Unspecified/General

Rising above the main railway station of Sapporo, the capital of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, the JR Tower is the tallest building in the city and home to an observation deck that gives a sweeping view over the orderly grid of the streets and the mountains and plains beyond. Opened in 2003 as part of a large complex built over and around Sapporo station, the tower combines a department store, a hotel, a cinema and shopping arcades beneath its upper floors, making it a hub of activity at the heart of the city's transport network. The observation deck, known as T38 for its position on the thirty-eighth floor, sits around a hundred and sixty metres above the ground and offers a glazed gallery looking out in every direction; by day visitors can trace the regular layout of Sapporo, a city planned in the nineteenth century on a grid unusual for Japan, and pick out the surrounding hills, while at night the lights of the streets stretch away in glittering lines. A cafe allows a drink with the view, and the deck is known among visitors for the novelty of its stylish restrooms, which themselves enjoy a panorama. The changing seasons transform the outlook, from fresh summer greenery to the snow-covered city of the long northern winter, when Sapporo is at its most famous. Connected directly to the station and reached easily from anywhere in the city and from the airport, the JR Tower observation deck is the natural place to get one's bearings and take in the scale of Hokkaido's largest city. The redevelopment of the area around Sapporo station into a single great complex of which the tower is the crown transformed the centre of the city, and the building draws shoppers, diners, travellers and sightseers in large numbers throughout the day. The observation deck is known for its relaxed, stylish atmosphere, with mood lighting in the evenings, occasional music and a small bar, and the view is a favourite for couples and for visitors wanting to orient themselves on arrival in Hokkaido. Sapporo's position as the gateway to the natural wonders of Japan's northern island, famous for its snow, food and festivals, gives the outlook a particular interest, as the surrounding mountains hint at the wilderness beyond the city. Directly linked to the station and thus to the rail network and the airport line, open into the evening and easy to reach in any weather, the JR Tower observation deck is the most convenient and central viewpoint in the city and a natural first or last stop on a visit to Sapporo.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: Kita 5 Nishi 2, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Japan

Website: https://www.jr-tower.com

Opening Date: 06/03/2003