OUR DESTINATIONS
Let us help you find your perfect holiday by phoning us on
We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
Alternatively, check out some of our holiday offers below.
- Destinations
- Asia
- Japan
- Sapporo
Sapporo
The most remarkable thing about the northern Japanese island of
Hokkaido, and its capital city Sapporo, is the contrast in
temperatures between winter and summer. Sapporo, site of the 1972
Winter Olympics, is a favourite ski destination with temperatures
plummeting well below freezing in December and January - the lowest
ever recorded was in January 1945, when the mercury dropped to
-11ºF (-24ºC). Summer time, however, sees daytime highs of above
86ºF (30ºC), although evenings and mornings remain cool and
pleasant.
Because of its thick snows that turn the city into a winter
wonderland Sapporo is favoured more as a winter sports destination
than a spring or summer resort. There are ski-slopes within the
city limits and residents often enjoy a quick run after work.
Sapporo is one of Japan's newest cities, having been constructed
almost from scratch as the capital of Hokkaido in 1871. Japan
imported foreign technicians (including 46 Americans) to aid in the
development of the city, formerly a small settlement of the native
Ainu people, which has now grown to accommodate 1.8 million
inhabitants. Despite a large population, Sapporo is not as crowded
or densely packed as other Japanese cities. A national survey
ranked it as one of the country's most desirable places to live,
which is not surprising because its natural setting allows for easy
access to mineral spas, mountain hikes, campsites, and superb ski
runs.
Information & Facts
Climate
Sapporo has a humid continental climate with hot and rainy
summer weather (June to September) and cold, snowy winters
(December to March). Sapporo's snowfall is higher than most cities
in the world and can reach up to 72 inches (1828mm) in January.
Language
Japanese is the official language. Most Japanese people
will have studied English at school, but few can speak it well or
understand what is said to them.
Money
The currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY), which is equal to 100
sen. Major credit cards are accepted in the larger hotels and
stores, but most Japanese operate with cash. Cash and travellers
cheques can be exchanged in banks, post offices and currency
exchange bureaux. Banks are usually open Monday to Friday 9am to
3pm. Travellers cheques offer the best exchange rate and are best
taken in US dollars. ATMs do not accept all credit and debit cards;
only the international ATMs in post offices, airports and some
major stores.
Time