I tracked down the etymology of all Sapporo Municipal Subway station names and Sapporo Streetcar stop names, then localized them into plausible-sounding (American) English names.
If the place name derives from the indigenous language Ainu, I translated the meaning in Ainu, instead of the surface realization in kanji.
This is intended to be in the same alternate universe as u/topherette's anglicized map of the Prefectures of Sunwell and its major cities. See the map here on r/Toponymy! Differences from the u/topherette map are as follows:
My findings, translation decisions, and reasonings can be found in a massive table below.
| ID | Name | Reading | Origin | Etymology | English calque | Reasoning |
| N** | 南北線 | nam-boku sen | Japanese |
North-South Line a.k.a. Green Line
|
Direct | |
| N01 | 麻生駅 | asa-bu eki | Japanese | 麻 (flax) and 生 (to grow). Same name exists in Tokyo but that one is pronounced "Azabu" | Flaxley | Existing place name meaning "flax field" |
| N02 | 北34条駅 | kita sanjū-yon jō eki | Japanese | 北 (north), number, 条 [indicates the block number going north-south] | 34th Street | NYC reference (NB that NYC's avenues go west, while Sapporo's "chome" goes both ways, only west in station names) |
| N03 | 北24条駅 | kita nijū-yon jō eki | Japanese | cf. 北34条駅 | 24th Street | |
| N04 | 北18条駅 | kita jū-hachi jō eki | Japanese | cf. 北34条駅 | 18th Street | |
| N05 | 北12条駅 | kita jū-ni jō eki | Japanese | cf. 北34条駅 | 12th Street | |
| N06 | さっぽろ駅 | [sapporo] eki | Ainu | "Sat poro pet": dry great river | Greatwash | Translation by u/topherette on r/Toponymy, space added for aesthetic reasons |
| N07 | 大通駅 | ō-dōri eki | Japanese | 大通 means "main street" or "boulevard" | Central Park | Ōdōri Park splits the city down the middle with a long stretch of public green space |
| N08 | すすきの駅 | [susukino] eki | Japanese | すすきの is variant transcription of 薄野: 薄 (pampas grass) and 野 (field) | Pampas Field | Direct |
| N09 | 中島公園駅 | naka-jima-kō-en eki | Japanese | 中島 refers to a river island, 公園 means park | Towhead Park | "Towhead" is a US regional term for a river island |
| N10 | 幌平橋駅 | horo-hira-bashi eki | blend | 橋 (bridge) between 札幌 and 平岸 | Drybrook-Cliffpoint Bridge | |
| N11 | 中の島駅 | naka-[no]-shima eki | Japanese | 中の島 also refers to a river island; I can't explain the inconsistency between this Naka-no-shima and the Nakajima in Nakajima Kōen | Towhead | cf. 中島公園 |
| N12 | 平岸駅 | hira-gishi eki | Ainu | "Pira kes": edge of the cliff | Cliffpoint | |
| N13 | 南平岸駅 | minami hira-gishi eki | blend | 南 (south) of 平岸 (of Ainu origin, see above) | South Cliffpoint | |
| N14 | 澄川駅 | sumi-kawa eki | Japanese | 澄 (clear, see-through, pure) and 川 (river). Specifically refers to the 精進川 (Shōjin River) nearby | Clearwater | Direct |
| N15 | 自衛隊前駅 | ji-ei-tai mae eki | Japanese | 前 (in front) of the 自衛隊 (Self Defense Force). there is an SDF station nearby | Defense/Defence Depot | |
| N16 | 真駒内駅 | ma-koma-nai eki | Ainu | "Mak oma nai": river behind one's back (the reason why the river is called that is hotly debated) | Back Creek | |
| T** | 東西線 | tō-zai sen | Japanese |
East-West Line a.k.a. Orange Line
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| T01 | 宮の沢駅 | miya-[no]-sawa eki | Japanese | "shrine + small river", place named after what would later become 上手稲神社 (Kami-Teine Shrine) | Shrine Creek | |
| T02 | 発寒南駅 | has-samu minami eki | blend | 南 (south) of 発寒 (of Ainu origin, specific origin unclear, one competing etymology claims “hacham pet”: starling river) | Starling River South | |
| T03 | 琴似駅 | koto-ni eki | Ainu | System of various small rivers was called "Kotoni" in Ainu | Streamlands | |
| T04 | 二十四軒駅 | ni-jū-yon-ken eki | Japanese | 24 houses. Derives from an event when 50 families were relocated in small groups from present day 山鼻 (Yamahana) area. There is also a 八軒 (hakken, eight houses) elsewhere | Two-Dozen Houses | the opportunity was too juicy to resist |
| T05 | 西28丁目駅 | nishi nijū-hat-chō-me eki | Japanese | 西 (west), number, 丁目 [indicates the block number going east-west] | 28th Avenue | NYC reference (NB that NYC's avenues go east, while Sapporo's "chome" goes both ways, only west in station names) |
