Hokkaido Highlights: Sapporo Landmarks & Lake Toya Fireworks Magic 🎆🍃

Day 4 of my epic solo journey from Tokyo to Hokkaido and honestly, this day was a total vibe. 😎 I let myself sleep in a bit—hey, you gotta recharge for all that exploring! Then it was time to hit up Sapporo’s coolest city spots. Just me, comfy shoes, and totally chill city strolls. First stop: all the Sapporo icons! Sapporo TV Tower had those city views that will blow your mind 🤯, the super aesthetic Odori Park (3 Chome Odorinishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo), Stella Palace (SO pretty!), the classic Clock Tower, and that grand Government Building. Loved how everything was so close—zero stress, max photo ops. The best part? Odori Park is open all day, all year, so you can come and go whenever suits your mood. For the second half, I switched up the energy and joined a group tour (shoutout to trip.com for making it a breeze). Had to admit—I was way too lazy to plan every single stop, so booking a half/full day tour just straight up saved my day. Our tour kicked off at Sapporo Station and from there, we hit some legendary spots. First was Lake Shikotsu (Chitose Lake, Chitose City)—super chill and stunning, open all day so no rush. Next, we cruised to Lake Toya and Noboribetsu Bear Park (224 Noboribetsuonsencho, Noboribetsu), where you get to see these big furry guys up close (open 09:00-17:00, admission ends at 16:20, tickets are 1000 yen, so probs bring some cash). Honestly, I probs forgot a couple of the spots (classic me 😂), but each place had its own unique feeling and seriously cool views. Tour finale? The Lake Toya Fireworks Festival at Toyako Onsen lakeside. The show hits from 20:45-21:05 (Monday to Friday, Sep 17-Oct 31), and TRUST—this one was unreal. Massive fireworks reflecting off the lake, crowds cheering, the vibe was electric. Totally bucket list stuff! If you want a no-stress, highlight-packed day in Hokkaido, these city gems and epic day tours are it. Pro tip: use trip.com to book—quick, easy, and keeps your solo adventure running smooth. Stick around for the next part of my Japan solo series, because it only gets better from here! 🚄✨