Sapporo Station is the starting point and terminus for most limited express services operated by JR Hokkaido.

Sapporo station is developing into a commercial center as large as Ōdōri Park and Susukino.

It has a commercial facility called Paseo under the ground and JR Tower on the south side of the station.

An underground shopping center was started in 1972, and a commercial building was opened on the east side of the station in 1978.

[citation needed] Overnight sleeping car trains Cassiopeia, Hokutosei, and Hamanasu served the station prior to their discontinuation.