A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Ise vs. Sapporo for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Ise or Sapporo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Ise and Sapporo can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Ise

Ise is a authentic, off-the-beaten-path, and overlooked city. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and beaches.

Sapporo

Sapporo is a vibrant, laid-back, and park-filled city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the skiing, nightlife, and food.

Ise and Sapporo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ise or Sapporo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Sapporo than Ise, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Sapporo is more popular for its skiing, museums, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Ise is known for its beaches. Sapporo is more touristy than Ise and is popular for its skiing, winter activities, and the yearly Sapporo Snow Festival. It is also home to Odori Park. Ise is popular for its important Shinto shrines and its coastal setting.

How is Ise different from Sapporo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sapporo and Ise. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Ise or Sapporo Better for Skiing?

Sapporo is well known for winter skiing. However, Ise is not a skiing destination.

People head to Sapporo specifically to take advantage of the area's skiing and winter sports. There are many great ski areas that are an easy day trip from the center of town. Very close by you'll find Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort and Sapporo Teine is where the 1972 Winter Olympics were held. It's divided into the family-friendly Olympia Zone and the more advanced Highland Zone.

Ise is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ise or Sapporo?

Sapporo is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Sapporo. There are a number of shrines and museums in the city. Make sure you check out Hokkaidō Shrine, Sapporo TV Tower, Sapporo Clock Tower, and the Sapporo Science Center.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Ise. While this is an often overlooked part of Japan for tourists, those who venture here will enjoy strolling through the forest and visiting the shrine complex of Ise Jingu.

Is the Food Better in Ise or Sapporo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Ise and Sapporo offer a number of great restaurants to choose from.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Ise. You'll find some of Japan's best seafood around town and there are many local delicacies. Head to the downtown area around Iseshi Station to find a high concentration of places. One local specialty is the Japanese spiny lobster (also known as the Ise lobster).

Sapporo has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The local cuisine focuses on the world class fishing in the area as well as the great agriculture. Pork is a common meat ingredient and many dishes include ramen, vegetables, or grilled seafood.

Is Ise or Sapporo Better for Nightlife?

Sapporo is well known for nightlife and partying. However, Ise is not particularly known for its evening party scene.

Sapporo is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city's nightlife scene is laid back and mostly concentrated in the Susukino area. In particular, King Xmhu is famous for its party nights and wild decor.

Ise doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Most visitors don't stay long enough to take in the nightlife, which is limited.

Is Ise or Sapporo Better for Beaches?

Ise is a city with good options for the beach. However, Sapporo is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Ise. There are several nice and sandy beaches in the area that make for a nice break from the sightseeing.

Sapporo is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ise or Sapporo?

Sapporo is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Sapporo is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Shopping malls are the most popular places to enjoy browsing the stores. This is particularly nice during the snowy winter months when you can escape into the heated malls.

Ise has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a shopping street in town with many of the shops housed in traditional buildings, giving the area a nice character.

Is Ise or Sapporo Better for Families?

Sapporo is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Sapporo is a very kid-friendly city. The city has many activities for families, any time of year. There's skiing and winter sports in the winter and theme parks and camping in the summer. There's also a Puppet Theater and indoor play areas for when the weather is poor.

Ise offers lots of family activities. The Ise Jingu Shrine complex is large and sprawling, and has the feel of a park. The kids will likely find visiting all of the temples tedious, but the forest is peaceful and the setting is beautiful.

Is Ise or Sapporo Better for Couples?

Sapporo is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Sapporo frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples will enjoy the parks, gardens, museums, and winter sports in the area. A highlight for everyone is a visit to the famous Sapporo Snow Festival, which features many ice sculptures.

Ise is a good city for couples to visit. This is an off-the-beaten path destination that is far more than a shrine - it's a complex of shrines. It's spread out over a large space and filled with forest and peaceful walks that couples will enjoy.

Is Ise or Sapporo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Sapporo is well known for backpackers. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Sapporo is a great city to visit for backpackers. There are a number of hostels around town and many fun activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Plenty of backpackers visit Ise. It's off the radar for many backpackers, but those that make it here will find a couple of hostels and affordable accommodation options.

