Sapporo Municipal Subway

Sapporo’s rapid transit network consists of the Namboku, Tōzai, and Tōhō lines. It is known for using rubber-tired trains on guideways.

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Namboku Line: A Sapporo subway line running north–south between Asabu and Makomanai. It is the network’s north–south route and its first line to open.
Rubber-tyred metro: A rapid transit system whose trains run on rubber tires rather than steel wheels on rails. Sapporo’s subway uses this transit technology throughout its lines.
1972 Winter Olympics: The 1972 Winter Olympic Games held in Sapporo, Japan. The Games accelerated subway construction to support transport during the event.
Sapporo Dome: A multipurpose stadium in Sapporo used for sporting events and concerts. The Tōhō Line provides direct subway access to the stadium area.
Tōzai Line: A Sapporo subway line running east–west between Miyanosawa and Shin-Sapporo. It forms the network’s east–west route across central Sapporo.
Central guiding rail system: A guideway arrangement in which a central rail helps control a vehicle’s direction. Sapporo’s rubber-tired trains use a central guiding rail to stay aligned.
Sapporo: The largest city on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido and its prefectural capital. The subway was built to serve this city’s urban transport needs.
Makomanai Park: A large public park in southern Sapporo that hosted venues for the 1972 Winter Olympics. The Namboku Line terminates at Makomanai, serving this southern part of the city.
Tōhō Line: A Sapporo subway line connecting Sakaemachi and Fukuzumi. It adds a second north–south route, east of the Namboku Line.
Rubber tire: A resilient ring fitted around a wheel to provide traction and absorb shocks. Tires give Sapporo subway trains traction on their concrete running surfaces.