The 9 BEST Sapporo Tours & Cultural Experiences 2025 - Local Guide with Comparison Table
Sapporo is the central city of Hokkaido where many people and shops gather. It's also a gourmet city with lots of local cuisine such as soup curry and Sapporo Miso Ramen.
Particularly in the entertainment district Susukino area in Sapporo City, there are restaurants and bars with unique character serving delicious food and drinks.
Around Sapporo, there are also perfect day-trip areas such as the Biei/Furano area famous for beautiful and magnificent flower fields and nature, and the Noboribetsu area with famous caldera lakes and hot springs.
This time, we'll introduce various types of Sapporo Tours available in Sapporo. We've organized food tours, night tours, and hire car tours for day trips to surrounding areas by category, comparing their features.
If you're looking for fun Sapporo Tours to participate in during your Sapporo trip, please refer to our comparison table and article.
Types of Sapporo Tours Available
There are mainly four types of Sapporo Tours:
- Tours to enjoy Sapporo's exquisite food
- Tours to enjoy nightlife in Susukino
Walking tours guided by local guides who know the area inside and out to - Sapporo's tourist attractions
- Private hire car tours to enjoy natural spots and tourist attractions around Sapporo
Among the food tours where you can enjoy Sapporo's exquisite gourmet cuisine, there are daytime walking gourmet tours where you can enjoy lunch, and bar hopping & food tours where you can also enjoy alcohol at night.
Those who want to visit the famous market Nijo Market should join daytime tours, while those who want to go to restaurants in the entertainment district Susukino should participate in night tours.
Also, if your purpose isn't dining but you want to enjoy nightlife in Susukino at night, choose night tours that focus mainly on drinking and entertainment experiences at bars.
For those who want to thoroughly sightsee Sapporo City's famous spots and learn about the city's history and culture, we recommend participating in walking tours guided by local guides. Check the guide's knowledge level and whether destinations can be customized for each tour.
To visit the popular surrounding spots in Biei/Furano area or Noboribetsu area requires a full day. Those who want to leave Sapporo City and go to surrounding spots should choose hire car tours where you can secure a private car for the day.
Comparison of Recommended Sapporo Tours Introduced in This Article by Genre
- Food Hopping & Bar Hopping Tours
| Sapporo Bar Hopping Food Tour | Nijo Market Seafood Lunch & Local History Tour | Discover Susukino's Nightlife & Snack Bar Scene | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour Overview | Explore 3 bars and izakaya with a local guide | Walk through Sapporo City with a guide and have lunch at Nijo Market | Visit 2 unique bars with different styles alongside a guide |
| Features | Restaurant recommendations by an English-speaking local guide / 3 drinks and 3-4 dinner dishes | City and history commentary by a local guide / Seafood lunch at Nijo Market | Experience authentic Japanese small-scale hostess bars / Choice of karaoke bars and other options |
| Place to Visit | Sapporo City/Susukino/Japanese-style izakaya/ramen shop/cafe etc. | Clock Tower (Tokei-dai)/Sapporo City Hall/Sosei Bridge/Hokkaido Shrine Ton-gu/Nijo Market | Sapporo City/Susukino/small-scale hostess bar/Karaoke bar etc. |
| Number of Reviews | 176 | 5 | 0 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 5.0 | - |
| Booking Site | Official website | Viator | Viator |
| Estimated Cost | ¥12,765 per person (August 2025) | ¥9,500 per person (August 2025) | ¥19,800 per person (August 2025) |
| Recommended For | People who want to drink in Sapporo / Those looking to enjoy local nightlife | People who want to try exquisite seafood lunch in Sapporo / Those interested in learning about Sapporo's history | People who want to visit unique bars in Susukino at night |
- Walking Tours
| Sapporo 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide | Sapporo Private Tour: Highlights & Hidden Gems by a Local | |
|---|---|---|
| Tour Overview | 4-hour walking tour of Sapporo City with a private guide | Visit destinations in Sapporo City tailored to your interests with a local guide |
| Features | Government-certified knowledgeable guide / Efficient 4-hour sightseeing experience | Fully personalized destinations and itinerary / Guidance and commentary from a local's perspective |
