Visit Otaru or stay in Sapporo on a four-day trip?
For an Otaru Canal walk, stay in Sapporo and make a day trip. For trees and flowers without travelling to Otaru, choose the botanic garden itinerary in Sapporo. Both itineraries visit Shiroi Koibito Park. Choose the garden itinerary for an outdoor opening day between 29 April and 3 November.
Choose an itinerary for 4 days / 3 nights
Otaru and Shiroi Koibito Park
Keep your accommodation in Sapporo, with separate days for an Otaru Canal walk and Shiroi Koibito Park’s paid exhibits.
Otaru and Shiroi Koibito Park →4 days / 3 nights BSapporo in spring to autumn
Enjoy walks and exhibitions in Sapporo without travelling to another city. Visit the botanic garden on an open day between 29 April and 3 November.
Sapporo in spring to autumn →Otaru and Shiroi Koibito Park
Keep your accommodation in Sapporo, with separate days for an Otaru Canal walk and Shiroi Koibito Park’s paid exhibits.
Day 1 · Odori Park and the TV Tower after arrival
Walk in Odori Park and enjoy the TV Tower view on arrival day. Split the canal walk and confectionery factory visit across the next two days, then visit the Clock Tower on the final morning.
- New Chitose Airport arrivals → JR signs in the domestic terminal
After international immigration and luggage collection, take the Level 2 passage to the domestic terminal. For domestic arrivals, start by following the terminal’s JR signs.
Official New Chitose Airport floor map · as at 17 September 2026
- Domestic terminal → New Chitose Airport Station on Basement 1
Follow JR signs down to New Chitose Airport Station on Basement 1. Terminal transfers and train waits are outside the time on board.
- New Chitose Airport Station → JR Sapporo Station
Take an Airport train towards Sapporo and get off there. Reserved seating adds a seat charge to the unreserved fare.
- JR Sapporo Station → Makomanai-bound Namboku Line → Odori
Take the Namboku Line towards Makomanai one stop to Odori. From Odori accommodation, walk straight towards the park.
- Eastern Odori Park → TV Tower Level 3 tickets and observation deck
Walk through the park’s eastern end and buy a ticket on TV Tower Level 3. Go up to the observation deck for city views, then return downstairs.
- Odori or Susukino → Dinner → Sapporo Station accommodation
Eat in Odori or Susukino, choosing the easier route back to your accommodation. Take an Asabu-bound Namboku Line train for accommodation near Sapporo Station. Visit the Clock Tower separately on the final morning.
If you arrive late, skip the first day’s sights or adjust the order to actual operating dates.
Day 2 · Otaru Canal walk and lunch → Sapporo
- Sapporo Station → JR Otaru Station → canal
Check the day’s return train before setting out. Take a JR train to Otaru, then walk roughly 10 minutes from the station to the canal.
Official Hokkaido tourism guideTrains and operations for your date
- Otaru Canal → Lunch → JR Sapporo Station
Have lunch near the canal, return to Otaru Station and take a Sapporo-bound JR train.
Official Hokkaido tourism guideTrains and operations for your date
- Sapporo Station → Odori or Sapporo Station accommodation and dinner
For accommodation in Odori, continue one stop on the Makomanai-bound Namboku Line. Have dinner in Sapporo.
Day 3 · Shiroi Koibito Park’s paid exhibits
- Sapporo Station or Odori accommodation → Tozai Line to Miyanosawa → walk and ticket centre
From Sapporo Station accommodation, take the Makomanai-bound Namboku Line one stop to Odori and change to the Tozai Line towards Miyanosawa. Get off at the terminus, walk roughly 7 minutes to the park and buy paid-area admission at the ticket centre.
- Park’s paid area → Factory, exhibits, optional workshop and lunch
Explore the confectionery factory and exhibits in the paid area, with time for lunch and a break. If you’ve booked a confectionery-making workshop, arrange your visit around its time.
Admission and ticketsKorean-language guideOfficial Shiroi Koibito Park facility list and factory tour
- Shiroi Koibito Park → Miyanosawa Station
After your visit, walk roughly 7 minutes back to Miyanosawa along the same route.
- Miyanosawa Station → Odori Station → same accommodation
Take the Tozai Line towards Shin-Sapporo and get off at Odori. Return to Odori accommodation from here, or take the Asabu-bound Namboku Line one more stop for accommodation near Sapporo Station.
Day 4 · Clock Tower → New Chitose Airport
Finish your sightseeing with the Clock Tower exhibits, then head to New Chitose Airport.
