For those looking to escape the city center for a while, Sapporo's mountainous southern ward offers a number of great ways to fill the day and make it a memorable one at that. Ishiyama Park, located on the site of Sapporo's oldest rock quarry, has both panoramic views and an impressive outdoor sculpture gallery, while even further from the city center, Hoheikyo Gorge offers year-round hiking in a breathtakingly beautiful environment, particularly in Winter when everything is blanketed in snow. Once you've finished enjoying the scenery, the nearby Jozankei Onsen is the perfect place for a soak in one of Japan's famous natural hot springs, or for something more active, you can hit the slopes at the Sapporo Kokusai Ski Area.