Ramen Eases the Blow of Culture Shock Anyday

friendly face at the "toukibi" (steamed corn) stall, Odori Park
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The first half of my year here I was dealing with culture shock. But after my language skills started kicking in, I realized what a beautiful and inspiring place Hokkaido is. Sapporo offers vast entertaining parks, fresh and inexpensive cuisine, a staggering variety of ramen shops (one on every corner!) cheap pubs and fun places to shop, all within an easy reach by subway or on foot from Sapporo Station. The city is, unlike Tokyo, built on a systemized grid so it's easy to navigate and user-friendly. It's also very clean with modern buildings and facilities everywhere.

THE place to hang out in Sapporo at Night: SUSUKINO!
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I grew to love Sapporo for its ecclectic mix of Meiji-Era-Japan-meets-not-quite-Western-style. But there aren't as many non-Japanese here as there are in Tokyo so be prepared for more open-mouthed gawkers than usual if you're of non-Asian heritage. Oftentimes when I got sick of people staring and wanted to blend in again, I booked a vacation in Tokyo to refresh myself.

An Ecclectic Mix of Meiji-Era-Japan-meets-Not-Quite-Western-Style

Surveying the Fun at Tanuki Kouji Shopping Arcade
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While studying here, I spent a lot of time finding good bargains at Tanuki Kouji Shopping Arcade, enjoying karaoke, ramen and brew with friends in Susukino (the entertainment district), hiking around Moiwa and Maruyama mountains and relaxing in Odori Park. There are lots of ways to pass the time in an enjoyable fashion. Odori Park in particular turns into a snow statue paradise in winter (Yuki Matsuri Festival), comes alive with dance during the Yosakoi Soran Festival in summer and turns into a huge beer garden in August.

Crab and Melons for Sale, Tanuki Kouji
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Sapporo is sandwiched between mountains, a gorgeous national park and the sea, so if you get sick of the city there are plenty of places to escape. Everytime I leave this place I always want to go back and stay for awhile.