| Dates | First weekend of August (3 days) |
| Opening Hours | 18:00 - 22:00 |
| Contact | 011-518-2005 |
| Location / Getting There | In Sapporo, get off at Susukino subway station and the festival is directly in front, on the main straight. 〒064-0804 Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Minami 4 Jōnishi, 4 Chome |
Shrines carried down the main street
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Beer flowing and BBQ sizzling
The final day sees a fitting end to the festival with portable shrines (Mikoshi) being carried down the main street by hundreds of locals. The traditional music and the chanting is a true spectacle and is a great opportunity to get some great photos. While all this is going on, the local bars and restaurants open up stall on the side streets. It is here you can enjoy some beer and some grilled food cooked up by the local owners. It does get crowded here and along the main street, so an early start is advised!
| Dates | First weekend of August (3 days) |
| Opening Hours | 18:00 - 22:00 |
| Contact | 011-518-2005 |
| Location / Getting There | In Sapporo, get off at Susukino subway station and the festival is directly in front, on the main straight. 〒064-0804 Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Minami 4 Jōnishi, 4 Chome |
Shrines carried down the main street
During the summer at the start of August, the annual Susukino Festival can be seen. Starting in the late afternoon and continuing through until late evening, the festival runs for three days. The streets are closed off for parades, and for (of course) eating and drinking. On the first day of the festival you can see the Taiko drums which gets the festival underway. The second day you can enjoy local and international dance performances that move down the main street and really livens things up.
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Beer flowing and BBQ sizzling
The final day sees a fitting end to the festival with portable shrines (Mikoshi) being carried down the main street by hundreds of locals. The traditional music and the chanting is a true spectacle and is a great opportunity to get some great photos. While all this is going on, the local bars and restaurants open up stall on the side streets. It is here you can enjoy some beer and some grilled food cooked up by the local owners. It does get crowded here and along the main street, so an early start is advised!
| Dates | 1st weekend of June (3 days) |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 22:00 |
| Contact | kagai@academic.hokudai.ac.jp |
| Notes | Alcohol not permitted, no parking |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute walk from Sapporo station. Take the north exit from the station, head one block north. The university is on the left hand side 5 Chome Kita 8 Jonishi, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0808 |
International food festival
One of the cosplayers
Besides the International Food area, there are further stalls set up along the road. These stalls sell Japanese cuisine, and include games and events. There are student performances on stage, a rock festival, haunted house, and a cosplay event. Simply take a long stroll down the main road that runs through the campus and take in the sights and smells. The stalls run for a few hundred meters so there is a lot to see! The event starts during the first week of June and runs through the weekend. If you are in Sapporo around that time, make sure to put the Hokkaido University Festival into your schedule.
| Dates | Last weekend of May |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 14:00 |
| Contact | 0164-53-3332 (Mashike Town Office Commerce and Industry Tourism Division) |
| Location / Getting There | 1 minute walk from Mashike bus station. 2 hour 15 minute drive from Sapporo. Mashike station Ekimae Street Surroundings (Masuke Machi Bentencho 1) |
Get your shrimp!
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Inside the fishing museum
Many of the public arrive early and get shrimp in take away packs so get in quick. The festival finishes surprisingly early at 14:00. There are lots of stalls selling different kinds of food, especially seafood. You can buy shrimp, octopus and shell fish for a cheap price. Goes well with the beer! The festival also focuses on local sake and the breweries in the area. They have a sake tasting area as well as sake competition which can be seen on a large stage. There are local performers and attraction throughout the streets, so make sure to bring a camera.
