The interviewed Ching Yu, who has lived in Sapporo for over ten years, has a Facebook fan page called "A Taiwanese Woman's Hokkaido Life" with over 170,000 followers. She has even published a personal travel book titled "Stylish Hokkaido Traveling," which focuses on that part of the nation.

With her deep knowledge of Sapporo, what are the must-visit travel destinations for female travelers? Let's take a look at Ching Yu's list of recommendations!

What are the advantages Sapporo has over other cities of Hokkaido? First of all, it's the main tourist destination of the prefecture. This means you'll be able to hit plenty of attractions without even leaving the city.

Also, Sapporo is located relatively near other popular places of interest like Otaru and Niseko - both easily accessible as a day or overnight trip. Ching Yu has lived in Sapporo for more than ten years, and her experience moves her to recommend spending at least three days touring Sapporo and Otaru.

This is more than enough time to visit the must-see hotspots of the two areas and enjoy a bit of shopping, night sights, and gourmet delicacies with plenty of time to spare for your other preferences.

Many travelers go for the more economical rooms in business hotels to save a little money for other parts of their trip, but we'd like to offer a different perspective.

Since you've already taken great pains to arrange your affairs to come all the way here, splurge a little bit on a place with better indoor facilities to enjoy the complete Japanese package on a single trip!

Ching Yu gives a simple but effective suggestion: Look for a hotel with a sauna room and hot spring baths - any hotel worth its salt usually offers both facilities at the same time anyway. This is one of the most basic yet exotic experiences of traveling in Japan that will enhance your stay and recharge you for another day of activity.

"Personally, I always try to find a hotel with a sauna room whenever I travel," Ching Yu comments. "I can't explain it, but the sauna in Sapporo is totally a mood by itself if you know what I mean!"

Ladies' hotels:

Hotels near public baths:

The island of Hokkaido is a food paradise and there's no lack of good food to try out here. Some great choices you can consider are miso ramen, curry soup, and jingisukan mutton grill. None of these meals, as tasty as they are, however, can compare with the sheer popularity of Hokkaido's fresh seafood, and you won't have any difficulty locating a restaurant or two on every street serving this immensely popular cuisine, especially in the Odori or Susukino areas. A couple of famous shops to add to your list are "Hyousetsu-no-Mon" and "Kani Honke", along with an increasing number of restaurants with Michelin stars. Make it your goal to visit at least one of them on your next Sapporo trip!

Recommended Michelin-starred restaurants in Sapporo

Ching Yu has other exciting recommendations as well, including the local food culture of having a shime (finishing) parfait at the end of a meal. This will be included in the sample itinerary later, so keep your eyes peeled if you're curious!

There are lots of interesting activities to try out in Hokkaido. For example, you could tour a winery, learn how to do stand-up paddleboarding, pick fruits, or go horse riding.

If you've noticed, most of these activities are carried out in the great Hokkaido outdoors, where you'll be accompanied by the island's gentle sunlight and comfortable breeze - something quite different from the usual city experience.

In summer, you can also walk around the streets of Sapporo in a rented kimono to admire the sights while feeling fancy. Highly recommended for ladies who have never tried this gorgeous traditional Japanese garb before!

Try out some fun activities and more!

If your goal is to ski or snowboard, Sapporo Teine Ski Area or Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort are Ching Yu's recommendation because they're located right on the outskirts of Sapporo.

Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort's excellent snow quality is even comparable to the quality often seen in large-scale ski resorts in more well-known ski areas. Newcomers to snow sports can also ask for a coach to show them the ropes either via reservation or when renting skiing or snowboarding gear from ski resorts.

To get your fill of everything Sapporo has to offer in terms of shopping and souvenirs, Ching Yu recommends going to the bustling shops and streets located near Sapporo Station or Odori Station.

Around Sapporo Station are department stores like Sapporo Stellar Place, Sapporo Esta, Daimaru, Tokyu, and BicCamera. As for Odori Station, you'll find Mitsukoshi, Marui Imai, Parco, and the Don Quijote flagship store nearby as well.

"My personal go-to shopping spot is the Sapporo Daimaru Department Store and Odori's Parco because most of the stores of my favorite brands are concentrated here," says Ching Yu.

Tanukikoji, another shopping street on the list of many international travelers, is also located near Odori Station. This is one of the best places to get local souvenirs as well as other popular specialty items that are made in Hokkaido.

