Sapporo is a designated city located in the southwest region of Hokkaido, Japan. Situated within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, which serves as a tributary of the Ishikari River, it functions as the capital of both Hokkaido Prefecture and the Ishikari Subprefecture.
As of July 31, 2023, Sapporo has a population of 1,959,750 residents. This makes it the largest city in Hokkaido, the largest city north of Tokyo, and the fifth-most populous city in Japan. The city serves as the primary cultural, economic, and political center for the Hokkaido region.