Sapporo - Japan's fifth largest city Map of the Hokkaido region Sapporo is Japan's fifth largest city. With a population of 1.85 million it is Hokkaido's political, economic, cultural and transportation center. During the Meiji period, the Japanese government, eager to fortify its northern defenses, established the Kaitakushi (Development Commission) to aid in developing the region. The result was a beautiful town with streets crossing at 90 degrees that less than 130 years later finds itself a major Japanese metropolis. Today, Sapporo is the jewel of Northern Japan with tourists particularly interested in landmark buildings from the pioneering age; the Clock Tower, the old red brick buildings as well as the charm of nature found lining the streets in the shape of famous poplar, elm and acacia trees. Combined with the region's pure air, abundant greenery and culinary treasures, Sapporo is a truly unique city.

• To page top

Steam Locomotive Hakodate-Onuma Service in summer - From Hakodate Station to Mori Station on the JR Hakodate Line, Hokkaido - July 18th (Sat), 19th (Sun), 20th (Mon), 25th (Sat), 26th (Sun) / August 1st (Sat)-16th (Sun), 2009 SL (steam locomotive) Hakodate-Onuma runs through the beautiful area of Donan (Southern Hokkaido) linking Hakodate and Mori Stations, taking about 80 minutes to complete the trip. Besides the scenery, passengers can enjoy prize draws held on the train, and children can experience being a conductor while in the uniform. Themed panels with an "exotic" atmosphere and romantic mood based on images from the end of Japan's samurai period are displayed, as are decorations of sunflowers. http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/travel/slhako/ (Japanese version only)

Sapporo City Jazz 2009 - Odori Park / Sapporo Geijutsu no Mori etc, Sapporo City, Hokkaido - July 13th (Mon)-August 9th (Sun), 2009 "Sapporo City Jazz" is a large music event, which was inaugurated in July 2007. Odori Park, Sapporo Geijutsu no Mori, plus some other places in Sapporo City are designated as the concert venue precinct, and jazz music sounds resonate around the entire city during these four weeks. Visitors can enjoy various styles of jazz from Park Jazz Live, in which many amateur musicians partake, to the North Jam Session, which attracts jazz musicians of highest caliber from across the globe. http://sapporocityjazz.com/2009/en.html

• To page top