This sample itinerary for Sapporo and Otaru is a neat little three-day package designed to be easily slotted into an existing Hokkaido schedule that lasts for four or more days. This allows for some flexibility as you may already have your list of must-visit places to plan for.

Places of interest included in this itinerary are Hokkaido Shrine, Sapporo Nijo Market, Otaru Canal, Tanukikoji Shopping Street, Mount Moiwa, Mount Tengu, and others.

Some restaurant and cafe suggestions for lunch and dinner are interwoven in between for your quick reference as well. Whether you decide to use the itinerary wholesale or pick the parts that appeal to you, we're confident you can find something interesting for everyone in your travel group here.

Most Hokkaido visitors enter through Shin-Chitose Airport, so your first order of business upon leaving the airport should be to check in to the hotel you've booked in Sapporo City.

In fact, if your hotel is located near Sapporo Station, you can hop onto the Airport Express right at the airport for a direct ride to the station (about a 37 to 39-minute ride).

On the other hand, if you'll be staying near Odori Station, transfer at Sapporo Station to the municipal subway or take an airport bus directly to Odori Park (about a 1-hour ride).

Finding lunch near the station where your hotel is located shouldn't be a problem once you've left your luggage in your room or with the staff.

For example, Sapporo Station has entire streets nearby dedicated to eateries and restaurants, and you can also find big names such as sushi store Nemuro Hanamaru and Ramen Republic, where eight popular ramen shops vie for a chance to delight your tastebuds.

Fish roe on sushi rice at Nemuro Hanamaru! Photo courtesy of Ching Yu's Instagram, "A Taiwanese Woman's Hokkaido Life"

Although conveyor belt sushi is considered affordable cuisine, the recommended "Genroku Hanamaru" stands out because it sources its seafood directly from the seas of Nemuro and its nearby areas, ensuring freshness. The menu offers a wide variety of choices, allowing you to enjoy a high-quality dining experience without spending too much. It's a great choice for the first meal of this little luxury trip for ladies in Sapporo!

▲Maruyama Park in spring is a sight sakura enthusiasts will not want to miss! Photo courtesy of Ching Yu's Instagram, "A Taiwanese Woman's Hokkaido Life"

After loading up on food, hop onto a Sapporo municipal subway train to go to Maruyama Park via Maruyama-Koen Station.

This is a massive 70-hectare wide city park featuring naturally preserved primitive forests that decorate the area with different sights and colors at every change of season. You'll also find the famous Hokkaido Shrine and Maruyama Zoo on the park premises.

The zoo is home to a number of Yezo sika deer, Ussuri brown bear, and other animals native to Hokkaido.

As for Hokkaido Shrine, this is the largest shrine that can be found in all of Hokkaido, and local residents view it as an auspicious landmark. Because the shrine is also popular among international visitors, you can draw divination lots here in Japanese, English, and Mandarin Chinese.

▲Morihico Coffee, a vintage cafe in a vintage building surrounded by greenery - Photo courtesy of Ching Yu's Instagram, "A Taiwanese Woman's Hokkaido Life"

There are a number of cafes in Sapporo that rely not on size to attract customers but their attention to serving the right taste to customers.

"Roasting coffee beans in Hokkaido's dry air has excellent results," Ching Yu explains, "and because the food is usually heavily seasoned due to the cold weather, the locals tend to roast the beans longer for a richer taste to go along with the food."

Coffee connoisseurs will love wandering around the vicinity of Maruyama Park because of the plentiful number of charming, privately-run cafes that have made a name for themselves for the quality of their coffee.

Here are a few names you may want to consider looking into: Atelier Morihico serves their fragrant coffee in a forest-style olden residential building; Miyakoshiya Coffee is an established cafe chain that was founded right in Sapporo; and Rokkatei serves a number of exquisite confectionery along with good coffee.

Having a drink in the store or getting a takeout cup to sip while surrounded by the greenery of Maruyama Park are both valid ways to enjoy your caffeine fix.

Going to Mount Okura Viewing Point is a convenient 15-minute bus ride from Maruyama Koen bus stop to Mt. Okura Ski Jump Stadium bus stop, where you can then transfer to the ropeway that will take you to the viewing point.

The 1972 Olympics ski jumping event was held here and this is one of the rare places in Sapporo where you can observe the entirety of the city from a single vantage point.

