Sapporo ROYCE’CHOCOLATE TOWN & Mt. Moiwa& Central Wholesale Market

Royce’ chocolate, a seafood lunch and a mountain view make an appealing sampler of Sapporo and its surroundings. This one-day bus tour links three very different stops, so you can taste, browse and take in the city from above without arranging separate transport.

I like the chance to see Royce’ production displays and shop for sweets, then choose your own lunch at the Central Wholesale Market. I also like that the Mt. Moiwa mini cable car is included, so the final stop has a clear payoff without another ticket purchase.

The trade-off is that these are short, self-guided visits, not guided tours. Staff speak Japanese, and the market’s 70 minutes can feel tight if you want a leisurely meal. Bad weather can also replace Mt. Moiwa with Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium.

• Royce’ offers more than a shop: The factory-adjacent site has a free production viewing area and store, with paid exhibits and a chocolate-making workshop available separately.
• Lunch is yours to choose: You get 70 minutes at the Central Wholesale Market, where seafood bowls, sushi and seasonal crab are among the options.
• Mt. Moiwa is the scenic finish: The summit deck sits 531 metres above sea level, and the mini cable car fare is included.
• The bus staff are not tour guides: Expect Japanese-speaking escorts who manage timing and safety, not English commentary.
• Weather can change the last stop: If Mt. Moiwa’s road or ropeway system closes, the itinerary switches to Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium.
• A separate TV Tower ticket comes with the package: It is valid for the tour date and one day before or after, though the tower is not a scheduled bus stop.

A Sapporo day built around three different tastes

1 / 7

This route is designed for a first or short visit, when you want a little of Hokkaido’s food, sweets and scenery without stitching together buses and trains yourself. It starts at Royce’ Cacao & Chocolate Town, heads to the Central Wholesale Market for lunch, then ends at Mt. Moiwa’s observation deck.

That variety is its main strength. Royce’ is a brand-focused visit, the market gives you an independent meal stop, and Mt. Moiwa offers a broad view over Sapporo and the Ishikari Plain. The shifts in mood keep the day moving.

The day is not a deep exploration of any one place. Each stop has a fixed window, and you make your own way around once you arrive. Think of it as an easy sampler, with transport between the stops handled for you, rather than a guided cultural tour.

The bus leaves Sapporo Station at 9:20, with voucher exchange at the bus counter from 9:00. The listed return sequence begins around 16:45, with several drop-off points in central Sapporo and the final stop at Sapporo Station at 17:06. Traffic and weather can affect the timetable.

👉 See our pick of the 4 Best Guided Tours In Hokkaido

Royce’ Cacao & Chocolate Town: displays, shopping and optional extras

The first major stop is Royce’ Cacao & Chocolate Town, reached at about 10:20. You have 1 hour and 20 minutes to look around and shop at your own pace. The site sits beside a factory, and you can view production for free and browse the outlet store without buying an admission ticket.

That free option makes this stop workable even if you are mainly interested in Royce’ sweets. If you want more than a quick look, there is a paid exhibit area and a workshop where you can make your own chocolate bar. Neither is included, and admission can be paid on site.

The difference matters when you plan your time. With only 80 minutes, adding an exhibit and workshop may leave less time for browsing or shopping. Decide what interests you before arriving, and check the available options on the day rather than assuming every part of the attraction is covered by the tour price.

Royce’ is one of the reasons to choose this particular route. A visitor who wants a dedicated chocolate attraction may find the stop more compelling than a standard city sightseeing loop, especially if Royce’ is already on the shopping list. The outlet is not tax-free, so factor that in if you are comparing purchases with other shops.

This is still a self-guided visit. There is no English-speaking guide scheduled to explain the displays, and tour staff are Japanese-speaking escorts rather than professional guides. You can explore at your own pace, but you should not expect commentary in English.

Central Wholesale Market: choose lunch, then keep an eye on the clock

The bus reaches Sapporo Central Wholesale Market at about 12:35, giving you 1 hour and 10 minutes for lunch and browsing. Known as the Kitchen of Sapporo, the market’s outdoor area gives you a choice of seafood meals, including sushi and seafood rice bowls, as well as seasonal crab and dried goods.

I like the freedom here. You are not locked into one restaurant or meal, so you can choose according to appetite and budget. A seafood bowl may suit someone who wants a quick lunch, while sushi or a set meal gives you a more substantial stop. The market is also a place to browse for food souvenirs, though the short visit means you may need to choose between a full meal and shopping.

Show your bus ticket at participating restaurants for special menu prices. Listed options include a grilled scallop sushi set at Ootori Sushi Wakakoma for ¥2,970, a Manpuku C set at Kita no Gourmet Tei for ¥1,650, and a three-colour rice bowl at Umee-do for ¥2,400. Other participating places offer a chef’s-choice seafood bowl, a small eel rice set and a squid rice set meal. Menu contents and prices can change.

The ticket deal is useful, but it does not turn lunch into an all-inclusive meal. Food and drinks are not included in the tour price, and the menu options are subject to change. Show the bus ticket before ordering so you can confirm the current offer and price.

Seventy minutes is enough for a focused meal and a brief look around, but it is not much time for a long lunch, a full market browse and souvenir shopping. If seafood is your priority, head straight to a restaurant and leave browsing for the remaining minutes. This is the stop where a little decisiveness helps.

