In Japan for 27 days - Fukuoka or Sapporo?

Hello! I booked from March 20- April 16! I have Tokyo. Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Hiroshima on the itinerary already. I�fm debating if I should visit Fukuoka or Sapporo instead?! I have time for one more city.. unless there is another city I�fm missising?!

How many days are you staying in each? Typically I would say to think of Osaka, Nara and Kyoto as a single destination, as they are less than an hour apart. Can easily stay in one of those cities and visit the others. So with that in mind, it seems like you have a lot of days tied up between those few areas. You might be able to visit both.

March and early April are still pretty cold in Sapporo. It will be that unfortunate late winter period when the snow is mostly melted but nothing is growing yet. Outdoor activities will be limited. Probably not the best time of year for scenery, but the city is still nice to visit.

I'd probably say Fukuoka just because it tacks onto the end of your visit to Hiroshima so nicely and the weather will be better. Very short train ride from there.

There are LOTS of other cities you can visit. What are your interests, and what interests you about
Fukuoka and Sapporo?

Personally, between Fukuoka (Hakata) or Sapporo, I will take Fukuoka. Fukuoka has yatai food and historical temples/shrines.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2161.html

I would probably pick a non- city destination and I would pick something in the South in the time of the year you are going. Eg Places between Hiroshima and Osaka (Teshima, Naoshima, Okayama, Shimanami Kaido....) or Kyushu (eg Fukuoka, Dazaifu, Kurokawa Onsen, Mt Aso....).
It depends on your interests but for my impression you need a bit of small towns in your itinerary as well.

Enjoy your trip to Japan!

I love Sapporo, but for the time of year you are going, I'd also pick Fukuoka. You didn't mention how many days you are thinking of. Fukuoka has a number of good places, but you could branch out more and see some other good places easily, by bullet train or limited express train. The Nanzoin Temple is one of Japan's best, yet nearly known even to the well traveled.
https://youtu.be/lT4VQFmHFyM
http://www.thejapanfaq.com/fukpic.html

There are excellent places close by - Nagasaki is wonderful, and along the way is another secret gem, the Yutoku Inari Shrine.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e8390.html
https://youtu.be/2UU_1Aip_l4
And while I actually prefer Sapporo ramen, the people of Fukuoka are very proud of their tonkotsu ramen, with its pungent pork broth.

You could also see some great cherry blossom spots - Maizuru Park is very beautiful but fairly crowded.
If you want another gem without the crowds, just outside of town is Kayoicho Park in Kasuya - simply magnificent and you nearly have the place to yourself.
https://youtu.be/pYKNmvevAC4

Thanks everyone! The plan was

Osaka (land)
Tokyo
Kyoto
Nara
Hiroshima ..
Then back to Osaka to leave.. I had 13 days between Kyoto Osaka and Nara.. but as you guys were saying, maybe that�fs not necessary considering they are relatively close?
It looks like Fukuoka wins over Sapporo.. but I just want to see as much as I can! I haven�ft booked any hotels yet since I haven�ft made a concrete itinerary. I�fm open to ideas! I just know for certain I want to see Osaka Kyoto Tokyo Hiroshima (Miyajima) and Nara.

That sounds like the the typical tourist book 10-12 day Japan "golden route" trip.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2400_osaka_10.html

With 27 days, you could see a LOT more of Japan.


This is only a 21 day plan, so you could even add onto this, or add extra days to destinations in this plan:

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2400_osaka_19.html

But I'd definitely be branching out and getting out of the typical tourist route with all that time.

Kyushu will have peak cherry blossum season late march, while Hokkaido wont have peak season for any of your dates. Something to consider when picking between Fukuoka and Sapporo.