| 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.
[the_ad id=”4264″]
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 | 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.
[the_ad id=”4264″]
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 | Free admission |
| Opening Hours | 7:00 - 22:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-790-1231 |
| Notes | Parking available, Bicycles for hire, French restaurant in pyramid, Art gallery, Photography spot, Kids play area, Picnic spot, Water park, Wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | Take bus from Sapporo. Details see below. 1 Moerenumakōen, Higashi-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 007-0011, Japan |
View of the park from the hill
This magnificent park design is owed to the master planning by Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) , a Japanese-American artist, sculptor and landscape architect. Construction started in 1982 and was completed in 2005. It was built over a vast waste treatment plant and covers a huge 1.89 square kilometers. Sculptor Isamu Noguchi created the basic design based on the concept of “the whole, being a single sculpture”. The park is a must see and fuses together contemporary design with nature.
[the_ad id=”4264″]
Good photography spot
The park contains many sculptures and has many features throughout. Its a great place to visit with family, with friends or for a date out. Cherry blossoms bloom in the spring, and the fountain and wading pool facilities are open in the summer. The Autumn brings out the beautiful changing colors , and there is cross-country skiing and sledding across the snow-covered landscape during winter. The park has attractions for all seasons. Rental bicycles are available from late April to early November for 100 yen per hour.
| Access From JR Sapporo Station | |
| 1. | Take the subway Toho Line (blue line) to Kanjo dori higashi station (25-min. ride) From Kanjo dori higashi station take the Chuo Bus [higashi 69] to Ainosato kyoikudai eki. Get off at “Moerenuma koen higashiguchi (east entrance) or From Kanjo dori higashi station take the Chuo Bus [higashi 79] to Nakanuma Shogakko dori, get off at “Moerenuma koen higashiguchi (east entrance) |
| 2. | From subway Namboku Line (green line) to Kita sanjuyo jo Toho line “Shindo higashi” (30min. / 20min. ride) Chuo Bus [Higashi 76] to “Shogakko dori”, get off at “Moerenuma koen Nishiguchi (west entrance)* |
| 3. | The seasonal bus service to Moerenuma Park in the summer runs to all parts of the city, including “Bus Center”, “Asabu”, and others. |
| *The west entrance (Nishiguchi) is closed during snowfall. | |
HIDAMARI
From the rooftop of the pyrmaid
One of the main structures and the symbol of the park is the glass-walled pyramid. This beautiful building serves as an art gallery. Exhibitions are held throughout the year by prominent artists. Prices vary on the exhibition. The Hidamari Pyramid also contains a delicious French restaurant, a gift shop, an ice cream shop and small take out lunch shop, plus an information center and has a viewing platform overlooking the park and the outlying areas. The viewing platform at the top of the pyramid is open from 9:00 until 20:00 during summer, 19:00 in Spring and Autumn, and until 17:00 during the winter months. It’s a good idea to check out this platform first, so you can plan out what areas you want to see in the park!
MOUNT MOERE
Long walk up
Standing at 62 meters this man made mountain offers the best view of Moerenuma Park and the surrounding areas. There is a long winding track up, or a long flight of stairs straight to the stop. So if you’re also into fitness it’s a good work out! In winter, visitors can enjoy sledding and skiing on the mountain, making this feature one of the main attractions for visiting the park in winter. From this hill you can see all the way to Sapporo, and out over Hidamari. It is a good spot to get some photos!
MOERE BEACH
There is a shallow water park open from June to mid September. The paved pond is only a couple of feet deep which is great for young kids to play and splash around in. There are 3 water fountains in the pond as well so its also a popular area in the heat of summer. Ample grass space surrounding the pond is used for setting up tables and tents.
