Written by Alexandra Ziminski
If you need to take a train in Hokkaidō, chances are you’ll pass through Sapporo Station, the door to Japan’s northern island. Here’s everything you need to know.
Sapporo is the jumping-off point for many Hokkaidō adventures, including the famous snow festival.
You may spend hours in the station passing the time between trains or sheltering from a winter storm in the underground passages. We’re your comforter and guide, so you don’t waste your time wondering where to go and what to do.
Sapporo Station: The basics
Sapporo Station is the biggest and busiest station in Hokkaidō. It links the northern capital via trains and buses with many remote locations.
Fun fact: The roof of the station has arrows pointing in the direction of important places in and around Sapporo. You can see the roof from the JR Tower Observatory T38 (provided it isn’t snowing).
What train lines stop here?
The following train lines stop at Sapporo Station:
- Shinkansen Line: None currently, but there are tentative plans to extend the Hokkaidō Shinkansen to Sapporo Station by 2038. If you want to use the Shinkansen from Tokyo, you’ll need to change at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto for a Limited-Express train to Sapporo.
- JR Hakodate Main Line: Connects Hakodate in the south of Hokkaidō with Asahikawa and other northern spots via Sapporo and Otaru.
- JR Chitose Line: Use this to get from Sapporo to New Chitose Airport, as well as other spots in the south. It also connects to the Hakodate Main Line.
- JR Sasshō Line: A short line that connects Sapporo with destinations to the north of the city.
- Namboku Subway Line: It goes from the north to the south of Sapporo.
- Tōhō Subway Line: Hits stations in the north-east and south-east of Sapporo.
Note that the Tōzai Subway Line also services Sapporo City from west to east, but does not go through Sapporo Station.
What bus services stop at Sapporo Station?
If you’re aching for a true Hokkaidō trip (and want to save some money), then you shouldn’t discount the highway buses that’ll take you from Sapporo to the hard-to-access mountainous regions. The main types of buses include:
- Highway buses: These express buses can drop you at cities and small hot-spring towns across the chilly north. The most popular destinations include Otaru, Hakodate, Furano, and Niseko.
- Sapporo City buses: Local buses within the city run by Hokkaidō Chūō Bus, JR Hokkaidō Bus, and Jōtetsu Bus. Sapporo Beer Museum is better accessed by using one of these buses than the subway.
- Sightseeing buses: Sapporo is a jumping-off point for many day trips around the region and city. Hokkaidō Chūō Bus also runs sightseeing tours and has a counter at the north-exit bus platform.
- Airport buses: Hokkaidō Chūō Bus runs between Sapporo City and New Chitose Airport.
Facilities
Sapporo Station covers all the basic needs in terms of coin lockers, toilets, baby-changing rooms, and vending machines. It is connected to several shopping centers, which all have food floors, so there’s no lack of options for dining.
The JR Information Desk and Tourism Information Center is in the same area, near the North Exit to the west. This is the main spot if you need help buying train tickets, activating any JR passes, luggage storage, or even picking up an eSIM.
Navigation tips for Sapporo Station
The station, like the city, is neatly divided up into squares (or blocks), and due to the heavy snow in winter, it has an underground tunnel that reaches as far south as the subway station Susukino.
The South Exit is the main entrance, and is where you’ll head to grab a taxi or visit department stores like Sapporo Stellar Place (JR Tower), APIA, and Daimaru. The North Exit is less busy but is the main point of call for buses around or out of the city.
Note that there are no main west or east exits.
Things to do in and around Sapporo Station
Sapporo Station connects to some of the main sights of Sapporo, but there are plenty of things to do without ever stepping outside.
JR Tower Observatory T38
One of the main attractions of Sapporo Station (and Sapporo in general) is the indoor observation deck inside JR Tower, which connects directly to the station. From here, you’ll get stunning views of the city from the 38th floor.
The entrance and ticket desk is on the sixth floor of JR Tower (Sapporo Stellar Place East Mall), but you can get cheaper tickets if you buy them in advance.
