku; 10am-7pm) This popular Japanese travel agency is useful for making domestic travel arrangements, including plane and train bookings.
Sights
We’re not going to lie to you – Sapporo can be bitterly cold, especially when the Arctic winds are blowing and the snow is piling up. However, if you dress appropriately (and maybe get a beer or two into your system), Sapporo is actually a very walkable city. The gridded streets, which are most definitely a rarity in Japan, make for very simply navigation, and most of the major sights are clustered together in the city centre. Of course, if your body starts to go numb, you can always take advantage of the city’s subway, tram and bus lines; Click here for more information.
HOKUDAI SHOKUBUTSUEN
One of Sapporo’s must sees, this beautiful botanical garden (221-0066; N3W8 Chūō-ku; adult ¥400; 9am-4.30pm Apr-Sep, 9am-3.30pm Oct-Nov) boasts over 4000 varieties of plants, all attractively set on a meandering 14-hectare plot just 10 minutes on foot southwest of the station. The park suffered from serious typhoon damage in 2004, but has since made a near total recovery.
In addition to the obvious outdoor sights, the Hokudai is also home to two museums: the Natural History Museum, a grand, old building dating from 1882 that has a comprehensive taxidermy collection of the island’s wildlife, and the smaller Ainu Museum, which displays extensive anthropological artefacts from Hokkaidō’s indigenous inhabitants.
During the winter months, the botanical gardens are frozen over and the museums are closed, though you can still head to the greenhouse (admission ¥110;10am-3pm Mon-Fri, 10am-noon Sat, closed Sun) for some hothouse flowers.
Across the street from the botanical gardens, the Ainu Association of Hokkaidō (221-0462, 221-0672; www.ainu-assn.or.jp/english/eabout01.html; 7th fl, Kaderu 2.7 Community Centre, N2W7 Chūō-ku; 9am-5pm Mon-Sat) advocates for increased Ainu rights throughout Japan. The building is open to visitors, and offers an interesting display room of robes, tools and historical information.
CLOCK TOWER
While it may not be at the top of your list, no Japanese tourist can leave Sapporo without snapping a photo of the city’s signature landmark, the Clock Tower (Tokei-dai; 231-0838; www.15.ocn.ne.jp/~tokeidai/english.html; N1W2 Chūō-ku; admission ¥200;