| Place to Visit | Moerenuma Park / Historical Village of Hokkaido / Mt. Moiwa / Shiroi Koibito Park / Sapporo Beer Museum | Sapporo Odori Park / Sapporo Clock Tower / Sapporo Beer Museum / Nijo Market / Maruyama Park etc. |
| Number of Reviews | 30 | 56 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Booking Site | Tripadvisor | Tripadvisor |
| Estimated Cost | ￥17,000 per adult (August 2025) | ￥16,003 per adult (August 2025) |
| Recommended For | People who want to efficiently tour Sapporo City | People who want personalized sightseeing from a local perspective |
- Hire Car Tours
| Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls, Ningle Terrace (from Sapporo) | [Biei/Furano] One-day sightseeing by private car! | Lake Toya and Noboribatsu Hell Valley Private Day Trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour Overview | Private car day trip tour from Sapporo to Asahikawa and Biei/Furano | Private car day trip tour from Sapporo to Biei/Furano Depart from Sapporo by car and explore |
Shikotsu-Toya National Park with a private guide |
| Features | Visit popular spots in Biei/Furano by private car | Optional stop at Asahiyama Zoo Comfortable drive in a private car | Enjoy flowers, nature, and lunch in Biei and FuranoPrivate guide with extensive knowledge of nature / Private driver |
| Place to Visit | Asahiyama Zoo / Shirogane Blue Pond / Shirahige Falls / Ningle Terrace | Farm Tomita / Shikisai no Oka / Furano Marche / Blue Pond / Shirahige Waterfalls | Shikotsu-Toya National Park / Shikotsu Lake / Toya Lake / Noboribatsu Hell Valley / Mt. Usu |
| Number of Reviews | 45 | 36 | 21 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| Booking Site | Viator | Viator | Viator |
| Estimated Cost | ¥70,420.00 per group (up to 3) (August 2025) | ¥90,283.00 per group (up to 8) (August 2025) | ¥51,000.00 per person (August 2025) |
| Recommended For | People who want to take a day trip to Biei/Furano and also visit Asahiyama Zoo | People who want to thoroughly enjoy the flower fields and herb gardens in Biei/Furano | People who want to be thoroughly guided around the Noboribetsu area by a private guide |
For Bar Hopping While Enjoying Sapporo's Exquisite Cuisine, Tours with Locals are Recommended
If you want to enjoy Sapporo's exquisite gourmet food and alcohol together, try participating in Magical Trip's bar hopping tour.
The Sapporo Bar Hopping Food Tour allows you to be introduced to 3 bars and izakayas in the Susukino area by a local guide who knows Sapporo well.
With a local guide, you can experience real and authentic nightlife as locals spend their time, and savor exquisite gourmet food and drinks at hidden famous establishments.
Enjoy as Much Alcohol as You Like at Shops Beloved by Locals
The tour begins in Susukino, Sapporo's premier entertainment district area.
The guide is a local guide who loves Sapporo and knows very well the shops beloved by locals. In Susukino where there are countless shops, they'll take you to hidden famous establishments where locals gather to enjoy drinks, not tourist-oriented places.
At each shop, besides the 3 drinks included in the tour fee, you can also order much more alcohol. I drank Sapporo draft beer, a specialty of Hokkaido, which is a major production area for Japanese beer.
The exquisite taste with hop bitterness was so delicious that I asked the guide for recommendations and later went to visit the Sapporo Beer Museum.
Try Hokkaido's unique alcoholic beverages while asking the guide for recommendations.
Taste Sapporo's Exquisite Food That Becomes Delicious Each Season
Sapporo is a city where you can eat seasonal exquisite gourmet food created by Hokkaido's great nature.
For example, with seafood, horsehair crab is in season in spring, sea urchin in summer, and oysters in winter. All of these are high-end seafood in Japan, but in Hokkaido you can easily eat them at common people's establishments for enjoying alcohol - Izakayas and bars.
When I participated, it was winter, so I was taken to an oyster bar where I could eat exquisite oysters. The fresh oysters with bodies that seemed to shine had a juicy texture, and the taste and umami were very rich, surprising me with their deliciousness.
The shop was located in a place overlooking the Susukino streets where neon lights sparkle, and the location was also superb. During cold seasons, Ishikari hotpot, a local dish of vegetables and salmon simmered in miso, is also recommended.
Enjoy Cuisine While Deepening Understanding of Japanese Food Culture and Washoku Through Local Explanations
During the tour, the guide teaches you a lot about not only local Sapporo information but also Japanese food culture.
