Sapporo snow days

Sapporo

Arrival night ramen near the hotel

We arrived at New Chitose Airport on 18 Jan at night, checked in, and went straight to the ramen alley near the hotel. It was already around 22:30, which somehow made the first bowl in Sapporo feel even better.

The alley was narrow, bright, and busy, with little ramen shops packed side by side. The shop itself felt small and cramped, but that also made it feel very Japan: compact, warm, and full of energy.

Food note: the ramen broth was very nice and savoury. It was a comforting first meal after the flight, and a good start to the winter trip.

19 Jan / Moerenuma Park

Snow, families, and the glass pyramid

Moerenuma Park was my second time visiting, and it was still beautiful as ever. It was cold, but the glass pyramid was such a beauty against the snow, and the whole park had that calm winter feeling I love.

The glass pyramid still looked beautiful against the snow, even on a second visit.

We walked through the snowy park and saw families playing around on the snow. That part felt especially heartwarming, like the park was not only beautiful to look at, but also a place where people were really enjoying winter together.

Personal take: still worth visiting, even for a second time. The glass pyramid, open snow, and family atmosphere made it feel peaceful and memorable.

19 Jan / Lunch

Fresh salmon sashimi and king crab

After Moerenuma Park, we had lunch at a place I forgot the name of, but the food was easy to remember. The salmon sashimi was very fresh, and the king crab leg was nice and juicy.

Food note: a simple but very satisfying Hokkaido seafood lunch, especially after walking around in the cold.

19 Jan / Mt. Moiwa

Snowy summit views into Sapporo night lights

After lunch, we went up Mt. Moiwa. The mountain had that quiet winter mood, with snow on the tracks, bare trees, and Sapporo fading softly in the distance.

Mt. Moiwa shifted slowly from pale winter daylight into Sapporo night lights.

The view changed a lot as the day moved toward evening. In the afternoon, everything looked pale and snowy; later, the city lights started to come alive and made the whole visit feel more dramatic.

Personal take: a strong Sapporo viewpoint, especially if you stay long enough to see the shift from winter daylight to night city lights.

19 Jan / 7-Eleven Dinner

A simple convenience store dinner back at the hotel

After a full day around Sapporo, dinner was a 7-Eleven haul back at the hotel. It was simple, practical, and honestly part of the Japan travel experience too.

Food note: crab-style snacks, egg, grilled chicken, cheese chikuwa, and a chocolate cream puff made it feel more like a fun hotel-room tasting session than a backup dinner.

20 Jan / Odori Park & Sapporo TV Tower

A snowy city walk around Sapporo's landmark tower

We started 20 Jan around Odori Park and Sapporo TV Tower. It felt like a classic Sapporo morning: snow on the ground, the red tower standing over the park, and the city slowly getting brighter under the winter sky.

From the tower, Odori Park looked like a long snowy line cutting through the city. On the ground, there were little winter details everywhere, from the big Christmas tree to the bakery and fair-style displays nearby.

Personal take: an easy, must-do Sapporo stop. It is simple, central, and gives you both the street-level winter mood and the higher city view.

20 Jan / Hokkaido Jingu Shrine

A quieter shrine stop after the city view

After Odori Park and Sapporo TV Tower, we visited Hokkaido Jingu Shrine. The snow on the ground made the approach feel calm and clean, and the wooden shrine building gave this stop a slower, more reflective mood.

Personal take: a nice contrast after the central city walk. It felt peaceful, traditional, and very fitting for a winter Sapporo day.

20 Jan / Lunch Nearby

A nearby lunch plate after the shrine

After Hokkaido Jingu, we had lunch nearby. The plate was comforting and easy to enjoy: omurice, fried seafood, salad, and a hamburger-style patty with sauce.

Food note: not a complicated meal, but a satisfying lunch between stops before continuing the day.

20 Jan / Shiroi Koibito Park

A sweet factory stop to end the Sapporo day

Shiroi Koibito Park was quite attractive because we could see how the famous biscuit is made. It is the kind of place I think is nice to visit once, especially if you are curious about the factory side and want something lighter after shrines and city views.

The outside area had a winter theme-park feeling, while the factory viewing area made the visit more interesting than just buying souvenirs. It was busy, but still charming in that very Japan way where everything feels neatly presented.

Personal take: worth going once. Not necessarily a repeat-every-trip place for me, but a fun and photogenic stop for a family winter itinerary.

Food note: the soft serve outside was delicate and sweet, which somehow made it even more memorable because we were eating it while freezing.

21 Jan / 1 Day Tour / Asahiyama Zoo

Winter animals and the famous penguin walk

On 21 Jan, we joined a one-day tour and started at Asahiyama Zoo. In winter, the zoo had a very Hokkaido feeling: bright snow, cold air, and animals that looked completely at home in the season.

The tanuki were the surprise favorite: small, fluffy, and very at home in the snow.

The highlight for me was seeing tanuki for the first time. They were so cute and fluffy, and honestly felt like the most memorable part of the zoo. We also saw more winter animals around the snowy enclosures, which made the visit feel very different from a normal zoo day.

The penguin walk was iconic and definitely something Asahiyama Zoo is known for, but the crowd was intense. There were a lot of people queueing and watching, so the experience was a bit painful even though the penguins themselves were fun to see.

Personal take: worth visiting in winter, especially for the animals in the snow. Just be ready for the penguin walk crowd if you want a good view.

21 Jan / Biei Snow ATV

Riding through the snow after the zoo

The second stop of the one-day tour was a snow ATV ride in Biei. After the zoo, this gave the day a more active and playful shift, with open snow fields, clear blue sky, and the family all getting into helmets for the ride.

It was fun, especially because the winter scenery made even a simple ride feel special. The only downside was the gas and fuel smell, which was noticeable enough to mention, but it did not ruin the activity.

Personal take: a fun one-time winter activity. The snowy setting was the main charm, and it worked well as a family tour stop after the zoo.

21 Jan / Furano Christmas Tree

A quick view from the bus

The third stop was the Furano Christmas Tree, but it was very crowded, so I did not get down from the bus. It became more of a quick pass-by moment than a proper stop.

Personal take: probably nice if the crowd is manageable, but on this tour day it did not feel worth forcing our way down just for the photo.

21 Jan / Ningle Terrace

Beautiful cabins hidden in the snowy woods

The fourth stop was Ningle Terrace. The walk from the bus stop to the main spot was quite far and slippery, so we had to be really careful, especially with the snow and icy path.

Ningle Terrace was slippery to reach, but the cabin lights made the snowy walk feel worth it.

But once we reached the actual area, the place itself was a beauty. Small wooden cabins, soft lights, trees, and snow made it feel like a quiet winter village tucked inside the forest.

Personal take: beautiful and worth seeing, but wear shoes with good grip and walk slowly. The slippery path is the real warning here.