Shopping at Sapporo Station
There’s a shopping mall for every occasion linked to the station, filled with your typical clothing chains, as well as some more eclectic options. In Daimaru, you’ll find the Pokémon Center on the eighth floor, as well as kimono, modern fashion, cosmetics, jewelry, and other options. In the basement, you can choose from a selection of groceries and snack counters.
Apia is one floor underground near the subway entrance, and is filled with many, many affordable restaurants. There are also services, such as drug stores and mobile repair, available.
Sapporo Stellar Place covers the center of the station and the east, which is inside JR Tower. It mainly offers fashion and high-end stores like Calvin Klein, but also has some fun character shops like Snoopy, Moomin, and a Disney store.
Entertainment at Sapporo Station
If you aren’t shopping, eating, or visiting the observatory, then you could try seeing a movie at Sapporo Cinema Frontier on the seventh floor of Sapporo Stellar Place. Or alternatively, take time to spot the statues and cultural displays about the Ainu people, Hokkaidō’s native population.
There is a grand owl and some exhibits at the Ainu Culture Promotion Space in the tunnel near the Namboku Subway Line, as well as the Ainu Culture Information Corner inside the Tourist Information area.
While not exactly inside Sapporo Station, one of its exits (around a 15-minute walk under the earth) pops you out at Odori Park and in front of the Sapporo TV Tower. On the way there, you’ll pass by even more department stores, including Aurora Town.
Where to eat at Sapporo Station
There’s no shortage of options inside the station, with every department store having a food floor that serves up a range of cuisines. Apia’s food floor tends to be for the quick eaters who enjoy a bargain, with international fast-food favorites like McDonald’s and KFC, as well as cheap Japanese chains such as Nakau and Yoshinoya.
The others tend to be a bit more expensive, and (if you’ve read our article on what to eat in Sapporo) you’ll know that seafood, parfaits, ramen, and meat are must-eats in the city.
The sushi-train restaurant Nemuro Hanamaru inside Sapporo Stellar Place often has lines but is great value. Glaciel, also in Sapporo Stellar Place, offers lavish desserts.
History
The first Sapporo Station building was erected in 1880 in the Taisho era. Originally, train lines would not operate during the winter months, but that soon changed as traffic grew. You can see how the station building used to look at the Historical Village of Hokkaido.
Sapporo Station began to make a name for itself as both a transport and commercial epicenter, and it opened an underground shopping mall (now Apia) in 1972. The location continued this by opening JR Tower and the Observatory T38 in 2003. At the time, it was the tallest building in Sapporo and Hokkaidō. It has since been knocked off its throne by ONE Sapporo Station Tower.
Sapporo Station: Frequently asked questions
Does Sapporo Station have a Shinkansen?
No. The Hokkaidō Shinkansen currently ends at the bottom of Hokkaidō in Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station. They are working on extending the line to Sapporo Station, with an estimated opening around 2038.
How do you get from Tokyo to Sapporo Station?
The quickest and cheapest option is to fly from Tokyo to Sapporo. It takes around an hour and a half in the air, and tickets can start from as low as ¥4,500. But if you feel like taking the train, riding the high seas, or driving, then we lay out more transport choices in our full article.
Is there luggage storage at Sapporo Station?
There are many lockers all over Sapporo Station, as well as places to drop luggage, such as the Tourist Information Center.
How do you get to Sapporo Station from Sapporo Airport?
The easiest way is to get a direct train for around 40 minutes. We recommend purchasing a reserved-seat ticket rather than an unreserved one, to avoid standing.
Read our full guide on getting from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo for more information.
Can I use Suica in Sapporo?
Yes. You can use any nationwide IC cards in Sapporo on trains, subways, and city buses. The IC card for Sapporo is called Kitaca and has a cute flying squirrel on the front.
Note that some stations outside of Sapporo in the Hokkaidō region don’t have IC-card access, such as popular spots like Furano, Niseko, and Noboribetsu. So make sure to buy a separate ticket for these stations. More details can be found on the JR Hokkaidō website.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change.
