Sapporo, Capital city and administrative center in Hokkaido, Japan
Sapporo is the capital of the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and spreads across ten wards, including Chuo-ku, Higashi-ku and Kita-ku. Its streets follow a grid layout with wide avenues running north to south and east to west, interrupted by the central Odori Park.
A small outpost of seven settlers grew rapidly from 1857 and was developed into an administrative center during the Meiji Restoration. Foreign advisors helped build infrastructure and brought Western planning methods to Hokkaido.
Shopping and entertainment districts around Susukino show a lively nightlife with countless izakaya, ramen shops and bars that fill up late into the evening. Locals and travelers meet at Odori Park, which serves as a social center and comes alive during festivals, markets and after-work gatherings alike.
The main railway station hall provides access to subways, buses and long-distance trains, and also contains shops and observation decks for initial orientation. Wide sidewalks and covered arcades in the center make it easier for pedestrians to move around during rain or snowfall.
An underground network of walkways connects the railway station, shopping centers and office towers over several kilometers and allows warm routes in winter without daylight. Maruyama Zoo keeps polar bears and reindeer in enclosures adapted to the regional climate.
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