| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-621-0453 |
| Notes | Various shrines in park, restrooms in park, sightseeing spot, Hokkaido Shrine, parking available |
| Location / Getting There | Located in west Sapporo. 5 minute walk from Maruyama subway station 3 Miyagaoka, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0959 |
Kaitaku Shrine
There are three main parks in the city of Sapporo, Odori park, Nakajima park, and Maruyama Park. Completed in 1957, Maruyama Park (known as Maruyama Koen) is a popular park, and is a great sightseeing spot, as it is home to almost a dozen shrines of various sizes. The largest and most popular of these being Hokkaido Shrine. In its large area of 68 hectares, you can also find Maruyama Zoo plus Maruyama sports stadium and baseball field. The entrance to the hiking track up Maruyama can be found across from Maruyama Park.
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Cherry blossom season
The park is beautiful in all seasons, though it is most popular during the cherry blossom season at the start of May. With over 1500 sakura trees, thousands of locals flock to the park and enjoy the hanami (cherry blossom festival). The park is divided into two main parts, the main entrance can be found at the lower section. Taking the stone stairways up and under the huge torii (Japanese gate) will bring you to most of the shrines, the cherry blossom trees during spring, and Hokkaido Shrine, and Maruyama Zoo.
The park is a great spot to take a stroll, have a picnic, and take in the sights.The park contains virgin forest of various trees including Oak, Magnolia, Maple and Katsura (Japanese Judas tree). The park is a designated natural monument. and on the hillside of the park, there are giant Elm and Cypress trees.
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 23:00 Sapporo 07:30 - 21: 00 New Chitose Airport |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-223-3566 Sapporo 0123-45-0050 New Chitose Airport |
| Notes | Hokkaido produce store |
| Location / Getting There | In Sapporo, 3 minutes on foot from Subway Namboku Line Susukino Station. 2F in New Chitose Airport Chuo-ku, Minami-Sanjo 5-Chome No. 1 No. 1 Norbesa 1st Floor & New Chitose Airport |
Classic beer
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Well stocked to peruse at your leisure
The Kurashi Store of Hokkaido has a large selection of sweets, seasonings, cheese, and dairy products to name but a few. There is also a variety of seasonal vegetables. In the drinks department they have bottled beer, teas, and sake, plus a wide choice of coffees to try. At the Kurashi Store there are some tasting tables where you can sample the different blends. At the Sapporo store there is a take out corner where you can try Hokkaido-produced milk ice cream which is a popular treat. The Chitose branch has equally delicious gelato on offer. Whatever you are looking for, The Kurashi Store of Hokkaido has a variety of the best produce of Hokkaido.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1500 |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 15:30 (LO 15:00) & 17:30 - 22:00 (LO 21:30) weekdays 11:30 - 22:00 (LO 21:30) Sat, Sun, Holiday |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-821-0044 Toyohira ward, Sapporo (main store) 011-213-1230 Central Sapporo location https://www.soupcurry-king.shop/index.html |
| Notes | Soup curry, English menu available Parking at Toyohira shop, No parking at Central Sapporo location, Non smoking |
| Location / Getting There | Toyohira store : From central Sapporo, take the subway to green line towards Makomanai. Get off at Minami-Hiragishi station, it's a 7-minute walk. 〒 062-0933, Hiei 3 岸 Hiragishi, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo City 1-1 Central store : Basement floor. It is a 5-minute walk from Odori or Susukino Station. 2 060-0062 Chuo-ku, Sapporo Minami 2 Jo Nishi 3-chome 13-4 Kataoka Building B1 |
Central Sapporo location
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Beef curry
Soup King curry offers the vegetable curry, crispy chicken leg curry (yum), pork curry, and seafood curry. But each soup curry store has its own additional dish. Soup Curry King has a beef curry, a beef tendon curry, and if you’re interested, they have a natto minced beef curry. Natto is made from soybeans, and is a pungent favorite for Japanese nationals. Spice levels range from one to ten, then jack, queen, king, and finally the joker (adding of death sauce to the curry). Rice comes with all curries. For a little extra yen, toppings can be added. Soup Curry King as an extra twelve toppings from eggs & bacon to quail & even jellyfish (why not try?). Beers, soft drink & lassis are on the drink menu.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1500 |
| Opening Hours | 8:00 - 23:30 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-206-0690 |
| Notes | Coffee shop, Inside seating 50, Outside seating 60, Non smoking |
| Location / Getting There | Central Sapporo, on the Red Brick Terrace, a 7 minute walk from Sapporo Station 〒060-0002 Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Kita 2 Jōnishi, 4-chōme−1 Red Brick Terrace |
Delicious quiche plate
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Some darjeeling tea
| Admission | Free admission |
| Opening Hours | All day |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0139-42-2275 |
| Notes | Parking available 175 cars, Toilets, Wheelchair access & toilets. Matsumae Sakura Festival (late April-mid May) Matsumae Ajisa Festival (early August) |
| Location / Getting There | 6 hour drive from Sapporo or 2 hour bus ride from Hakadote, get off at "Matsujo Bus Stop", 7 minutes on foot. Matsujo, Matsumae-cho, Matsumae-gun, Hokkaido, Japan 049-1511 |
The extensive Matsumae Park
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The path running through the park
Besides the cherry blossoms the park has other flowers that bloom throughout the summer and spring. Camellias come out from April to May, dandelions & azaleas in mid-May. In early June, wisterias are in bloom, and from July you can see hydrangeas & roses in the park. There is a path that runs through all the way up to a second park at the back and to the base of the mountains. It is well worth a walk up as at the top you can enjoy great views looking over the whole of Matsumae Park and the Strait of Tsugaru. There are two festivals held in Matsumae park, the first is the Matsumae Sakura Festival which is held from late April to mid May. The second is the Matsumae Ajisa Festival in early August.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥500 - ¥2000 |
| Opening Hours | 10:30 - 21:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0142-82-3031 |
| Notes | Restaurant, coffee shop & gallery space, English menu available, No parking, outside seating (smoking), seating 40, credit card accepted |
| Location / Getting There | Located on the south west side of lake Toya, in the Lake Toya Hot Spring district 40-11 Toyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta District, Hokkaido 049-5721 |
Delicious roast chicken meal
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Relax with a coffee
For appetizers there are Italian Olives, Fried Potato With Truffle Salt, or Fried Chicken. Inside there are artworks for customers to enjoy. As the name suggests, Toya Art & Crafts focuses on local craft blended with good local produce, wine & coffee. They have some delicious organic wines, and Hokkaido craft beers to choose from such as an Otaru Pilsner or the North Island Brown to name a few. Finally, with outside seating, you can sit back and enjoy a nice cup of tea, or coffee. The large tables inside are available for reservations making the restaurant a good place for parties as well as for small groups or couples.
