One of Japan's newest and nicest cities, Sapporo's population has grown from 7 in 1857 to nearly two million today. Being a new city, especially by Japanese standards, means it has little in the way of traditional architecture and the like of cities such as Kyoto. But what it lacks in "Japanese-ness" it makes up for with its lovely open, tree-filled boulevards to enjoy in summer and excellent snow (and facilities to cope with said snow) in the long winter.

Main Attractions in Sapporo
Sapporo is perhaps best known for the beer brewed here since 1891: a visit to the handsome, late-nineteenth-century Sapporo Brewery is a must, as is a stroll through the gardens and museums of the Botanical Gardens, which date from the same era. After dark, the bars and restaurants of Susukino (pronounced "sus-kino") spark to life and you'll be hard pressed to find a livelier nightlife district outside of Tokyo or Osaka.

Travel Tips in Sapporo
Chitose Airport is about 30 miles away from Sapporo city, so take Airport Limousine bus or JR train to get to the center of Sapporo city. It takes about one hour.