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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Sapporo Clock Tower

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Admission	¥200 Adult ¥180 Adult groups over 20 Free for children under 15
Opening Hours	8:45 - 17:10 (last entry 17:00)
Closed	New Years - Jan 1 to Jan 3
Contact	011-231-0838
Notes	Wheelchair access Souvenir store inside Exhibits in multiple languages
Location / Getting There	5 minute walk from Odori subway station, or 8 minute walk from Sapporo station. Sapporo-shi Chuo-ku North Ichi West 2-chome

Iconic exterior

The Sapporo Clock Tower is one of the famous icons of the city and is located in centre of the Sapporo, right by Odori park. It is the perfect sightseeing spot and easy to drop into while exploring the city. The clock tower was built in 1878, and is the last remnant of the drill hall of the former Agricultural College, which is now Hokkaido University. Being one of the earliest remaining buildings in Sapporo, it is an interesting look back into the history of Sapporo. The city itself was chosen as the administrative centre of Hokkaido in 1868, which is the date currently recognized as the official birth of the city.

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2nd floor interior

The clock tower’s wooden exterior is characteristic to that of American architecture during the frontier era. The building has two accessible two stories and has recently been repainted in its original light green color. The first floor serves as an exhibition room with photos, dioramas, and objects introducing the history of the Agricultural College and the development of Sapporo. There is also a library and souvenir store here. The clock in the building was installed in July 1881 by E. Howard & Co. and the second floor has a working clock showing the mechanics of the design. At only ¥200, the popular Sapporo Clock Tower is an informative and cheap sightseeing spot.