Sapporo's Kita-ku (North Ward) is composed of residential neighborhoods mostly arranged in grid patterns, and all built surrounding a train station, broken up by areas of farmland and some light-industrial areas. The southern edge of Kita-ku is more built up, and is pretty much a continuation of Chuo-ku (downtown Sapporo)
Kita-ku is subject to a colder, windier climate than the rest of Sapporo, and as one rides the JR line through towards Ainosato (the north-easternmost part of Sapporo) in winter, one can watch the intensity of the snows increase.
The Ishikari river runs through and borders the northern part of Kita-ku.
It is served by Japan Railways, and the local bus system.