2 Days in Hokkaido in August

I had a chance to stop at Sapporo, Hokkaido so I extended it and spent 2 full days there. August may not be the best time of the year to go to Hokkaido. It's a little warm and rainy. It is great in winter if you like snow and skiing. Spring is also beautiful. Furano is known for its flower fields in spring.

Getting Around

There is no Uber or the like at the time of this writing. Taxis are readily available. Public transportation is very convenient. I flew into Chitose Airport and too the train to Sapporo. The train connects most of major cities in Hokkaido and easy to use. 

In Sapporo, there is extensive subway and bus systems. I used the subway pretty exclusively.

Kitaca - I recommend getting a Kitaca card if you'll be traveling using rail and subway in Sapporo. It's a reloadable IC card that works for public transportation in Hokkaido and throughout Japan so it's very convenient. Simply ensure it's funded and you can use it boarding trains and subways without purchasing tickets. When you're done, return it to get a refund of the remainder of fund and $2 for the card itself. You can fund it through the terminals at most major stations. 

Sapporo

I simply chose to stay in Sapporo because it's the biggest city in Hokkaido and closest to Chitose International Airport. Though in hindsight, I would have chosen to spend a day in Sapporo and a day in Otaru instead.

Ramen - Sapporo is known for its miso shoyu ramen. If you like ramen, you should really try them. A well known ramen alley can be found here. You can find lots of info from Trip Advisor so I won't elaborate which one to try. I would say this, though.. The first one I tried had good reviews and I had to wait a little before I can sit down. The second time I decided to just pick one. I picked one that didn't have many people in it while others are waiting in line in the rain for the other one. I have to say, I thought the second one is actually better so...

All these ramen shops (in the alley) are small and have no servers. By the entrance, you'll find a vending machine looking thing with selections of ramen and whatever is served. You select what you want, put your money in (bring cash), and get tickets back. Give the tickets to the chef, sit down, and chef hands you the order when ready.

Tour at Asahi Brewery - If you like beer, I highly recommend it. The tour is free and quite good, especially if you understand Japanese because the tour is only given in Japanese. But they do provide an English audio guide device. Note that you do need to call and reserve ahead of time. The brewery is outside of Sapporo but you can take the subway Tozai line east to Nangonanachome Station and take a 10 minute walk to the factory. Tour includes 3 large glasses of different Asahi beers so why would you not go. :)

Hokkaido Shrine - To the west of Sapporo is Maruyama Park, where Hokkaido Shrine is situated. It's an easy subway ride from Sapporo. It's not the most iconic temple you would see in photos of Japan but it's worth a visit. The park itself is actually quite nice.

 

Otaru

I wish I had spent a night in Otaru so I didn't have to rush. Otaru is a smaller city by Ishikari Bay with a charming touristy strip and a canal. Beware that it is quite touristy. The buildings certainly have their charms. Few temples nestled around the town away from the crowds if you're willing to walk. Try the milk ice cream. It doesn't look like a big deal but it is the best plain milk ice cream I've had. The rich flavor of milk is heaven.

NIKKA Whiskey Distillery in Yoichi - If you really know your whiskeys, you would know NIKKA. Yoichi is a small town that is about 30 minutes west of Otaru via train. I don't think Kitaca card works here. I pre-purchased round trip tickets from Otaru to / from Yoichi at Sapporo station. The tour is also free. There's a guided tour but you don't need to follow it. You can walk around the campus at your own pace. They give the drink tickets at entrance so you can also just head straight for the free whiskey. The portion of samples are small but they do have a restaurant so you can always pay for more.

滝波食堂 - Instead of hanging with the tourists at any of those tourists restaurants, go here if you truly enjoy sushi, sashimi, and fresh seafood. That bowl of goodness if US$35 but totally worth it. 

Also, if you can, go to 伊勢鮨 - Isezushi. It's a Michelin star restaurant. I wish I knew about it before I went.. :( You can tell me whether it's worth it or not. I'm not recommending but I'm letting you know it's there.

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