Looking for a new city abroad to work remote in? Go to Sapporo! There’s tons to explore with many accessible cities nearby via train for a day trip. I had a list of beauty items to replenish and a list of must-eats in Sapporo, so the timing was impeccable. If you’re a remote tech worker, a runner, a foodie, or just looking for a great time in Sapporo, you’ve come to the right place.
For my foodies, details of the restaurants and cafes I visited can be found here. I list out wait times and provide direct links to places that need reservations. Shoutout to my San Francisco friends who frequent Sapporo often and prepped me with a bunch of recommendations!
Scroll all the way down for a TLDR itinerary download file.
Before you book flights, make sure you leave enough time for connections. Do not try to be ambitious and make the connection with less than 2 hours. Both times flying in and out of Sapporo, I either missed or nearly missed my connection, and it was such a harrowing experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Friday – Saturday, Day 1 & 2: Get to Sapporo
Long travel day! Take my advice above because we missed our connecting flight in Tokyo to get to Sapporo due to terminal transfer delays and long lines. There are plenty of kiosks, but our digital tickets from United did not work, so we had to speak to an agent. Agent counters are limited (there was only 1 counter open for ANA), so we ended up waiting in line for ~2.5 hours to get re-booked on the next flight out to Sapporo.
All that to say, prep for comfort – here are some of my essential items I always bring with me on international flights: (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
- Travel Pillow and eye mask
- Kleenex tissues
- Comfortable short hike backpack
- Compression socks
- Battery pack
- In-flight Toiletry Bag: lip balm, PF eyedrops, sunscreen stick (for reapplication), floss, one time use toothbrush, moisturizer, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, hand lotion.
- Luggage scale – This tool tremendously helped me with packing and avoiding an overweight luggage situation at the airport (especially on the way back from Japan after all the shopping I did).
Pre-flight preparations:
Make sure your phone either has eSIM set up and ready to go once you land in Japan or your phone plan is cleared for international roaming. I used T-mobile and it worked well.
Get screenshots of important hotel addresses to show the taxi or Uber drivers to confirm the drop off location. Set up the Suica transit card on Apple Wallet to easily use public transport. Plan to withdraw cash a convenience store instead of the airport for better exchange rates.
Sunday, Day 3: Fish Market & Local Parks
- Walk through Nijo fish market – try their seafood and whatever looks good!
- Kitchen Nagamori – specifically Hokkaido Hairy Crab (region’s specialty)
- Take pictures at Nakajima Park
- Get lunch at wherever looks good
- Soup Curry King
- Sapporo specialty
- Night stroll at Odori Park
- Sapporo TV Tower
For the runners who want to get in an early morning run, stay in a central location in Sapporo near the Toyohira River. This route has a paved path with gorgeous views of the mountains and cityscape and many entrance points. I’m in the middle of training for my first marathon, so I was able to get in a quick 5k or a longer 10k+ run along the river every morning. Treat yourself to a refreshing 7-Eleven fruit smoothie afterwards!
Monday, Day 4: Sapporo Ramen Alley
- Breakfast Cafe – Mermaid Cafe
- d:matcha Tea Tasting
- Sapporo Clock Tower
- Ramen Alley – Sapporo specialities:
- Miso Ramen
- Butter Corn Ramen
Mermaid Cafe is the perfect place to work remote while you eat breakfast and enjoy a cup of coffee. There are two floors with plenty of seating (for Japan), adorably decorated with wood carvings, and fast wifi. Every time we went, they had a self guided espresso tasting for coffee enthusiasts. Occasionally, the cafe will serve seasonal drinks – try them! My friend tried their delicious Yubari King Melon latte (the melon is a regional speciality).
Tuesday, Day 5: Sapporo Factory + Food
- Marumi Coffee
- Figure out Lunch
- Sapporo Factory
- Milk Mura
- Sapporo specialty
- Kadoya – unagi restaurant
Wednesday, Day 6: Hiking + Museum Day
- Pick up hiking snacks and water early in the morning (7-Eleven)
- Morning hike at Mount Moiwa (uber or walk to the starting location)
- Sapporo Beer Museum
- Reservation at Nukumi 6PM
Thursday, Day 7: Morning Stroll + Theme Park
- Tanukikoji – shopping street
- Hokkaido University – ginkgo avenue
- Shiroi Koibito Park
- Uber to the park if you plan on buying from their delicious gift shop
Shiroi Koibito Park is a theme park created by Ishiya, a local chocolate company. The company’s signature product, the Shiroi Koibito cookie, is one of Hokkaido’s most famous souvenirs. It features two thin butter cookies with a layer of white chocolate sandwiched in between. Dainty and delicious!
Friday, Day 8: Onsen Day
- Onsen day at Susukinotennen Onsen Toukakyou
- Try Japanese McDonald’s
- Reservation at Sushisai Wakichi 8:30PM
We spent most of our time at the onsen. If you like deep tissue massage, treat yourself to an appointment here. You don’t have to book ahead of time.
Saturday, Day 9: Last Day
I left this day open to revisit whatever we wanted to go back to and finish up shopping. My friend and I only traveled to Sapporo with our carry-ons, so we purchased checked bags to pack everything up. This is where the luggage scale comes in handy! Make sure to weigh your bags to avoid repacking at the airport.
Luggage hack: if you don’t plan on buying much in Japan, I recommend traveling with an empty duffel bag in your carry-on or as your personal item if you can’t fit it in your carry-on bag. This will save you money on purchasing additional bags while in Japan.
Sunday, Day 10: Bye Bye!
That concludes my one week work remote abroad! I need to make my way back here for the Sapporo Snow Festival and skiing! There’s so much more to be explored. Compared to my earlier Japan trips to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, etc, I’d say Sapporo is significantly less crowded and cheaper overall.
TLDR of Itinerary:
If this post inspired you or positively influenced your Japan trip in any way, please post below or reach out via email or instagram and share with me! I’d love to hear from you. ありがとう ございます!
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