JapanMe Hokkaido
Sapporo Private Car Hire & Driver
Sapporo — Private Car Hire & Driver
Odori Park — The Heart of Sapporo
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Itineraries
Model Courses from Sapporo
Explore Hokkaido at your own pace with a private car hire and driver. All itineraries are fully customisable to suit your interests and schedule.
Otaru Canal & Seafood Day Trip
- Sapporo (depart 9:00)
- Otaru Canal & Sakaimachi Street
- Otaru Music Box Museum
- Fresh seafood lunch at Otaru Sankaku Market
- Otaru Glassware shops
- Return to Sapporo (arrive ~17:00)
Approx. 40 min each way by private car. Perfect half-day or full-day escape from Sapporo.
Enquire about this course →Jozankei Onsen & Nature Day Trip
- Sapporo (depart 9:30)
- Jozankei Onsen town stroll
- Futami Suspension Bridge & Kappa Buchi
- Lunch at a riverside restaurant
- Afternoon soak at a day-use onsen
- Return to Sapporo (arrive ~17:30)
Only 27 km from Sapporo. Stunning autumn foliage from late September to mid-October.
Enquire about this course →Lake Shikotsu Crystal Blue Day Trip
- Sapporo (depart 9:00)
- Lake Shikotsu Visitor Centre
- Kayaking or boat cruise on the lake
- Picnic lunch by the lakeside
- Marukoma Onsen (optional day-use bath)
- Return to Sapporo (arrive ~17:00)
One of Japan's clearest lakes — the vivid turquoise water is unforgettable.
Enquire about this course →All itineraries are suggestions only. We tailor every trip to your preferences — just let us know your interests.
About Sapporo
Hokkaido's Vibrant Capital
Sapporo is the largest city in Hokkaido and the fifth-largest city in Japan, with a population of approximately 1.97 million. Founded in 1869 as the administrative centre of the newly developed Hokkaido territory, it was designed on a grid system inspired by North American city planning — making it unusually easy to navigate.
The city is world-famous for the Sapporo Snow Festival held every February, which draws over 2 million visitors with its spectacular snow and ice sculptures. In summer, Sapporo transforms into a lush green city, with Odori Park in full bloom and the surrounding mountains offering excellent hiking and cycling.
Sapporo is also celebrated as a food destination — home to the original Sapporo ramen (miso-based), fresh Hokkaido seafood at Nijo Market, and Sapporo Beer, brewed here since 1876. The city's vibrant dining and nightlife scene in Susukino is one of the largest entertainment districts in Japan outside of Tokyo and Osaka.
With a private car hire and driver, you can explore Sapporo's city highlights and easily reach surrounding attractions such as Otaru (40 min), Jozankei Onsen (50 min), and Lake Shikotsu (1 hour) — all at your own pace.
1.97M
Population
17 m
Elevation
Year-round
Best Season
Sightseeing
Top Attractions in Sapporo
From historic architecture to panoramic night views, Sapporo offers a remarkable range of experiences for every traveller.
Odori Park & Sapporo TV Tower
Stretching 1.5 km through the heart of the city, Odori Park is Sapporo's green spine and the venue for the world-famous Snow Festival in February and the Lilac Festival in May. The 147.2-metre Sapporo TV Tower at the eastern end offers a panoramic observation deck with sweeping views over the park and city grid. In summer, the park fills with flower gardens, beer gardens, and outdoor concerts.
Access: 5 min walk from Odori Station (Subway)
Tip: Visit at dusk for the best light on the TV Tower and park illuminations.
Sapporo Clock Tower
Built in 1878 as a drill hall for Sapporo Agricultural College (now Hokkaido University), the Sapporo Clock Tower is one of the city's most recognisable landmarks and a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan. The white clapboard building with its distinctive red-roofed clock tower has been keeping accurate time for over 140 years. The interior museum traces the history of Hokkaido's development.
Access: 5 min walk from Odori Station or JR Sapporo Station
Tip: The clock chimes on the hour — time your visit to hear it ring.
Former Hokkaido Government Office (Red Brick)
Completed in 1888, this magnificent Neo-Baroque red brick building served as the headquarters of the Hokkaido Development Commission. Known locally as 'Akarenga' (Red Brick), it is one of the finest examples of Meiji-era Western architecture in Japan. The surrounding gardens are beautifully maintained and offer a tranquil escape from the city bustle, with seasonal flowers in spring and summer.
Access: 10 min walk from JR Sapporo Station
Tip: Free entry to the building and gardens. The interior exhibition on Hokkaido's history is worth 30 minutes.
Mt. Moiwa Ropeway & Night View
Mt. Moiwa (531 m) offers one of Japan's most celebrated night views, recognised alongside Hakodate and Nagasaki as a 'Top 3 Night View' destination. The ropeway and mini cable car ascend to the summit observation deck, where on clear nights the entire city of Sapporo sparkles below. In summer, the mountain is popular for hiking and cycling, while winter transforms it into a ski resort.
Access: 40 min by bus + ropeway from Sapporo Station
Tip: Arrive 30 minutes before sunset to watch the city transition from day to night.
Sapporo Beer Museum
Japan's oldest beer brand was born in Sapporo in 1876, and this magnificent red brick brewery — now a museum — tells the full story of Sapporo Beer's 150-year history. The free museum tour takes you through the brewing process and the history of Hokkaido's development, while the adjacent beer hall offers fresh Sapporo Draft and Hokkaido cuisine in a spectacular Victorian industrial setting.
Access: 15 min by subway from Sapporo Station (Higashi-Kuyakusho-mae Station)
Tip: The Tasting Salon offers a flight of three Sapporo beers — the perfect way to end the tour.