As you might expect, the Sapporo Olympic Museum is also found here. Inside is a collection of exhibits and general information related to the Winter Olympics, and you can also safely experience how thrilling ski jumping and other winter sports are through simulation devices.

During summer, the viewing point is open until 9 p.m., which allows visitors to be awed by a fantastic night view of Sapporo City from above.

Dinner at one of Sapporo's top downtown district of Susukino is highly recommended after this, as it can be easily reached with just one transfer at Odori Station after taking a train from Maruyama Koen on the municipal subway. The journey should only take about 10 minutes.

Ching Yu's personal recommendation is Hyousetsu-no-Mon, a restaurant that specializes in crab cuisine. Look forward to seeing popular crustaceans like horsehair crabs, red king crabs, and snow crabs on the menu being prepared in a variety of methods, including roasted, boiled, and mixed with other ingredients.

"Many tourists immediately think of the red king crab when Hokkaido crab cuisine is mentioned, but the locals are actually more of horsehair crab people!" Ching Yu points out.

"Hyousetsu-no-Mon has the best horsehair crab shabu-shabu hotpot if you're open to suggestions, although take note that the restaurant specializes in course meals and doesn't offer the buffet-style dining many other eateries do. Plenty of locals come here for special occasions."

Due to the popularity of this restaurant, it is often fully packed at all hours, so do make a reservation if you're determined to give the food here a try!

There's something else to look forward to here at night: the legendary after-meal Shime Parfait! It's a custom among many Sapporoans to enjoy a luxurious cup of parfait to mark the end of their night out downtown. It may sound like a rather unfathomable cultural oddity, but Ching Yu encourages all visitors to consider immersing themselves in this local food custom.

"Actually, the ending point of a night out in Sapporo used to be ramen," Ching Yu reveals. "Parfait is like the modern version, and the amazing thing is that everyone's always keen to eat something chilled and sweet after a meal in Sapporo, no matter how cold it may be!"

Well, you know what they say about Rome and the Romans...

Shime parfait usually comes as part of a set with a cocktail or iced coffee, and the dessert is served in a glass cup that allows you to see all the tantalizing layers of rich and delicious ice-cream, whipped cream, fruits, and other ingredients stacked neatly on top of each other. Yes, it looks great in photos, too!

Ching Yu adds, "Shops in Sapporo will use fresh Hokkaido milk and or alcoholic beverages to make their parfaits. Each layer of dessert is carefully crafted and placed to maximize the snack's appeal to the eye and tongue. You can't go wrong with this!"

Because of the increasing popularity of this dessert, don't be surprised to see long queues for shime parfait along shops that mainly cater to the nightlife in bustling Odori or Susukino - even those located in older-looking buildings or smaller alleyways, since they usually open their doors for business after 6 p.m.

Those in the know especially go for the shime parfait in "Parfait, Coffee, Liquor, Sato" - a shop that's said to be the originator of this new and interesting food culture in the first place, where queues for a taste of the legendary parfait never seem to stop forming.

Ching Yu even mentions that you often have to queue for up to an hour before you can get your hands on one, a definite testament to its amazing taste and popularity.

On day two, turn your gaze out of Sapporo towards Otaru for a relaxing day trip. It only takes about 33 minutes to ride from Sapporo Station to Otaru Station on the JR Lines.

Once you exit the station, head towards the famous Sankaku Market for a bowl of fresh and tasty seafood rice or try out the Michelin-starred Izezushi sushi store for lunch.

Craving something more Hokkaido-ish? Set meals from the popular local fried chicken eatery Wakadori Jidai Naruto may be just what you're looking for. Another option to consider is the well-known Keien restaurant and its legendary seafood on fried noodles dish.

For your next stop, walk about 10 minutes to the quaint and charming Otaru Canal. The canal is lined with old brick warehouses that have been preserved for their historic value, cobblestone pavements, and vintage gas street lamps.

All of these come together to give the location the exotic atmosphere it's most well-known for. Needless to say, the place is very photogenic! If time and budget permits, give the local rickshaw drivers a chance to show you around, or hop on a romantic cruise boat that plies the canal and observe this little port town from new angles.

The elevated viewpoint from atop a rickshaw is especially interesting and this fun little activity is highly recommended for those wanting to try something completely new and are not afraid to splurge on it!