| T06 | 円山公園駅 | maru-yama kō-en eki | Japanese | 公園 (park) near the 円山 (round mountain). Said mountain was called Moiwa (Ainu: small mountain) but present Mt. Moiwa is elsewhere to the southeast and significantly taller | Roundhill Park | |
| T07 | 西18丁目駅 | nishi jū-hat-chō-me eki | Japanese | cf. 西28丁目駅 | 18th Avenue | cf. 西28丁目 |
| T08 | 西11丁目駅 | nishi jū-it-chō-me eki | Japanese | cf. 西28丁目駅 | 11th Avenue | cf. 西28丁目 |
| T09 | 大通駅 | Japanese | 大通 means "main street" or "boulevard" | Main Street |
Ōdōri Park splits the city down the middle with a long stretch of public green space
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|
| T10 | バスセンター前駅 | [basusentā] mae eki | Japanese | 前 (in front) of the バスセンター (bus center) | Bus Center | Direct minus the "mae" |
| T11 | 菊水駅 | kiku-sui eki | Japanese | 菊 (chrysanthemum) referring to 菊亭 脩季 (Kikutei Yukisue or Nagasue), the politician who opened a major farm in the area + 水 (water) referring to the Toyohira river | Chrysanthemum Waters | Direct |
| T12 | 東札幌駅 | higashi sap-poro eki | blend | 東 (east) of 札幌 (Sapporo, cf. Sapporo station) | East Greatwash | |
| T13 | 白石駅 | shiro-ishi eki | Japanese | white + stone. inherited from 白石, place name in modern-day Miyagi | Whitestone | |
| T14 | 南郷7丁目駅 | nan-gō nana-chō-me eki | Japanese | 南郷 (south + village/township) used to refer to anywhere south of 白石本道 (main street of Shiroishi) | Southburg 7th Street | arbitrary decision to use "burg" instead of "ville" |
| T15 | 南郷13丁目駅 | nan-gō jū-san-chō-me eki | Japanese | cf. 南郷7丁目駅 | Southburg 13th Street | cf. 南郷7丁目 |
| T16 | 南郷18丁目駅 | nan-gō jū-hat-chō-me eki | Japanese | cf. 南郷7丁目駅 | Southburg 18th Street | cf. 南郷7丁目 |
| T17 | 大谷地駅 | ō-ya-chi eki | Japanese | large valley/dell | Grandell | coined from grand + dell |
| T18 | ひばりが丘駅 | [hibari ga]-oka eki | Japanese | named after a local housing complex called Skylark Hill | Skylark Hill | Direct |
| T19 | 新さっぽろ駅 | shin-[sapporo] eki | blend | 新 (new) city center of さっぽろ (Sapporo, cf. Sapporo station) | New Greatwash | |
| H** | 東豊線 | tō-hō sen | blend | 東 (east) of 豊平 from Ainu "tuye pira", fallen cliff |
East Fellcliff Line a.k.a. Blue Line
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| H01 | 栄町駅 | sakae-machi eki | Japanese | literally "prosperous town", renamed 1955 wishfully | Prosper Town | |
| H02 | 新道東駅 | shin-dō higashi eki | Japanese | 東 (east) of the 札幌新道 ("Sapporo Shindō", Sapporo New Road), a bypass highway | New Road East | |
| H03 | 元町駅 | moto-machi eki | Japanese | literally "origin/root/center of the town". Motomachi ceased to be an address in 1981, before it was revived for the subway station name in 1988 | Old Town Center/Centre | |
| H04 | 環状通東駅 | kan-jō-dōri higashi eki | Japanese | "ring-shaped road east" | Ring Road East | Unfinished London's videos about the Ring Roads have left an impression on me |
| H05 | 東区役所前駅 | higashi-ku-yaku-sho mae eki | Japanese | 前 (in front) of the 区役所 (ward's town hall) of 東区 (East Ward) | East Ward Office | Direct minus the "mae" |
| H06 | 北13条東駅 | kita jū-san-jō higashi eki | Japanese | 東 (east) part of this street: 北 (north), number, 条 [indicates the block number going north-south] | 13th Street East | cf. 北34条 |
| H07 | さっぽろ駅 | Ainu | "Sat poro pet": dry great river | Greatwash |
Translation by u/topherette on r/Toponymy
https://www.reddit.com/r/Toponymy/comments/gxo9u7/oc_fully_anglicised_japan_based_off_actual/
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| H08 | 大通駅 | Japanese | 大通 means "main street" or "boulevard" | Central Park |
Ōdōri Park splits the city down the middle with a long stretch of public green space
|
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| H09 | 豊水すすきの駅 | hō-sui [susukino] eki | Blend? | named after local primary school that closed in 2004, 豊 probably from 豊平, 水 means water. for "susukino" see すすきの駅 | East Pampas Field | Descriptive name avoiding reference to defunct school with complicated etymology |
