The Sapporo Streetcar is Japan's northernmost tram and a familiar part of daily life in Sapporo. Its roots go back to a horse-drawn railway opened in 1909 to carry building stone. It was converted to electric trams in 1918 for a major exposition, and the City of Sapporo has operated it since 1927.
At its peak in the 1960s the network stretched about 25 km, but many sections were closed as the subway opened. In December 2015 a new section between Nishi 4-chome and Susukino turned the line into a loop: today it circles the city in about an hour over roughly 8.9 km, passing the foot of Mt. Moiwa — famous for its night view — shopping streets, Nakajima Park and the Susukino entertainment district.
The trams are just as varied, from retro cars to the latest low-floor "Polaris" trams (joined by Polaris II from 2025). In winter, the "Sasara" trams that sweep snow off the tracks with giant brushes are a seasonal sight. During the Sapporo Snow Festival and throughout winter, trams wrapped in famous Japanese characters — starting with Snow Miku, the winter version of Hatsune Miku — brighten up the snowy city.
