Things to do in Ebetsu

Though the Sapporo Dome is best known as the home ground of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and the soccer team Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, it is a tourist destination in its own right. Perfect for sports fans of all kinds and featuring the world’s first “hovering” soccer field, it is full of activities even on days when concerts or sports games are not taking place. Take a tour of the stadium, jog through the nearby grounds or go up to the observation deck and look out onto the rolling nearby hills.

On an action-packed visit to Sapporo, Odori Park is both a destination and a space for relaxation. Stretched out over 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) or 12 city blocks down the center of the city, the park separates the northern administrative districts from the southern, residential and commercial districts. Stop here for a picnic lunch amid its 92 types of trees while visiting the city or come for one of the many festivals that set up on the plazas any time of the year. The famous Sapporo Snow Festival is one popular example.

Like Hokkaido itself, Nakajima Park changes with the seasons but is lovely year round. This 52-acre (21-hectare) urban oasis gathers a charming collection of natural features and cultural institutions in a picturesque setting beneath Mount Moiwa. Come see why the city park, created on the site of an abandoned lumberyard, has become a favorite for locals and visitors.

Sapporo TV Tower stands in the background of many tourist pictures of Sapporo. Some of the most famous pictures of the city can be taken from the tower too. The iron structure, vaguely reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower, offers spectacular views of Odori Park, the skyline of the city and the snow-capped mountains rising in the distance. A landmark of the city since its construction in 1957, Sapporo TV Tower holds a beloved place in locals’ hearts. Bring a camera to take impressive photos.

The Sapporo Clock Tower (Tokeidai) dates back almost as far as the city itself. The wooden building was constructed as a college less than 10 years after Sapporo was established as Hokkaido’s capital in 1869. Although this building looks dwarfed compared to the skyscrapers that surround it today, its historical significance and charm continues to make it one of Sapporo’s most-visited attractions.