It would be a mistake to consider the Sapporo Station as only a place to catch trains. The new facilities in Sapporo city, Hokkaido, were completed in 2003 with considerable attention given to creating a functional and attractive space in the heart of downtown for shopping, dining, commuting. In addition to serving all of the JR lines in Sapporo, two of the subway lines also stop there. Many visitors will make their way to Sapporo by flying into Hokkaido‘s New Chitose Airport and catching the train to Sapporo. The Sapporo Station Bus Terminal is located on the southeast side of the building, and there are many shopping centers clustered around it, particularly on the south side.
Sapporo Station in winter (photo: David McKelvey)
There are many businesses located in the building, including the JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo on the 22nd through 35th floors. Also of note is the Sapporo Ramen Republic on the 10th floor of the Esta Shopping Center. There are several regional ramen variations of note which are featured in the 8 retro ramen shops. The shops are branches of ramen chains, and many rotate regularly. The whole floor is reminiscent of early post-war Japan, and includes shrines, a steam engine, and more in the theme-park atmosphere. Sapporo Ramen Republic is open from 11 am to 10 pm, with closing days varying by shop.
Sapporo Ramen Republic in Sapporo Station (photo: toyohara/flickr)
Another good place to visit is the T38 Observation Deck on the 38th floor. At 160 meters (about 525 feet) above the ground, it has amazing panoramic views of Sapporo and the surrounding mountains. The viewing platforms, information displays, and even the music have an integrated feel which create a memorable experience.
Sapporo Station JR TOWER Observation Deck, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan (photo: かがみ～/flickr)
The T38 Observation Deck is open from 10 am to 11 pm with a last entry at 10:30 pm. General admission is 700 yen. It is interesting to note that the Sapporo Station Tower is the tallest building north of the Kanto Region.
