Being living in Japan from 1997, due to very busy schedule, I was not having the chance to visit Sapporo. Additionally, as I am also running-away from the cold season, two times I missed the chance to go for Sapporo Snow Festival.
Luckily, this year on our Company Trip during June 2016, I requested to include my name in the Group of visiting Sapporo and it was approved. Though, I was very excited to go there, but on the other side I was little worried because the dates of the visit was during the Holy month of Ramadhan. However, as always, before visiting any place I am studying all the surrounding areas, places to visit and things to do, which is helping me all the times.
This time, I double-checked everything so that I cannot disturb my Japanese Colleagues and not to bother them all the times that I am on fasting, as I was the only Muslim in my group, or should gladly be sharing that I am one of the few foreigners in this renowned Japanese company. However, our Group Leader was kind enough, who managed good arrangements for me, which will be reflecting in my three days trip.
As writing the complete story could be published at any Travel Channel/Website, I am just sharing the three days main topic which could be helpful for the Muslims and of-course for the Non-Muslims, who would like to visit Sapporo.
DAY 1
We arrived at New Chitose Airport at around 1300Hrs from where it took around 45 minutes to reach the Hotel, which was ART HOTELS SAPPORO. As I studied already that they are also having Prayer Space for Muslims, I offered Zohar Prayer, just after checking-in at my room and Asr before leaving for the Dinner/Breaking-the-Fast.
At 2F, just near to the Prayer Space, they have big hall which is mainly used for Breakfast and party purposes and a toilet+washing place, so that anyone can make wudu and offer the Prayer.
However, it is advisable that please must properly wipe your wet hands and legs, so that the Prayer place should not become smelly, of-course I did it for myself too.
The Art Hotels Sapporo is a Muslim Friendly Hotel and they also serving Halal Breakfast and selective menu as Halal/Vegetarian for the Lunch+Dinner. However, they are requesting to contact them for Halal menu, at-least one week before your arrival. Therefore, staying at their hotel being Muslim, will be a pleasure stay. For more detail: http://www.arthotelssapporo.com/promotions/halal-friendly-menu-prayer-space.htm
During every-year Company’s trip, we are having first dinner from the Company, which is being hosted by the Group Leader.
Here, I was also lucky as our Group Leader already aware that I was at fasting, they ordered Halal Menu for myself. The KIRIN Beer Garden is just 3-minutes by walk from Art Hotels Sapporo and you can also order them the Halal BBQ set, but please be sure and re-confirm with them or consult on telephone before visiting them.
I would also like to share that, before finalizing the Dinner at Kirin Beer Garden, we were planning to visit “Halal Yakiniku Kou” but due to improper arrangements of the transportation (pick-n-drop) we could not visit them. I am also very much thankful to Halal Media Japan, specially Mr. Akihiro Shugo who quickly provided me the phone number of the person-in-charge of the Restaurant for easy communication. If life permits, I will be visiting Halal Yakiniku Kou, during next year’s trip.
DAY 2
Though my sub-group planned to go for rent-a-car (5 seats car for sub-group), I preferred to go for rent-a-bicycle. The reason, I learned that visiting Hokkaido University with bi-cycle will be a good pleasure, which I did on Day-3.
First I asked the Hotel Staff about renting a bicycle who informed me the per-day charges of JPY1,650-. thus again here my Google Aunt helped me and advised me to go to Sapporo Station (Eki-chari Cycline Port), from where I rented-a-bicycle for Three Days (one week package) at JPY1,500-.
As I was locating the cycle-park through the telephone number, the Google Map guided me through their offices, which is on the opposite side of the cycle park, from the Sapporo Station. Hence it took time, searching for the exact counter for rent-a-cycle, just after getting my selected bicycle I tried going faster towards Sapporo Masjid. Here I should also mention that the person-in-charge at the counter was very friendly (sorry, I forgot his name) and was trying to speak with me in English and informed me that he lived in Iran for two years.
However, as I can speak Japanese (not 100% but 75% I guess), he than felt comfortable specially when I wrote my address in Kanji.
I quickly ridden towards Sapporo Masjid, where I was expecting that the Zohar Jamaat will be at 1300Hrs. However, when I reached there, I noticed that the Zohar Jamaat was at 12:30, thus I prayed alone before shaking hands with some of the Indonesian/Malaysian Muslims in the Prayer Hall.
In the evening I visited there again for Iftaar(Fasting Break) where I met many Muslims from Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and some Arab Countries (sorry, I could not ask their Country). The environment was very friendly (as usual) and they served delicious Iftaar and Dinner after the Maghrib Prayer.
DAY 3
I visited the Former Hokkaido Government Office, which was a worth visiting place. In front of (but outside) this building, I also took “Photo Sphere” which can also be find at Google Map.
The link of the Building is provided here, in which you can also find the PDF in English, Chines, Korean and Thai Language.
http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/sm/sum/sk/akarenga.htm
One of the main visit of the day-3 was Hokkaido University, and as mentioned at their website “it is rare anywhere in the world for a campus of approximately 180 hectares (stretching 2 km from north to south, and 1.6 km east to west) to be located in the center of a city with a population of two million people”, I could not cover the whole campus during this visit.
However, for the Muslims Students/Visits, the Coop University Dining is serving the Halal Lunch (2 sets per day) which is also at very reasonable price range. As I visited them during Ramadhan, I could not try their Lunch.
Here, I would again thank to the website of HalalMedia, through which I found the shop which is having Muslim Friendly Souvenir Sales Counter, from where I bought Omiyage for my Office Colleagues and of-course for my family. The Instant Halal Ramen was very much liked by Son, which I purchased from there.
For the Fasting-Break, I visited the Noor Masjid which is located in Otaru City. Everyone, specially Mr. Qureshi, were very friendly with me, when they know that I am visiting Sapporo for the first time, from Yokohama. The Iftaar was very delicious and with enough food as I observe that even after everyone stopped their hands, many dishes were still there with proper presentation. After Maghrib Prayer, many persons tryied to eat again but myself, with small engine (660cc) could not shared with them). As Otaru is about 33.8Km/34 Minutes ride by Train, I left from their just after the Maghrib Prayer and thanked everyone there who welcomed me and asked to come again.
Summarizing the journey, I should mention that visiting Sapporo, as a Muslim and even during the Holy Month of Ramadhan will be a pleasure trip, so why not arrange your visit very soon.
