Living
| Average temp. (℃) | Maximum temp. (℃) | Minimum temp. (℃) | Precipitation(mm) | |
| Jan. | -2.3 | 3.9 | -8.8 | 51.5 |
| Feb. | -2.1 | 8.5 | -14.9 | 157 |
| Mar. | 3.3 | 14.1 | -3.8 | 107.5 |
| Apr. | 6.8 | 20.9 | 0 | 52.5 |
| May | 13.7 | 29.9 | 4.8 | 45.5 |
| June | 18.3 | 30 | 10.9 | 51.5 |
| July | 21.2 | 29.3 | 15.3 | 56.5 |
| Aug. | 23.3 | 34.3 | 13.2 | 124 |
| Sept. | 20.1 | 32.7 | 10.6 | 53.5 |
| Oct. | 13.1 | 22.8 | 4.6 | 66 |
| Nov. | 6.3 | 18.9 | -1.2 | 113 |
| Dec. | -1.6 | 7.6 | -12.6 | 26.5 |
Sapporo – an international city where people and nature are interwoven
Sapporo is a city that is attractive to both residents and visitors alike. As proof of this, for 42 of 43 years of surveys conducted by the City of Sapporo since 1980, over 90% of its residents responded that they "like Sapporo", and the city was chosen as “Most Appealing City” in the Japanese nationwide Appealing Community Rankings for the 8th time in 2022. (Source: Tiiki Brand Survey 2022, BRAND RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.) Sapporo’s unique charms, including food, culture, and art, in harmony with its rich nature and beautiful snow, have attracted many tourists, from domestic and abroad.
Over 1.9 million residents live their lives in four vivid seasons
Astonishing progress – from the Development Commission to hosting the Olympic Games
In 1869, the name of Ezo, the land where the Ainu lived, was changed to Hokkaido and the construction of Sapporo began under the direction of the Hokkaido Development Commission. In 1875, the first Tonden-hei pioneer farmers began to settle, and based on a grand construction plan for Hokkaido’s capital, Sapporo’s railroads were laid and industries developed. Since being established as a city in 1922, Sapporo’s area has expanded along with its population, which in 1970 reached one million. Then, two years later in 1972, Sapporo became the first city in Asia to host the Winter Olympics. The transportation infrastructure was improved, the city was modernized and internationalization progressed in leaps and bounds. Subsequently, strongholds of culture, art and sport began to be established and the city began to host numerous international congresses and events. The abundant natural environment and advanced urban foundations are maintained today, as Sapporo continues to develop as the central hub city of Hokkaido.
Hokkaido’s largest city boasts the fifth largest population in Japan
Population: 1,973,011 (as of Oct. 1, 2022). 5th largest population in Japan
Area: 1,121.3 ㎢ Just less than twice the size of Tokyo’s 23 wards
Longitude of easternmost point: 141° 30′ E
Longitude of westernmost point: 140° 59′ E
Latitude of southernmost point: 42° 46′ N
Latitude of northernmost point: 43° 11′ N
★Sister cities
Portland, USA since 1959
Munich, Germany since 1972
Shenyang, China since 1980
Novosibirsk, Russia since 1990
Daejeon, Korea since 2010
Traveling in the city is comfortable thanks to a substantial transportation network.
A public transportation network comprising subways, streetcars and buses extends to every corner of the city. The subway system, which consists of 3 lines, plays a major role as a means of mass transit in the city, as it is unaffected by the northern climate. This public transportation network makes the city a convenient place to live for people of all ages.
Convenient domestic and international access
The aerial gateway to Sapporo, New Chitose Airport boasts direct flights to cities around the world, and is linked to routes and airports nationwide, including Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and the like.
What’s more, multiple means of transportation make for an extremely convenient transfer between New Chitose Airport and central Sapporo, with the train taking approximately 37 minutes, and bus approximately 60~80 minutes.