For my quick two-day swing through Sapporo, I stayed in the cheapest room type possible at the JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo | @jrtowerhotelnikkosapporo but with a great view of the city from my room on the 28th floor. Breakfast wasn’t included with my rate but what was included was access to the onsen bath and I made sure I maximized my number of visits there, even going so far as getting a run in at 7:15 am on my last morning so I could be sure to get some solid bathing in before they closed at 9 am for cleaning.

A wonderful weekend eating and drinking my way through Sapporo.

Sapporo as seen on some incredibly sub-0º C runs.

When I got to Tatsuyoshi | @tatsuyoshi_sushi, I mistakenly waited on the line for those with reservations and when I explained I didn’t, it seemed like I was gonna be shown the door as there was seemingly no space at the counter. To their eternal credit and to my great fortune, they took pity on me and carved out a spot at the very end by the register and let me stay for what turned out to be a very wonderful, quick sushi meal.

Getting into Sapporo just before 6 pm meant I couldn’t get in a visit to the Sapporo Beer Museum. Thankfully I had the good sense to make a reservation at Sapporo Garden Grill | @sapporo_bier_garten, one of the restaurants on their campus so I could at least try the beers that aren’t as easily gotten in the States.