Going to Sapporo (Hokkaido) Japan

I'll be taking a trip from Osaka to Sapporo (domestic flight, which I'm
not paying any extra for as it could be included in my round-the-world
ticket), stay there for a few days, then fly down to Tokyo.

I basically just thought I'd see as much of Japan as I can during my
stay there, so what's to see in that area, where do I stay, and is it
much effort to see othe rplaces in the area apart from Sapporo itself?
I'm clueless and need some tips.

It's up to me how long I want to stay (I can change the flight
times/dates as much as I want with a ticket like this, as long as there
are seats left of course), but for the time being I've set it up like this:

10-April 2004 Osaka Itami (08.00) - Sapporo Chitose (15.20)
14-April 2004 Sapporo Chitose (12.00) - Tokyo Haneda (13.30)

That should basically give me 3 full days. Is it sufficient?
Any good pointers on where to stay cheap?


Hallvard

Sapporo Chitose Airport is quite a distance from downtown Sapporo, and is
actually located in Chitose City. You can easily take a JR Hokkaido train
into Sapporo in around 35 minutes. Make sure you get off at Sapporo Station
(and not Shin-Sapporo which is beforehand).

Timetables from the airport to Sapporo can be found at:
http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/e2.html.

Timetables from Sapporo back to Chitose Airport can be found at:
http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/e1.html

The main JR Hokkaido website can be found at:
http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/menu.html

JR East (Tokyo) operate an English telephone service on behalf of all Japan
Railways (JR) group companies. If you need any assistance whilst in Japan
with JR services, give them a call on: 03-3423-0111 between 10:00am and
6:00pm daily.

At Sapporo Station itself there is a myriad of interconnecting passageways
full of shops, along with a new JR Tower shopping centre. If you are
interested in the latest electronic gadgets etc, then "Bic Camera" and
"Yodobashi Camera" are within a few minutes walk of the station.

http://kanko.pref.hokkaido.jp/kankod...n/e/index.html

It is probably worthwhile walking from Sapporo Station through the city and
Odorii Park (the main park that runs along the city, with a TV tower at the
end of the park). Underneath Odorii Park there is also many shops.
Alternatively, you can take the Subway (not JR, local municipal subway) from
Sapporo Station to Odorii Station.

Odorii Park is the home of the annual "Snow Festival" held every February.

Make sure you take a look at the former Hokkaido Government Office building
and the Clocktower (downtown) - both historical buildings.

Also, worthwhile a visit to the Sapporo Beer Garden/Brewery/Museum - if you
are with some other people, the "all you can eat/drink in 90 minutes" offer
(BBQ lamb 'genghis khan' - cook at the table) offer can;t be beaten. Take a
taxi from Sapporo station: http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/sapporo/

If you have time to venture further afield, I would suggest a visit to Otaru
(take JR train from Sapporo - refer to JR Hokkaido site again), which is
another city, with a harbor/port. There are lots of interesting little shops
around downtown there - the most famous being Kita-Ichi glass (sell lots of
handmade glass objects) and a shop with a million-and-one different types of
music-boxes. There is also a large shopping centre there (MY-CAL) attached
to the Hilton Otaru.

Noboribetsu City is also worth a visit to if you are interested in onsen
(hot spas) - take the JR train from Sapporo to Noboribetsu, however might be
a bit inconvenient getting to the onsen area - perhaps others could
elaborate.

Suggest you check out some of the links below, and for hard-copy pamphlets
etc contact your nearest office of the Japan National Tourist Organization
(JNTO) (refer to: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/JNTO/whats_jnto/index.html and
scroll down the bottom of the page).

Other links:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/RTG/
http://www.global.city.sapporo.jp/
http://www.snowfes.com/english/usein...st_info_e.html
http://www.all-hokkaido.net/marugoto...index05_01.htm
http://home.att.net/~h.mochizuki/sub9Hokkaido.html
http://www.city.chitose.hokkaido.jp/index-e.html


"Hallvard Tangeraas" wrote in message
...
I'll be taking a trip from Osaka to Sapporo (domestic flight, which I'm
not paying any extra for as it could be included in my round-the-world
ticket), stay there for a few days, then fly down to Tokyo.

I basically just thought I'd see as much of Japan as I can during my
stay there, so what's to see in that area, where do I stay, and is it
much effort to see othe rplaces in the area apart from Sapporo itself?
I'm clueless and need some tips.

It's up to me how long I want to stay (I can change the flight
times/dates as much as I want with a ticket like this, as long as there
are seats left of course), but for the time being I've set it up like
this:

10-April 2004 Osaka Itami (08.00) - Sapporo Chitose (15.20)
14-April 2004 Sapporo Chitose (12.00) - Tokyo Haneda (13.30)

That should basically give me 3 full days. Is it sufficient?
Any good pointers on where to stay cheap?


Hallvard