A Few Questions for My Sapporo Trip! Food, Airport Transport, and Souvenir Recommendations Needed
I’m in the middle of planning a 3-night, 4-day trip to Sapporo with my parents. One day is set for a Biei tour, and another for visiting Otaru. Two of our meals are already decided, so I’m trying to figure out what to eat for the rest of our time there. I know Sapporo is famous for Genghis Khan (lamb BBQ), miso ramen, fresh seafood, and soup curry, but are there any other must-try dishes? Also, our flight home on the last day is at 1 PM. We’re staying near Susukino Station and I’m thinking about visiting Nijo Market in the morning, but I have no idea how early we should head to the airport. It’s been surprisingly hard to find a clear answer on this. Generally, how many hours in advance should we get to the airport to be safe? Lastly, I’d love some recommendations for good souvenirs to bring back for friends, like LeTAO from Otaru…!
5 answers available
People actually go to the airport early on purpose because there’s so much to do and so many good restaurants there. Even if you have a 9 AM flight, you’ll find you don’t have much spare time after wandering around grabbing snacks. I usually don’t buy souvenirs at the tourist spots because they sell plenty at the airport’s domestic terminal and duty-free shops. Buying them earlier just means you have to lug them around.
Eat lots of Hokkaido melon, dairy products, and steamed or grilled vegetables. The ingredients are so fresh and delicious.
It’s my first time in Sapporo too, but I looked into the airport limo bus and heard the lines at Susukino can be long, and sometimes you can’t get on the first one and have to wait 30 minutes or more. I’m definitely planning to eat Genghis Khan and soup curry!
If you take the JR Rapid Airport train, it only takes about 40 minutes to get to the airport. They had elevators and escalators. If you go to the domestic terminal side, there are way more shops and things to see than on the international side.
The pork rice bowl is delicious too! Butadon!
Summary of answers
- Recommended must-try foods in Sapporo include not only Genghis Khan and soup curry but also Hokkaido melon, dairy products, and butadon (pork rice bowl).
- For airport transportation, the JR Rapid Airport train takes about 40 minutes, but be aware that the limousine bus may have long wait times.
- It’s recommended to arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare as it’s full of shops and restaurants. You can also find a wide range of souvenirs at the duty-free shops.
- The domestic terminal has more shops and attractions than the international one, making it a good place to spend any extra time.
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