| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | November - April (winter) |
| Contact | 011-898-0455 http://www.kaitaku.or.jp |
| Notes | Free admission. Tower entry is closed to the public. This is due to awaiting renovations. 5 minute walk from the Hokkaido Historical Museum |
| Location / Getting There | Located in Nopporo Forest. Take the JR bus from Sapporo station or Shin Sapporo station, heading to Kaitaku-no-mura. Get off at Nopporo Forest Park. It's a 5 minute walk. Nopporo Forest Park, 53-2 Konopporo, Atsubetsu-cho, Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo 北海道札幌市厚別区厚別町小野幌53-2 (野幌森林公園) |
Nopporo Forest
The Centennial Memorial Tower was constructed in 1970. It was built as part of Hokkaido’s Centennial Project and was in honor of the people who built and turned Hokkaido into what it is today. It is also a symbol of future accomplishment. It is located in the vast Nopporo Forest park, which contains many trails and the Hokkaido Hokkaido Museum. The tower is 100 meters tall, in accordance with the Centennial Project and can be seen rising in the horizon from the train into Sapporo from the airport.
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You may be forgiven for thinking you had walked onto a set of ‘Lord of the Rings’ as this tower has a striking look to it. In the summer it is surrounded by huge fields of dandelions and is a beautiful place to walk around. Surrounding the fields is the dense Nopporo Forest. The shape of the tower is meant to imitate snow crystals, as it has a hexagonal base. The cross section of the tower represents the Chinese character ‘north’. The uneven walls are symbolic of the struggles the people of old had, during long hard winters, and the rising tower curving to the sky shows hope for the future. There is an observation deck 23 metres up on the 8th floor and there are stairs that continue all the way up to the roof. On top there are views of Sapporo and surrounding areas BUT unfortunately entry into the tower is prohibited!
Unfortunately, and very disappointingly, access into the tower is not allowed due to safety regulations. The tower has fallen into some disrepair over the years and is therefore unsafe to enter and climb up. Although you can’t enter the building it is still definitely worth going to see as it really is an interesting piece of architecture and Nopporo park itself is a great place to walk around, and its free!
| Admission | Overnight - Adults - ¥800 Elementary School Kids - ¥500 Infants over 4 yrs - ¥300 Infants under 4 yrs - free *Just for the day it is ¥200 cheaper |
| Opening Hours | Administration : 9:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | "Early" October - April 27th (Winter)* |
| Contact | PH : 0123-25-2201 FAX : 0123-25-2202 |
| Notes | Car needed Free parking available Toilets & amenities on site Camping gear NOT available to rent BBQ equipment available to rent Wheelchair access *Closing date changes yearly. Date is NOT decided until just before end of season. |
| Location / Getting There | Lake Shikotsu (Shikotsu-ko) Take route 453 from Sapporo - turn right onto route 276. Take route 16 from Chitose and turn onto route 453. |
Hows the serenity
Morappu Campsite is located on the southern shores of Lake Shikotsu, which makes it a serene place to camp out under the stars and next to clear, calm waters. Getting to the campsite, you will need transport. It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Sapporo and about an hour from Chitose by car. Simply get onto to route 453. Follow this road until you get to route 276. Turn right onto route 276 and follow this road for about 10 minutes, the campsite entrance is on the right. The entrance is on a a bend and can be missed so keep an eye out for the signs.
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Lots to do on the lake
There is plenty of space to camp along the shores though its best to get there early, especially in the peak season (mid August). Upon entering the site, there will be an administration building where you will need to pay to enter. If the building is closed you can still go in and pay the next day. There is parking for up to 150 cars. Once in, there are carts to help you move your gear to the lake shore.
The campsite is along the shore of pebbles of the lake, so something comfortable to sleep on, is advised. Extra equipment is NOT available to rent, ONLY basic BBQ equipment such as grill and coal. All other equipment must be supplied by yourself. Other facilities include toilets that are well kept, a restaurant during the day, vending machines, and the rental shop.
Choose your swan!
The deep waters are crystal clear and stay at a cold temperature all year round, perfect for cooling off in the summer. The waters are also popular for fishing, canoeing and paddle boarding. There are boats and swan paddle boats available to rent. To rent a boat it cost ¥1000 per hour, and fits up to 2 people. To rent swan paddle boats for 3 people, it costs ¥1500 for 30 minutes, and for 4 people it’s ¥2000 for 30 minutes. The lake is 78 square km so there is a lot space to roam!
