| Admission | ¥360 Adults / ¥290 Group ¥240 Students / ¥190 Group Children free *Groups of 10 or more |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 17:00 April 10 to December 10 |
| Closed | Winter |
| Contact | 0139-42-2216 |
| Notes | Wheelchair access April & May busy, need early reservations for hotels, weeks in advance |
| Location / Getting There | 6 hour drive from Sapporo or 2 hour bus ride from Hakadote. Matsujo, Matsumae-cho, Matsumae-gun, Hokkaido, Japan 049-1511 |
Sunset on the hill
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Great spot for photos
The castle is most popular during the months of April & May due to its vast array of stunning cherry blossom trees, during which the Matsumae Sakura festival is held. The castle is located in Matsumae Park. The park boasts 10,000 cherry blossoms of 250 different kinds of varieties. Many of these cherry blossoms descend from a 200 year old Kechimyaku Sakura (bloodline cherry) also found on the grounds. The castle is a great spot to visit, as there is a lot to see and do in the area. The seashore town of Matsumae is also steeped in history.
How to get there
Matsumae is a town located at the very bottom of Hokkaido and from Sapporo, it takes a while to get there. Having your own transport is the optimum means of getting there. To rent a car would be the cheapest and fastest way. For those who can only take public transport, train and then bus are your options.
| From Sapporo to Hakadote | Super Hokuto Limited Express Super Hokuto 12 (platform 4) 3 hours and 30 minutes | ¥8,830 |
| Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station to Kikonai Station | Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen Hayabusa Hayabusa 34 towards Tokyo (platform 11) 12 minutes | ¥3,250 |
| Kikonai Station to Kikonai Ekimae Bus Stop | Walk 5 minutes | - |
| Kikonai Ekimae Bus Stop to Matsushiro (Matsumae) Bus Stop | 6:20, 7:38, 9:00, 11:10, 12:10*, 14:52, 15:20, 16:50*, 17:55*, 19:15 90 minutes | ¥1370 |
| Matsushiro Bus Stop to Matsumae Castle | Walk 400 meters 5 minutes | - |
How to get back
| Matsumae Castle to Matsushiro (Matsumae) Bus Stop | Walk 400 meters 5 minutes | - |
| Matsushiro (Matsumae) Bus Stop to Kikonai Ekimae Bus Stop | 5:22*, 6:21, 7:20*, 8:44, 9:50*, 10:37, 12:34, 14:22, 15:52, 18:03 90 minutes * to Hakodate | ¥1,370 |
| Kikonai Ekimae Bus Stop to Kikonai station | Walk 5 minutes | - |
| Kikonai Station to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station | Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen Hayabusa Hayabusa 23 towards Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 12 minutes | ¥3,250 |
| Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station to Sapporo | Hokuto or the Super Hokuto Limited Express on the Hakodate Line. 3 hours 30 minutes | ¥8,830 |
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Contact | 011-221-4100 management |
| Notes | Events & festivals at the park run throughout the year |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute walk from Odori subway station & Susukino subway station. 1 block east from TV tower & Odori park 1 Chome Minami 3 Johigashi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0053 |
The statue of Otomo Kametaro at Sosei Bridge
Soseigawa Park can be found in central Sapporo, and runs from north to south, for 820 meters. It’s a pleasant place to take a stroll along the narrow river that runs through the centre of the park. The Sosei bridge crosses through the centre of the park, and is said that the history of Sapporo started at the very foot of this bridge. A statue of Otomo Kametaro, who first excavated the canal in 1869, can be found here. The park was redesigned and completed in 2011 with amenities, grass area, sculptures, and an underpass was put in.
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One of four works by Yasushi Yasuda
Soseigawa Park runs by the Nijo Ichiba Fish Markets and also the TV Tower at the eastern end of Odori park. There are around thirty different lilac trees planted throughout the park, twenty kinds of ‘Day Lilies’, and thirty seven German lilies. Along the walkways, you can find sculptures by three Japanese artists, Yasushi Yasuda, Yasuzo Nishino, and Eiki Danzuka. Throughout the year, Soseigawa Park is home to numerous festivals and events especially during the spring and summer. These events are a great spot to unwind and take in the beauty of Soseigawa park.
| Admission | ¥200 Adult ¥180 Adult groups over 20 Free for children under 15 |
| Opening Hours | 8:45 - 17:10 (last entry 17:00) |
| Closed | New Years - Jan 1 to Jan 3 |
| Contact | 011-231-0838 |
| Notes | Wheelchair access Souvenir store inside Exhibits in multiple languages |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute walk from Odori subway station, or 8 minute walk from Sapporo station. Sapporo-shi Chuo-ku North Ichi West 2-chome |
Iconic exterior
The Sapporo Clock Tower is one of the famous icons of the city and is located in centre of the Sapporo, right by Odori park. It is the perfect sightseeing spot and easy to drop into while exploring the city. The clock tower was built in 1878, and is the last remnant of the drill hall of the former Agricultural College, which is now Hokkaido University. Being one of the earliest remaining buildings in Sapporo, it is an interesting look back into the history of Sapporo. The city itself was chosen as the administrative centre of Hokkaido in 1868, which is the date currently recognized as the official birth of the city.