- Sapporo Station or Odori accommodation → Odori Station City Hall side exit → Clock Tower
From Sapporo Station accommodation, take the Makomanai-bound Namboku Line one stop to Odori. Walk roughly 5 minutes from the City Hall side exit to the Clock Tower and visit its interior after the 08:45 opening.
Subway mapStation exits and facility accessOfficial Clock Tower admission, hours and last entry
- Clock Tower → JR Sapporo Station
After your visit, head to JR Sapporo Station, collecting any luggage from your accommodation first. From Odori, take the Asabu-bound Namboku Line one stop. From accommodation near Sapporo Station, walk to JR.
- JR Sapporo Station → New Chitose Airport Station → your terminal
Take an Airport train to New Chitose Airport and get off at the terminus. Go up from Basement 1 to the domestic terminal. For international departures, follow the Level 2 passage to Level 3 departures in the international terminal.
Official JR access and timetablesAirport access by JROfficial New Chitose Airport floor map · as at 17 September 2026
The Clock Tower opens at 08:45. Visit only if there’s enough time for the final morning’s airport journey.
Included: Clock Tower, TV Tower and park paid area JPY 2,750 + return airport JR fares JPY 2,460 + return Otaru JR fares JPY 1,600
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, luggage storage, confectionery workshops, shopping and Sapporo subway. Confirm the final JR fare for your date and seating choice on the booking screen. Airport JR uses unreserved seating; the reserved-seat surcharge in Airport car 4 is excluded. Attraction costs use standard individual admission prices.
If you visit only the garden and shops without entering the paid area, the park’s JPY 1,200 admission charge does not apply.
Official Clock Tower admission, hours and last entryAdmission and opening hoursAdmission and ticketsOfficial JR access and timetablesStandard JR fares
Sapporo in spring to autumn
Enjoy walks and exhibitions in Sapporo without travelling to another city. Visit the botanic garden on an open day between 29 April and 3 November.
Day 1 · Odori Park walk and dinner after arrival
Start with a short Odori Park walk and dinner in the city centre. From the next day, split the garden’s flowers and trees, TV Tower views and confectionery factory visit across your stay.
- New Chitose Airport arrivals → JR signs in the domestic terminal
After international immigration and luggage collection, take the Level 2 passage to the domestic terminal. For domestic arrivals, start by following the terminal’s JR signs.
Official New Chitose Airport floor map · as at 17 September 2026
- Domestic terminal → New Chitose Airport Station on Basement 1
Follow JR signs down to New Chitose Airport Station on Basement 1. Terminal transfers and train waits are outside the time on board.
- New Chitose Airport Station → JR Sapporo Station
Take an Airport train towards Sapporo and get off there. Reserved seating adds a seat charge to the unreserved fare.
- JR Sapporo Station → Makomanai-bound Namboku Line → Odori
Take the Namboku Line towards Makomanai one stop to Odori. From Odori accommodation, walk straight towards the park.
- Odori Park → Walk and dinner → accommodation
Take a short walk in the eastern park, then have dinner in the city centre. Use an Asabu-bound Namboku Line train for accommodation near Sapporo Station. If you arrive late, move the park walk to the following day.
If you arrive late, skip the first day’s sights or adjust the order to actual operating dates.
Day 2 · Botanic garden walk and TV Tower
- Sapporo Station or Odori accommodation → Botanic garden main gate
From Sapporo Station accommodation, the garden’s main gate is about a 10-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station’s south exit. From Odori accommodation, it’s about a 10-minute walk from Odori Station exit 2.
- Botanic garden → Morning walk → lunch in the city centre
Walk through the garden in the morning. There’s no restaurant inside, so leave through the main gate and have lunch in the city centre.
- City centre and Odori Park → TV Tower observation deck
In the afternoon, visit the TV Tower at the park’s eastern end. Buy a ticket on Level 3, view the city from the deck and return downstairs.
- Odori Station → Same accommodation
Return to your nearby accommodation in Odori. For accommodation near Sapporo Station, take an Asabu-bound Namboku Line train one stop and walk back.
Visit the outdoor garden on an open day between 29 April and 3 November. The outdoor garden closes in winter, and the glasshouse is also currently closed to visitors.
Day 3 · Shiroi Koibito Park’s paid exhibits
- Sapporo Station or Odori accommodation → Tozai Line to Miyanosawa → ticket centre
From Sapporo Station accommodation, take the Makomanai-bound Namboku Line to Odori and change to the Tozai Line towards Miyanosawa. From Odori, use the Tozai Line directly. Get off at the terminus, walk roughly 7 minutes to the park and buy paid-area admission at the ticket centre.