| H10 | 学園前駅 | gaku-en mae eki | Japanese | 前 (in front) of the 学園 (academy). Serves at least 5 different schools and universities run by Hokkai Gakuen. | Academy | Direct minus the "mae" |
| H11 | 豊平公園駅 | toyo-hira kō-en eki | blend | 豊平 from Ainu "tuye pira", fallen cliff + 公園 park | Fellcliff Park | |
| H12 | 美園駅 | mi-sono eki | Japanese | beautiful + garden. references the numerous flower growers/farms in the area | Flowery Streets | |
| H13 | 月寒中央駅 | tsuki-samu chū-ō eki | blend | 中央 for "central". 月寒 (Tsukisamu) river either named after "cikisap", a fire-starting tool, or "cikisani", elm (whose wood is used for cikisap) | Elm Country Central | |
| H14 | 福住駅 | fuku-zumi eki | Japanese | probably named after a Shinto shrine on the block: 福住寺 (fuku-jū-ji), good luck/fortune + live/lodge + shrine/temple | Felicity | rare word meaning “happiness” or “good luck”, coming from Latin “felix” |
| SC** | 札幌市電 | sap-poro shi-den |
Greatwash Streetcar / Southwest Loop
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| SC01 | 西4丁目 | Japanese | cf. 西28丁目駅 | 4th Avenue | ||
| SC02 | 西8丁目 | Japanese | cf. 西28丁目駅 | 8th Avenue | ||
| SC03 | 中央区役所前 | Japanese | Central Ward Office | |||
| SC04 | 西15丁目 | Japanese | cf. 西28丁目駅 | 15th Avenue | ||
| SC05 | 西線6条 | Japanese | 西線 refers to the former "Western Line" of the streetcar system (now reduced to one looped line). Station lies on 南 (South) 6-jō. | West F Street | NYC reference: south streets get letters of the Alphabet | |
| SC06 | 西線9条旭山公園通 | Japanese | Serves 旭山公園通 (Asahiyama [Morning Sun Mountain] Kōen [Park] Dōri [Street]), whose name I can't explain because no park by that name lies on that street, and Asahiyama Zoo lies way far in Asahikawa City | West I Street / Sunrise Mountain Park Road | long unwieldy double-barrelled station name | |
| SC07 | 西線11条 | Japanese | West K Street | |||
| SC08 | 西線14条 | Japanese | West N street | |||
| SC09 | 西線16条 | Japanese | West P Street | |||
| SC10 | ロープウェイ入口 | Japanese | 入口 (Entrance) to the ロープウェイ (ropeway), specifically the one on Mt. Moiwa. The native Ainu name was "Inkaruspe" (place frequently climbed for lookout). For the origin of "Moiwa" cf. 円山公園 (on Tozai line) | Little Hill Ropeway | Native American-vibes calque of Moiwa | |
| SC11 | 電車事業所前 | Japanese | Rail Office | |||
| SC12 | 中央図書館前 | Japanese | Central Library | |||
| SC13 | 石山通 | Japanese | Quarry Street | |||
| SC14 | 東屯田通 | Japanese | East Pioneer Street | |||
| SC15 | 幌南小学校前 | kō-nan shō-gak-kō mae | blend | Serves 幌南小学校, where 幌 is short for Sapporo and 南 means South | South Greatwash Elementary School | |
| SC16 | 山鼻19条 | Japanese | Named after 山鼻 (Yamahana) village. Named because it was the はな (edge) of the 山 (mountain), specifically Mt. Moiwa. 鼻 meaning "nose" is folk etymology. Ainu native name was "Yuk Nikuri" (grove where the deer live) | 19 Foothill Street | ||
| SC17 | 静修学園前 | Japanese | Named after the local 札幌静修高等学校 (Sapporo Seishū High School). 静修 means "to cleanse the mind and body; to meditate at a retreat" | Serenity High School | ||
| SC18 | 行啓通 | gyō-kei dōri | Japanese | References street name. 行啓 means a visit by the Japanese Imperial Family. Street named in reference to the Imperial Family visiting Sapporo three different times. | Imperial Street | |
| SC19 | 中島公園通 | Japanese | Previously known as 狐小路 (fox alley) but this parallel with Tanuki Koji didn't survive long | Towhead Park Street | ||
| SC20 | 山鼻9条 | Japanese | 9 Foothill Street | |||
| SC21 | 東本願寺前 | Japanese | Named after the nearby 真宗大谷派札幌別院, a shrine of the Ōtani-ha sect of Jōdo Shinshū a.k.a. True Pure Land Buddhism. | True Pure Land Shrine | ||
| SC22 | 資生館小学校前 | Japanese | Shiseikan is an old primary education org. The same "Shisei" as in the cosmetics company "Shiseido", derived from the I Ching | Nascence Elementary School | 萬物資生 was translated as "the ten-thousand things coming into life" | |
| SC23 | すすきの | [susukino] eki | Japanese | すすきの is variant transcription of 薄野: 薄 (pampas grass) and 野 (field) | Pampas Field | Direct |
| SC24 | 狸小路 | Japanese | 狸 (tanuki, raccoon dog) and 小路 (alley) | Raccoon Dog Alley |