Mt. Moiwa: the view is the reward

At around 14:45, you arrive at Mt. Moiwa for a 1 hour and 20 minute visit. The included mini cable car takes you up to the summit observation deck, 531 metres above sea level. From there, the view reaches across Sapporo and the Ishikari Plain.

The mountain stop is the day’s most weather-dependent part. On a clear day, it gives you a satisfying change of scale after the close-up food and chocolate visits. You can look over the city from above rather than spend the whole day at street level. The mini cable car fare is included, which makes the price easier to judge.

The tour does not promise clear skies, of course. If snow or strong wind closes the Mt. Moiwa toll road, ropeway or mini cable car, the schedule changes to Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium. The equivalent cable car fare is refunded at the Chuo Bus Sapporo Terminal after the return. In this case, the bus will not stop at the Sapporo Park Hotel, Hotel MyStays Premier Sapporo Park, Jasmac Plaza Hotel or Susukino.

That backup plan is practical, but it is not the same experience. If Mt. Moiwa’s panorama is the main reason you are booking, keep in mind that the mountain visit depends on operating conditions. The replacement stop is a ski jump stadium, not another observation deck.

What the price covers, and where extra costs appear

The package starts at US$57.39 and includes the bus tour, the Mt. Moiwa mini cable car and a Sapporo TV Tower ticket. It does not include meals, drinks, personal expenses or entry to Royce’ paid exhibits. The free production viewing area and shop do not require a Royce’ admission ticket.

The TV Tower ticket is worth noticing because it is included but not listed as a stop on the bus route. It is valid for three days: the tour date, the day before and the day after. To use it, present your electronic voucher at the observation deck entrance reception on the tower’s third floor. It gives you some flexibility to visit separately, but it is not a substitute for a scheduled tower visit during the tour.

For value, compare what you would otherwise spend on transport, the mountain cable car and the optional Tower ticket, as well as how much you value the convenience of a single bus day. The tour makes most sense if Royce’ is a priority and you also want the market and Mt. Moiwa. If you only want the other stops, check whether booking directly with the bus operator is cheaper; a direct option may cost less.

There is free Wi-Fi on the Chuo Bus, which is handy for checking translation tools or keeping in touch between stops. But connectivity does not solve the main language limitation. There is no support in languages other than Japanese, so use a translation app if you need to communicate with staff.

Timing, meeting point and other useful details

Go first to the bus counter to exchange your mobile voucher for a ticket, then wait at the bus stop shown in your booking information. There is no guide or staff member waiting at the stop, and late arrivals or no-shows are not refundable. The tour information has caused confusion for some passengers because the voucher and meeting-point details can be hard to interpret, so check the final confirmation carefully and follow the counter instruction.

The tour has no age limit, and children aged 0 to 5 ride free. Infants and children still need to be included in the passenger headcount, and child seats are not available. The activity is not recommended for people with impaired mobility, pregnant people or those with certain medical conditions, including high blood pressure or epilepsy.

If the tour is cancelled because of extreme weather or another unforeseen event, you can reschedule or request a full refund. For an ordinary cancellation, a full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date, based on local time. Confirmation is due 72 hours before departure; contact customer support if it does not arrive.

Who should book this Sapporo sampler?

I would choose this tour if you want Royce’ included in a day that also covers seafood and a mountain view. It is especially useful if you do not want to plan transport among the three stops yourself, and if you are comfortable exploring without a guide. The friendly, accommodating manner of the Japanese-speaking staff can help the day feel straightforward, but you should not book expecting English explanations.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a slow lunch, detailed guided history or a long visit at Royce’. The stop windows are fixed, the mountain depends on weather, and the paid chocolate area costs extra. If those limits fit your plans, the route offers a handy cross-section of Hokkaido treats and Sapporo scenery in one day.

FAQ

Is a guide included?

The tour includes Japanese-speaking staff, but they are escorts who manage the schedule and safety, not professional tour guides. Support is not provided in other languages.

Is admission to Royce’ Cacao & Chocolate Town included?

Admission to the paid area is not included and can be paid on site. The factory outlet store and free production viewing area do not require an admission fee.

Are meals included?

No. You pay for your own meals and drinks at the Central Wholesale Market.

How long do you get at the Central Wholesale Market?

The scheduled visit is 1 hour and 10 minutes, including time for lunch and browsing.

Is the Mt. Moiwa mini cable car included?

Yes. Admission to the Mt. Moiwa mini cable car is included in the package.

What happens if Mt. Moiwa is closed?

The tour changes to Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium if the Mt. Moiwa road, ropeway or mini cable car is closed due to snow or strong wind. The equivalent mini cable car fare is refunded at the Chuo Bus Sapporo Terminal.

Does the package include a Sapporo TV Tower ticket?

Yes. The ticket is valid on the tour date, the day before and the day after. Present your electronic voucher at the observation deck entrance reception on the third floor.

Where do I exchange my voucher?

Go to the bus counter first to exchange your mobile voucher for a ticket, then wait at the bus stop shown in the booking information. No staff member waits at the bus stop.

Can children join the tour?

There is no age limit, and children aged 0 to 5 are free. Include all children and infants in the passenger headcount; child seats are not available.