Sapporo: Mt. Maruyama Hike & Okurayama Ski Jump

The best thing about this Sapporo tour is the contrast: you begin among 88 Kannon statues and old-growth forest on Mt. Maruyama, then finish above the city at the Okurayama ski jump, looking down from the same kind of hill that competitors use. I like that the day gives you both a quiet nature walk and a clear piece of Sapporo’s winter-sports story.

I also like the English-speaking guide and included transport, since the two mountain stops are not arranged as a simple walk from central Sapporo. The main consideration is stamina. Ten hours is a long day, and the 2.5-kilometer Mt. Maruyama hike includes rocky sections, seasonal weather, and a return walk before lunch.

Key points to know before booking

• Two mountain views: Mt. Maruyama reaches 225 meters, while Okurayama rises to 307 meters and offers a more open city panorama.
• A forested morning hike: The Maruyama route passes 88 statues of Kannon, along with possible sightings of squirrels, foxes, deer, woodpeckers, and other birds.
• A close look at ski jumping: The chairlift takes five to seven minutes to reach the Okurayama observation deck, where you can see Sapporo from a jumper’s viewpoint.
• Olympic context included: The Sapporo Olympic Museum explains the 1972 Winter Olympics with interactive exhibits and sports simulations.
• Lunch is your responsibility: Transportation, admissions, the guide, and lift tickets are covered, but you pay for lunch, drinks, and snacks.
• Winter needs proper gear: Crampons or spikes are required for winter hikes, and comfortable hiking shoes are needed in every season.

Why these two mountains make a good Sapporo day

Sapporo is known for wide streets, good food, and winter sports, but its surrounding hills give you a different sense of the city. This tour puts two modest mountains into one day, with each offering a different experience.

Mt. Maruyama is the quieter of the two. Its wooded trail feels surprisingly removed from the city, even though the day begins at Sapporo Station. The summit itself is partly screened by trees, so you should not expect a large, open summit platform. Still, glimpses of Sapporo appear along the route, and wider views of downtown, Ishikari Bay, and distant mountains can open up when foliage is thin.

Okurayama is more engineered and dramatic. The ski jump cuts a straight line down the mountainside, and the chairlift carries you to an observation deck above the city. Here, you get the broad view that Mt. Maruyama sometimes withholds.

The combination works because you are not repeating the same stop twice. The morning is about walking through nature. The afternoon is about Olympic design, winter competition, and a high viewpoint reached without another strenuous climb.

Meeting at Myomu at exactly 8 a.m.

Your day starts at Myomu, the circular white stone structure outside the South Exit of Sapporo Station. After leaving the main JR gates, turn left and walk toward the South Exits, marked 南出口. Myomu is close by, and the guide will be waiting in front of it with a Snow Monkey Resorts tour tag.

Take the 8 a.m. meeting time seriously. The schedule uses public transportation and fixed admission times, so a late arrival can affect the whole day. This is not the kind of outing where you can casually wander over from a nearby hotel five minutes after departure.

The initial ride takes about 35 minutes. Your guide handles the route between Sapporo Station and the first mountain, which removes much of the public-transport guesswork. You should still arrive ready to walk, with water and a small snack already in your bag.

Mt. Maruyama and the 88 Kannon statues

The morning hike climbs Mt. Maruyama to 225 meters, or 738 feet. The route is about 2.5 kilometers in total and takes roughly 115 minutes for the climb, sightseeing, and return portion of the outing.

The trail begins at Maruyama hachi ju hachi kashodai shido, a path marked by 88 statues of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. These statues give the walk a clear cultural character. You are not simply taking a fitness trail through trees. The route connects a short mountain walk with a religious tradition that helps explain why the area feels calm and wooded.

The forest is one of the main reasons to choose this stop. The route passes old-growth trees and can support sightings of squirrels, foxes, small deer, woodpeckers, and other birds. Wildlife is never guaranteed, so you should treat it as a possibility rather than a promised attraction. Keep close to the group, avoid loud noises, and follow the guide’s instructions if an animal appears.

