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Sapporo Tourist Attractions

Sapporo became well known around the world after hosting the 1972 Winter Olympics. Today the city draws international attention for the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, one of Japan's largest winter events. The highlights of this festival are the incredible snow and ice sculptures.
Sapporo has also hosted numerous important international events from world scale sporting competitions to a G8 summit.

Hitsuji-ga-oka

Hitsuji-ga-oka which means "hill of sheep" is located to the southeast of Sapporo and offers beautiful views over the city and countryside. As the name suggests, part of the view does include grazing sheep. On the hill is a sports facility that was used as a venue for the FIFA World Cup in 2002, and a statue of the American professor, Dr. William S. Clark.

Maruyama-koen Park

On the west side of Sapporo is Maruyama-koen Park, a multipurpose natural area that is very popular with visitors year round. In the spring this hill park comes to life with blooming of the wild cherry trees. In the winter, nearby Okurayama Ski Jump is a fun place to watch competitions.
Also located within Maruyama-koen Park is a zoo with a variety of native and exotic animals.

Mt Moiwa-yama

Towering above Sapporo is Mt Moiwa-yama. From the top there are great views out over the city. A ropeway will take you part way up the mountain and a lift will take you from there to the summit, for a total trip time of about 10 minutes. The scenery is beautiful by day or night.
Mt Moiwa-yama also has a ski hill on one side that is very popular in winter.

Jozan-kei-onsen Hot Spring

The Jozan-kei-onsen Hot Spring outside of Sapporo is located in a scenic valley with mountains adding to the scenery. The mineral waters of the hot springs attract many visitors from Sapporo.
There are also nearby walking trails in the Jozan Valley.

Odori Avenue Park

Located in Sapporo's city center is Odori Avenue Park. This pretty open space has gardens, fountains, and art sculptures. Odori Avenue Park is close to the underground shopping area and business district of Sapporo.