Which city is cheaper, Sapporo or Tokyo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Tokyo or Sapporo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
Capital of the northern Japanese island Hokkaido, Sapporo is a city surrounded by mountains and known for its beer, skiing, and annual snow festival with stunning ice sculptures. As host to the 1972 Winter Olympics, the city limits are dotted with ski jumps, hills, and popular ski resorts still in use today.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Tokyo is $183, while the average daily cost in Sapporo is $119. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tokyo and Sapporo in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Tokyo or Sapporo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Tokyo:
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for Sapporo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Sapporo and Tokyo change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Sapporo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sapporo.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tokyo and Sapporo, we can see that Tokyo is more expensive. And not only is Sapporo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sapporo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sapporo 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo than you might in Sapporo.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both Sapporo and Tokyo are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Tokyo in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Tokyo is a little warmer than Sapporo in the summer. The temperature in Tokyo is usually 26°C (78°F) in July, and Sapporo stays around 21°C (69°F).
Tokyo usually receives less sunshine than Sapporo during summer. Tokyo gets 137 hours of sunny skies, while Sapporo receives 179 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Tokyo. In July, Tokyo usually receives more rain than Sapporo. Tokyo gets 127 mm (5 in) of rain, while Sapporo receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Sapporo and Tokyo during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Tokyo for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Tokyo is much warmer than Sapporo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tokyo in October are around 18°C (64°F), and Sapporo is about 11°C (52°F).
In the autumn, Tokyo often gets less sunshine than Sapporo. Tokyo gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sapporo receives 156 hours of full sun.
Sapporo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tokyo. Tokyo usually gets more rain in October than Sapporo. Tokyo gets 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Sapporo receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Tokyo and Sapporo. The winter months attract visitors to Tokyo because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Sapporo in the winter. In January, Tokyo is generally much warmer than Sapporo. Temperatures in Tokyo average around 5°C (42°F), and Sapporo stays around -5°C (24°F).
Tokyo usually receives more sunshine than Sapporo during winter. Tokyo gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Sapporo receives 99 hours of full sun in the winter.
Sapporo receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Tokyo usually receives less rain than Sapporo. Tokyo gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Sapporo receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Tokyo as well as Sapporo. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Tokyo this time of year.
Tokyo is much warmer than Sapporo in the spring. The temperature in Tokyo is usually 14°C (58°F) in April, and Sapporo stays around 7°C (44°F).
In the spring, Tokyo often gets less sunshine than Sapporo. Tokyo gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sapporo receives 183 hours of full sun.
Tokyo receives a lot of rain in the spring. Tokyo usually gets more rain in April than Sapporo. Tokyo gets 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Sapporo receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Tokyo | Sapporo | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 5°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | -5°C (24°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
Mar | 9°C (47°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
May | 19°C (66°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 180 mm (7.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
Dec | 8°C (46°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.