Sapporo

History

Before the foundation of Sapporo, the area was occupied by several campings of native-born people, the Aïnus. It is only at the end of the period Edo in 1866 that the first colonists will arrive and establish the bases of what will be Sapporo. The name of the village comes from the aïnu and can result in " large river running through the plaine".

In 1868, new gouvernment the Meiji decides to make of Sapporo the new regional capital of Hokkaidō. This one offers a better geographical position indeed than that of the preceding capital, Hakodate.

During the years 1870-1871, Kiyotaka Kuroda, vice-president of the commission on the development of Hokkaidō (kaitakushi), comes into contact with the US government. With the assistance of Horace Capron (Oyatoi gaikokujin), secretary charged with argriculture of the President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant, it considerably will develop Sapporo around the Oodōri park according to the model of the Plan hippodamien what is very unusual in Japan, even nowadays.

Encouraged by Kaitakushi, of many colonists arrived of Honshū to develop agriculture (corn, apple-of-ground, corn, asparaguses) the breeding (sheep and pigs) but also the production of raw materials (wood, coal) as well as breweries.

During the XXe century, the city continued to strongly develop under the influence of business men and men in the search of better wages, so much and so that in 1970, Sapporo exceeded the million inhabitants.

Geography

Climate

In winter the climate is very cold, which makes it possible to organize each year in February celebrates it Festival of the snow of Sapporo, where is held a contest of monumental sculptures in snow or ice. On the other hand, the summers are often more bearable there than on the islands more in the south of the archipelago.

Demography

In March 2007, the population was of 1.890.561 people, with a density of 1686 habitants/km ².

Districts

Sapporo is divided into 10:

Atsubetsu-ku（厚別区）
Chūō-ku（中央区）
Higashi-ku（東区）
Kita-ku（北区）
Kiyota-ku（清田区）
Minami-ku（南区）
Nishi-ku（西区）
Shiroishi-ku（白石区）
Teine-ku（手稲区）
Toyohira-ku（豊平区）

Transport

Sapporo has a tram line, three lines of train and three underground lines and lines of bus.

Train

The three lines are:

HAKODATE: (Zenibako) - Hoshimi - Hoshioki - Inaho - Teine - Inazui Kōen - Hassamu - Hassamu Chūō - Kotoni - Sōen - Sapporo - Naebo - Shiroishi - Heiwa - Atsubetsu - Shinrin kōen - (ōasa)
CHITOSE: Heiwa - Shin Sapporo - Kami Nopporo - (Kita Hirosima)
GAKUEN TOSHI: Sōen - Hachiken - Shinkawa - Shinkotoni - Taihei - Yurigahara - Shinoro - Takuhoku - Ainosato Kyōikudai - Ainosato Kōen - (Ishikari Futomi)

Subway

Tram

Initially composed of three lines, the network of tram of Sapporo is more from now on made up only of only one line which connects 23 stations in Chūō-ku on a distance of 8,41 km. It is fed in 600V cd.

Centers of interest

Monuments

. Cconstruite in 1957 and a 147,2 meters height, it has a platform of observation to a 90,38 meters height accessible per elevator for ¥700. Located in the center of Sapporo, the tower is open tourists who can take panoramic photographs of the park ōdōri (ōdōri kōen).
. Located in the district of Chūō (Northern 1 - West 2), the tower was built in 1878 what makes of it the oldest monument of Sapporo. It shelters today a museum on the development of Sapporo, accessible for ¥200.
It. It was inaugurated in 2001 and builds for the Football world cup of 2002. Its capacity is of 42.122 people.
It, or. Founded in March 1876 as a university of agriculture of Sapporo by (inter alia) William S. Clark, it became thereafter the imperial university of Hokkaidō the first April 1918. Today more than 20.000 students are distributed in the departments of letters, education, right, economy, sciences, medicine, dental medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, engineering, agriculture and pisciculture.

Parks

It. Located in full downtown area, it is the heart of Sapporo. It is the theater many festivals such as the famous festival of snow in February or the festival of the beer in August.
It. It is about a charming comprising park of 21 hectares of many ponds (including one on which it is possible to make boat) and monuments of interest such as:

Hoheikan, a hotel of Western style builds in 1880. It accommodated their Majesties the Emperors Meiji, Taishō and Shōwa at the time of their stay with Sapporo. Since 1964, it is classified like cultural property of national importance.
Sapporo Concert Hall, built in 1997 and being able to accommodate 2008 people.
a sanctuary Shintō

is a peaceful park in which is it. Devoted by the Emperor Meiji in 1869, it is dedicated to 3: Okunitama (大國魂大神), Onamuchi, Sukunahikona. Since 1964, it is also dedicated to the Meiji Emperor.
It. Culminating point of Sapporo to 531 meters, it offers a superb sight on the town of day like night.

Twin cities

Portland cement, since 1959
Munich, since 1972
Shenyang, since 1980
Novosibirsk, since 1990

Municipal symbols

the tree which symbolizes the city is the lilac.
the flower which symbolizes the city is the Muguet of May.
the bird which symbolizes the city is the Coucou.

Sports

Clubs of sport

Baseball:

Japanese Hokkaido Ham Fighters
Sapporo Ambitious

Football:

Consadole Sapporo

Hockey:

Sapporo Polaris

Rugby

Hokkaido Barbarians

Accommodated sports events

Winter Olympics of 1972
Football world cup of 2002
Championship of the world of tennis shoe masculine 2006
Championships of the world of cross-country skiing 2007.

Trivia

Sapporo is also a mark of Japanese Bière . The " variety; Sapporo Classic" is not available out of Hokkaidō.

Gallery

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