Ask your hotel to prepare a vegan breakfast (many hotels in Sapporo will accommodate with advance notice) — easiest way to start a cold December day with hot options. Call or email at least 48 hours ahead to confirm ingredients and timing.
A pleasant stroll through Odori Park to see winter trees, sculptures, and the Sapporo TV Tower skyline; a good way to orient in the city and enjoy open air (park open 24h).
Historic market where you can browse stalls; while most vendors focus on seafood, there are small shops and produce stalls and it’s a lively spot to see local food culture (market typically 7:00am–6:00pm).
Soup curry is a Hokkaido specialty; Suage+ (and a few other soup-curry restaurants in Sapporo) commonly offer vegetable/vegan curry options — confirm vegan broth and request no dairy. Open typically from 11:00am onward.
Learn about the history of Sapporo beer and enjoy a small tasting; museum hours often start around 11:00am with tours in the afternoon — check current tour/tasting times (some tastings require a small fee or reservation).
Stroll the leafy campus and wide ginkgo-lined avenues near Odori; the campus is open during daylight and is particularly atmospheric in late autumn/early winter.
Stop at Morihiko Coffee (a Sapporo-origin cafe) for drinks and light vegan-friendly snacks (they often have soy/plant milk and some seasonal vegan pastries) to warm up before evening plans.
For a relaxed dinner, either arrange a hotel vegan kaiseki-style or full-plate meal in advance, or reserve a table at a vegan/vegetarian-friendly restaurant in Sapporo (advance reservation recommended in winter). Hotels and many restaurants will prepare a vegan menu with notice.
Susukino is Sapporo's nightlife district; great for a post-dinner walk to see illuminated streets — many venues stay open late but restaurants may be limited for strict vegans, so use as a photo and atmosphere stop.
If you prefer an early start, grab vegan-friendly onigiri, salads, fruit, and coffee with plant milk from a Seicomart (Hokkaido convenience chain) or ask the hotel for a packed vegan breakfast to-go.
Catch a rapid/local train from Sapporo to Otaru (roughly 30–45 minutes). Trains run frequently; check JR timetable for exact trains — seats are not reserved on rapid local trains.
A scenic, photogenic canal lined with old warehouses and gas lamps — peaceful in winter and perfect for photos; the canal area is open all day (can be chilly, dress warm).
Wander historic Sakaimachi shopping street, visit Kitaichi Glass shops and the Music Box Museum (museums/shops commonly open ~9:00–17:00) for souvenirs and atmospheric interiors.
Otaru is seafood-focused, so for vegan lunch choose a cafe listing plant-based meals or return to a shop advertising vegetarian bowls; if needed, Seicomart or bakery options are a reliable fallback — call ahead when possible to confirm vegan dishes.
If you enjoyed the museums, allow more time for the music box museum workshops and specialty shops (most close by 5pm; check times for hands-on demonstrations).
Relax in a warm café and try local sweets; many cafes can prepare coffee with plant milk and some offer dairy-free dessert options in winter — ask staff about vegan choices before ordering.
For evening dining, book a vegan-friendly restaurant in Sapporo (or arrange a hotel-prepared vegan dinner); many establishments require reservations for groups of four, especially in winter evenings.
Have a hearty vegan breakfast at the hotel or pick up vegan-friendly items from Seicomart to eat on the train; winter mornings are cold so a hot drink is recommended.
Take the JR route toward Otaru and continue to Yoichi; total journey is about 1–1.5 hours depending on connections — check the morning timetable to pick the fastest option.
Guided walk-through of the historic Yoichi distillery with the chance to sample whiskies; the site typically opens around 9:00am–10:00am with tours in the morning and early afternoon — tasting may have a small charge and limited allocations.
Yoichi is a small town with limited vegan-specific options; best to plan either a cafe meal that can be adapted or bring a packed vegan bento from Sapporo/Seicomart if you have strict dietary needs.
Travel back toward Sapporo; if you missed sites in Otaru on Day 2 you can stop for an extra hour. Trains run regularly but check the timetable for winter service changes.
A dramatic modern park by Isamu Noguchi with wide open sculptures and a Glass Pyramid exhibition hall (park grounds accessible 24h; facilities often 9:00am–5:00pm). Great for a winter walk and low-traffic photography.
Head back to your hotel to rest and pack or swap luggage; evening is a good time to confirm transport to your next destination or airport if you depart soon.
Finish with a relaxed group dinner: either a hotel-arranged vegan course or a booked vegan-friendly restaurant in Sapporo. Confirm menu/ingredients when you reserve — December evenings fill up, so book early.