The trail has rocky sections, so comfortable hiking shoes matter. Ordinary city footwear would make the walk less pleasant, especially if the ground is wet, icy, or uneven. In winter, crampons or spikes are required. You are responsible for bringing your own shoes, clothing, hiking equipment, insect repellent, and other personal care items.

Choosing the best season for the hike

Mt. Maruyama is open to this tour in every season, but each period changes the character of the walk.

June and July generally offer the most comfortable hiking weather according to the tour information. Spring brings cherry blossoms, while autumn adds fall color. Winter gives you a quiet, snow-covered route, but snow and ice can slow the hike and require more time.

The earlier start, just after 9 a.m. at the mountain, is useful for two reasons. You may encounter fewer people on the trail, and the morning light can be better for photographs. Winter conditions can change the timing, so do not plan a tight afternoon appointment elsewhere in Sapporo.

The summit is surrounded by trees. If your main goal is a completely open city panorama, keep your expectations measured. You may see the city through gaps in the branches, with the clearest views often coming in late autumn or early spring when the foliage is thinner.

After the hike, the schedule allows about 30 minutes for a break, photos, and sightseeing. Lunch follows for about an hour, but lunch is not included. Bring a small snack for the trail, then plan to buy or bring your main meal as directed by the guide.

From forest trail to Olympic history

After lunch, you travel for about 30 minutes to the Okurayama Ski Jump Facility. The setting changes quickly. The first half of the day is a footpath through trees; the second half centers on a purpose-built sports site connected to one of Japan’s major international events.

The Sapporo Olympic Museum focuses on the 1972 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Games held in Asia. That historical point gives the museum real value, especially if you know little about Sapporo’s role in winter sport.

The museum uses interactive exhibits, historic objects, and simulations. You can try activities connected with ski jumping and speed skating, making this more than a room of display cases. Families may find this stop especially useful because it combines a short history lesson with hands-on entertainment.

The museum visit takes about an hour. It gives you context before you see the ski jump from above. After learning what the athletes faced, the scale of the hill becomes easier to understand.

Riding the Okurayama chairlift

The Okurayama Ski Jump was built for the 1972 Olympics and remains an active competition venue. It sits on Mount Okura at 307 meters, or 1,007 feet. The hill has a hill size of 137 meters and a K-point of 123 meters, details that matter because they show how far beyond an ordinary scenic lookout this facility was designed to function.

The chairlift ride to the observation deck takes five to seven minutes. That is enough time to see the ski jump’s angle and the city below without facing another difficult ascent. For many people, the lift is the afternoon highlight.

At the top, you spend about an hour at the observation deck. The view is more open than the one from Mt. Maruyama, with Sapporo spread below you. A cafe is available for refreshments, though food and drinks are not included in the tour price.

The viewpoint also helps you understand ski jumping from the athlete’s perspective. Looking down the run gives the hill a physical force that photographs do not fully show. If jumpers are training or competing during your visit, you may see them in action. A January outing had the good fortune to catch sportsmen jumping at the stadium, but this depends on the facility’s schedule and conditions.

The lift ride down returns you to the base, where you make your way to the bus area. The trip back to Myomu takes about 45 minutes, subject to traffic.

What the $153 price covers

At $153 per person, this is not a cheap sightseeing bus trip. It is a full-day guided outing with several separate costs bundled together.

The price includes transportation from Sapporo Station to the destinations and back, admission to the Sapporo Olympic Museum, the Okurayama chairlift tickets, and an English-speaking guide. If you were arranging the same day on your own, you would still need to sort out transport, museum admission, lift tickets, and the route between the two mountains.

The value is strongest if you want structure and English guidance. Your guide helps keep the day moving, explains the cultural and sports context, and reduces the risk of losing time between public-transport connections. The guide also matters on the forest trail, where staying with the group is part of the safety advice.

