Kotan Hachiman Shrine

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Kotan Hachiman Shrine was founded in 1856 and was officially named a township shrine in 1875. It was listed as a local shrine on the 28th of April 1911. The purpose of the shrine is to follow the great principles of the deity, Hondawake no Mikoto. Hondawake no Mikoto is also more commonly known as the Emporer Ōjin. Read More ....

Otaru Canal Museum & Information Center

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Otaru City General Museum Canal Museum has an extensive collection that introduces the history of Otaru City including information on the natural environment. The exhibition includes 20,000 objects and materials in its collection. The museum is located by Otaru Canal and can be found in the 'former Otaru warehouse'. Read More ....

Tokai Lavender Fields

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On the Tokai Sapporo School campus the grounds really comes alive with lavender. It is said that the south district of Sapporo, where the campus is located, is known as the birthplace of lavender cultivation in Japan. Read More ....

Urahoro Shrine

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During the Meiji Era, as the town of Urahoro (on the south east coast of Hokkaido) was being developed, the pioneers called for the construction of a shrine to serve as a spiritual centre. On August 15, 1896, a small shrine was erected, enshrining Amaterasu (goddess of the sun and the universe). Read More ....

Onnenai Visitor Center

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The Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, also known as the Kushiro Marshland is a sprawling national park to the north of Kushiro. There are half a dozen observation decks, museums, and walking paths that surround the park. The Onnenai Visitor Center is one of these museums and can be found on the western side of the marshland. Read More ....

Kushiro Shitsugen National Park

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The Kushiro Shitsugen National park (better known as the Kushiro Marshland) is a national park, located to the north of Kushiro on the eastern side of Hokkaido. The park is known for its wetlands ecosystems. 'Shitsugen' translates to wetlands in English. It was designated as a national park on 31 July 1987. The massive park covers an area of 268.61 square kilometres on the Kushiro plain and is well known for its wildlife and vegetation. Read More ....

Kushiro Marsh Observatory

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Perched at the top of a large hill, overlooking Kushiro Marsh, you can find the Kushiro Marsh Observatory. This is one of the most interesting buildings in Hokkaido. The exterior, and especially the interior, has a strange and unique design and is reminiscent of a cool sci-fi movie. The central hall of the museum is definitely a place to get some photos. Read More ....

Obihiro Shrine

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In 1881, a man named Benzo Yoda and others from Shizuoka Prefecture organized a pioneer group called the "Bansei-sha". This group and settled inShimo-Obihiro Village and started pioneering. During this time, they started holding festivals and later built a small shrine, though the connection with the current Obihiro Shrine is still not well known. Read More ....

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Hokkaido-Sapporo Tourist Information Center

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Opening Hours	8:30 - 20:00
Closed	-
Contact	011-213-5088
Notes	Tourist information centre, English speaking staff, ATM, money exchange, coffee shop, wheelchair access
Location / Getting There	Located at Sapporo station, across from the east exit. It is next to the Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza. 〒060-0806 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Kita Ward, Kita 6 Jonishi, 4 Chome, JR Sapporo Station West Concourse

For those newly arrived in Sapporo, or Hokkaido for that matter, this centre is an extremely useful resource to have access to. The information centre is convenient to find and easily accessible. The centre is located across from the east exit at Sapporo Station and is part of the Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza. The large counter here is attended by helpful employees who can speak English. They are happy to assist you with any inquiries you may have whether it be for the JR train to bookings and hotels.. There are plenty of brochures with information not only of Sapporo, but of all the main sightseeing cities in Hokkaido.

The Sapporo Information Centre also has a money exchange machine which is very handy. This machine has ten different languages to choose from making it easy to use and about a dozen different currencies to exchange. For other quick money, there is an ATM on the premises. There are prepaid sim cards to use for your phone which are available here. Also for electrical appliances there are charging stations. So, for those just arriving and need some extra info, the Hokkaido Sapporo Information Centre is the perfect spot.