Sapporo is the capital city of Hokkaido and is also the fifth largest city of Japan. Previously, Sapporo was the secretarial centre of the island and was built on a North American technique of rectangular road system. It is the main center of political affairs, business and development for the northern island of Hokkaido. The city is said to obtain its name from Ainu language “Sari-Poro-Pet” or “Sat-Poro-Pet”. The construction of towns started in the year 1869. Sapporo is situated in the south-western side of the Hokkaido's Ishikari Plain. It covers an area of about 1,121.12 sq.km. The distance from north to south is 45.40km and from east to west is 42.30km.
The climate of Sapporo consists of four seasons ranging from a cool summer to chill winter. The standard temperature of Sapporo is approximately 8.5 degrees and the annual rainfall is 1,100mm.The people of the city experience a pleasant weather from April which continues up to June. The summer season starts from July and ends in August. The present population of the city is around 1,890,000, which is near about one-third of that of Hokkaido.
The Old Hokkaido Government Building, Mt Moiwa-yama, Ishiyama Greenbelt, The Clock Tower, Chizaki Rose Garden, Hitsuji-ga-oka Observatory, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Sapporo Art Park, Odori park are the hottest tourist attractions in
Sapporo . While in the city one should make sure to visit these places.
