ARC.RECORD TRAVEL← HOME

JAPAN · SAPPORO · AUTUMN

Sapporo in 3 days: autumn streets and Jozankei

2026. 09. 02READ 17 MIN

THE ROUTE

Staying overnight in the city,
Only the foliage goes deep.

The first day is Odori and Mount Moiwa, and the second day is a round trip to Jozankei Gorge by reserved bus. On the last day, the plan is to connect the Ginkgo Tree at Hokkaido University and Nijo Market and then head to the airport. Since we don't move accommodations, we don't waste time on luggage and transfers even if we stay for 3 days and 2 nights.

BEST SEASONMid-October – Early NovemberJozankei is fast and downtown is slow.
STAY AREASapporo Station – OdoriThe center of buses, airports, and walking
PACENormalApproximately 7–11 km of walking per day
KEY TIPKappa Liner ReservationSecure round-trip seats at Jozankei first
The ginkgo trees in Hokkaido turn color later than those in Jozankei, so dates must be checked separately.

2 NIGHTS · 3 DAYS

Schedule to follow

DAY 01

From autumn in the city to the night view

  1. 01Arrive at Sapporo Station around 12:30 and leave luggage at the hotel
  2. 0213:30 Move towards Odori · Soup curry GARAKU lunch
  3. 0315:00 Odori Park → Clock Tower → Walk around the former Hokkaido Government Office Building
  4. 04Shiden 60 minutes before sunset → Ropeway Iriguchi · Free shuttle transfer
  5. 05Mount Moiwa ropeway/mini cable car → summit night view
  6. 06Return to Susukino around 20:00 · Genghis Khan dinner at Daruma
DAY 02

Round trip to Jozankei Gorge in one day

  1. 01Arrive at Sapporo Station bus stop around 08:20 and confirm reservation
  2. 02Around 09:00 Kappa Liner → Jozankei Onsen · Approximately 60 minutes
  3. 0310:20 Futami Park, Futami Suspension Bridge, Valley Trail
  4. 0412:30 Nonoyama Kitchen Haruranna · 11:00–15:00, Closed on Thursdays
  5. 05One additional Kodai autumn foliage spot is added during the autumn foliage shuttle operation period.
  6. 0616:30–17:00 Return to Sapporo by reserved bus
  7. 0719:30 After resting at the hotel, Ramen Shingen, late dinner
DAY 03

A golden campus and a bowl of markets

  1. 0108:00 Hokkaido University Sapporo Campus · Walk along Ginkgo Tree Road
  2. 0210:00 Return to hotel, check out and store luggage
  3. 0311:00 Move to Nijo Market · Donburichaya Seafood Rice Bowl
  4. 0412:20 Pick up luggage from hotel → Sapporo Station
  5. 05Based on arrival at New Chitose Airport 2 hours before departure flight
  6. 06Airport Rapid Service takes 33–43 minutes depending on the time slot. Reserved seats must be purchased in advance if required.

EAT ALONG THE ROUTE

From soup curry to the market,
Four meals that never stop moving.

Operating hours and prices are confirmed as of September 2026 and may change depending on season, ingredients, and temporary closure. Please consider the waiting time for Daruma and Shingen.

Soup curry GARAKU chicken leg and vegetable soup curry
Chicken leg · Vegetable soup curry · Refer to actual menu

DAY 1 · Lunch

Soup curry GARAKU

movement line
Approximately 3 minutes walk from Exit 36 of Odori Station
menu
15 items of vegetables, chicken leg soup curry
budget
Approximately ¥1,500–2,500 per person
sales
11:30–15:30 · Around 17:00–21:00 · Closed irregularly

To reduce the waiting time for lunch on the day of arrival, it is better to arrive after 13:30. You can choose the amount of rice and spiciness separately, so choose them together when you place your first order.

