Our short, 3 night in Tokyo done, we check out of the hotel for our journey to Sapporo on JetStar Japan!

(Do pardon the lack of any actual JetStar aircraft in this photo)



Narita Airport Terminal 3 has one of the weirdest setups I've ever seen in any airport. For one, there are no taxi, car, train or bus drop-off and pick-up points. All transportation drops-off/picks-up at T2 instead, and you need to either take the (not very frequent) airport shuttle bus, or walk 20(!) minutes to T3.

Good thing, then, that Japan's airlines (even budget ones) typically close baggage drop only 30 minutes before scheduled departure for domestic flights.

Our JetStar flight cost ¥18,220 return/pax, inclusive of 25kg purchased baggage. Flight was pretty par for the course for short haul budget airlines. They have a published 7kg carry on weight limit which they announce multiple times pre-boarding, but don't seem to actually enforce at all.



Our hotel of choice for the night: Richmond Hotel Sapporo Odori, us$97/night not including breakfast.

The room is big enough (for Japan), and has all the expected 'business hotel' amenities: internet access, shampoo, shower, soap, combs, toothbrush & toothpaste, and slippers and pajamas so you don't have to use/bring your own.



Of course, the bathroom has a bidet with a high-powered, anal-probing jet of warm water ensuring your large intestines are clean after a number two.



We chose to stay at this hotel (instead of the other Richmond location next to the Sapporo station) because it's all within walking distance of Susukino (the nightlife / entertainment / food / red-light district), Pole Town (underground shopping alley linking Odori and Susukino subway stations), and all the department stores -- we recommend the Mitsukoshi, which has an amazing two-floor depachika full of fruits, groceries, sweets, confectionary, etc.

Anyways, we head to Susukino for some lunch at the nearby Ramen Alley. Hokkaido's stereotypical ramen: miso-based butter corn, although most shops also serve shio (salt), shoyu (soy sauce) and/or tonkotsu (pork bone) broths.



Our bellies filled, we hop on the Sapporo streetcar/tram (¥170 per ride regardless of distance), hopping off at the ロープウェイ入口 ('ropeway iriguchi') stop. Close by there's another stop for the (free) shuttle bus which brings you to the ropeway station proper.



The ropeway+mini cable car to the summit Mt Moiwa costs ¥1,700 for a return trip for adults.



It feels cold up top; the combination of incessant winds and slightly higher altitude makes it feel probably 10°C colder than at the foot of the hill.



Views of the city aren't too bad; I let you decide if they're worth the time / money spent.