Hokkaido in One Day: Odori Park — Guide Tom
October, 2026
This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:00 Meet up at Hotel
- 9:20 Former Hokkaido Government Office Building
- 10:20 Odori Park
- 10:50 Nijo Market
- 11:00 Tanukikoji
- 11:50 Hokkaido Shrine
- 12:40 Lunch @ Soup, Curry Restaurant
- 13:50 Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium
- 15:30 Tour ends @ Sapporo PARCO
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 9:00 at Hotel and ended at 15:30. The day ran to 6 hours and 30 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch @ Soup, Curry Restaurant at 12:40.
Over the course of the day the route took in Former Hokkaido Government Office Building at 9:20, Odori Park at 10:20, Nijo Market at 10:50, Tanukikoji at 11:00, Hokkaido Shrine at 11:50 and Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium at 13:50.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Odori to Maruyama Koen by subway (210JPY); Maruyama Koen to Odori by subway (210JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 420JPY per person.
What's a Private Walking Tour of Sapporo and Hokkaido Shrine Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The weather was just right for sightseeing, and the guests spent a very pleasant time. Since we would be walking quite a long distance before taking the subway, I thought a break along the way might be needed, but the guests said they were fine and kept walking. At Hokkaido Shrine, as it happened to be a holiday period, many families with beautifully dressed children were visiting to celebrate occasions such as Omiyamairi or Shichi-Go-San. The guests watched this scene with great interest, and I felt it was wonderful that they had the opportunity to see traditional Japanese customs. At the end, I took the guests to a shopping location they had requested, and the tour concluded. A notable stop on the tour was Hokkaido Shrine. Located in Maruyama Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido Shrine is one of the most important Shinto shrines in northern Japan, enshrining several deities along with the spirit of Emperor Meiji. The shrine grounds are surrounded by nature and are especially known for their cherry blossoms in spring, making it a peaceful and scenic place to experience Japanese spiritual culture throughout the year.
Click here for more details: Sapporo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Odori～Maruyama Koen | 210JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Maruyama Koen～Odori | 210JPY |
| Total | 420JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Hokkaido tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hotel at 9:00, and the tour finished at Tour ends @ Sapporo PARCO at 15:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 30 minutes in total, from 9:00 to 15:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, Odori Park, Nijo Market, Tanukikoji, Hokkaido Shrine and Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 420JPY per person across 2 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Tom is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Hokkaido itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
I was born and raised in Hokkaido and have been a resident of Sapporo for over 30 years. I have been actively involved in guiding tourists around the scenic spots of Hokkaido, primarily focusing on Sapporo. Even before becoming a licensed interpreter guide, I engaged in volunteer activities to assist and guide foreigners, providing me with valuable opportunities to delve into the rich culture and history of Hokkaido.
Hokkaido is renowned for its exceptional culinary scene, and I am well-versed in gourmet information. I believe I can offer an excellent experience by guiding individuals through the highly acclaimed food experiences that Hokkaido has to offer.
Aug 15, 2026
I654RPsandib
Great experience
Tripadvisor review: Sapporo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
We thoroughly enjoyed our 6 hours touring Sapporo with…
Aug 15, 2026
I654RPsandib
Great experience
Tripadvisor review: Sapporo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
We thoroughly enjoyed our 6 hours touring Sapporo with our guide, Tom. He had contacted us beforehand. So we were able to cater our tour to our interests. He was kind and very accommodating. We left the tour with a lovely impression of Sapporo and an appreciation of its history. Tom always offered to take pictures of us and I commend his picture taking skills.
Apr 22, 2026
Agent PT A
Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Super Sapporo in April with Tom.
Tom was kind…
Apr 22, 2026
Agent PT A
Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Super Sapporo in April with Tom.
Tom was kind enough to meet at our hotel to start the tour and then sat with us to make sure we saw the best of Sapporo that was available to us on the day. We even managed some Cherry Blossom which was an unexpected bonus.
Tom ensured we got to Sapporos highest view away from any crowds and navigated our route brilliantly. He left us at the Sapporo Brewery for us to drink and eat in our own time. We wish Tom sincere thanks for a great day in Sapporo.
Awesome!!
Feb 10, 2026
Alan_C
Very enjoyable and well…
Viator review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Very enjoyable and well worth it. Our…
Feb 10, 2026
Alan_C
Very enjoyable and well…
Viator review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Very enjoyable and well worth it. Our guide was very knowledgeable about Sapporo and I
would definitely recommend to anyone visiting
Sep 24, 2025
saratW9816BN
Tour up to the Moiwa mountain and lots more
Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We’ve had…
Sep 24, 2025
saratW9816BN
Tour up to the Moiwa mountain and lots more
Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We’ve had a great time on our tour with Tom . Very knowledgeable man . It was our first
experience of sapporo. Great start for our holiday here in Japan