
8 Winter Destinations That Are Even Better in Summer
You don’t have to wait for the first snowfall to visit these traditionally cold-weather vacation destinations.
Sapporo Beer is one of Japan’s most famous and popular beers, and travelers to the city of Sapporo can take free tours of the brewery. As well as enjoying beer samples and learning about beer production, visitors can visit the on-site Valhalla Restaurant, play a round of golf at the golf course, and stroll through the Biotope park.
Japanese beer production originated in Sapporo, partly because the cooler climate here is ideal for growing the ingredients needed to make beer. Learn all about beer making in general, and Sapporo Beer making in particular, during a guided tour of the brewery. Tours last for around 60 minutes and include two free samples (designated drivers, underage visitors, and pregnant people will receive soft drinks instead). Many travelers visit this brewery independently but it can also be included on customized sightseeing tours of the Sapporo area.
The factory is about 50 minutes’ drive outside Sapporo, in Chitose, on Highway Route 36. Unless you’re self-driving, the most convenient way of getting there is by train. From Sapporo city, take the JR Chitose Line train to Sapporo-Beer-Teien station.
Tours of the Sapporo Beer Brewery are offered year-round and run several times a day, in the morning and afternoon. The museum is closed on Mondays, unless a public holiday falls on a Monday, in which case it will be closed the next day.
To learn about a different kind of Sapporo-produced alcoholic beverage, visit the Chitosetsuru Sake Museum. The pure water sources available in Sapporo have made conditions here ideal for the production of various beverages throughout the centuries. The Chitosetsuru Sake Museum is run by the first sake brewery in Sapporo, Chitosetsuru. As well as sampling sake here, visitors can taste sake-flavored ice cream.