If your trip to Sapporo is all booked but your itinerary is a little on the empty side, we can give you a helping hand.Sapporo JR Tower deserves way more than just a quick drive-by. Get out of your car and spend some quality time getting familiar with this landmark attraction while you’re visiting Sapporo.Experience the best that this place has to offer by adding Sapporo Clock Tower and Former Hokkaido Government Office Building to your travel itinerary. If you have an extra day up your sleeve, drop by Sapporo TV Tower and Odori Park as well.Plan a stop at Tanukikoji Shopping Street. It’s one attraction you’ll usually find on most travelers’ must-do lists. Nakajima Park and Nijo Market are also a stone’s throw away and worth a detour.

If you’re in the mood for a day trip, pack your bags and make your way to Kutchan. Situated 35 miles away, it has more than enough to keep you occupied. You may also like to discover the sights of Hirafu. It’s located 35 miles from Sapporo and has some excellent things to offer.

Load the trunk with scrumptious food and set off to one of the gorgeous beaches near Sapporo. Some of the best places to set up a seaside picnic are:

• Otaru Dream Beach (10 miles away).
• Zenibako Beach (11 miles away).

If you’re traveling here for business-related reasons, you’ll probably be going to Sapporo Convention Center. You’ll find it 2 miles away.

Journeying to Sapporo to tick off Sapporo JR Tower and Sapporo Beer Museum? Now that’s what we call a road trip of a lifetime! But you may want to consider exactly how you’ll get around. Driving in this metropolis can be tricky, so it makes sense to pick something small, like a mini or a compact car. You’ll be zipping past traffic and maneuvering into tight car spaces like you lived there your entire life. If you want to leave the driving for outside the city center, that’s OK too. Secure something more comfortable and a little bigger, like a four-wheel drive, and explore the bays of Ishikari.

Sometimes the journey is more significant than the destination, which makes your car choice important. If you’re about to head off on an epic road trip around Sapporo, a safe and sturdy SUV could be the perfect solution. If you’re hoping for the best possible deal and plan on staying mostly in the city, an economy car is a clever pick. All you need to do is work out what suits you best, throw your bags in the trunk, and hit the road.

The left-hand side of the road is where you’ll be driving in Sapporo. Take note that the controls of your rental vehicle here, like the steering wheel and stick shift (if your car has manual transmission), will be on the opposite side of what you’re used to.

It can be hard to locate a car space in Sapporo. Once you nab one, make sure you read the signage carefully. Overstaying the time limit or parking in a restricted zone can put a big dent in your vacation budget.

It’s safe to say that you’ll encounter some traffic congestion in Sapporo, which has a population of roughly 1,883,000. For smoother travels, it’s a good idea to avoid driving during the peak hours.

The residential zones in the city of Sapporo have a 40km/h speed limit. Outside these areas, the speed limits usually range between 30km/h and 100km/h.

More often than not, your car rental company will charge the amount stated on the fine to your credit card. Alternatively, the company may supply your contact details to the relevant local agency so they can issue a fine straight to you.

It is against the law to use your cell phone while you’re behind the wheel in Sapporo, and you may also be fined for simply handling your phone if you’re in control of a vehicle. However, using hands-free or Bluetooth functions is permitted, as long as your attention remains on the road.

The legal BAC (blood alcohol content) limit while operating a vehicle in Sapporo is 0.03%. If you’re planning on partying, leave your wheels behind and organize another way of getting home instead.

It’s illegal to turn on a red light in Sapporo. When you encounter one, enjoy a couple of mindful moments until the signal flicks back to green.

Subject to a few exceptions, seat belts must be worn in Ishikari.