For example, ask about how to choose dishes that make beer and alcohol even more delicious at Izakayas. Edamame and tofu dishes are standard, and in Hokkaido, Genghis Khan stir-fried with plenty of vegetables is also commonly eaten.
Also, in Japanese drinking culture, people eat a final dish called "shime" at the end of a night of enjoying alcohol. In Sapporo, eating local gourmet Sapporo miso ramen or parfait made with Hokkaido milk is popular. If you ask the guide, they can take you to popular establishments where you can eat shime dishes for the third stop.
Please try the exquisite gourmet shime dishes that are essential to Sapporo nightlife.
- Meeting point：Under the giant NIKKA Sign outside of Susukino station/4-1 Minami 4-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Tour area：Susukino
- Start time：8：00
Recommended Food Hopping Tours to Enjoy Sapporo's Exquisite Food
Source:Viator
This tour is a food tour where you enjoy Sapporo sightseeing and exquisite lunch together with a guide. You'll first visit famous spots in Sapporo City such as the Clock Tower (Tokei-dai). At the end of the tour, eat an exquisite food lunch at Nijo Market beloved by Sapporo citizens.
Nijo Market is located in downtown Sapporo and is a market where fresh seafood gathers from all over Hokkaido. In this tour, you can enjoy sushi and seafood bowls using luxurious seafood unique to Hokkaido such as crab and scallops at guide-recommended restaurants in Nijo Market.
Also, not only can you enjoy gourmet food, but you can also properly hear explanations about the city's history and culture from the local guide. For those who want to thoroughly enjoy both sightseeing and gourmet food in a small group daytime tour, please try participating in this tour.
- Meeting point：Sapporo Clock Tower
2 Chome Kita 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0001, Japan
- Tour area：Sapporo City
- Start time：10:00
Recommended Night Tours to Enjoy Nightlife in Susukino
Source:Viator
This tour is conducted in Sapporo's entertainment district Susukino, where you can experience Sapporo's nightlife with guide assistance. You'll visit 2 charming bars popular with locals and enjoy alcohol and communication with local people.
The first stop visits a "Snack bar" which is standard in Japan. A "Snack bar" is a casual atmosphere bar where you enjoy alcohol while having fun conversations and games with female owners and staff.
For the second stop, you can choose your preference from many types of establishments. I chose a karaoke bar with a live band and enjoyed music with tour members. There are also chic bars with mature atmospheres, and you can be introduced from a rich selection.
This is also recommended as a tour for first-time Susukino night enjoyers to participate in initially. Learn properly from the guide about how to choose establishments in Susukino and how to enjoy nightlife.
- Meeting point：COCONOSUSUKINO
4-chōme-1-1 Minami 4 Jōnishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0804, Japan
- Tour area：Susukino
- Start time：18:30, 19:30
Walking Tours Guided by Experts Who Know Sapporo Inside and Out
Sapporo 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Source:Tripadvisor
This is a private tour where you walk and explore Sapporo City for 4 hours together with a government-certified guide. Choose 2-3 places from Sapporo's famous spots on the list, such as Moerenuma Park, Odori Park, Market, and Sapporo Science Museum, and explore them on foot with your guide.
The guides who live in Sapporo are extremely knowledgeable and well-versed in the city's history and must-see spots. What I found particularly delightful when I participated was the efficiency. In 4 hours, I was able to tour all of Sapporo's popular spots and learn lots of information about the city's history and culture, from basic to fascinating details.
After the tour ended, I received plenty of advice about spots I should visit during the rest of my stay in Sapporo. If you come to Sapporo City and want to learn about the city, these Sapporo Tours are highly recommended as your first experience.
- Meeting point: Sapporo Station, 3 Chome-4 Chome Kita 6 Jonishi, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido or Walk-in pickup from listed hotels
- Tour area:
- Start time: Every 30 minutes between 9:00 and 16:00
Sapporo Private Tour: Highlights & Hidden Gems by a Local
Source:Tripadvisor
This tour is a walking tour around Sapporo City with a local guide. The plan is customized according to a questionnaire after booking, so you can enjoy exploration and experiences in the places that are most interesting to you among Sapporo's many attractions.