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | from ¥4000 - ¥7000 |
| Opening Hours | 11:00 - 22:30 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-222-2588 |
| Notes | Large groups available. English menu available. Credit card accepted |
| Location | 2 minute walk from Susukino Station Sapporo-shi, Chuo-ku, Minami 4-jo, Nishi 2-chome, 14-6 |
This store is not hard to miss! Simply get off at Susukino station and look for the giant crab! As this giant motif suggests, this is a crab & seafood restaurant! This famous crab-cuisine restaurant has a 36 year history. This huge 5 story establishment serves up 3 major crabs, has special set meals, is a good spot for big groups or couples alike, and is a fantastic place to get a taste of Japan.
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The menu offers up a few set dishes which range from ¥4000 – ¥8000. These sets include crab sashimi, several small seafood dishes, stewed crab with vegetables, a rice dish, and an ice cream desert. For the more adventurous diner, you can buy whole crabs to share. These prices range from ¥5000 and up. Top price is ¥23 000! The size of these snow crabs is quite amazing. If you enjoy this succulent dish, then this restaurant is the place for you.
The layout, although a little dated, is set out Japanese style so its a nice atmosphere. There are 5 floors so there is plenty of space. There is also a large tetami-mat hall with hori-gotatsu (sunken floor) tables for large groups and parties. The staff are very helpful, and will help set up the crab stew and vegetables. They are dressed in kimonos so it adds to the experience. There is a shop at the entrance where you can buy gifts, and souvenirs (crab & seafood orientated) so you can take a piece of the Crab Shogun Restaurant home with you!
| Admission | Adults - ¥410 Children - ¥80 Preschool - free Pensioners - ¥210 |
| Admission (groups of more than 20) | Adults - ¥290 Children - ¥50 Preschool - free Pensioners - ¥210 |
| Opening Hours | Spring 9:00 - 17:00 Summer 9:00 - 18:00 Autumn 9:00 - 17:00 Winter 9:00 - 16:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-592-3333 http://www.takinopark.com.e.bn.hp.transer.com/?go=kaienkikan |
| Notes | Car required to get there Buses available Wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | 〒005-0862 Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Minami-ku, Takino, ２４７ Take Bus 106 from Sapporo station or Makomanai station |
Takino Suzuran park is a huge park that is a great place for families and nature lovers. It covers 395.7 hectares, with around 200 hectares are available to the public. There are 2 entrances, the East Gate entrance (higashi guchi), and the Central Gate entrance (chuo guchi). Parking is available and the bus stops are located here. There are 3 main areas that make up the park. There is the Country Garden Area, the Childrens Playground area, and the Forest Area. There is also a camping area and an observatory on the grounds.
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Country Garden Area
This area is famous for its flowers in the spring season. It has the visitors centre here and the country club building. Lockers, bathrooms, bus stop, and rest area is here. Its at the top of the park offering great views. A perfect spot to sit and get views down the hill of the flower pasture. Thousands upon thousands of lilacs are planted here and are truly beautiful in May. There is a path leading down through them to get great photos. The country club has a restaurant, a snack shop and shops selling local vegetables. The country club is home to the herb garden, rock garden, flower master retreat, and the observatory.
Children’s Playground (Kodomo no Tani)
This area is designed for the kids. It has a huge 6.8 hectare sloped lawn area. Kids can take giant red inflatable balls and roll them down the hill. There is a giant ants nest sculpture and tunnels that the kids can crawl through and play in. A cool stream is here, and kids can play and cool down in the summer. This place really captures the imagination with slides, tunnels, and trampolines for the kids to play on. There is a rest area for the parents, and toilets, and a coffee shop is available.
Forest Area (Mori no Sumikawa)
This heavily wooded area is a great place to walk around and take in the pine air. There are walkways that twist and turn through the forest. There is a timber swing for the kids, a woodland craft house, and a suspension bridge all through this area. This area leads to the waterfalls which are a main feature in this park. There are 4 main waterfalls that surround the park, Ashiribetsu Fall, Masumi Fall, Shiraho Fall, and Furo Fall.
