A must-read for those planning to attend a live concert or watch a sporting event at Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena! In this article, we will introduce not only how to get there by subway and bus, but also recommended hotels around Sapporo Station, Odori, and Susukino, which are convenient for trips and accommodation. We will also introduce recommended hotels around Nakajima Park in detail by area. This is a complete guide that is safe for first-time visitors.

Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena is a dome-shaped multi-purpose facility located in Minami-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido. Its official name is Hokkaido Prefectural Makomanai Park Indoor Stadium, and it was built for the Sapporo Olympics held in 1972. As it is an athletics facility, it is used for a wide range of purposes, including hosting international-level sporting events and ice shows, as well as live performances and concerts by popular artists and exhibitions.

Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena is located in the suburbs, away from central Sapporo, so the most common way to get there is by subway or bus. The most common and easy route is to take the Namboku Subway Line from central Sapporo to Makomanai Station, then transfer to a local bus. You can also get there by local bus from Nishi 11-Chome Station on the Tozai Subway Line or Nakanoshima Station on the Namboku Subway Line. Airport shuttle buses from New Chitose Airport also depart and arrive at Makomanai Station, so if you're not worried about luggage, you can also access it directly from the airport.

Route buses departing from Makomanai Station

The closest station to Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena is Makomanai Station on the Namboku Subway Line. To get to Makomanai Station, take the Namboku Line train bound for Makomanai from Sapporo Station, which is a transfer station for the JR Line, for about 15 minutes.

Makomanai Station bus stop

From Makomanai Station, it is about a 10-minute bus ride to Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena, followed by a 5-minute walk. There are multiple bus routes, including Minami 95, Minami 96, Kan 96, Minami 97, and Minami 98. All bus routes depart from bus stops 6 to 9, located immediately outside the north ticket gate of Makomanai Station. After boarding the bus, get off at the fourth stop, Kamimachi 1-chome, and it is a 5-minute walk from there. If you walk directly from Makomanai Station, it takes about 25 minutes.

Makomanai Station bus stop number 10

In addition, when large-scale live shows and other events are held, shuttle buses may run from Makomanai Station. In those cases, they depart from bus stop number 10 at Makomanai Station (usually number 10 is the bus drop-off point). When they do run, they run until about 30 minutes before the event starts, and run back at the end of the event.

The bus stop in front of Nishi 11-chome Station faces Odori Park.

If you are coming from Nishi 11-chome Station, take the Minami 4 or Minami 54 line from Nishi 11-chome Ekimae, get off at Akebonocho after about 20 minutes, then walk for about 2 minutes. The Nishi 11-chome Ekimae bus stop faces Odori Park, and can be reached in about 10 minutes on foot from the west side of Odori Station or Tanukikoji Shopping Street, which is popular with tourists. There are hotels in the area, so this is a recommended access method for those staying near Nishi 11-chome Station in the Odori Park area or who want to avoid the hassle of transferring. However, there are only about two trains per hour, so be sure to check the timetable in advance.

There are two bus stops in front of Nakanoshima Station, one on the front side of the road and one on the back side. We recommend using the one on the back side of the road.

If you are going from Nakanoshima Station on the subway, take the Minami 65 or Kan 56 line from Nakanoshima Ekimae for about 20 minutes, get off at Makomanai Honmachi, and walk for about 10 minutes. Nakanoshima Station is relatively close to the city center, about 6 minutes by subway from Sapporo Station, but the bus ride is longer than the buses departing from Makomanai, and the nearest bus stop is a little far away. The bus only runs once an hour, so if you are taking the Namboku Line, it is more convenient to go from Makomanai Station, but it is a convenient access method for those staying at a hotel near Nakanoshima Station.

There are several routes for the airport shuttle bus that connects New Chitose Airport and Sapporo city, one of which departs and arrives at Makomanai subway station. There are only 4-5 buses per day, but if you time it right, it's convenient for people who are visiting the Dome from far away, such as outside Hokkaido, for activities such as fan activities. However, Makomanai station has very few coin lockers for storing suitcases, so if you are heading directly from the airport to the venue, it is recommended for people with very little luggage.

There are no hotels within walking distance of Makomanai Station, but there is one large hotel relatively close to Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena. Apart from this one hotel, considering the large number of hotel options and ease of access to various areas, it is common to look for hotels around JR Sapporo Station, around Nishi 11-chome Station on the subway, which can be reached by bus without changing trains, or around Susukino and Nakajima Park, where you can easily enjoy Sapporo sightseeing, including gourmet food. We will introduce recommended hotels for each area.

JR Sapporo Station

The area around JR Sapporo Station is the first place to look for as it has a wide range of hotel options and good transport access. Trains from New Chitose Airport arrive at JR Sapporo Station every 10 minutes during the day, and express trains from all over Hokkaido also depart here. For those visiting from afar, one issue is what to do with large luggage such as suitcases, but if there is a hotel in this area, it is convenient as you can leave your luggage just before or after getting on or off the JR train. We have picked out three recommended hotels in this area.

This high-rise hotel is adjacent to JR Sapporo Station and is more easily accessible from the JR line than any other hotel in Sapporo. It has high-quality rooms and a restaurant, and depending on the floor you can enjoy the Sapporo night view. It is a top-class hotel when it comes to convenience and comfort.

