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Sapporo (札幌市; -shi) is the capital
city of
Hokkaido,
Japan.
As of
2003, the city has an estimated
population of 1,854,837 and the
density of 1,654.45 persons per
km². The total area is 1,121.12 km².
The city was founded on
August 1,
1922 and was designated on
April 1,
1972
by government ordinance, and is served by
New Chitose Airport.
The
1972 Winter Olympics were held in Sapporo. This was the first Winter
Olympics to be held in
Asia and it opened on
February 3. Olympics aside, Sapporo's biggest event is the yearly
Snow Festival in February, famed for its
ice sculpture competition.
In Japan, Sapporo is known as the home of the eponymous
Sapporo beer and
miso-flavored Sapporo
ramen. The entertainment district
Susukino is among the largest and best-known in Japan.
The city has following
wards:
Chuuou-ku,
Kita-ku,
Higashi-ku,
Shiroishi-ku,
Toyohira-ku,
Minami-ku,
Nishi-ku,
Atsubetsu-ku,
Teine-ku,
Kiyota-ku.
Sister Cities
-
Novosibirsk, since
1990
-
Munich, since
1972
-
Portland, Oregon, since
1959
-
Shenyang, since
1980
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