Sapporo’s Pioneering Spirit Trail

Sapporo is a unique city that underwent dramatic transformation in a short period. While it is now a bustling metropolis of 2 million people, just 150 years ago it was untouched primeval forest. This rapid growth was driven by the "frontier spirit" of early pioneers. Join us on a walking tour to uncover this story by tracing the "Polaris"—the five-pointed star symbol placed upon key historical sites across the city. We will visit landmarks like the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building and the Clock Tower to see the Polaris symbol firsthand, while searching for traces of history hidden within the modern landscape. Along the way, we will stop for prayer at Hokkaido Jingu Tongu and a break with Japanese tea. The trail concludes at the site of Japan's first beer brewery, where pioneers' dreams were once bottled. After the tour ends, we invite you to relax and enjoy a beer to toast Sapporo's remarkable 150-year journey. (Food and drinks after the tour are at your own expense.)