The hotel is directly connected to the APIA underground shopping mall between JR Sapporo Station and Sapporo Station on the Namboku Subway Line, so you can go there without worrying about the weather. It is close to the station and the underground shopping mall lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, so it is definitely convenient. The breakfasts, such as soup curry and seafood bowls, are highly rated.

The hotel is a 5-minute walk from Sapporo Station on the Namboku Subway Line, but is easily accessible from JR Sapporo Station, just a 1-minute walk from the west ticket gate. Having been rebranded and renewed in recent years, the hotel has a good reputation for its beautiful interior.

The west side of Odori Park has many flower beds and sculptures.

Odori Park stretches from east to west, and the nearest station to the east is Odori Station on the various subway lines, while the nearest station to the west is Nishi 11-chome Station on the Tozai subway line. Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena can be accessed from Odori Station on the Namboku subway line, and as mentioned above, you can also take a bus from Nishi 11-chome Station to the nearest station without changing trains, so hotels around Nishi 11-chome Station are very convenient. Here we will introduce three hotels around Nishi 11-chome Station on the west side of Odori Park.

The hotel faces Odori Park, and some of the rooms overlook the park. Events such as the Sapporo Odori Beer Garden and the Sapporo Snow Festival are held right in front of the hotel, making it a great location for attending events in Sapporo. The nearest station is Nishi 11-chome Station on the Tozai Subway Line, but it is also about a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Odori Subway Station. It is a location with easy access to anywhere.

This cylindrical high-rise hotel offers a panoramic view of Sapporo city from the upper floors, especially the night view. After leaving Nishi 11-chome Station, the next bus stop for the Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena is in front of the hotel, "Chuo Ward Office." In other words, if you stay at this hotel, you can go directly to the area near Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena from the bus stop right in front of the hotel.

Although the hotel is located in the city center surrounded by government offices, you won't feel the hustle and bustle. It is recommended because it is easily accessible from Nishi 11-chome Station, but the free drink service is a highlight. You can enjoy free all-you-can-drink drinks, including alcoholic drinks, in the hotel lounge until 11pm.

Susukino

For those who want to enjoy Sapporo's gourmet food and nightlife, we recommend the area around Susukino Station, which is two stops from Sapporo Station on the Namboku Subway Line. As the largest downtown area in Hokkaido, Susukino has many restaurants that are open until late at night. We will pick out three recommended hotels in this area.

The hotel is located on the upper floors of the commercial facility "COCONO SUSUKINO," which is directly connected to Susukino Station on the Namboku Subway Line, and its great accessibility means you can reach the front desk without having to go outside after passing through the subway ticket gates. It's right in the middle of the downtown area, so it's an ideal location for shopping, dining, and going out for fun.

Located opposite the commercial facility "COCONO SUSUKINO," the hotel has excellent access and location. The breakfast, which includes local Hokkaido delicacies, mini ramen, and mini seafood bowls, is highly rated.

Not only is it close to Susukino Station, but you can also enter the hotel from the Sapporo Underground Shopping Mall Pole Town, which runs from Odori Station to Susukino Station, so you can access it regardless of the weather. A unique feature of the hotel is that it offers welcome sweets instead of welcome drinks.

Nakajima Park

Nakajima Park is a relaxing spot where you can feel the seasonal scenery and breath of nature, even though it is close to the downtown Susukino area. Take the Namboku Subway Line from Sapporo Station to Nakajima Koen Station, which is three stops away, and the greenery of the park will spread out before your eyes. There are many hotels around the park, and it is recommended for those who want to enjoy the nightlife of Susukino while also enjoying a quiet environment close to nature. As it is on the Namboku Line, there is no problem with access to the Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena. We have picked out three recommended hotels in this area.

It is adjacent to Nakajima Park and is located right in front of Exit 3 of Nakajima Park Station, making it extremely easy to access. This is a prestigious, long-established hotel, and you can enjoy a relaxing stay. The bread and pancakes at the breakfast buffet are very popular. Nakajima Park is right in front of the hotel, so we recommend taking a stroll around the park before or after checking in and out.

Although it is located in the city, this hotel has a large natural hot spring bath with a jet bath and sauna. One of the breakfast venues within the facility is a restaurant produced by the outdoor gear brand "snow peak", where you can feel like you are dining in the forest illuminated by the morning sun, even while staying inside the building.

This hotel is located near Susukino from Nakajima Park Station, so you can easily enjoy a stroll around Nakajima Park or the nightlife in the downtown area. The breakfast is popular and includes Hokkaido delicacies such as a seafood bowl where you can arrange your own seafood and Genghis Khan.

When large events such as concerts and sporting events are held at Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena, accommodations in and around Sapporo become very crowded. Ideally, you would want to take your time looking for a hotel in advance, but when it comes to popular events, it's a race against time to reserve a hotel. Once you've confirmed the event information, check the location and access information, and then check the hotel's availability first before making your reservation. Stay in a hotel that is comfortable for travel and stay, and enjoy the event with more peace of mind!

Check it out too!