I Let My Husband Pick Our 1st Japan Stop and It Was the Best Decision Ever: Ramen, Rooftops, & Relentless Exploring (Part 1 of 3 of the Sapporo Series)

How I feel knowing travel is on the horizon! And also a shameless plug to post a picture of my newest nephew!

School is officially out, the early morning alarms are off, and a massive new adventure is on the horizon!

​Up first on our summer journey: Sapporo, Japan.
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We actually boarded our flight the literal day after school wrapped up. Trading the intense July Abu Dhabi heat for the cool, breezy northern climate of Hokkaido was the exact reset we needed. The moment we arrived at the airport in Abu Dhabi, we checked in, dropped our bags, cleared security, and headed straight to the lounge to soak up the relaxation and mentally prepare for the journey ahead.

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The Airport Luxury Reset
The Etihad Lounge was nice. We fueled up on food options like chicken wings, mashed potatoes, and fruit. There were many Arabic dishes to choose from like hummus, grape leaves, and biryani. They even have an open bar and an attached spa!

​Pro Tip: Leverage Your Status & Cards Your credit card might be hiding some serious travel perks, so always check your benefits before a trip! If you have the right card perks, you can gain access to beautiful lounges worldwide.

But even if you don't have a travel card, you might be able to rely on your Airline Status. I’m an Etihad Gold member, which unlocked an entire VIP experience for us: access to the Etihad chauffeur service, checking in directly at the Business Class check in desk, and using the fast-track security area. There were absolutely no lines going through security and the e-gates. It allowed us to access the main lounge completely free of charge. Trust me, starting a long-haul journey like this changes the entire travel game.
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Getting to relax in the lounge was wonderful, but the real joy was just sitting there with my forever travel partner, looking over our full itinerary and knowing we were finally about to cross a major destination off our bucket list. 

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We actually chose Sapporo for a pretty unique reason: Mike, my husband, is an avid gamer, and after playing Ghost of Tsushima, he was completely determined to explore the northernmost regions of Japan.

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The KIX Transit Shuffle (International to Domestic)

Our journey took us from Abu Dhabi straight into Osaka (KIX). 9 whopping hours! Now, transferring from an international flight to a domestic one in Japan is an adventure entirely in and of itself!
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We landed at Terminal 2 from Abu Dhabi, but our domestic flight to Sapporo (CTS) was departing out of Terminal 1. To make the switch, we had to fully exit Terminal 2, haul our two massive bags each plus our two carry-ons, and navigate onto a free transfer bus for a 10-minute ride over to Terminal 1 to check into our domestic carrier, Peach Aviation.

​Pro Tip: The Game-Changing Luggage Trick
​Before we even checked in for our domestic flight, we made a game-time decision to use a luggage forwarding service right at the station counter to send 2 of our 4 heavy bags straight to our hotel in Sapporo. Japan’s luggage forwarding network is world-class, incredibly reliable, and an absolute lifesaver if you want to travel hands-free. We paid $45 USD total to forward two large checked bags (under 25KG each). It took exactly 3 days to arrive at our hotel, inclusive of our drop-off date. It made the rest of our transit life a breeze!

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Touchdown in Hokkaido
After a quick two-hour flight, we touched down at Hokkaido’s incredible New Chitose Airport (CTS). This airport is legendary—it literally has everything from high-end shopping and gourmet food alleys to its own train station. You could honestly spend a whole afternoon touring the airport itself, but we were way too excited to get to our hotel. We promised ourselves we’d arrive early on our return leg to Osaka just to explore it properly.
We headed straight down to the station to catch the rapid train into Sapporo.

Pro Tip: Lock In Your Seats
When taking the airport train, always opt for the Reserved Seating option. We paid $26 USD total for two one-way reserved seat tickets. It costs just a few hundred yen more than general admission, and if you are traveling with luggage, it is 100% worth it. You get dedicated luggage storage space and a guaranteed, comfortable seat to decompress after a long day of flying.

Once the train dropped us off at the main Sapporo Station, we officially transitioned to the local subway line to head toward our hotel.
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Local Transit Hack: The first thing you should do at Sapporo Station is buy physical Kitaca cards (Hokkaido's local transit card, which works exactly like Tokyo's Suica or Pasmo). Each card costs 2,000 JPY (which includes a deposit and loaded transit funds). To reload them later, you have to use the station machines, and cash is the only way to add money—unless you are using an iPhone and load a digital transit card directly into your Apple Wallet!

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Night 1: My First Ever Bowl of Ramen!
After dropping our bags, we headed straight out into Susukino—the vibrant, neon-lit entertainment heart of the city—to find the legendary Ramen Alley (Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho).

I have a confession: this was actually my first bowl of ramen ever! We chose a tiny, cozy spot called Teshikaga Ramen, and it completely blew me away. I ordered a bowl featured with rich butter, sweet corn, and fresh local veggies. The broth was out-of-this-world delicious—it was light, incredibly flavorful, and wasn't overly salty like I expected. Even though we left completely satisfied, I didn't feel weighed down or heavy at all.

For one bowl of ramen each, a beer, a soda, and three orders of Japanese fried chicken (Karaage)—we ate one order there and took two back to the hotel for takeaway—our total bill came out to a shocking $50 USD.
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Ramen Warning: These iconic alleyway shops do not take reservations. Get there early and do not wait until you are starving to line up, as the wait times can easily crawl upwards of 45 minutes to an hour!

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Night 2: Sunset, Smoke, & The Sapporo TV Tower
To cap off an incredible launch to the trip, we headed over to The Royal Park Canvas hotel for a rooftop Genghis Khan (Hokkaido's famous grilled mutton BBQ) dinner experience.

The open-air view from the roof looking directly out at the illuminated Sapporo TV Tower was stunning. As the sun set, the rooftop got beautifully cool and chilly, but the staff immediately took care of us by handing out cozy blankets and lighting fires next to the tables to keep us warm.

The food was absolutely delicious, and we got to cook everything ourselves right at the table. We opted for the all-you-can-drink package (even though we only ended up having about two drinks each, the value and ease made it highly recommended!)
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Cooking fresh food over an open flame with a chilly breeze, cold drinks, and the glowing city skyline in front of us was the ultimate way to wrap up our introduction to Hokkaido.

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Let's Chat!
Since I have now had my first official bowl of ramen, I am completely hooked and ready to try more flavors while we are still here in Japan. I want to hear from you: What is your absolute favorite combination of ramen toppings and broth that I need to try before I leave?

Or, if you’re more about the views, would you prefer the neon energy of Ramen Alley or the cozy blankets of a rooftop BBQ?  Drop your recommendations in the comments below!
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Stay tuned for what we experience next... and until then, Remember to Be Uniquely You!

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