Check the latest information ↗
Lamb grilled on Genghis Khan Daruma grill
Genghis Khan Grill · Actual Menu

DAY 1 · Dinner

Genghis Khan Daruma Main Store

movement line
Approximately 5 minutes' walk from Susukino Station. Return to Shiden from Mount Moiwa.
menu
Raw lamb Genghis Khan, premium lamb meat
budget
Approximately ¥3,000–5,000 per person
sales
17:00 – Around 05:00 the next day · Open all year round

There is no reservation required and you can stand in line, so go straight after coming down from Mount Moiwa. If the wait at the main store is long, it is more realistic to check whether the nearby 5·5 or 7·4 stores are open.

Check the latest information ↗
Ramen Shingen Shio Ramen with Clear Soup
Shingen Ramen · See actual menu

DAY 2 · Late evening

Ramen Shingen Minami 6jo Branch

movement line
West of Susukino, approximately 3 minutes on foot from Shiden Higashi Honganji-mae
menu
Shinshu Kokumiso Ramen, Shio Ramen, Fried Rice
budget
Approximately ¥1,000–2,000 per person
sales
11:00 – Around 01:00 the next day · Subject to change

It's a late-opening restaurant that's great for responding when you have to wait to get back from Jozankei. During peak hours, you may have to wait for over 30 minutes, so we scheduled it after 19:30.

Check the latest information ↗
Donburichaya Nijo Market Seasonal Seafood Rice Bowl
Nijo Market Recommended Seafood Rice Bowl · Official Menu

DAY 3 · Early lunch

Donburichaya Nijo Market Branch

movement line
Approximately 8 minutes walk from Odori Station / Inside Nijo Market
menu
Uni, ikura, crab, seasonal seafood rice bowl
budget
Approximately ¥2,000–6,000 per person
sales
May–October 07:30–16:30 November–April 08:00–17:00

The official menu ranges from ¥3,000 to ¥5,000 for special rice bowls. If you arrive before 11 a.m. after a morning walk around campus, you can avoid waiting for lunch.

Check the latest information ↗

DAY TRIP CORE

The second day
I only see the canyon.

It takes about 60 minutes from Sapporo Station to Jozankei by Kappa Liner, which requires reservations. Walk the Futami Suspension Bridge and Valley Trail first, and add just one stop during the official fall foliage shuttle operation period so you don't miss the return bus.

Jozankei fall foliage usually starts earlier than downtown. If you are traveling in early to mid-October, give priority to Jozankei, and if you are traveling after the end of October, increase the proportion of Hokkaido University and city parks.

NIGHT VIEW

At the end of the first day,
At the top of Mount Moiwa

If you take the free shuttle from Odori to Shiden, you will reach Ropeway Sanroku Station. The summit is much colder than the city center and may be closed due to strong winds, so check the sunset time and availability on that day before proceeding.

WHERE TO STAY

Premium two,
Two cost-effective hotels

Recommendation Conclusion
The most convenient place to get to the airport and Jozankei bus is JR Tower, and Sapporo Grand offers a good balance of location and classic service. Vessel Inn is more realistic for breakfast and access to Susukino, and Tokyu Stay is more realistic for room laundry and walking routes. For this itinerary, stay at the same hotel for both nights.

JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo High Floor Double Room
Actual high-rise rooms/hotel official images
PREMIUM 01 · STATION VIEW

JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo

Directly connected to Sapporo Station, excellent access to the airport train and Jozankei bus

price
2 people per room approx. ¥30,000–70,000+ / 1 night
breakfast
Choose from buffet or Japanese food · Adult approx. ¥4,000
Dinner
No obligation · Separate reservation for high-rise restaurant
parking
JR Tower parking lot · Guest approx. ¥1,650/night
Advantages
The bus is the most convenient for arrival/departure and the second day, and you can enjoy the view from a high-rise room and the spa all at once.
Cons
Highest budget and need to take subway or taxi after Susukino late-night meal
Check rooms and latest rates ↗
Sapporo Grand Hotel Premium Rooms
Images provided by actual premium rooms and accommodations
PREMIUM 02 · CLASSIC