- Park’s paid area → Factory, exhibits and optional workshop
Explore the confectionery factory and exhibits in the paid area. For a confectionery-making workshop, check the charge and registration process for your chosen activity separately.
Admission and ticketsKorean-language guideOfficial Shiroi Koibito Park facility list and factory tour
- Shiroi Koibito Park → Miyanosawa Station
After your visit, walk roughly 7 minutes back to Miyanosawa along the same route.
- Miyanosawa Station → Odori Station → same accommodation
Take the Tozai Line towards Shin-Sapporo and get off at Odori. Return to Odori accommodation from here, or take the Asabu-bound Namboku Line one more stop for accommodation near Sapporo Station.
Day 4 · Clock Tower → New Chitose Airport
Visit the Clock Tower interior, then return to New Chitose Airport.
- Sapporo Station or Odori accommodation → Odori Station City Hall side exit → Clock Tower
From Sapporo Station accommodation, take the Makomanai-bound Namboku Line one stop to Odori. Walk roughly 5 minutes from the City Hall side exit to the Clock Tower and visit its interior after the 08:45 opening.
Subway mapStation exits and facility accessOfficial Clock Tower admission, hours and last entry
- Clock Tower → JR Sapporo Station
After your visit, head to JR Sapporo Station, collecting any luggage from your accommodation first. From Odori, take the Asabu-bound Namboku Line one stop. From accommodation near Sapporo Station, walk to JR.
- JR Sapporo Station → New Chitose Airport Station → your terminal
Take an Airport train to New Chitose Airport and get off at the terminus. Go up from Basement 1 to the domestic terminal. For international departures, follow the Level 2 passage to Level 3 departures in the international terminal.
Official JR access and timetablesAirport access by JROfficial New Chitose Airport floor map · as at 17 September 2026
The Clock Tower opens at 08:45. Visit only if there’s enough time for the final morning’s airport journey.
Included: Clock Tower, TV Tower, park paid area and botanic garden JPY 3,170 + return airport JR fares JPY 2,460
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, luggage storage, confectionery workshops, shopping and Sapporo subway. Confirm the final JR fare for your date and seating choice on the booking screen. Airport JR uses unreserved seating; the reserved-seat surcharge in Airport car 4 is excluded. Attraction costs use standard individual admission prices.
Swap days 2 and 3 to avoid the garden’s Monday closure or the day after a public holiday. In winter the outdoor garden closes and the glasshouse is also currently closed, so this itinerary cannot be followed as written. Removing the garden leaves only the TV Tower as day 2’s main attraction. For winter, compare route A without the garden, checking the Otaru trains and opening dates of any facilities you visit.
Official Clock Tower admission, hours and last entryAdmission and opening hoursAdmission and ticketsOpening hours and admissionOfficial JR access and timetablesStandard JR fares
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to change accommodation for an Otaru day trip?
Stay all three nights at your Sapporo accommodation. Take JR to Otaru Canal on day 2 and visit Shiroi Koibito Park on day 3. For an evening by the canal and an overnight stay in Otaru, compare the itinerary with one night in Otaru and three in Sapporo.
Official Hokkaido tourism guideTrains and operations for your dateAdmission and ticketsOpening hours and admissionMain gate and access
Do I need a JR pass for an Otaru day trip?
The four-day Otaru day-trip itinerary has a calculated total of JPY 4,060 for non-reserved JR seats on the airport and Otaru return journeys. Start with this individual-ticket cost if you have no extra JR journeys. Check each area pass’s validity period and covered routes separately. Passes do not replace Sapporo subway fares or attraction admission.
Standard JR faresOfficial JR access and timetablesOfficial JR Hokkaido guideOfficial one-day pass
Official sources and dates checked
- Sapporo tourism guide ·
- Admission and opening hours ·
- Directions ·
- Station exits and facility access ·
- Admission and tickets ·
- Korean-language guide ·
- Getting there ·
- Opening hours and admission ·
- Main gate and access ·
- Official Hokkaido tourism guide ·
- Standard JR fares ·
- Official JR access and timetables ·
- Airport access by JR ·
- Subway map ·
- Trains and operations for your date ·
- Official one-day pass ·
- Official JR Hokkaido guide ·
- Official Clock Tower admission, hours and last entry ·
- Official New Chitose Airport floor map · as at 17 September 2026 ·
- Official Shiroi Koibito Park facility list and factory tour ·