Sapporo-Otaru (Japan Shiribeshi)

Otaru is a port city on Hokkaido Island, in Japan's Shiribeshi Subprefecture, located approx 40 km / 25 mi northwest of Sapporo City and facing Ishikari Bay. A scenic waterway (canal) runs through the city. The city has population around 130,000. Otaru is the "principal cruise port" of Sapporo and both cities are directly connected by the Sasson Expressway/E5A (travel time around 1 hour). Sapporo's other port is Tomakomai (approx 50 km / 31 mi to the south of the city)

A popular city attraction is Nishin Goten (herring mansion) - big wooden building from 1897. It was initially built in a nearby village and in 1958 moved to the city. Visitors can see the difference between squalid conditions of the 1st floor sleeping quarters of 120 workers and ground floor luxury of owners' rooms.

Another notable building is Sakaushi residence, created by Yoshiya Tanoue, pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright. Another popular spot is the Tomioka Catholic church. Lots of the buildings have been titled as landmark architecture. In nearby Asarigawa Onsen village a new boutique resort that caters for outdoor leisure activity is under development by the Wisbey brothers, scheduled for completion 2017. Otaru is famous for its beer. Otaru Beer, next to the canal, is a restaurant with medieval theme. The city is also known for its fresh sushi. Otaru has substantial bazaars and shopping arcades, though fewer than nearby Sapporo. Its prominent industries are arts and crafts like musical boxes and studio glass.

Sapporo City

Sapporo City (Sapporo-shi) is Japan's largest lying north of Tokyo (the country's capital) and the largest on Hokkaido Island, with population around 2 million. Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido Prefecture and of the Ishikari Subprefecture. Sapporo is considered Hokkaido's cultural, economic and political center.

In 1972, Sapporo hosted the Winter Olympics - the first ever held in Asia, and the second held in Japan (after Summer Olympics 1964 held in Tokyo). Only Sapporo Snow Festival annually attracts 2+ million international tourists. The city is best known for its Sapporo Domu/Dome (2001-opened, 41600-seats stadium used primarily for world championship baseball and football games), Tokeidai (wooden clock tower/Japan's oldest/1878-built), Biru Hakubutsukan (1987-opened Beer Museum in Garden Park/Japan's only one/1890-built Sapporo Sugar Company building), Hokkaido University (1876-founded, Japan's 5th Imperial University), Sapporo Terebi-to (TV Tower in Odori Park/1957-built, height 147 m / 483 ft).

Sapporo has many nature and recreational parks, including Odori (in downtown, hosting several annual festivals), Moerenuma, Asahiyama, Art Park (open-air complex), Nakajima, Maruyama (with Maruyama Zoo, Nishioka (Tsukisamu River, marshlands, forests), Hokkaido University's Botanical Gardens, Hitsujigaoka Hill. Neighboring to Sapporo large cities include Ishikari, Ebetsu, Kitahiroshima, Eniwa, Chitose, Otaru, Date. Popular annual festivals in Sapporo include Snow Festival (February), Lilac Festival (May), Summer Festival, Autumn Festival (September), Odori Park's Christmas Market (December).

Sapporo City is served by two large international airports (Okadama, New Chitose), three railways (Hakodate Line, Chitose Line, Sassho Line). The 2005-founded SkyExpress (airport shuttle bus company) services daily and the whole year-round all Sapporo hotels. The company also provides transportation between several Hokkaido ski resorts (including Niseko/Mount Yotei).