Sapporo Grand Hotel

Between Sapporo Station and Odori, directly connected to the underground pedestrian space

price
2 people per room approx. ¥20,000–45,000+ / 1 night
breakfast
Buffet or Japanese style · Adult approx. ¥4,000
Dinner
No obligation · Separate use of in-house restaurant
parking
Multi-level parking lot · Approximately ¥2,500/night
Advantages
It is located in the middle of the clock tower, Odori, Nijo Market and the station, so it has good balance on all three days and is easy to travel underground in case of rain.
Cons
Renovation status and bathroom size vary greatly depending on building wing and room class.
Check rooms and latest rates ↗
Vessel Inn Sapporo Nakajima Park Twin Room
Actual twin room/accommodation introduction image
VALUE 01 · BREAKFAST

Vessel Inn Sapporo Nakajima Park

Approximately 1 minute walk from Nakajima Koen Station, 1 stop from Susukino

price
2 people per room approx. ¥12,000–28,000 / 1 night
breakfast
Seafood-focused buffet 06:00–09:30 · Approx. ¥2,500
Dinner
No dinner · Use of Susukino restaurant area
parking
Multi-level parking lot · Approximately ¥1,500/night · First-come, first-served basis
Advantages
It's close to Daruma and Shingen, and breakfast is highly satisfying, so it's good to focus your money on one meal.
Cons
Requires daily subway travel to Sapporo station and Jozankei bus platform
Check rooms and latest rates ↗
Tokyu Stay Sapporo Odori Double Room
Actual double room/accommodation introduction image
VALUE 02 · LONG STAY

Tokyu Stay Sapporo Odori

Approximately 3 minutes walk from Odori Station · Right next to Tanukikoji

price
2 people per room approx. ¥13,000–30,000 / 1 night
breakfast
Buffet 06:30–10:00 · Adult ¥2,100
Dinner
No dinner · Use nearby restaurants
parking
Adjacent multi-story parking lot for 24 cars · ¥2,000/night · First-come, first-served
Advantages
There is a washer/dryer and microwave in the room, and GARAKU, Nijo Market, and Susukino are within walking distance.
Cons
Low-cost rooms are not spacious and require about a 15-minute walk or subway ride to Sapporo Station.
Check rooms and latest rates ↗

Rate standards · Approximate range of 2 people per room per night, available as of September 2026. Rates vary greatly depending on autumn foliage weekends, room class, dining and cancellation requirements. For breakfast and parking, please check the latest prices when making a reservation.

BUDGET GUIDE

Estimated cost per person

Accommodation 2 nightsApproximately ¥12,000–70,000+
local transportationApproximately ¥5,000–9,000
food expensesApproximately ¥10,000–18,000
Admission/ExperienceApproximately ¥2,100–4,000

Accommodation is per person, sharing a double room. Flights, round trip to New Chitose Airport, JR, and shopping are excluded. Local transportation includes buses to and from Jozankei, subway and Shiden, depending on foliage shuttle and package selection.

GOOD

Advantages of this schedule

  • Experience the city center, night view, and canyon without changing hotels
  • Four restaurants are within the actual travel route for each day
  • Jozankei and city center itineraries are interchangeable if it rains

CHECK

Things to know

  • Jozankei and Hokkaido peak autumn foliage peaks are not on the same date
  • Advance confirmation is required for Kappa Liner seats and fall foliage shuttles.
  • Starting in October, the sun sets early and the perceived temperature at the top of the mountain is low.

OFFICIAL SOURCES

Please check again before departure.

JR Hokkaido · New Chitose Airport train ↗Sapporo Official Sightseeing · City Transportation ↗Jozankei Tourism Association · Autumn leaves and a walk ↗Jozankei · 2026 Autumn Leaves Shuttle ↗Nono Terrace · Haruranna Lunch Hours ↗Sapporo official tour · Mount Moiwa night view ↗Sapporo City Transportation Bureau · Subway fares and one-day passes ↗

PHOTO CREDITS · Jozankei walking trail: t-konno / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hokkaido ginkgo: ノボホショコロトソ / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 · Mount Moiwa night view: 663highland / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · GARAKU: Hokkaido Travel Library · Daruma: Official Site · Shingen: macaroni · Donburichaya: Official Site · Accommodation images are images provided by each hotel or accommodation introduction page.

English edition of our Korean guide. Times and prices retain the source review date; they are not live booking quotes. Check eligibility for visitor fares and plan international flights separately.