Erected in 1878, the Sapporo clock tower was designed for the Sapporo Agricultural College by Dr. William Wheeler, who went on to become vice president of the college. The four-sided clock that crowns the tower came from Boston and is known for the clear ring of its bell. Tourist facilities at the tower include a small exhibition room with books and photographs as well as two other rooms with displays of architecture and records of repairs to the clock tower.
Soaring 525 feet in the air, Japan Rail's Tower 38 is topped with an observation deck that provides a 360-degree vista of Sapporo. The men's and unisex restrooms have full plat- glass windows affording sweeping view of the city below. Works of art adorn the walls and ceilings, and at night, the indirect lighting dims as the cafe turns into a bar.
The Sapporo Beer Museum celebrates the history of the area's most famous beer, brewed in Sapporo since 1877. Beer samples are served for a small fee. Next door to the museum, relax with any number of full-sized brews at the Sapporo Beer Garden, which has two restaurants. Grab a quick lunch at the Garden Grill or for a more lively experience, go for the all-you-can-eat mutton barbecue and all-you-can-drink beer at the Genghis Khan beer hall. Take the bus or work up a thirst on the 25-minute walk to the museum.
Just east of the train station's south entrance, Esta shopping center's 10th floor is home to Sapporo Ramen Republic, a ramen theme park laid out like a 1940s Japanese village. Eight ramen restaurants, each with a different theme, surround a town square complete with a locomotive emitting steam sounds. The souvenir shop sells scores of different kinds of packaged Hokkaido ramen.
