10 Best Things to Do for Couples in Sapporo

Sapporo Art Museum opened in 1986 and has come to symbolise Sapporo as a city of art and culture. The museum houses a collection of about 1,500 works, including works by artists who have connections to Sapporo and Hokkaido, art from Japan and overseas, and pieces related to the forest. Highlights include Hokkaido sculptor Sawazawa Biki's "Listen to the Wind", and Sapporo-born painter Kataoka Kyoko's "Pose" series.

It's a good idea to check out the schedule of special exhibitions for encounters with a wide variety of art from around the world on particular dates. And if you have time, why not take part in a pottery workshop experience at the Craft Studio? There's also the museum shop, Prère, with its range of original goods and pottery, glass and textiles from the "Best Pocket" permanent exhibition that make excellent gifts.

Moerenuma Park is a beautiful park designed by world-famous sculptor Isamu Noguchi, which blends nature and art. The iconic monument at the centre of the park is the HIGAMARI glass pyramid, which opened in 2003. The sun shines in throughout the atrium and makes the space feel really open. There are music and dance events and art exhibitions held here on weekends. 

The French restaurant on the ground floor is popular for its takeaway boxed lunches and its eat-in dinners with excellent evening views. Also, make sure you check out the Isamu Noguchi Gallery on the 3rd floor. The ocean fountain in the middle of the park offers an impressive program that rises up to 25 metres high 3 or 4 times a day. It's lit up at night, so head here after dark for some fantastic light and water spectacles.

Head to Jozankei Onsen, a hot spring resort 26 km south of downtown Sapporo, if you're looking for a relaxing getaway with someone special. This hot spring town is located within Shikotsu-Toya National Park, which is renowned for its rich nature and wealth of hot springs. Accommodations range from large spa resorts to inns where you're treated like one of the family. 

Dinner can be enjoyed in an adults-only environment, in private dining rooms, or in your own guestroom. Don't forget to ask the hotel for surprises like cakes and flowers on special anniversaries. After meals, soak in the warm, colourless, mellow water and feel the minerals in the water soothe the core of your body. Rooms with private open-air baths and private baths are also available. Jozankei Onsen is a 45-minute drive from Sapporo Station. There are also direct buses from Sapporo Station and New Chitose Airport.

Sapporo Starlight Dome is the only private planetarium in Hokkaido, about a 5-minute walk from JR Teine Station. Of course, it's cool to enjoy the real night sky, but what about gazing at an awesome digital representation of the starry sky while listening to music inside a planetarium? This venue became a stage model for the anime series Kimi ni Todoke. 

The dome, which is 15 meters in diameter and has a seating capacity of 160, puts on programs of about 40 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day, complete with commentary based on themes like "Stars" and "Aurora". Note that reception opens 30 minutes before each program, and you can't enter the museum halfway through a showing. On a special stage with a grand piano, there are Planetarium Stage concerts held from time to time. These are well worth checking out if you fancy enjoying some music and starry skies at the same time.

Sapporo Dome is home to 2 professional teams: the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters baseball team and the Consadole Sapporo football club. Pick up some scarves or hats or whatever to show your allegiance, and then head off to the game of your choice. The Consadole Sapporo fans sing loudly for the full 90 minutes, making for a great atmosphere, so if you're a footie fan this should definitely be on your list. 

Baseball games come to life with the special songs the crowd dedicates to each player. After a weekend game, you can even enjoy a game of catch outside. If there are no matches or events, you can take a behind-the-scenes tour of the locker room and bullpen instead. If you go up to the 53-metre-high Dome Observatory, you can enjoy great views of the sprawling cityscape of Sapporo and Mt. Teine, as well as looking down at the magnificent arena inside the dome.

The Horomitoge Observation Point parking area is one of the best night-view spots in the city. Sightseeing options in Sapporo don't end when the sun goes down. In fact, Sapporo has been selected as one of Japan's 3 Major Night Views, so make sure you take in the scenery after dark. 

This site is famous for its lavender in the summertime, and at night it turns into a parking area purely for enjoying the night views. Best of all, you can take your time and enjoy the night view without even getting out of the car. So there's nothing to worry about even in the cold season. With no large outside lights in the area, this is the perfect way to enjoy beautiful, sparkling night views of Sapporo.

Head to Jozankei and take a canoe down the Toyohira River. Put on a lifejacket and practice how to row a canoe. When you're ready, board your canoe for 2. Guides will run alongside you, so you'll be in good hands even if it's your first time. In the summer, you can bring your swimsuit and enjoy the lush green natural environment, even playing in the river, while in autumn you can look at the beautiful autumn leaves of Jozankei as you canoe downstream. 

Take advantage of set itineraries that include hot springs, safari, and fruit picking, and pickup/dropoff services to and from your hotel, to make the most of what Hokkaido has to offer.

At Tsukikan Gymnasium, a 1-minute walk from Exit 3 of Tsukikan Central Station on the Toho Subway Line, you can enjoy ice skating all year round. Ice skating is one of the most popular sports for Sapporo locals. Make sure you wear gloves, waterproof winter clothes, and long socks. Helmets and skates can be rented on the first floor of the gymnasium. 

When you enter the skating rink, try to bend your knees and shift your weight forward. If this is your first time, it's best to practice while grabbing onto the wall around the edge of the rink. Once you start feeling a bit more confident, you'll be able to have a great time skating around while holding hands. There are also events held here, including ice skating shows and figure skating championships.

Theater Kino is a big cinema complex that's good for the latest Hollywood flicks, but nothing beats a small indie cinema for unique foreign and Japanese films. You'll find the theatre in Tanukikoji Shopping Street, and it's a cinema specifically for Sapporo film buffs. It shows whatever the owner wants to put on. 

On the 2nd floor of the building are 2 screens with 63 and 100 seats, and Mondays are special days for couples, where both of you can watch a film for ¥2,000. While waiting for your film to start, you can relax at Kino Café on the same floor. At night, this transforms into Kino Bar where you can sip wine and read old books. It's a 10-minute walk from Odori Station or Susukino Station.

Just a short walk from Susukino, Nakajima Park in the middle of Sapporo is one of the main places where the locals like to relax. The park is lined with sculptures and benches are set up on the green paths. It's an idyllic date spot. Take a tour of the Japanese garden and check out the quaint Hadoan tea room. 

Hoheikan is a hotel built in the Meiji era, with striking white walls set against ultramarine blue columns and window frames. Elsewhere, you can even take a rowing boat out onto the iris pond in the middle of the park. During the Yukiakari in Nakajima Park event in wintertime, endless snow candles light up the park and produce a magical atmosphere. And to top it all, the park also features Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara where you can listen to some great music. Don't miss the performances by the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra in the Great Hall.