Sapporo is familiar to millions around the world as the site of the 1972 Winter Olympics—and to millions more as the home of the Sapporo beer brewery. This Hokkaido island city is one of the most modern in Japan (most buildings are less than 100 years old).
In our opinion, it's not worth going out of your way to see—
unless a visit coincides with the February Snow Festival in Odori Park. At that time, residents make giant ice carvings that last for several weeks (Sapporo is not a place for those with thin blood—it's easily as cold as Montreal in the winter). Other attractions include the Ainu Museum, which depicts the life and culture of Hokkaido's indigenous people, Daisetsusan National Park and the nearby Noboribetsu Spa. Take the train from Tokyo and you'll go through the Seikan Tunnel (at 34 mi/55 km, it's one of the longest underwater tunnels in the world).
515 mi/830 km northeast of Tokyo.