Open: Jun.13 – Sep.2. 10:00-16:00
Closed: Every Thursday
SEA FOUNTAIN
Surrounded in a copse in the middle of the park is the ‘Sea fountain’ which has a showtime at various times during the day. The giant fountain shoots up to 23 metres and was created to show the ebb and flow of life. At night the show is illuminated in time with the water.
| Operating Period April 29 - October 20 |
| Timetable for Weekends and National Holidays April 29 - May 31 10:30 - 10:45, 13:15 - 13:55, 16:00 - 16:15, 18:30 - 18:45* |
| June 1 - August 31 10:30 - 10:45, 13:15 - 13:55, 16:00 - 16:15, 19:15 - 19:55* |
| September 1 - October 20 10:30 - 10:45, 13:15 - 13:55, 16:00 - 16:15, 18:30 - 18:45* |
| Weekdays 10:35 - 10:45, 13:15 - 13:55, 16:00 - 16:15* |
| *Service may stop or the timetable may be shortened due to weather conditions, such as winds or heavy rain. |
FOREST OF CHERRY TREES
There is a large forest area interwoven with paths and play equipment which is great for the kids. The play equipment was also designed by Isamu Noguchi and really captures the imagination. These equipment pieces also serve as sculptures in their own right. There are 7 of these pieces hidden throughout this wooded area and not only are they fun to play on but its also fun to walk around and find whats around the corner.
TETRA MOUND
The Tetra mound is a triangular pyramid which is 13 meters in height. It is composed of stainless steel columns, two meters in diameter, and mounted on a grassy mound. The stainless steel surface was completed to resemble Isamu Noguchi’s fountain works in Detroit.
AQUA PLAZA
During Sapporo’s hot summers the Aqua Plaza offers a nice place to cool off. The 150 meter shallow canal flows through a section of the park. The water springs forth from a large sculptural basin. The stream is a great place to walk along, in or sit down and dangle your feet in the water. Isamu Noguchi’s water piece, garden area and stone square surrounded by two large mountains is often viewed as the symbolism of Sapporo.
Nakajima Park during autumn
At one time Nakajima park was originally a lumber yard but after it stopped being used the locals put forth the notion that it be turned into a park so in 1887 Nakajima park was born. Covering 21 hectares Nakajima is one of the main parks situated in southern Sapporo. It’s a great place to experience all the seasons and there is a lot to do and see. In the snowy winter, the park offers a cross-country skiing course with free access to equipment, such as shoes, skis, and poles, so you don’t have to go all the way to the slopes to enjoy winter sports. In the spring Nakajima park has a large array of cherry blossoms and is a beautiful area to walk around and take photos.
[the_ad id=”4264″]
Beautiful cherry blossoms in early May
The park has about 5,000 trees, including the Japanese red spruce, yew, gingko Ezo mountain cherry, and the Japanese elm and wisteria. During summer Sapporo holds the Hokkaido Shrine Festival. The festival has events around Sapporo and Nakajima Park is no exception. Its walkways and roads are bustling with shops, and stalls, game stands and a couple of haunted houses and rides for the kids. It’s a busy time with throngs of people flocking to Nakajima Park to enjoy the festivities. Autumn, as with spring, is a good time to walk around the park and take in the amazing hue of the autumn leaves. Not a bad place for a picnic, or to relax by the large inner pond in the warm autumn sun.
Shobu Pond By spring after Shobu pond has opened up and the ice has melted, boats are available for rental to paddle around. For 40 minutes you can relax on the water. Great place for a date and to enjoy the spring air. Brinf some bread and feed the ducks. For more information, check out our boating article.
Hoheikan Building.This historical building and was built in 1880 and served as a guest house and hotel. Famous as it is the oldest wooden hotel in Japan and was opened to commemorate the arrival of Emperor Meiji. He stayed here for 4 nights. It now serves mainly as a wedding spot and is classed as an important cultural property. For more information check out Hoheikan Building
Japanese Garden.This was opened in 1963 and houses the Hassaon (literally meaning “the eight window hut”) tea house. The tea house was designed in the Edo period and was moved to Sapporo in 1919. Hassoan is opened from the end of April to the early part of November. Entry into the hut is not permitted but you are able to look into the house through three shoji that are kept opened. Tea ceremonies several times a year. For more information check out Japanese Garden & Tea House
Kitara Concert Hall The park contains the
Sapporo Concert Hall, also known as “Kitara”. Opened in 1997, it is the largest concert hall in Hokkaido, and houses a large main hall, small chamber music hall, and rehearsal rooms. A restaurant, nursery room, and museum shop are also located in the building.
