There are certain associations that come to mind when we think of Japan.  Sushi, the recent Olympic Games, Godzilla, and quite often Tokyo.  By some measures, with 37 million people, the Tokyo metro area is the most populous city in the world.  But beyond the allure of truly world-famous cities like Tokyo, we can discover some of the beauty in Japan's other, lesser-known cities.  In this post, we'll take a look at Sapporo, the fifth largest city in Japan.

Sapporo in Japan

The city of Sapporo is just over 150 years old and is the most northern city in Japan, located on the island of Hokkaido.  

It is much smaller than Tokyo, but with just over 2 million people it is still the fifth-largest city in the country.  And while many people like the intensity of city life in Tokyo, for a flavor of Japan that is slower and offers much more access to nature, the lower cost of living and housing in Sapporo create a lifestyle that attracts people from all over the world.

Small City Charm

For those that are familiar with American cities, we can set up the comparison that Tokyo is the equivalent of New York City (even bigger, actually), while Sapporo is less like San Francisco even and more like the city of Chicago.  That compassion is a good place to start.  While Tokyo has international fame, recognizable scenes from movies, etc, Sapporo, has more of a third-tier city feel... and offers a very different kind of lifestyle.

Sapporo City Life

If you visit Sapporo and ask the locals why they like living there, they will specifically point to a more simple, quiet life as a central feature.  Sapporo has a stable economy, a solid job market, lots of education (including Hokkaido University), a real downtown, and many other markers of big cities everywhere.  The city is not particularly competitive, and that is part of what makes it such a comfortable place to live.

For the "fastest career advancement" or "most cutting edge" aspects of modernity, Tokyo is probably a better choice.  But for overall quality of life, Sapporo has a pace that supports healthy growth as a city and offers a kind of comfort and beauty that stands apart from some of Japan's more famous places.

A big part of the story of Sapporo is its geography.  While much of the main island of Japan has cities squeezed between mountains and the sea, Hokkaido has large swaths of open country, flatlands, and big agricultural industry.  While downtown Sapporo is dense, as you move just away from the center of the city, Sapporo is less crowded, quieter, and bleeds into the surrounding nature in every direction.

Sapporo has four seasons, and the much cooler summers are one reason why Sapporo has a lot of appeals.  On days where it might be 35 degrees in Tokyo, Sapporo might be a cool 25 degrees instead.  While Tokyo has a long, sweaty humid season, Sapporo's peak humidity is usually under two months (July and August).  Much of Summer, Spring, and Fall are very temperate and beautiful. And during the winter, Hokkaido gets snow - and offers some of the best powder for skiing and snowboarding anywhere in the world.

Visitors to Sapporo that are expecting the technology and fashion that Japan is famous for may be disappointed.  Sapporo is slow, almost sleepy, but because of that is psychologically warmer, and has a more "family" feel than the less personal, faster big cities.  It may be that the lack of "flash" means Sapporo will attract less attention than Tokyo, but maybe that will help keep Sapporo big enough to have a lot to offer, but small enough to be welcoming and retain a northern Japanese charm.