Sapporo-Tomakomai (Japan Hokkaido-Iburi)

Cruise ships to Sapporo dock at Port Tomakomai (approx 50 km / 31 mi to the south of Sapporo City), part of Japan's Iburi Subprefecture on Hokkaido Island (Hokkaido Prefecture). However, Sapporo's "principal cruise port" is Otaru (approx 40 km / 25 mi to the southeast via Sasson Expressway).

Tomakomai City (Tomakomai-shi) is a major port (locode JPTMK) and Iburi's largest city (5th-largest on Hokkaido) with population around 180,000 and total area approx 562 km2 (217 mi2). The village was founded in 1873, received town status in 1918 and city status in 1948. The city is served by New Chitose Airport, three railways (Muroran Main Line, Chitose Line, Hidaka Main Line) and two highways (Hokkaido and Hidaka).

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).