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2nd floor interior
The clock tower’s wooden exterior is characteristic to that of American architecture during the frontier era. The building has two accessible two stories and has recently been repainted in its original light green color. The first floor serves as an exhibition room with photos, dioramas, and objects introducing the history of the Agricultural College and the development of Sapporo. There is also a library and souvenir store here. The clock in the building was installed in July 1881 by E. Howard & Co. and the second floor has a working clock showing the mechanics of the design. At only ¥200, the popular Sapporo Clock Tower is an informative and cheap sightseeing spot.
| Admission | Free admission |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0142-82-5111 |
| Notes | Parking available Walking paths Sightseeing spot |
| Location / Getting There |
Ukimido Park is a great sightseeing spot and a good place to get some photos on the shores of Lake Toya. The park can be easily recognized by its stone sculptures and its small outcrop where the iconic shrine is located. The shrine, surrounded by the tranquil waters of Lake Toya make for a great photography opportunity, in any kind of season. The shrine is only a five minute walk from the main car park, which is located on the northern side of lake.
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The park has paths that intertwine making for a pleasant walk through the warmer months. The park, as with most of the parks around Lake Toya, has large sculptures arranged around its grounds. The small island that the shrine is on, was once part of a hill that was formed when the caldera was formed 110,000 years ago. Ruins from this period, known as the Jomon period, can be found around this small island! The large car park that sits right next to the park has plenty of spaces so parking is not a problem.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 16:45 |
| Closed | Mondays |
| Contact | 011-582-7555 https://salmon-museum.jp/ |
| Notes | Parking for 172 cars Wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | 25 minute drive from central Sapporo. 25 minute walk from Makomanai subway station or take bus number 90, 95, 96, 97 from Makomanai subway station, get off at 'Makomanai Stadium' stop, walk 4 minutes on foot. 2-1 Makomanaikoen, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-0017 |
Outdoor Kankatsu pond
Located by the Toyohira River, the Sapporo Salmon Museum is made up of a museum that has exhibits, a small aquarium, and an outdoor pond and is one of the many sightseeing spots that make up Makamonai Park. The Salmon Museum is educational and focuses on the biodiversity around the Toyohira River and local area. There are often school excursions here, and it is a popular place for young children where they can get a real hands on experience of the local wildlife. The main exhibition hall has various dioramas and video exhibits of the history and of the current salmon ecology. Due to the development of Sapporo, it caused the disappearance of the salmon in local rivers. Since 1981 however, with water improvements and the release The “Come Back Salmon Movement”, the salmon numbers have returned to Toyohira River.
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Live salmon up close
Aside from the main exhibition hall, there is the ‘Outdoor Kankatsu pond’. Here you can see various fish and get close up to the salmon. And for a hundred yen, you can feed the fish, which is fun for the kids. The other building that makes up the Salmon Museum is the ‘Sakana Pavilion’. This acts as a small aquarium, a rearing room, and as a hatching facility for fertilizing salmon eggs. The aquarium has over thirty kinds of local waterside creatures such as freshwater fish, frogs, salamanders and tortoises. Lastly, you visit see the ‘Underground Observation Room’ where you can view (depending on the season), salmon and fresh water fish through an underwater window.
| General Admission | Ropeway ￥1600 - Adults ￥800 - Children |
| Opening Hours | 8:30 - 17:00 (During winter, the ropeway stops 1 hour earlier) |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0142-75-2401 |
| Notes | 400 car parking spots : ￥500 40 bus parking spots : ￥2000 40 minutes to Usu Observation deck Restaurants and shops at bottom of ropeway |
| Location / Getting There | From JR Toyako station, take the Donan Bus bound for Toyako Onsen. (15 min.) Get off at the Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal. Change buses to Showa Shinzan and get off at last stop (15 min.) *No bus service to Showa Shinzan in winter. 2 and a half hour drive from Sapporo city. 184-5 Aza Showa Shinzan, Sobetsu-cho, Usu-gun, Hokkaido, Japan 052-0102 |
The ropeway up overlooking Shōwa-Shinzan
Mount Usu is an active stratovolcano in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Since 1900, it has erupted a total of four times. In 1910, in 1944 which created Shōwa-Shinzan, in 1977, and as recent as March, 2000. Mt. Usu is formed on the southern rim of the caldera which contains Lake Toya. Mount Usu and Shōwa-Shinzan are major tourist attractions in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. The best way to see the Shōwa-Shinzan peak and Mt. Usu is to take the cable car to the top. From here, it is a 10 minute walk to the viewing platform offering views looking down over Lake Toya, Shōwa-Shinzan, and the towns of Date and Toyako.
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Path along the basin crater
The car park to get to the ropeway is just off Lake Toya. From here you can take the ropeway up. It takes about thirty minutes to get to the Observation Deck via the ropeway and after a short walk. If you want to explore further, there is a path that leads further down into, and around, the Usu Crater Basin. It is a nice hike along the path, though it will take an extra hour heading down and back. It is a long flight of stairs down to the path along the craters edge, so bring some water! The path around has some stunning views along the coast. Inside and outside the crater you can see the volcanic steam vents coming through the surface.
Volcano Village
After taking in some spectacular views, you can make your way back to the ropeway and head down to the “Volcano Village” next to the car park, which lies at the bottom of Mt. Usu and Shōwa-Shinzan. Here you can find a half dozen restaurants, toilet facilities, souvenir shops, and information centers, and a museum. The Information center has information on what to explore in the area. There is also an eruption experience room using sounds and images. There is also a theater with a film on the history of Mt. Usu. The gallery, here too, has panels with images on the area.
Restaurant Funka-tei 9:00 - 15:00 Soba noodle and curry restaurant 
Volcano Ramen 10:00 - 15:00 Ramen noodle shop
Village Store
Shopping9:00 - 18:00 Summer
9:00 - 16:00 WinterSouvenir Shops
Hinokuniya
Honpo Shopping9:00 - 19:00 Summer
9:00 - 16:00 WinterSouvenir Shops 
