Hokkaido Shrine, Hill of the Buddha & Jozankei Day Tour, Sapporo

Hokkaido Shrine in Maruyama Park

Hokkaido Shrine, or Hokkaido Jingu, was founded in 1869, when the modern development of Hokkaido began, and moved to the foot of Maruyama in 1871. It honours the guardian deities of the land, and for people in Sapporo it is the place for New Year prayers, festivals and family celebrations. The main festival in mid-June fills the streets with a colourful procession.

The approach runs under tall wooden torii through a forest of cedar, oak and katsura, where Ezo squirrels and woodpeckers live. Your guide explains how to visit respectfully: a small bow at the gate, rinsing your hands at the water basin and keeping quiet near the hall. Plan about 45 minutes. Maruyama Park around the shrine is a favourite cherry blossom spot in early May, and the snowy forest in winter is peaceful and beautiful.

A chocolate-factory park with European-style buildings

In the west of Sapporo, a well-known Hokkaido chocolate and biscuit maker has turned its factory into a small theme park. Red-brick, half-timbered buildings in a European style surround a courtyard, and on the hour a clock tower comes to life with a short mechanical show of figures and music that children love.

Through windows inside you can see parts of the production line, and there are cafés, sweet shops and a biscuit-decorating workshop. Some of these are paid attractions and are not included, but the gardens and courtyard can be enjoyed simply by strolling. In summer a rose garden blooms, and in winter the buildings glow with illuminations. The stop is about one hour, a good moment for coffee, a dessert or a light lunch at your own expense.

The Hill of the Buddha

The Hill of the Buddha, or Atama Daibutsu, stands in a landscaped cemetery in the south of Sapporo. A seated stone Buddha about 13.5 metres tall had stood in the open for years before a renowned Japanese architect surrounded it with a man-made hill in 2015. From outside only the top of the head shows above a hill planted with lavender.

You reach the statue through a long, softly lit tunnel, and the Buddha appears suddenly at its end under a round opening to the sky, a calm and moving moment. The hill turns purple in July, green in summer and white in winter. Admission is paid on site and is not included. Hill of the Buddha opening hours are usually 9:00–16:00 from April to October and 10:00–15:00 in winter; allow about an hour here.

Jozankei Onsen town

Jozankei is Sapporo's own hot-spring town, about an hour from the centre in a forested gorge of the Toyohira River, inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park. It grew from 1866, when a Buddhist monk opened the springs to travellers, and today it is a quiet resort of inns, footbaths and riverside paths. Statues of kappa, playful water creatures from local legend, appear all over town.

Many visitors ask whether a Jozankei day trip from Sapporo is worth it, and the scenery answers: the red Futami suspension bridge spans an emerald river, and in early to mid October the maples around the gorge turn fiery red, one of the finest autumn sights near Sapporo. In late January and early February the Snow Lantern festival lights the riverbanks. Public footbaths around the town let you warm your feet even without a full bath.

Bathing in Jozankei: what to know

Your free time in Jozankei is the chance to try a Japanese onsen. Several bathhouses and inns welcome day visitors for a fee, which is not included in the tour. Public baths are separated by gender and bathing suits are not worn there; you wash and rinse at the shower stations before stepping into the water, and keep your small towel out of the bath.

For travellers who prefer privacy, some places offer private family baths that can be reserved for your own group; ask us and we can suggest options. Some baths may restrict visible tattoos. If you prefer not to bathe, enjoy a footbath, a stroll along the river, or a hot drink in a café before the coach returns you to central Sapporo in the early evening.