Susukino Entertainment District
Susukino is the largest entertainment district in Japan north of Tokyo, with over 4,000 bars, restaurants, clubs, and entertainment venues packed into a compact area just south of Odori Park. By day it is a lively shopping and dining precinct; by night the neon signs illuminate the streets in a blaze of colour. It is the best place in Sapporo to sample Hokkaido's famous cuisine — from miso ramen to fresh crab and lamb barbecue (Jingisukan).
Access: 2 min walk from Susukino Station (Subway)
Tip: Try Sapporo miso ramen at one of the traditional ramen shops in Ramen Alley (Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho).
Day Trips & Beyond
Sapporo & Surrounding Attractions
Sapporo's greatest advantage as a base is its proximity to Hokkaido's finest natural and cultural attractions — all accessible by private car hire.
Sapporo sits at the heart of a remarkable network of day-trip destinations. Within two hours by private car, you can reach volcanic hot spring resorts, crystal-clear caldera lakes, historic canal towns, and world-class ski slopes. A private driver allows you to combine multiple destinations in a single day without the constraints of public transport schedules.
32 km
~40 min
Otaru
Historic canal town, glassware, fresh seafood
27 km
~50 min
Jozankei Onsen
Mountain hot spring resort, autumn foliage
48 km
~1 hr
Lake Shikotsu
Crystal-clear volcanic caldera lake
120 km
~2 hr 15 min
Noboribetsu Onsen
Jigokudani Hell Valley, premier hot springs
110 km
~1 hr 50 min
Lake Toya
Stunning caldera lake, Showa Shinzan volcano
110 km
~2 hr
Niseko
World-class ski resort, outdoor activities
Day Trips
Top Destinations Near Sapporo
All of these remarkable destinations are within easy reach by private car hire — explore them as day trips or include them in a multi-day itinerary.
Otaru — 32 km from Sapporo
Otaru Canal
Otaru's iconic canal, lined with beautifully preserved stone warehouses dating from the Meiji and Taisho eras, is one of Hokkaido's most photographed scenes. The 1.1-km canal was built in 1923 to facilitate the unloading of cargo ships and has been transformed into a romantic promenade with gas lanterns, café terraces, and boutique shops. The adjacent Sakaimachi Street is famous for handcrafted glassware and music boxes.
Access: 40 min by private car from Sapporo
Tip: Visit at dusk when the gas lanterns are lit — the reflection in the canal is magical.
Jozankei — 27 km from Sapporo
Jozankei Onsen
Nestled in a mountain gorge along the Toyohira River, Jozankei is Sapporo's closest onsen resort — often called 'Sapporo's backyard hot spring'. The town's sodium chloride springs are said to be effective for fatigue recovery and skin conditions. In autumn (late September to mid-October), the surrounding mountains burst into spectacular red and orange foliage, making it one of Hokkaido's finest autumn leaf viewing spots.
Access: 50 min by private car from Sapporo
Tip: The Futami Suspension Bridge offers a dramatic view of the gorge — best in autumn.
Noboribetsu — 120 km from Sapporo
Noboribetsu Jigokudani
Jigokudani, meaning 'Hell Valley', is the dramatic volcanic crater that supplies the hot spring water to Noboribetsu Onsen — Hokkaido's most famous hot spring resort. The otherworldly landscape of boiling sulphuric pools, red rock formations, and billowing steam vents is unlike anything else in Japan. A wooden boardwalk allows visitors to walk through the valley and observe the geothermal activity up close.
Access: 2 hr 15 min by private car from Sapporo
Tip: Combine with an overnight stay at a traditional ryokan for the full onsen experience.
Toyako — 110 km from Sapporo
Lake Toya
Lake Toya is a near-perfect circular caldera lake formed by a volcanic eruption approximately 110,000 years ago. The lake's deep blue waters are dotted with four small islands and framed by the conical peak of Mt. Yotei — often called 'Hokkaido's Fuji'. The lakeside town of Toyako Onsen offers excellent hot spring hotels, and the nearby Showa Shinzan volcanic dome (formed in 1943-1945) is a remarkable geological curiosity.
Access: 1 hr 50 min by private car from Sapporo
Tip: In summer, nightly fireworks are launched over the lake from April to October.
Chitose — 48 km from Sapporo
Lake Shikotsu
Lake Shikotsu is one of Japan's clearest and deepest lakes, with water transparency reaching up to 20 metres. The vivid turquoise colour of the water — caused by the extreme clarity and depth — is breathtaking. The lake is a caldera formed by a massive volcanic eruption approximately 40,000 years ago and is surrounded by three active volcanoes. Kayaking and canoeing on the lake offer an intimate perspective on this pristine natural environment.
Access: 1 hr by private car from Sapporo
Tip: The lake rarely freezes in winter due to its depth — making it a year-round destination.
Otaru — 32 km from Sapporo
Otaru Canal at Night
As dusk falls over Otaru, the canal transforms into one of Hokkaido's most romantic scenes. The gas lanterns lining the towpath cast a warm amber glow over the stone warehouses, their reflections shimmering in the still water. The evening atmosphere is perfect for a leisurely stroll, with many of the converted warehouses now housing restaurants and bars serving fresh Hokkaido seafood and local sake.
Access: 40 min by private car from Sapporo
Tip: The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival (February) turns the canal into a magical winter wonderland.
Transparent Pricing
Private Car Hire Rates
Day tours from $180 · Multi-day packages from $770 · Up to 4 passengers
Enquiry
Book Your Sapporo Private Driver
Tell us your travel dates and pick-up location. We will respond within 24 hours with a personalised quote.