Luggage storage Sapporo

Store your luggage around Sapporo with Bounce 

Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, may seem remote, but there are plenty of reasons why international travelers make their way off the beaten path to visit this beautiful region. The largest city and capital of the island is Sapporo, which is most famous for being the home of the international beer brand of the same name. But there’s far more to this city than just a brewery. 

Sapporo is home to a historic city center with iconic landmarks like The Sapporo Clock Tower and the Hokkaido Jingu shrine. Like many places in the country, the city’s parks are lined with gorgeous cherry blossom trees, with the beautiful Maruyama and Odori parks being must-visits.

Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Sapporo: 

Luggage storage in Sapporo

Getting around Sapporo, whether it’s to explore the city or make your way to a ski resort, requires a little planning. The famously efficient Japanese transportation system makes things a little easier, but you might still find yourself stuck with your bags on travel days.  If you're heading into town from New Chitose Airport, you'll want to find a left luggage service like Bounce.

The city's main train station does have coin-operated lockers for commuters, but these aren’t large lockers ideal for handling heavy baggage or suitcases. The Sapporo station lockers are an option but not necessarily the best one if you're carrying large bags or are not planning to return to the station. Bounce’s luggage storage service offers convenient and secure locations throughout the city. 

Luggage storage facilities are vetted to ensure security and quality, and the Bounce Shield guarantee provides some peace of mind that your belongings are well taken care of. It’s also easy to book on the go with the mobile app, and there’s 24/7 support.

Sapporo city guide 

Top things to do in Sapporo

Many travelers make their way through Sapporo on their way to the island’s many ski resorts or hot springs, but there are plenty of cultural offerings to enjoy. It’s a modern city with modern amenities, including incredible shopping and retail districts in the city center. The restaurants, if you know where to look, are incredible, and Japanese nightlife is as alive in Sapporo as it is in Tokyo. 

If you’re visiting during winter, the Sapporo Snow Festival transforms the city into a snow-capped wonderland with gargantuan ice sculptures and a lovely atmosphere.

If you’re visiting any other time of year, here are a few ideas: 

Museums in Sapporo

Hokkaido Jingu 

This revered Shinto shrine dates back to 1869, and its traditional Japanese architecture makes it one of the most beautiful attractions in Sapporo. Hokkaido Jingu is situated in the beautiful Maruyama Park in the city center, so it’s an easy stop during any trip to Sapporo. One of the best ways to enjoy Sapporo is to explore its many beautiful parks, and this one is a can't-miss. The shrine is surrounded by gardens and cherry blossom trees, making the grounds a delight to stroll through.  

Sapporo Beer Museum

Most international travelers will immediately think of the iconic beer brand when considering a trip to Sapporo. While there’s so much more to the city than Sapporo beer, the brewery is still one of the most popular attractions. You can tour the original production facility, which dates back to 1876 and serves as a  museum and tasting room. There’s no better (or more delicious) way to learn about Japanese brewing history. 

Kaitaku-no Mura 

Hokkaido and Sapporo are one of the most recently settled places in Japan. A 19th-century village has been preserved and turned into an open-air museum that depicts the life of Hokkaido’s early residents. In a way, it’s not so different from Western gold rush towns and pilgrim villagers. There are historic buildings like log cabins and farmhouses all clustered together with makeshift construction. It’s a scrappy and fascinating corner of Japanese history and a change of pace from the grandeur of imperial palaces and centuries-old temples. 

Most museums in Japan will have limited baggage storage during opening hours, but you can’t expect a historic shrine to have lockers. If you’re planning a full day of sightseeing, it’s ideal to arrange luggage storage with a service like Bounce. 

Shopping in Sapporo

Sapporo Factory

While it was built on the grounds of the city’s first brewery, this retail complex is not to be confused with the actual Sapporo Brewery. The Sapporo Factory is one of the largest shopping centers in Hokkaido, with over 160 stores to choose from. You’ll find everything from boutiques and designer outlets to electronics shops and gift stores. It’s situated in the city center, making it an easy stop if you need to make a practical purchase. 

Curb Market 

This open-air public market is where locals go to buy seafood and other ingredients directly from the producers. If you’re not able to cook at your hotel or vacation rental, it’s still fun to explore the aisles to see all the exotic seafood on offer, like salmon roe, squid, eel, sea urchin, crab, and other underwater delicacies. Even better, you can order some donburi (which is fresh seafood served over rice) or other street food favorites while you explore. 

Susukino

This bustling entertainment district and retail hotspot is the largest in Hokkaido, with hundreds of shops, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. It’s also the site of the Snow Festival held every February. While it won’t have the selection of a mall, there are plenty of shops that are perfect for a souvenir. It’s a fun place to poke around, but it may not necessarily be kid-friendly.

If you’re shopping around Sapporo for a few hours, you won’t want to lug heavy bags around to all the local shops. Luckily, Bounce places its storage facilities near the best retail hotspots.

Restaurants in Sapporo

Hanamaru

If you want truly excellent sushi in Sapporo, you won’t have a hard time finding it. If you want the best sushi in Sapporo, you’ll have to head to Hanamari. This unassuming sushi bar serves its hungry patrons with a wide variety of superb sushi on a conveyor belt. The plates are color-coded based on price, and your server will count the plates to tabulate your bill. This may sound overly gimmicky, but the quality of the sushi speaks for itself. The prices are also very affordable, and being served dinner by a conveyor belt has a certain charm to it. 

Fugetsu (Sapporo Station)

This casual restaurant at Sapporo Station more closely resembles a street food stand, but it’s popular with locals for a reason. Japanese pancakes, made of cabbage and a sweet/savory batter made of eggs, yam, and water, are topped with everything from seafood to teriyaki meat skewers. It’s the perfect snack if you’re on the go, as it is satisfying and delicious. If you’re coming into town from a ski resort, these savory pancakes and their steamy toppings (grilled octopus is the local favorite) will warm you right up after a day on the slopes.   

Teshikaga Ramen Yokocho

If you're traveling through Sapporo on your way to ski or visiting during the Snow Festival, a piping hot bowl of Raman will be the most satisfying meal imaginable. There is a ton of regionality in ramen. Sapporo's specialty is rich, umami-packed miso ramen. The best place to slurp some noodles will be Teshikaga, which is situated in the oldest hot spring (or onsen) in Hokkaido near Lake Mashu. The broth is prepared for 24 hours and comes in different spice profiles. Pair your ramen with some of their equally famous gyoza for the full experience.

If you’re heading out for a meal on travel days, you won't want to bring your bags to dinner, especially if it’s a nice restaurant. Booking luggage storage on the go is easy with Bounce, so you can drop the bags off on your way to an epic meal in Sapporo. 

Conclusion

Bounce is easily the best luggage storage Sapporo has to offer, but it doesn’t end there. If you need to store luggage in Japanese cities like Tokyo, Nara, or Kyoto, you can rely on Bounce to take care of the bags. There are even useful travel guides for each of these destinations. Don’t rely on second-rate services or luggage lockers; entrust the bags with Bounce, and you won’t be disappointed.