The price is less attractive if you only want a quick viewpoint or already know Sapporo’s transport system well. You also need to add lunch, drinks, snacks, and all hiking gear. A person focused only on Okurayama could prefer a shorter independent visit, while someone wanting both mountains and the museum gets more for the fee.

The small amount of public information about group size means you should not assume a private tour. One verified January 2026 booking happened to be a solo outing, which made it feel private and allowed plenty of personal attention. That experience is possible, but it is not a promise that every departure will be private.

Packing for a ten-hour mountain day

You do not need technical mountaineering equipment in every season, but you do need to take the hike seriously.

Bring:

• Comfortable hiking shoes with good grip
• Seasonal clothing
• Bottled mineral water
• A very light trail snack
• Crampons or spikes for a winter departure
• Insect repellent when seasonal conditions call for it
• Any personal health-care items you may need

Dress for the mountain rather than only for central Sapporo. The weather can feel different in exposed areas, and winter snow can make a short route take longer. Tell the guide immediately if you feel unwell during the hike.

The route is not suitable for wheelchair users. You should also be comfortable walking for extended periods, using uneven paths, and managing a full day that includes hiking, public transport, museum time, and the chairlift.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this experience to you if you want more than city-center shopping and parks. It suits active adults, families with children who enjoy hands-on museums, and visitors who want a guided introduction to Sapporo’s hills and Olympic identity.

It is also a good choice for a first visit when you want an organized day outside the center but do not want to build the transport plan yourself. The English-speaking guide gives the outing a social and informative structure.

You may want to skip it if you dislike fixed schedules, have limited walking ability, or prefer to choose your own lunch and sightseeing pace. The ten-hour duration is substantial, and the day includes a real hike rather than a simple scenic walk.

The tour is available across the year, but winter requires the most preparation. Spring and autumn offer strong visual appeal, while June and July may provide the easiest walking conditions. If wildlife sightings matter to you, remember that the animals are an occasional bonus, not the central purpose of the day.

Should you book the Mt. Maruyama and Okurayama tour?

Book this tour if you want two distinct mountain experiences, an English-speaking guide, and the convenience of having transport and admissions handled together. The strongest reasons are the Kannon statue trail, the Olympic Museum, and the chairlift view from a working ski-jump facility.

Before paying, check the season and prepare proper footwear. Bring lunch money, water, a snack, and winter traction if needed. If you can manage the long day and accept that Mt. Maruyama’s summit is partly wooded, the tour gives you a well-rounded look at Sapporo that is difficult to assemble as neatly on your own.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start, and you can reserve now and pay later. Weather, traffic, and busy periods can change the estimated times, so leave flexibility around the return to Sapporo Station.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is Myomu, the circular white stone structure outside the South Exit of Sapporo Station. After leaving the main JR gates, turn left toward the South Exits, marked 南出口.

What time should I arrive?

You should be at Myomu at exactly 8 a.m. The guide will be waiting in front of the structure with a Snow Monkey Resorts tour tag.

How long is the activity?

The tour duration is 10 hours. The listed times can change because of weather, traffic, and busy periods.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transportation from Sapporo Station to all tour destinations and back to Sapporo Station is included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, and you are also responsible for drinks, snacks, and other food.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide.

How long is the Mt. Maruyama hike?

The Mt. Maruyama route is about 2.5 kilometers. The hiking and related trail time takes roughly 115 minutes, followed by a break and sightseeing.

Do I need special equipment in winter?

Yes. Winter hikes require crampons or spikes. You should also wear comfortable hiking shoes because parts of the route are rocky.

Are the Olympic Museum and chairlift included?

Yes. Admission to the Sapporo Olympic Museum and the Okurayama Ski Jump chairlift tickets are included.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users because it includes a mountain hike and uneven trail sections.