Sapporo Off the Beaten Path: 16 Hidden Gems in Sapporo Only Locals Know (2025)

1 July 2025

Discover the secret side of Sapporo! From art parks and cozy cafes to ancient ruins and scenic trails, explore 16 hidden gems in Sapporo that locals love and guidebooks often miss.

1. Moerenuma Park: Where art meets nature in a city oasis

Designed by the iconic Isamu Noguchi, Moerenuma Park is a sculptural dreamland where every hill, fountain, and pathway feels like a piece of art. The glass pyramid “Hidamari” steals the show, shimmering like a futuristic temple.

Whether you’re strolling through cherry blossoms or marveling at snowy fields, this park is peaceful, poetic, and unforgettable.

Details
Address: 1-1 Moerenuma Park, Higashi-ku
Hours: 7:00–22:00 (Nov–Feb: 9:00–17:00)
Closed: Open year-round
Access: 25 min by bus from Kanjodori-higashi Station
Fee: Free (Glass Pyramid has a separate fee)
Official site

2. Makomanai Takino Cemetery: A meditative haven with a giant Buddha

This might be the most peaceful place you’ll ever find in Sapporo. Hidden in a quiet area, this cemetery is home to the “Hill of the Buddha,” designed by architect Tadao Ando. A colossal Buddha head rises from a sea of lavender—surreal and spiritual all at once.

Details
Address: 2 Takino, Minami-ku
Hours: Apr–Oct: 7:00–19:00 / Nov–Mar: 7:00–18:00
Closed: Open year-round (Admin office closed during holidays)
Access: 15 min by bus from Makomanai Station
Fee: Free
Official site

3. Yurigahara Park: A flower lover’s paradise

More than 100 types of lilies bloom here, alongside seasonal flowers that turn this park into a colorful canvas year-round. With a greenhouse, family areas, and wide-open lawns, it’s ideal for peaceful walks and laid-back afternoons.

Details
Address: 210 Yurigahara Park, Kita-ku
Hours: 8:45–17:15
Closed: Open year-round (some facilities vary)
Access: 10 min walk from Yurigahara Station
Fee: Free (greenhouse has an entry fee)

4. Hokkaido University Ginkgo Avenue: Fall’s golden tunnel of trees

In autumn, a 380-meter path lined with around 70 ginkgo trees turns into a golden dream. Located inside Hokkaido University, this peaceful walkway is a beloved fall tradition for locals and a hidden treasure for visitors.

Details
Address: Kita 13 Nishi 5–7, Kita-ku
Hours: Open all day
Best season: Late October to early November
Access: 10 min walk from JR Sapporo Station
Fee: Free

5. Cafe Gakenoue: Coffee with a side of jaw-dropping views

Perched above a dramatic valley in Jozankei, this charming café offers stunning views in every direction. The menu features locally sourced dishes and drinks. It’s especially magical in autumn when the leaves turn fiery red.

Details
Address: 567-36 Jozankei, Minami-ku
Hours: 10:00–18:00 (subject to season/weather)
Closed: Mondays, New Year, and during bad weather
Access: 15 min walk from Jozankei Onsen Bus Terminal
Fee: Café menu prices apply

6. Miyanomori Frances Illumination: A church that glows like a fairy tale

photo by PIXTA

Each winter, this wedding chapel lights up with a display that turns it into a dreamy wonderland. The pure white church wrapped in colorful lights feels like something out of a storybook—romantic, quiet, and camera-ready.

Details
Address: 3-25 Miyanomori 3-jo 10-chome, Chuo-ku
Hours: Weekdays 11:00–19:00 / Weekends 10:00–19:00
Season: Late October – Late February (from dusk to 22:00)
Closed: Mon & Tue, year-end holidays
Access: 15 min walk from Nishi 28-chome Station
Fee: Free

7. Yukitouro Snow Candle Path: A winter event that glows in the snow

Held at Jozankei Shrine in late January, this magical event features dozens of snow lanterns flickering with candles. It’s quiet, cozy, and perfect for soaking in the serene beauty of Hokkaido’s winter nights.

Details
Address: 3-chome, Jozankei Onsen, Minami-ku
Dates: Jan 25 – Feb 1, 2025
Hours: 18:00–21:00
Access: 5 min walk from Jozankei Onsen Bus Terminal
Fee: Free
Official site

8. Sapporo Fushimi Inari Shrine: A tunnel of torii gates in the heart of the city

Modeled after Kyoto’s famous Fushimi Inari, this small but beautiful shrine features 27 vivid red torii gates. The spiritual atmosphere and quiet surroundings make it a peaceful power spot loved by locals.

