Will be going up for 4 nights for the Snow Festival. Cannot find a lot of recent solid information--any tips welcome, especially re.:

1. Hotel, 4 Feb-8 Feb. Hopefully near RR station and Odori Park. The JR Tower Hotel Nikko seems full up. Definitely want decent-sized rooms and gym; nice would be pool and public bath/onsen.

2. Day trips. Day trips in general and especially for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing (we don't do downhill).

3. Sapporo sights: (we've never been). Of course, we've noted the major museums and temples, fish market. And the botanical garden hothouse sounds worth a visit for horticulturalists. Anything else?