The appeal of this tour is that local guides who love Sapporo enthusiastically introduce destinations tailored to participants' interests in gourmet food, history, nature, and more. Since I wanted to see the daily lives of local people, I was introduced to recommended spots that aren't for tourists.
I went to a park where local people walk their pets and was able to have enjoyable communication with the people there. Also, because the friendly guide gave me detailed advice on how to use the subway in Sapporo, my subsequent sightseeing became several times more enjoyable.
If you want to experience Sapporo from a local perspective and have a customized experience, definitely choose these exceptional Sapporo Tours.
- Meeting point: Hokkaido Sapporo City Tourist Information Center, Kita 6-jo Nishi 4-chome, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Tour area: Sapporo City
- Start time: 8:00/9:00/10:00/1:00/2:00/3:00/4:00
Recommended Hired Car Tours to Visit Tourist Spots Around Sapporo with a Guide
to Furano Area (included Asahikawa Zoo)
If you want to go outside Sapporo City to popular surrounding areas, choose hired car tours that can secure a vehicle for a day trip.
One of the most popular areas around Sapporo is the Biei/Furano area. On the way there by car from Sapporo, you can also stop by Asahikawa City, which has the famous Asahiyama Zoo.
Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls, Ningle Terrace (from Sapporo)
Source:Viator
This tour allows you to freely sightsee the Asahikawa and Biei/Furano areas accessible by car from Sapporo in a comfortable private car. You'll spend a day touring by car, visiting the famous Asahiyama Zoo, as well as popular spots in the Biei/Furano area such as Shirogane Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls.
While this tour is not a guided tour, when I participated, the driver enthusiastically introduced recommended places and souvenirs.
Additionally, the driver had extensive experience driving on Hokkaido's vast land, and despite heavy snowfall, the drive was comfortable and safe all day long.
Destinations can also be freely arranged. These Sapporo Tours are recommended for those who want a free day trip by car in the Biei/Furano and Asahikawa directions.
- Meeting point: Pick-up possible at your desired location (mainly Sapporo city) (advance notice required)
- Tour area: Biei/Furano, Asahikawa City
- Start time: 8:00
Hokkaido: Asahiyama Zoo, Furano, and Ningle Terrace Tour
Source:Viator
This tour also uses a private car to visit Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa City around Sapporo and the Biei/Furano area in a one-day trip tour. In Biei/Furano, you'll visit spots where you can enjoy beautiful nature such as Shirogane Blue Pond, as well as stop by Ningle Terrace, a commercial facility where you can enjoy shopping.
At Asahiyama Zoo, enjoy the "behavioral exhibition" where you can observe animals' natural ecology and behavior. It's also a nice bonus that the zoo admission fee is included in the tour price.
At Ningle Terrace, surrounded by Furano's beautiful forest, you can enjoy shopping for woodcrafts, leather products, accessories, and more in romantic forest lodge-style buildings.
I got a cute wool felt brooch of Shima-enaga, Hokkaido's bird. These comprehensive Sapporo Tours are recommended for those who want to enjoy a good balance of zoo visits, natural spots, and shopping.
- Meeting point: Kita 7-jo Nishi 3-chome, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido or 422-41 Minami 8-jo Nishi 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Tour area:
- Start time: 8:00
to Furano Area (Mainly Nature Spots)
If you want to enjoy tranquil and beautiful natural spots mainly featuring colorful flower fields, herbs, and beautifully clear blue ponds, choose Sapporo Tours that offer plans allowing you to stay longer in the Biei/Furano area.
[Biei/Furano] One-day sightseeing by private car!
Source:Viator
This is one of the most popular Sapporo Tours departing from Sapporo by private car to enjoy the beautiful natural spots of the Biei/Furano area over a full day. Take your time at the famous Farm Tomita and Shikisai no Oka, known for their beautiful and vast flower fields including summer lavender, and fully enjoy a day in Biei surrounded by flowers and nature.
In Biei, with its characteristic terrain of rolling hills, flowers are planted orderly by color across vast hills, creating a famous scene resembling colorful patchwork. Summer is particularly beautiful, offering a season when you can see vibrant and colorful flowers.
A driver who speaks solid English will travel with you, provide recommended information, and flexibly respond to your requests. These Sapporo Tours are recommended for those who want to leave Sapporo City and spend a day surrounded by tranquil nature.