| Summer Activities | |
| Camping | There are camping grounds at this park, with access to shower rooms and a laundromat. Cabins are also available to rent but you will need to call in advance. There is a small shop near the camping grounds selling alcohol, cold drinks, snacks, cold meat, frozen foods, toys, camping equipment, and fuel (charcoal, white gasoline, various gas cartridges) |
| Fishing | Rent a fishing pole and bait and try some trout and rainbow trout fishing. Cost is ¥850 for the hour and ¥100 for additional bait. |
| Cycling | Rent a bicycle to get around and see the whole park! There are bicycles for adults, children and tandem bicycles. Prices range from ¥100 for children to ¥310 for adults. A 2 person bicycle is ¥800. Rental is for 2 hours. For an extra 30 minutes the cost is ¥30 for children and ¥80 for adults. |
| Park Golf | Park golf is like mini golf. It involves hitting a billiard size ball around a short course with a wooden club. Fun for everyone! Clubs and balls are available for free from the Country Club |
| Cooking | There are 4 different spots around the park that have BBQ’s and areas to cook. These areas can accommodate 100, 300, and to 1000 people depending on the area. Water supplies, and sinks, log seating is available. |
| Winter Activities | |
| Sled Slope | This slope for tubing is the longest in the country! For kids and adults the straight course is 200 metres! There is a shorter 180 metre S shape course. There is also a kids sled corner. Tubes and sleds are FREE to rent! |
| Skiing & Snowboarding | This 250 metre length course is perfect for beginners at a 7 degree slope. The weekend lift tickets for adults are ¥150 per ride, ¥1030 for 4 hours, or ¥1540 for a day pass. Lift tickets for children are ¥100 per ride, ¥620 for 4 hours, ¥1030 for a day pass. Weekdays have cheaper day passes. ¥820 for adults and ¥510 for children. |
| Skiing Lessons | Skiing lessons are available but only in Japanese, and depending on the conditions. It is advised to call ahead. The cost is ¥200 per person (not including ticket passes). There is a morning class and an afternoon class. Applications for the morning class must be handed in by 10:15. Morning class is from 10:30 – 12:00. Afternoon class applications must be in by 13:45. The lesson goes from 14:00 – 15:30. Skiing gear is available from the Country Club |
| Snowshoeing | There are 3 courses available. 1st is the Forest area (Takino no Mori), a 30 minute to 2 hour trek through the woods. 2nd is the Kawagarasu Course, a 1 hour trek to see the Ashiribetsu Falls frozen over, or “ice falls”. The 3rd is the Akagera Course which is also a 1 hour course. This course is an up and down course which has views over the park. |
| Cross Country Skiing | 6 courses to choose from. You can rent the gear and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the park. There are 2 beginner courses, a 1 km and a 5km course. 2 intermediate courses, 3km and a 5km course. 2 advanced courses, a 10km and a 16km course. Ski rentals are available from the Country Club. |
| Ice Falls | Snowshoe or do cross country skiing to see these amazing waterfalls frozen over. To Ashiribetsu Fall, it is approximately 1.1km from Keiryu Guchi Parking lot. The waterfalls are frozen by the end of December. |
If you don’t have your own transport, there are buses available from Sapporo station and Makomanai station. It is also possible to use a taxi from Makomani station. The ride takes about 20 minutes via taxi. The bus time tables are as follows:
To
Takino Suzuran Park Cost
Times
From
Makomanai Station
Terminal 2 Bus 106
Adults ¥440
Children ¥220
Takes 31 min.8:45
9:45
10:45
11:45
12:45
13:45
14:45
15:50
From
Sapporo Station
Terminal 1 Bus 106
Adults ¥630
Children ¥320
Takes 61 min.9:15
12:15
From
Fukuzumi Station
Terminal 6 Bus 87
Adults ¥620
Children ¥310
Takes 44-50 min.10:20
11:20
12:40
13:42
14:30
| From Takino Suzuran Park | ||
| To Makomanai Station East Exit Bus 106 | Cost Adults ¥440 Children ¥220 Takes 31 min. | Times 9:33 10:33 11:33 12:28 13:28 14:28 15:28 16:33 |
| To Sapporo Station East Exit Bus 106 | Adults ¥440 Children ¥220 Takes 61 min. | 8:45 9:45 10:45 11:45 12:45 13:45 14:45 15:50 |
| To Fukuzumi Station East Exit Bus 87 | Adults ¥620 Children ¥310 Takes 44-50 min. | 12:17 13:37 14:42 15:37 16:42 |
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | 8:45 - 16:00 |
| Closed | New Years Day |
| Contact | 011-616-2855 |
| Notes | Need a car to get there or can take a taxi. Buses available. |
| Location / Getting There | 〒005-0861, Makomanai, Minami-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 005-0861 20 minute taxi ride from Makomanai station |
If you don’t know about this place and are driving past you may be forgiven for doing a double take or checking that your eyesight is OK! The first thing you will see are rows and rows of giant Easter Island Moai heads! This strange sight means you are at the Makamonai Takino Cemetery. Makomanai Takino Cemetery was established in 1982. It covers 1,800,473㎡, and is open all year round. There’s a free shuttle service from Makomanai Station, and admission is free.