Is Ise or Sapporo Better for Students?

Sapporo is well known for students. However, Ise is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Sapporo. The city is welcoming to international students and many people enjoy studying at Sapporo International University.

Ise is not popular with students.

Is Ise or Sapporo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sapporo is well known for its public transit. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Sapporo has some very good public transit options. Most visitors use the subway system to get around. There are three lines - the Namboku Line, Tozai Line, and Toho Line- all of which pass through Odori Station. The city also has a streetcar and buses.

While Ise offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The CAN Bus is a tourist bus that connects the train stations to the main attractions and runs every half hour.

Is Ise or Sapporo a more walkable city?

Sapporo is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Sapporo is a very walkable city. The city center, where you'll find many of the attractions, is walkable. Susukino Station is about a 20 or 30 minute walk from JR Sapporo Station.

Ise is a somewhat walkable city. There are walking paths through the complex that connect the shrines, but some of the distances can be significant.

For even more information, also check out Is Ise Worth Visiting? and Is Sapporo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sapporo or Ise?

How long in Ise or Sapporo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ise and Sapporo. In our opinion, Sapporo has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Sapporo than Ise. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Ise, and 2-3 days is enough time in Sapporo.

Families should spend more time in Sapporo than Ise. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Sapporo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Sapporo than Ise. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Sapporo that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sapporo than Ise if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Sapporo.

One day in Ise or Sapporo?

In Ise, you'll find museums and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

When visiting Sapporo, people usually allow for lots of time. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A weekend in Ise or Sapporo?

In Ise, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Ise has to offer.

Many people visit Sapporo for a weekend. When visiting Sapporo, people usually allow for lots of time. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Ise or Sapporo?

Ise is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

The big city destination of Sapporo offers nightlife and food. It offers something for everyone. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

A week in Ise or Sapporo?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ise. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Ise. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Sapporo, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, The Best Cultural Tours in Japan, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Japan, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ise and Sapporo, we can see that Sapporo is more expensive. And not only is Ise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ise and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Sapporo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sapporo than you might in Ise.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ise Expensive? and Is Sapporo Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ise or Sapporo?

Sapporo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ise. When comparing the sizes of Ise and Sapporo, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Ise or Sapporo?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Ise or Sapporo in the Summer?

Both Sapporo and Ise during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Ise because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sapporo this time of year.

In the summer, Ise is a little warmer than Sapporo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ise in July average around 26°C (79°F), and Sapporo averages at about 21°C (69°F).

In the summer, Ise often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sapporo. Ise gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sapporo receives 179 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ise. Ise usually gets more rain in July than Sapporo. Ise gets 219 mm (8.6 in) of rain, while Sapporo receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ise or Sapporo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ise and Sapporo. The shopping scene are the main draw to Ise this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Sapporo for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Ise is generally much warmer than Sapporo. Daily temperatures in Ise average around 17°C (63°F), and Sapporo fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Ise usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sapporo during autumn. Ise gets 160 hours of sunny skies, while Sapporo receives 156 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Sapporo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ise usually receives more rain than Sapporo. Ise gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Sapporo receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Ise or Sapporo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Ise as well as Sapporo. Many travelers come to Ise for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Sapporo in the winter for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Sapporo can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Ise. Ise is much warmer than Sapporo in the winter. The daily temperature in Ise averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Sapporo fluctuates around -5°C (24°F).

In the winter, Ise often gets more sunshine than Sapporo. Ise gets 165 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sapporo receives 99 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sapporo. Ise usually gets less rain in January than Sapporo. Ise gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Sapporo receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ise or Sapporo in the Spring?

Both Sapporo and Ise are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Ise in the spring for the beaches. Also, most visitors come to Sapporo for the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Ise is much warmer than Sapporo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ise in April average around 13°C (56°F), and Sapporo averages at about 7°C (44°F).

Ise usually receives less sunshine than Sapporo during spring. Ise gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Sapporo receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Ise. In April, Ise usually receives more rain than Sapporo. Ise gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Sapporo receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sapporo and Ise