Mashike town
There are three ways to get to Mashike. The most convenient and probably the cheapest would be to get a hire car from Sapporo. If you don’t have a lot of time, it is an easy drive up in the morning and head back in the evening. It’s a great drive and you can stop off along the way and see Shiragane Waterfall, and the Yuhinooka Rest Stop. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Sapporo Station to Rumoi (2 hrs & 50 min) and then take a taxi (20 km) to Mashike. This will put you back about ¥10,000 return. Via train from Sapporo, take the ‘Lilac Limited Express’ or the ‘Kamui Limited Express’ to Fukugawa (1 hour 5 min). Trains run every 4 hours to Owada (50min) and then a taxi to Mashike (25km). Total cost via this route is about ¥12,000 there and back.
| Dates | First weekend of July |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 18:00 |
| Cost | ￥3000 per ticket (includes cup + drink ticket) |
| Contact | 011-391-7775 http://www.sapporo-craft-beer-forest.com/enjoy/ |
| Location / Getting There | Located at Bankei ski field. Access via bus from Maruyama bus terminal. Taxis are also available. 410 Bankei, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 064-0945, Japan |
Cheers
As Hokkaido begins to warm up in the summer months, the Sapporo Craft Beer Forest has become an increasingly popular spot to enjoy a huge selection of craft beer from local sellers. There are over twenty-five different craft beer stalls at this event, each selling a selection of their hard work. You can sample beers from all over the world at this event, and find a variety of beers ranging from light and flavorful pale ales, sweet and malty blonde ales, flowery or spicy pilsners, to smooth & creamy dark lagers and everything in between. The Sapporo Craft Beer Forest has something for everybody.
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Beer stalls
Upon on entry, and paying for your ticket, you will receive a cup (which you need to keep all day) plus two beer tickets. For further beer tickets, simply buy them at the ticket stall inside the venue. It is possible to get advance tickets for ￥3000. The premium advance ticket includes an event glass and six drink tickets. The normal advance ticket will get you seven beer tickets for the same price. Across from the beer stalls, there are food stalls set up. You can enjoy a selection of meats such as mutton, ribs, and sausages. There is also pizza, curries, and some Jacksonville Hamburgers. Besides the stalls, there are tables set up to grill your own!
As there is no outside seating, be sure to bring a mat to sit on the grass and any gear to make the day comfortable. Inside the Bankei building itself there is inside and a couple of stalls selling souvenirs. If you don’t have your own transport, or do and want to drink (of course), there are taxis that will cost around ￥2000 yen one way. There is also a free shuttle bus that will leave from Maruyama bus terminal which is across from the Maruyama subway station.
| Shuttle bus | Leaves from Maruyama bus terminal to Bankei ski field |
| Times | Leaves every 8 minutes |
| Cost | Free |
| To Bankei ski field | 11: 00 - 15: 00 |
| To Maruyama bus terminal | 17: 00 - 19: 00 |
| Dates | Early May to early June |
| Opening Hours | 7:00 am to 6:00 pm (no illumination) |
| Entry fee | ¥500 Adults ¥250 Children |
| Contact | 0158-29-2730 http://takinoue.com/ |
| Notes | Parking available Best viewing time - Mid may Helicopter tour available |
| Location / Getting There | 3 and a half hour drive from Sapporo. 2 hour drive from Asahikawa Takinoue Park, Motomachi, Takinoue, Monbetsu District, Hokkaido 099-5604 |
Moss pink
From the start of May to the start of June, the small town of Takinoue displays its most famous sightseeing spot, the Takinoue Park Shibazakura. Shibazakura, also known as ‘moss pink’, or ‘creeping phlox’ is an evergreen mat that blooms five-petaled flowers in rose, mauve, blue, white, or pink during the spring. This festival began in 1956 and Takinoue, at 100,000 square meters, is literally covered from top to bottom with millions of these beautiful flowers, making the park an extraordinary place to visit in the spring! The best time to visit being in mid May.
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Phlox House
There are many paths in which to wander around the hillside and get some photos. If you are feeling a little more adventurous, then why not view the whole park from the air? At ¥5000 per adult, you can take a six minute helicopter ride that will take you over Takinoue Park. The flowers and festival lasts for a month in which there are stage events and stalls. Also located at the park is the ‘Phlox House’ where you can buy some souvenirs, have a coffee, take a rest, or try a ‘Shibazakura ice cream’. Restrooms are also located here.
Takinoue is a small town, which means there is no train station unfortunately. For those without their own transport, to get to Takinoue it is advised to rent a car from Sapporo or take the train to Asahikawa and rent a car from there. For car rentals in Asahikawa, you can check the Asahikawa rental site by clicking here . It will take some time to drive there and it is recommended to stay at least one day in Takinoue, as there are other things to see!
