Mashike Shrimp Festival

DatesLast weekend of May
Opening Hours10:00 - 14:00
Contact0164-53-3332 (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!

The Mashike Spring Taste Festival, better known as the ‘Mashike Shrimp Festival’ is held annually on the western coast of Hokkaido. Mashike is a quiet harbor town that prizes its seafood. The festival is a celebration of the local produce from the area. Mashike has some fantastic old buildings throughout the town and the festival makes use of these as well as the streets for the multitude of stalls. At the festival, you can taste plenty of different kinds of seafood, though if you want to see a lot of the shrimp, its best to get to the festival early.


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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.



Takinoue Park Shibazakura Festival

DatesEarly May to early June
Opening Hours7:00 am to 6:00 pm (no illumination)
Entry fee¥500 Adults
¥250 Children
Contact0158-29-2730
http://takinoue.com/
NotesParking 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!



Shizunai Cherry Blossom Festival

Shizunai Nijukken Road

DatesEarly May - Mid May
Contact 0146-42-1000 (Shinhidaka Tourist Association)
Getting there15 minutes by taxi from JR Shizunai Station

3 hour drive from Sapporo
NotesBest to get there by car
Location Shizunaitahara to Shizunaimisono, Shinhidaka-cho, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaido 056-0144



Shizunai Nijukken RoadShizunai Road is the home to around 3,000 cherry blossom trees, including the vivid Sargant cherry tree. The road looks absolutely fantastic during the cherry blossom season and is one of the top cherry blossom viewing spots in Hokkaido! The road is 7km long and 36 meters wide and the cherry blossoms stretch as far as the eye can see. Every year over 200,000 visitors drive down to view this amazing sight. The Shizunai Cherry Blossom Festival is held here every year!


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Shizunai Cherry Blossom FestivalYou will need a car to get there, or to hire a taxi from the train station which is about a 15 minute drive. If you have a car, then there is plenty of space to park the car along the road underneath the cherry blossom trees and take a nice walk along the path. The mountains are a great backdrop to the cherry blossom trees. The festival is located halfway along the stretch of road.


Shizunai Cherry Blossom Festival

Shizunai Festival

Shizunai Festival is a wide farm area with stalls and food stands with seating, surrounded by huge cherry blossom trees. The festival is lined with sakura trees and there is photo opportunity set up to get some couple shots done. The food sold is an assortment of various festival fare. Of course, the usual BBQ’d chicken, corn, sausages and grill. There are also stalls selling seafood, noodles, curries, kebabs, and crepes and donuts for those with a sweet tooth. There is plenty of seating on the tables to sit down and take in the views. Though, if you have the time, why not take a blanket, and enjoy a picnic with family & friends under one of the thousands of large cherry trees! Simply take your pick! For other places to see cherry blossoms, check out our top 10 sakura viewing spots.



Sapporo Lilac Spring Festival

DatesOdori Park : May 17 - May 28th

Kawashimo Park : Late May or Early June
Contact
Location /
Getting There
Odori Park 5, 6, 7 chome
Get off at Odori subway station, 2 minute walk

Kawashimo Park, Shiroi-shi
25 minute walk from JR Heiwa train station


The Sapporo Lilac Festival first began in 1959, and the following year the lilac was designated the tree of Sapporo After a long winter many citizens eagerly look forward to this festival where everyone can enjoy the start of a warmer season and eating and walking outdoors. Odori Park has about 400 lilac trees, and on the first day of the festival, lilac seedlings are given away to visitors. There is also an outdoor tea ceremony, a store to try on kimonos, a music festival and a stamp rally. There is international cuisine and the wine garden serves up delicious food made with Hokkaido ingredients and locally produced wines. A variety of events are held in the lilac forest of Kawashimo Park in Sapporo’s Shiroishi Ward, such as the Shimokawa Park concert, and guided tours of the lilacs.


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Odori Park is the main attraction and its recommended to check out the 3 blocks of festivities here first. There is a variety of attractions you can enjoy while strolling around the park, such as the “Wine Garden 2016 Lilas Mariages” where you can sample wines from wineries from about 23 areas of Hokkaido in the spring weather. There are a large assortment of places to eat, though be warned, it gets crowded! There are also hands-on activities such as the origami classroom and the Hokkaido wheat straw ornament-making experience.


Odori Park 5th Block  (5 Chome)



Origami classroom
& exhibitions
10 am - 4 pm
Lilac Exhibition &
Gardening Sales
10 am - 4 pm
Kimono dressing
experience and
picture-taking area
10 am - 4 pm
Handmade Market10 am - 4 pm
Free appraisals of
Antiques and Collectibles
10 am - 4 pm


Odori Park 6th Block (6 Chome)



Tea Area10 am - 4:30 pm
International Food Court10 am - 9 pm
Lilac Music Festival10 am - 5 pm
Various Markets10 am - 8 pm


Odori Park 7th Block (7 Chome)



Wine Garden 2016 Lilas
Mariages
11 am - 9 pm
Hokkaido food stalls11 am - 9 pm
Seminar on Hokkaido-
produced wines hosted
by a sommelier
3 pm - 3:30 pm


Kawashimo Park venue contains the “Lilac Forest” which has 1700 lilac trees and 200 varieties of lilac from around the world. There is a guided tour of the “Lilac Forest” around the large green lawns. Saplings are given out for free. There are flower related exhibitions and hands-on activities, so if you’re a nature buff, this is the place for you!

Lilac Guided Tour11pm - midday
2pm - 3pm
Lilac quiz rally10am - 3pm
Lilac seedlings,
original goods,
and food stands*

*weather depending
10am - 3pm
Kawashimo Park Concert*times depending
Kids Liladeco Battle!
Decorate Lilac Plaza
9am - 9pm

*closed Mondays