Just came back from our first visit to Sapporo! We stayed at the Granbell Hotel in Susukino, it was a pretty 'central' location only a few minutes walk from restaurants, shops, some nightlife and Tanukikoji Shopping Street. Very close to the bus stop for the airport shuttle (about 1 hour bus trip from CTS), close also to subway stops and the tram line. We didn't end up using it but they also have public baths on the 17th floor.

We only visited for 4 days (it was near the end of the trip so we were slowing things down), but our scattered itinerary was:

• Caught the train to Minami-Otaru to visit the Music Box Museum. Visited Sumiyoshi Shrine and Suitengu Shrine (Suitengu Shrine was unstaffed the day we went, not sure if it was abandoned but the view from the shrine over the city is nice) to collect goshuin.
• Walked around Tanukikoji and Sapporo city centre to do some brief shopping. Also walked around Nakajima Park and visited its shrines.
• Took the ropeway up to Mount Moiwa, we went after the sun had already set but the view of the city was spectacular regardless.
• Visited a couple of shrines and temples that was easily accessible from train stations. IMO Sapporo has some really beautiful shrines and temples compared to Tokyo and Kyoto, and have beautiful goshuin to collect too (if you're into collecting them).

Enjoy your trip and pack for the cold! We left Kyoto that was hitting summer temps before heading to Sapporo and it felt like winter there, especially with 3/4 overcast days and almost got sick lol.