Leaving Sapporo (EN)

I’ve been closing my Hokkaido visit by spending two nights in Sapporo, before flying further south and enjoy a different island of this beautiful Country.

Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido, stands as a testament to Japan’s unique blend of traditional beauty and modern innovation: this city boasts a rich history, scenic beauty, and a vibrant urban lifestyle, making it an appealing destination for travelers, after the wilderness of this beautiful region.

Let’s brush up a bit of history: established in 1868, Sapporo quickly grew in significance as a center for trade and commerce. Its grid-like layout is an clear anomaly in Japanese urban design and was inspired by western cities, offering ease of navigation for visitors. The city gained international attention when it hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972, showcasing its perfect winter conditions and advanced infrastructure.

A reasonably small city center can be easily visited on foot, as all the main attractions are really close by, and even the Hokkaido Jingwush Shrine, located on the east side, is only 45’ walk away. Very safe, as any other city in Japan, Sapporo also has it’s night and entertainment district, Sushiko, but do not expect anything wide: it’s nicely crowded at night, mostly over the weekend, and it’s worth paying a visit for dinner.

Talking about food, as for gastronomy, Sapporo is quite a paradise. The city is famed for its fresh seafood, notably king crabs and scallops: I had lunch in the Nijo fish market, where you may really love your meal, unless you’re coming from Wakkanai as I did, and comparing this with the experience there is almost unfair. What I had in north Hokkaido the sea urchins and scallops stays as best in my life. Anyway (and I know very well I should never start a sentence like this), experience is amazing, and cost extremely reasonable, staying in the range of $15/$20 for a full meal, beer included.

Totally different experience is what I rewarded myself with wagyu beef, enjoying 100g tenderloin and 100g chateaubriand, prepared on a teppaniaky by a capable and charming chef. If you ever tasted this meat outside Japan, you know that its marbling fat is offering an unmatched tasting experience, worth the premium price you pay for that. Here I almost decided to become vegan after tasting it, as I would never ever get something similar, and want to avoid the disappointment. It’s not delicious, is above any expectation you may have. Price-wise, you really pay for it: just be ready to milk your credit card with 10 times what is the cost of a ramen here.

Talking about that, what truly sets it apart is the local signature dish, Sapporo Ramen. This distinct ramen style, characterized by its rich miso-based broth, is a culinary experience that every visitor must indulge in. Fresh, tasty, prepared and served in tens of different ways, it’s an amazing and cheap meal that you can enjoy in every corner of the city.

Time to leave Hokkaido: after the furthermost experience of Japan, I’m Dow heading south, planning to land in Fukuoka later in the day, and from there train back to Tokyo where old friends of mine are arranging a Sumo event for me.

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