Sapporo on a Snowy Day: Odori, Susukino, and the Underground Walkways

In short: you can walk indoors between Sapporo Station, Odori, and Susukino. The Sapporo Ekimae-dori underground walkway, called Chi-Ka-Ho, runs about 520 m under the main street between Sapporo Station and Odori Station and takes about 10 minutes to walk through, according to the Sapporo tourism site. At Odori Station, the underground shopping streets Aurora Town (312 m, heading east) and Pole Town (400 m, heading south to Susukino Station) continue the indoor route. Chi-Ka-Ho can only be walked from 5:45 to 24:30, and the underground shopping streets list shop hours of 10:00 to 20:00 with some stores different. Odori Park and the streets above ground are outdoors. Other underground passages and the buildings they connect to are not covered in this post. Hours and details change, so check the official pages for current details (checked on October 9, 2026). Some of the sources are the operators’ own sites, not city pages (see the note below).

If you come from a warm country, the first snowy day in Sapporo can feel like a lot: slippery sidewalks, wind, and a long walk between the places you want to see. The good news is that the center of the city has an indoor route. This post explains what that route is and where it ends, using the Sapporo tourism site and the operators’ own websites.

Please read this first: this post is general information written by a private resident of Sapporo. It is not affiliated with any shop, tour operator, or facility, and it is not an official source. I do not write about personal experiences here. Facts below come from the pages listed at the end. Some sources are the operators’ own sites (Sapporo Ekimae-dori Machizukuri Co. for Chi-Ka-Ho; Sapporo Chikagai for the underground shopping streets), and the rest are from the Sapporo tourism site. Anything marked “my suggestion” is not from an official page. Hours, closing days, and rules can change, so please check the official pages for current details.

The indoor route at a glance

The “Distance from Sapporo Station” page of the Sapporo tourism site says Susukino Station is about 1.5 km (about a 20-minute walk) from JR Sapporo Station along the street above, and that the two stations are also connected by an underground passage. In the site’s own words: “The two stations are also connected by an underground passage, which is especially convenient during poor weather.”

Chi-Ka-Ho: Sapporo Station to Odori

Chi-Ka-Ho is the short name the tourism site and the operator’s website use for the Sapporo Ekimae-dori underground walkway. The operator’s website (in Japanese) says it opened on March 12, 2011, and that it lets people walk safely and comfortably through central Sapporo, which is covered by snow for half the year, in every season. This is my English translation of the page. It also says the walkway links the Sapporo Station area and the Odori and Susukino areas underground.

Facts from the tourism site and the operator’s site:

• Length and walking time. About 520 m between Sapporo Station and Odori Station. The tourism site says it takes about 10 minutes to walk through.
• Hours. The operator’s page lists 5:45 to 24:30 as the passage hours and says the walkway cannot be passed at other times (my translation). The tourism site lists the same hours.
• Exits. The operator’s page says there are 15 exits, of which 6 have elevators and 1 is an elevator on its own.
• Toilets. Public toilets at two places, Kita 1-jo and Kita 3-jo, according to the operator’s page.
• Odori Park. The tourism site says the walkway directly connects to Odori Park, where many events are held.
• Resting space and Wi-Fi. The tourism site says there are tables and chairs in the “resting space,” and free Wi-Fi.

My suggestion: because the walkway is closed outside its hours, do not plan to use it for a late walk back to your hotel after 24:30. Have a plan B for that time, such as the subway if it is still running, or a taxi.

Aurora Town and Pole Town: the shopping streets under Odori

Both towns start at Odori Station. The tourism site describes them this way:

• Aurora Town extends east from Odori Station and is 312 m long.
• Pole Town extends south from Odori Station, is 400 m long, and ends at Susukino Station on the Namboku Line.

The towns’ own website (in Japanese) gives access information: Aurora Town is directly connected to Odori Station (Namboku, Tozai, and Toho lines), and Pole Town is directly connected to Odori Station and to Susukino Station on the Namboku Line. Its page lists the shop hours as 10:00 to 20:00, open every day, with some stores on different hours. The exceptions are January 1 and equipment inspection days; the Q&A page says those fall twice a year, in February and August. For each shop’s own hours, the page says to check the shop page.

