Sapporo Landmarks and Monuments

(Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan)

Sapporo offers visitors a range of landmarks from old to modern. To kick off your tour, take a ride up the Sapporo TV Tower for a spectacular overview of the city and its surroundings, or pay your respects at the Hokkaido Jingu Shrine, before touring the Old Hokkaido Government Building.

If entertainment is what you're looking for, go no further than the Sapporo Dome or the Concert Hall, both of which are important local landmarks in their own right, offering regular performances by international and Japanese stars alike. Sapporo's main landmarks are explained below.

Sapporo Dome

Address: 1 Hitsujigaoka, Sapporo, 01 062 0045, Japan, JP
Tel: +81 011 850 1020
Seating almost 43,000 sports fans, the striking all-weather Sapporo Dome enjoys an elevated setting on the outer reaches of the city and is engulfed by the attractive scenery that is characteristic of the region, covering around 75 acres / 30 hectares. This versatile venue hosts mostly sports games, including baseball and football, while it is also the site of occasional exhibitions, ceremonies, corporate shows, athletics events and concerts. This high-tech setting opened in 2001 and features an acclaimed hovering grass football pitch, which is transported inside the dome by a system of wheels and air pressure before the start of the game.
Open hours: seasonal variations
Admission: charge

Hokkaido Jingu

Address: Miya-ga-Oka 474, Sapporo, 064 0959, Japan, JP
Tel: +81 011 611 0261
The Hokkaido Shrine is comparatively new in relation to many of Japan's other famous shrines. Established around 150 years ago, this is the most significant shrine in the city of Sapporo, despite its fairly youthful age. The shrine is devoted to three gods and visitors can come and watch locals make offerings to these deities. May is a particularly popular month for visiting the Hokkaido Jingu shrine, when the temple's 1,000-plus cherry trees burst into bloom to create a magnificent canopy of blossom. The shrine now stages the Sapporo Matsuri Festival, held annually towards the beginning of the summer season.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 16:30
Admission: no charge

Old Hokkaido Government Building

Address: Kita 3, Nishi 6, Sapporo, 060 0003, Japan, JP
Tel: +81 011 231 4111
Built at the end of the 19th century, this prominent local landmark has been accorded status as a significant national cultural structure. The design of red bricks closely follows the Massachusetts State House and gives the Old Hokkaido Government Building an air of confidence. It contains the archives of Hokkaido, as well as other important historical documents, being displayed alongside photos depicting the changes Sapporo has undergone since its early days. The surrounding gardens are well landscaped and offer a great place to relax after you have completed touring the site.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: no charge

Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara

Address: 1-15 Nakajima Koen, Sapporo, 01 064 8649, Japan, JP
Tel: +81 011 520 2000
Opened fairly recently at the end of the 20th century, this remarkable concert hall is home to the prestigious and much-loved Sapporo Symphony Orchestra. The Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara features two main halls, with the smaller venue being used for chamber music concerts and performances by solo artists. The other, larger hall seats over 2,000 people and boasts many outstanding orchestral concerts, which are held here throughout the year and attract leading orchestras and solo musicians. Within this part of the city, this building is one of the most eye-catching modern landmarks, being instantly recognisable by its stylish curving glass façade and contemporary architecture.
Open hours: seasonal variations
Admission: charge

TV Tower

Address: Odori W, Sapporo, 01 060 0042, Japan, JP
Tel: +81 011 241 1131
The Sapporo TV Tower stands at almost 150 metres / 492 feet high and offers exceptional city vistas from its 90-metre / 295-foot high observation level. Expect to enjoy unparalleled views of Odori Park, the mountains, and on clear days, it is even possible to see the coastline in the distance.

Other attractions on offer at the tower include restaurants, souvenir shops and a game zone, providing enough entertainment for a few hours. The TV Tower lies on the northern side of the city and dominates the area.
Open hours: daily - 09:30 to 21:00
Admission: no charge