Also, what's a lady's trip without any mention of the best desserts nearby? If you walk along Otaru Canal towards Otaru Sakaimachi Dori for about 10 minutes, you'll arrive at the Otaru Sakaimachi Dori Shopping Street, the main shopping avenue of Otaru that comes with virtually all the well-known Hokkaido branded confectionery and souvenirs such as Rokkatei, Kitakaro, and LeTAO.

Some of the soft-serve ice creams and cream puffs on sale are only available in the Otaru branches, so don't forget to grab one of these as well while you're grabbing your other souvenirs.

Another thing Otaru is renowned for is its handicrafts. In fact, walking along Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi Dori Shopping Street, and Marchen Intersection will likely bring you past a number of handicraft specialty stores like <@Kitaichi Glass|a=article:a1000180> and the <@Otaru Music Box Museum Hall|a=spot:lj0007819@> where you can not only buy locally-made exquisite craftwork but take part in workshops that teach you how to do your own as well.

If you've ever wanted to make your own music box, blown glass, or aroma candle, well, here's your chance to do so with an expert guide!

"I joined a glass-blowing workshop the last time I went to Otaru," says Ching Yu, "and it was really fun learning how to make my own glass cup using glass blowing. The best part is that I brought the cup home and am still using it. Every time I pick it up, memories of how I shaped it with my own hands come rushing back. Highly recommended!"

Once the sky turns darker, get ready to set off for Mount Tengu for one of the most astounding night views you'll ever see in Japan. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the Mount Tengu Ropeway via bus from Otaru Station, and the ropeway to the summit itself will take only about four minutes.

This mountain is the highest point in the Otaru area and offers a boundless view of Otaru town blending into the distant sea. The city lights twinkle like stars at night and this scene is known as one of the top three Hokkaido night views alongside the view atop Mount Hakodate in Hakodate and Mount Moiwa in Sapporo (more on this later!).

"I think the view from Mount Tengu is different," Ching Yu states. "You can see the entire town's landscape next to the sea and the ropeway here isn't built too high above sea level, which gives you the illusion of standing among stars as you observe the view. The feeling is quite moving!"

Ching Yu also points out that many of the scenes from the Netflix Japanese drama series "First Love" were filmed right here in Otaru, and the romantic kissing scene between the two main characters was shot right on Mount Tengu itself, making it one of the must-visit sites of Hokkaido for married and courting couples alike.

Dinner awaits after the fantastic view on top of Mount Tengu, so take a bus back to Otaru Station and then transfer to a train on the JR Lines to return to Sapporo Station for more shopping and eating. Ching Yu's personal recommendation is the local meal of soup curry from the famous Okushiba restaurant chain, which has a branch right around Sapporo Station. However, be prepared to queue for about 30 minutes to an hour, because that's just how good the food is! "I highly recommend soup curry," Ching Yu insists. "This dish is made by boiling all sorts of spices together, so rich flavors are all but guaranteed. The warmth it fills you with is quite something else too!" Each eatery in Hokkaido has their own special soup curry recipe, which means it'll never quite taste the same in every place. Curry people should definitely try to collect as many flavors as you can discern!

Day three is all about that Sapporo sightseeing! Go check out the Sapporo TV Tower in the morning for a nice, panoramic view of the city and be impressed by the neat, checkerboard design of the streetscape.

From this height, Odori Park is like a green oasis among the concrete jungle. Although the Sapporo landscape is better known for how it looks like at night, having a look around in the day may yield some pleasant discoveries as well.

The tower has a souvenir shop that you can browse through for interesting and unique Sapporo-related trinkets.

▲The tote bags in the picture are from FAbULOUS! - Photo courtesy of Ching Yu's Instagram, "A Taiwanese Woman's Hokkaido Life"

One of Ching Yu's recommended lounging spots near Sapporo TV Tower is FAbULOUS, a cafe that also sells furniture, general goods, toiletries, and cultural products by local Hokkaido artisans.

"We're talking about things like candles that were made based on the image of Otaru's seas at different times. If you're looking for a unique souvenir, this is where you want to be. Quite a lot of locals come here for their coffee as well and you may want to order a cup to see why it's so popular. It's a great place to just sit down and watch the world go by."

Next, walk back to Odori to take a look around department stores like Mitsukoshi and PARCO.