- Meeting point: Pick-up available at your hotel in Sapporo
- Tour area: Sapporo~Biei/Furano area
- Start time: 8:00
Shikisai-no-Oka and Furano Tour with buffet lunch from Sapporo
Source:Viator
This Sapporo Tours option departs from Sapporo by private car to enjoy the flowers, nature, and exquisite local gourmet food of Biei/Furano. With optional add-ons, you can include a buffet lunch using Furano ingredients.
Upon arrival at the destination, it becomes a self-guided tour, allowing you to explore Biei very freely. When I used this tour, it was summer and Biei was overflowing with flowers. Sunflowers and other vibrant summer flowers were blooming, and riding the local trolley to view Shikisai-no-oka with its rainbow-like patchwork of flower fields was truly a pleasant experience.
The buffet lunch had a rich variety, with all dishes having gentle flavors that let you taste the richness of the local ingredients. For those who want to enjoy Biei's cuisine further, also try the lavender-flavored soft cream available for purchase at Farm Tomita.
- Meeting point: ①Sapporo Oriental Hotel ②Odori Station
- Tour area: Sapporo~Biei/Furano area
- Start time: ①7:50 ②8:10
to Noboribetsu Area
The volcanic Noboribetsu Area is also an area where you can take a day trip from Sapporo by car. Try using private Sapporo Tours that visit many natural spots within the vast Shikotsu-Toya National Park.
Lake Toya and Noboribetsu Hell Valley Private Day Trip
Source:Viator
This tour departs from Sapporo and visits Lake Shikotsu, Lake Toya, and Noboribetsu Hell Valley by private car. Travel comfortably in a 4WD vehicle and spend a day in Shikotsu-Toya National Park where you can experience Hokkaido's amazing great nature.
In this tour, a private guide with extensive knowledge about Hokkaido's nature will carefully explain and guide you through Shikotsu-Toya National Park, a unique natural area. The Shikotsu-Toya National Park area, known as a volcanic zone, has many volcanoes and caldera lakes.
Enjoy the magnificent landscapes created by volcanoes and the transparent beauty of caldera lakes, and in seasons other than winter, also soak in the foot baths that spring up due to volcanic activity. For those who want a satisfying Noboribetsu trip with a dedicated guide and driver, definitely choose these specialized Sapporo Tours.
- Meeting point: Pick-up available at hotels in Sapporo, New Chitose Airport, and Chitose
- Tour area: Sapporo~Shikotsu-Toya National Park
- Start time: 9:00
Noboribetsu Lake Toya and Sapporo Otaru Full Day Tour
Source:Viator
This tour departs Sapporo by bus in the morning and is a group tour where you visit Noboribetsu Hell Valley, Lake Toya, Bear Farm and other sites with a guide. In the evening, you also stop by Otaru City, which is attractive for its retro streetscape.
People who want to visit as many tourist spots as possible in the Noboribetsu direction should definitely participate in these comprehensive Sapporo Tours.
In Noboribetsu, you'll efficiently visit many spots including the powerful Hell Valley crater, Showa Shinzan which continues to be active and emit volcanic smoke, the beautiful Lake Toya that never freezes year-round and the lakeshore observation deck.
The other popular area you'll visit in the evening - Otaru - allows a 90-minute stay where you can freely enjoy exploring the romantic city and its gourmet food. My recommendation is the cheesecake from Otaru's famous confectionery brand LeTAO. It's available for takeout, so please try it.
- Meeting point: 3 Chome Kita 7 Jonishi, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Tour area: Sapporo~Noboribetsu area, Otaru City
- Start time: 8:00
Magical Trip provides Sapporo Tours with local guides from various regions nationwide
This article has introduced tours you can enjoy in Sapporo City and surrounding areas.
If you want to feel close to the land you visit, participating in tours where you can explore with guidance from people who were born and raised in that city is most recommended for your Sapporo Tours experience.
Not only will you get information about recommended shops and spots that only locals know, but by having them share their unique culture and love and pride for the land, the joy of travel is doubled.
Magical Trip emphasizes travel and experiences enjoyed from a local perspective. They provide a rich variety of Sapporo Tours and tours throughout the country in areas like Hokkaido, Kyoto, and Tokyo, all guided by local guides from those respective cities.
For those who want local experiences unique to each area, not just visiting standard tourist spots, please explore tours from Magical Trip's diverse lineup of Sapporo Tours and other regional offerings.