A few other facts from the Q&A page of the underground shopping streets:

• There are coin lockers at 12 locations in Aurora Town and Pole Town combined.
• There is one nursing room, in front of the general information desk in Aurora Town.
• The whole building is non-smoking.
• There is no elevator to street level inside the underground shopping streets; the page says to use adjacent facilities.

Which parts are indoors, and which are outdoors?

The pages I read describe corridors, not a full map of every building. So the list below separates what the pages say from what I am adding.

My suggestion: assume the streets of Susukino, the area around Sapporo TV Tower, and Odori Park are outdoors, and plan the outdoor part of each stop first. The pages I read do not list which individual buildings have an underground entrance, so check a station or building map for the exit you need.

A sample snowy-day outline (my suggestion)

This is only an outline for how to put a day together. Check hours on the official pages before you go.

1. Start at Sapporo Station and go underground into Chi-Ka-Ho toward Odori, if you want to avoid the street.
2. At Odori Station, decide between Aurora Town (east) and Pole Town (south), or go up to the park if conditions are good.
3. Continue through Pole Town toward Susukino Station, then go up to the street only for the last short walk to your destination.
4. Keep an eye on the clock: the walkway closes at 24:30, and the shops in the underground streets list 10:00 to 20:00.

For what to wear on a snowy day, see this winter clothing guide on Sapporo Insider Guide, a sister site written by the same Sapporo resident.

If you are planning a longer trip out of the city, see Otaru Day Trip from Sapporo: Route, Timing, and Winter Tips and Jozankei Onsen Day Trip from Sapporo.

Before you go: a short checklist

• Check the Chi-Ka-Ho hours (5:45 to 24:30) and the shop hours in Aurora Town and Pole Town (10:00 to 20:00, some stores different).
• Decide which part of your day is outdoors, such as Odori Park or the streets of Susukino.
• Know that the underground streets have no elevator to street level; use the exits with elevators in Chi-Ka-Ho if you need one (of its 15 exits, 6 have elevators and 1 is an elevator on its own).
• Check the official pages again on the day, because hours and events change.

FAQ

How long does it take to walk from Sapporo Station to Odori underground?

The Sapporo tourism site says Chi-Ka-Ho is about 520 m long and takes about 10 minutes to walk through. This was checked on October 9, 2026; check the official page for current details.

Can I walk all the way to Susukino without going outside?

The Sapporo tourism site says the two stations are connected by an underground passage, and its Aurora Town and Pole Town page describes Pole Town as running 400 m south from Odori Station to Susukino Station. Once you leave the station, the streets of Susukino are above ground (my suggestion).

Is the underground walkway open all night?

No. The Chi-Ka-Ho operator’s page lists the passage hours as 5:45 to 24:30 and says it cannot be passed at other times. Check the official page for current details.

What are the shop hours in Aurora Town and Pole Town?

The towns’ own pages list 10:00 to 20:00, open every day, with some stores on different hours. They are closed on January 1 and on equipment inspection days, which the Q&A page says are twice a year, in February and August. Check each shop’s page and the official page for current details.

Sources checked: Welcome to Sapporo (Sapporo Tourist Association), Sapporo Ekimae-dori underground walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho), Welcome to Sapporo, Sapporo Underground Shopping Malls – Aurora Town & Pole Town, Welcome to Sapporo, Useful Information for Foreign Tourists in Sapporo: Distance from Sapporo Station., 地下広場について | チ・カ・ホ [札幌駅前通地下広場] (about the underground plaza) (Japanese), アクセス・駐車場 | さっぽろ地下街 (access and parking) (Japanese), よくあるご質問 | さっぽろ地下街 (FAQ) (Japanese). Some sources are the operators’ own sites (Sapporo Ekimae-dori Machizukuri Co. for Chi-Ka-Ho; Sapporo Chikagai for the underground shopping streets). Checked on October 9, 2026. This post is general information; hours, closing days, and rules can change, so please check the official pages. I could not confirm which individual buildings have an underground entrance, so this post does not list them.