Another one of Ching Yu's personal recommendations is Baristart Coffee, a cafe that only sells takeout coffee located just three minutes from PARCO on foot. The curiously designed shop features grey stone bricks and wooden frames and furniture. They focus on ensuring the milk for their latte is the best they can offer.

As such, they always allow customers to choose from three different types of Hokkaido milk, including Biei Jersey milk, Nemuro Ito farm milk, and Sapporo Kitadai milk - all premium milk rarely seen on supermarket shelves.

The sweet scent of fresh milk blends well with the taste of roasted coffee beans, coming together to create an energizing drink that's easy on the throat.

No wonder this is one of the hottest new must-visit spots among local residents! "Honestly, this place is wildly
popular among locals and foreigners alike. Every time I pass by, I see hordes of people queuing up for coffee and pictures. By the way, I always pick the Biei milk. What can I say? I just love the smooth and rich fragrance it offers!"

After you've had your coffee break, leave Baristart Coffee and walk for about two minutes to Tanukikoji Shopping Street.

You can't say you've been to Sapporo if you haven't shopped at this street before! Besides the usual fare of cosmetics and souvenir gift shops, you'll also be able to stroll through a flagship store of one of Japan's largest discount store chains, Don Quijote.

This shopping street is so well-stocked with all kinds of products that you could leave the shopping to day three here if you wanted and still get most of what you need. The restaurants and eateries along this street serve popular local food like sushi, ramen, soup curry, and plenty more, so you don't ever have to worry about running out of shopping energy when you're here!

Start heading towards the nearby Mount Moiwa once the sun sets by taking a streetcar from Susukino Station for about 24 minutes and getting off at Ropeway Iriguchi Station. After that, you'll need to take the ropeway twice to get to the mountaintop observatory, where the breathtaking sight of Sapporo City awaits beneath.

Ching Yu mentions that Mount Moiwa is one of the more popular hiking places among local residents as well. If you're up to the challenge, it takes about 1.5 hours to hike to the summit, and you can always ride the ropeway down after you've taken in the sights.

"The trail at Mount Moiwa is easy enough for anyone to hike on, even if you may not be in tip-top shape," is Ching Yu's reassurance.

"Nothing can beat that sense of achievement you get after conquering what you once thought was impossible! Hiking has gained quite a bit of popularity after the peak of the pandemic and this place is conveniently located just about half an hour from the city center. Fans of the outdoors can't afford to miss this experience!"

Summer is hiking season for many Sapporo residents, and if you're the type who prefers to have company, even from strangers, while hiking, then try to plan for a trip up Mount Moiwa the next time you visit Sapporo in summer.

▲Mount Moiwa is a popular hiking spot for Sapporo residents during summer - Photo courtesy of Ching Yu's Instagram, "A Taiwanese Woman's Hokkaido Life"

Still not entirely satisfied with your last night in Sapporo after enjoying the night view of the city? Then consider marking an end to your day and trip by visiting 21CLUB, a fusion teppanyaki (grilled meat) restaurant in Nakajima Park that comes with fabulous night views as well.

The shop is located on the 25th floor of the Premier Hotel. It serves luxury cuisine that uses premium ingredients like Hokkaido wagyu beef and horsehair crab.

The classy decor enhances the taste of the food, and the place is often the venue for special events like marriage proposals and birthday celebrations.

"Not many restaurants in Sapporo can feature 'excellent nighttime view' in their list of attractions, but this is one of them that does! The beef served here is from Furano Japanese cows, and I highly recommend it to everyone, especially those who want to try local Hokkaido beef. The food is prepared in front of you by the chef, and that makes you feel exceptional."

As you can see, in just three days in Hokkaido, you can catch pretty night sights from mountaintops, shop till you drop in the department stores near Odori and Sapporo Stations, get all the souvenirs you can think of in Tanukikoji Shopping Street, and still have to time enjoy a perfectly relaxing cup of coffee in between.

After all, stress-free traveling is what self-guided tours are really about. Don't forget you can also make arrangements to ski or snowboard at Niseko, walk among the flower fields in Furano, or soak in the hot springs of Jozankei as well, if time permits. Pleasant surprises await you at every turn in Hokkaido - it's up to you whether or not to seize the opportunity!

*Information in this article accurate as of February 2023 and are subject to change depending on latest circumstances.

Translation by: Huimin Pan