Details
Address: 2-2-17 Fushimi, Chuo-ku
Hours: Shrine grounds 24h / Office 9:00–17:00
Closed: Open year-round
Access: 5 min walk from Susukino Station
Fee: Free

9. Maruyama Primeval Forest: A pocket of wild nature in the middle of the city

Just steps from downtown, this untouched forest lets you escape into silence and birdsong. Well-maintained trails wind through towering trees and lush greenery. It’s a quick but powerful nature reset.

Details
Address: Maruyama Nishimachi, Chuo-ku
Access: 10 min walk from Maruyama Koen Station
Hours: Open all day
Fee: Free

10. Sapporo City Archives Museum: A red-brick time machine to the Meiji era

Once a courthouse, now a museum, this retro building captures the feel of Meiji-era Sapporo. Inside, you’ll find exhibitions about the city’s history and architecture. Outside, it’s an Insta-worthy spot with serious charm.

Details
Address: Odori Nishi 13-chome, Chuo-ku
Hours: 9:00–19:00
Closed: Mondays, year-end holidays
Access: 5 min walk from Nishi 11-chome Station
Fee: Free

11. Toyohira Salmon Museum: A unique look at salmon and river life

photo by PIXTA

Here you can learn all about the life cycle of salmon and the Toyohira River ecosystem. There are tanks, hands-on exhibits, and even real-time salmon runs in autumn. Kids love it. Adults find it oddly fascinating.

Details
Address: 2-1 Makomanai Park, Minami-ku
Hours: 9:15–16:45
Closed: Mondays, New Year
Access: 10 min by bus from Makomanai Station
Fee: Free

12. Sapporo Waterworks Museum: Where water history flows

photo by PIXTA

Built on the site of the old Moiwa Water Treatment Plant, this educational museum explores the history of Sapporo’s water supply. Interactive exhibits and old machines make it surprisingly fun and very informative.

Details
Address: Fushimi 4-chome, Chuo-ku
Hours: 9:30–16:30
Closed: Mondays (or next weekday if Monday is a holiday)
Access: 15 min walk from Nishi 18-chome Station
Fee: Free

13. Sapporo Mura Local History Museum: Time travel to pioneer-era Sapporo

This local gem preserves the everyday life of early Sapporo settlers. From farming tools to photos of old neighborhoods, it’s a rich, hands-on window into the past. Great for kids and history nerds alike.

Details
Address: 2-6 Kita 13 Higashi 16-chome, Higashi-ku
Hours: 10:00–16:00 (last entry 15:30)
Closed: Mondays, holidays, New Year
Access: 10 min by bus from Maruyama Koen Station
Fee: Free

14. Sapporo Sewer Science Museum: Underground science you didn’t know you needed

photo by PIXTA

Who knew sewers could be cool? This interactive museum breaks down how wastewater is treated and reused. The highlight: walking through a massive sewer pipe replica—it’s weirdly thrilling.

Details
Address: 8-chome, Asabu, Kita-ku
Hours: 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (open daily in June–August)
Access: 15 min walk from Asabu Station
Fee: Free

15. Sapporo Youth Science Center: Science shows, hands-on experiments, and a planetarium

photo by PIXTA

This energetic science museum is packed with interactive displays and a cutting-edge planetarium. There are science shows, hands-on experiments, and enough “wow” moments to keep both kids and grown-ups entertained.

Details
Address: 5-2-20 Atsubetsu Chuo 1-jo, Atsubetsu-ku
Hours: 9:00–17:00
Closed: Mondays, last Tuesday of the month, holidays, New Year
Access: 8 min walk from JR Shin-Sapporo Station
Fee: ¥700 exhibit / ¥500 planetarium / ¥1,000 combo (Free for junior high students & under)

16. Sapporo Buried Cultural Property Center: Unearth the past through real archaeology

photo by PIXTA

This center showcases actual artifacts unearthed in Sapporo, from ancient pottery to tools used in daily life centuries ago. You can even join workshops and try making clay items. It’s quiet, educational, and totally underrated.

Details
Address: 1-1 Minami 22-jo Nishi 13-chome, Chuo-ku
Hours: 8:45–17:15
Closed: Mondays, holidays, New Year
Access: 10 min walk from Horohira-bashi Station
Fee: Free