Sapporo itinerary: 'Biyahe Ni Drew' braves subzero weather in Hokkaido’s capital

Presented by: Sapporo Tourism

Published March 12, 2017 1:29pm

If there’s one destination near the Philippines that says “winter wonderland,” it’s none other than the city of Sapporo in Japan.

GMA News TV’s resident biyahero Drew Arellano and his 'Biyahe ni Drew' crew recently returned to the prefectural capital of Hokkaido. But this time, more than marveling at the city’s beautiful winter landscape, the group went on a cultural immersion like no other.

Giant ice sculptures, miso ramen, king crabs, and kimonos—check out Biyahe ni Drew’s must-dos and must-visit destinations in Sapporo:

See spectacular sculptures at Sapporo Snow Festival

How does gazing at a spread of impressive giant ice sculptures sound?

Japan’s fifth largest city is famous for its annual Sapporo Snow Festival, which locals call Yuki Matsuri. It’s a wintertime spectacle in Odori Park that opens for one week in February.

Every year, millions of visitors from Japan and abroad flock to the location to see the intricately designed ice sculptures by the locals.

Indulge yourself further when the event becomes a light festival at nighttime. And if you’re lucky like Biyahe ni Drew, you might just find yourself witnessing a work-in-progress piece of ice art.

The best part about this stop? It's all for free.

Say oishi at Ramen Alley

When in Japan, ramen is hard to miss—especially when you’re in Sapporo. The city is home to some of the best ramen restaurants, which are all conveniently located in one long alley.

The oldest ramen alley in Sapporo known as Ramen Yokocho is a must-visit destination. This famous alleyway boasts several ramen restaurants where you can treat yourself to a nice hot bowl of the Japanese staple noodle dish.

Bowls of ramen abound in Ramen Alley, but make sure to order miso ramen, which is known as Sapporo’s best.

Know your kimono

Taking pictures dressed in a beautiful kimono is in Biyahe Ni Drew’s must-dos. But to don Japan’s traditional clothing in subzero temperatures, one must secure a 12-layer kimono called junihitoe.

Biyahe Ni Drew also discovered kitsuke, the stricter way of wearing junihitoe. The ideal form for kitsuke is a cylinder meticulously achieved by padding. More than making the wearer’s body look good, the goal is to make the garment look good and show off the kimono maker’s skill.

Catch ‘em fresh at Sapporo Central Wholesale Market

If you want to catch the city’s freshest produce, head over to Sapporo Central Wholesale Market. Biyahe ni Drew was told to “never miss” the place that’s best known for king crabs and other local seafood. Scallops, mackerel, shrimp, squid, tuna, you name it, the market has it!

Apart from being a seafood market, visitors can also get lost in the stretch of restaurants there—from fine dining to hole-in-the-wall.

More than snow, Biyahe ni Drew proves that Sapporo has a lot to offer. But one thing is for sure, the city stays true to its impression of having a cool trip in Japan—both literally and figuratively.

Catch Biyahe Ni Drew’s March 10 & 17 episodes for the must-see attractions in Sapporo. Biyahe ni Drew airs every Friday, 8:00 PM on GMA News TV. For more information, follow the show on Facebook and Twitter. You may also visit http://www.welcome.city.sapporo.jp/?lang=en.

Tags: travel, sapporo, sapporojapan, japan, hokkaido

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