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Stonehenge
The huge space serves as a cemetery but is also an interesting sightseeing destination which is well worth a look. So, what is here? The intricate gates of the cemetery open up to about 40 Moai (Easter Island) heads. These giant heads are a great photo opportunity and run along the side of the road into the park. Further on down the road is a complete full size of replica of…yes, Stonehenge. It is strangely, one of the most complete replicas in the world. If you continue down this road, there is the actual cemetery broken up into different areas. There is a small shop here, selling ice-creams and drinks and there are places to sit.
To the right of the Easter Island heads is a road that will lead you to a flower area, and the entrance to a giant Buddha statue which is probably the center piece for the whole park. The Buddha statue is very impressive and can be found at the end of a sculpted tunnel which leads into a large hill. The hill is topped with lavender and is stunning in summer! This area is beautifully designed with large pools of water, and pathways surrounded with flowers. This place is a fantastic spot for photos. For bus timetables please see below.
| Weekdays Makomanai station to Takino Cemetery | Makomanai Station Bus station No.2 Bus No. 102 Fare : ¥370 | 9:15 10:15 11:15 12:15 13:20 |
| Weekdays Takino Cemetary to Makomanai station | Fare : ¥370 | 9:54 10:54 12:09 13:04 14:09 |
| Weekends Makomanai station to Takino Cemetery | Makomanai Station Bus station No.2 Bus No. 102 Fare : ¥370 | 9:15 10:15 11:20 11:45 12:45 13:20 |
| Weekends Takino Cemetery to Makomanai station | Fare : ¥370 | 10:22 10:59 12:09 12:39 13:33 14:08 |
*From December to March, buses run from 10:00 – 14:00
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | from ¥4000 - ¥6000 |
| Opening Hours | Sunday to Thursday 17:00 - 22:30 Friday & Saturday 17:00 - 23:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-522-0776 |
| Notes | English speaking staff English menu available Credit Cards accepted Seating 60 Smoking area available |
| Location | 2 minute walk from Susukino Station 〒064-0804 Hokkaido Prefecture, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Minami 4 Jonishi, 2 Chome−10-1 |
Delicious vegetables
Shabu-Shabu or Japanese Beef Hot Pot is a delicious restaurant that serves up local food from the Tokachi region in Hokkaido. The restaurant seats up to 60 with private booths available. The friendly staff speak English and are happy to advise you on the best courses to choose from. The main ingredient served is thin strips of succulent Tokachi beef. The beef is served with two types of dipping sauces, a wasabi sauce and a thickened peanut & sesame seed sauce. To accompany the meat is a vast array of delicious vegetables. Chinese cabbage, chrysanthemum leaves, onions, carrots, shiitake mushrooms and enokitake mushrooms are all on the menu. For those of you who are of the vegetarian persuasion, then there is a seafood set available, plus sushi!
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Appetizer
The menu has a vast array of set dishes, ‘all you can eat’ sets with varying amounts of vegetables and meats. Of course, the better cut the meat, the more expensive the set will be. The prices run from ¥5000 – ¥10 000. The sets include thin strips of beef, minced pork, vegetables, and dipping sauces. A small entree of pork and seafood comes before the meal. There is also a seafood set, that comes with crab, squid, and fish. If you are not interested in the beef or the seafood set then you can order everything individually.
Do it yourself!
The waitress will setup the large pot in the middle of the table, and get you started with vegetables and mushrooms. The rest is up to you! Add whatever you want, when you want. For the best reults, the trick is to drape the thin slice of meat 3 times into the boiling water or dashi (broth) and then dip it into one of the sauces. Delicious! Though the meat is thin, it is surprisingly filling! There is a large selection of wines, and drinks, and sake to go with your meal. Shabu Shabu is a great Japanese experience for the traveler and is a must try.
