Sapporo Pop. 1.82 million

Explanation of Signs - Scenic tourist destination: the number of star (from 1 to 4 ) corresponds to the degree of excellence of the location. - Tourist destination with historic heritages and/or cultural assets: the number of star (from 1 to 4) corresponds to the importance of respective location. - Grade of YH facility. 3-star is for the standard grade, and 4-star is for the highest grade.

The city of Sapporo, the metropolis of Hokkaido, is Japan's major boomtown of which development began in the late 19th century. The appearance of the city with neatly divided blocks and regular crisscrosses is the 'special-ties' of Sapporo. Odori-koen, a park located in the heart of the city, is where seasonal flowers bloom in its beds and the Snow Festival is held every winter. There are ski runs and the ski jump slopes in the suburb, as Sapporo once hosted the Winter Olympics. The city's botanical garden preserves the remnants and traces of the virgin forests. A fine view from the top of the Mt. Moiwayama, or the landscape of the Hitsujigaoka Farm is on the list of tourist attractions. [Access from major cities] Train / - Osaka St. <JR, ltd. express-sleeping car 'Twilight Express' (seasonal operation)> 21hr10min (1503kim) Sapporo St. - Tokyo St. <JR, ltd. express-sleeping car 'Hokutosei'> 16hr. (1218km) Sapporo St. - Hakodate St. <JR, ltd. express> 3hr20min. (319km) Sapporo St. Airplane / - Fukuoka Apt. 2hr15min. Shin Chitose Apt. - Itami / Kansai Apt. (Osaka) 1hr50min. Shin-chitose Apt. - Nagoya Apt. 1hr35min. Shin-chitose Apt. - Haneda Apt. (Tokyo) 1hr30min. Shin-chitose Apt. - Shin-chitose Apt. <bus> 1hr10min. Sapporo St. - Shin-chitose Apt. <JR, rapid> 35min. Sapporo St. Long distance bus / Hakodate St. <bus> 4hr50min. Sapporo St. [Food] 'Genghis Khan', mutton barbecue, is one of the delicacies of the locality. The restaurant attached to the 'Sapporo Beer Factory' serves the best Genghis Khan in the city. As Sapporo is also one of the three major sources of 'Ramen' (Chinese noodles) in Japan, there are countless ramen restaurants all over the city. 'Ramen Yokocho' (literary, a Ramen lane) is well known among the Ramen-eaters as a place where tasty noodles are served. [Festival] Snow Festival: a-week-long event held in early February. At the festival, sculptures made of snow are displayed in the Ohdori Park, Susukino and Makomanai. [YH in the area] Sapporo House YH tel 011-726-4235 Sapporo International YH tel 011-825-3120 [Tips on sightseeing] A day or two will be necessary to see important places in Sapporo. City sightseeing bus departs from Sapporo station. One-day Subway Card, avail-able at Yen 800, and One-day Card, which gives access to bus, subway and tram, at Yen 1000, are both cost saving as well as convenient.

Main Route from Saaporo to Yoichi

Otaru Otaru had been prospered as the port where ships to and from Russia and Sakhalin (an island, then Japanese territory) anchored until the outbreak of World War II. As the town stretches over gentle hill, Otaru is known for its landscape with many slopes. A number of museums, galleries and arts & crafts centers have been established in the district where there used to be old warehouse. It is good fun to stroll down the quarter. In the outskirt, right behind the town, there is the Otaru-tenguyama course for the ski lovers. Besides these elements, there are also 'Nishingoten' (literally a 'Herring Mansion', a palatial house built by a fisherman profited from a large catch of herring), Otaru Aquarium, Railway Museum of Hokkaido are on the list of tourist attractions. While all kinds of seafood are delicious in Otaru, it is particularly renowned as 'the town of sushi'. A half-day to one full day shall be required for sightseeing in the town. There are tour buses that depart from Otaru station and Sapporo station. [Access] - Sapporo St. <JR, rapid> 35min. Otaru St. - Sapporo St. <bus> 55min. Otaru St. [YH in the area] YH Otaru-tenguyama tel 0134-34-1474 Shakotan- hanto Kamui-misaki Shakotan-hanto is a peninsula that projects into the Sea of Japan. While the peninsula consists of series of precipices, many rocks with peculiar appearances stick out of the sea along the coast. Small fishing villages that had once flourished with large catch of herring scatter in the inlets. There is a bus route that runs by the coast and makes one circuit of the peninsula. The area supplies delicious seafood, and 'Hama-nabe', a pot dish prepared by and served for fishermen, is one of the delicacies. One full day shall be necessary for sightseeing. Tour buses depart either from Sapporo station or Otaru station. [Access] Otaru St. <bus> 30min. Yoichi St. <bus> 1hr35min. Kamui-misaki (cape). [YH in the area] Shakotan YH tel 0135-46-5061 Shakotan Kamoi YH tel 0135-77-6136

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