| 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.
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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.
| Admission | Ropeway + Morris Car (Round trip): Adults ¥1,700 Children ¥850 Road : Car ¥660 Motorbike ¥320 Mini Bus ¥1340 |
| Opening Hours | Summer: 10:30 – 22:00 (last departure 21:30) Winter: 11:00 – 22:00 (last departure 21:30) Sightseeing road: Summer Season 10:30 – 22:00 (last admission 21:30) |
| Closed | Sightseeing road: Closed Winter |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | - |
| Location / Getting There | 1 Moiwayama, Minami-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 005-0041, Japan |
Mt Moiwa reaches a height of 531 metres and is located on the south east range overlooking Sapporo. Its Ainu name is “Inkarushibe” and it was explored by Takeshiro Matsuura in the late-Edo period where he noted “Mt. Moiwa was not only a mountain upon which to command a view of the surroundings, but was also held as a sacred mountain where the gods dwell by the Ainu people.”
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Ropeway up!
The summit offers spectacular views of Sapporo and its outlying towns and the breathtaking night views of the illuminated cityscape below are not to be missed. From the base of the mountain the ropeway will steadily climb to the halfway point. From there visitors will change and take the “Morris Car”, the world’s first drive-type mini cable car to the summit.
For those wishing to wine and dine or even to have a special luncheon then JEWELS restaurant offers lunches and dinners on the summit. To make sure you get the best seats in the house with views through the floor to ceiling windows, booking in advance is a good idea. The halfway station has a souvenir shop and also houses a planetarium and theater. The planetarium holds nature documentaries that correspond with the seasons.
| ACCESS | |
| Subway | Take the JR bus Ropeway Sen from the 2nd exit of the Maruyama Park Station which is on the Tozai line (orange line), then get off at the stop Moiwa Sanroku Eki (Mt. Moiwa Base Station). |
| Streetcar | From Susukino or Odori stations, take the streetcar line to "Ropeway Iriguchi" station (25 minutes, 170 yen, frequent departures). From there, a free shuttle bus operates to the lower ropeway station (5 minutes, departs every 20 minutes). Alternatively, the Mount Moiwa Ropeway can be reached in a five minute walk from the Ropeway Iriguchi streetcar stop. (The streetcar comes at 6 minute intervals during the day, making it more convenient than the bus.) |
| Taxi | Approximately 1,500 yen from the city center to the Moiwa Sanroku Eki (Mt. Moiwa Base Station). |
| Parking | Sanroku Eki (Mt. Moiwa Base Station): 120 cars (Free) |
| Hiking | This mountain is a popular climbing destination for the citizens of Sapporo: the five mountain trails (shortest 2.4km; longest 4.5km) are hike-able in casual clothing and are popular with mountain climbers during the summer weekends. |
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ￥1000 ~ ￥2000 lunch ￥2,000 ~￥3000 dinner |
| Opening Hours | Open 7 days a week. Lunch 11:30 – 14:30 Café 14:30 – 17:30 Dinner 17:30 – 23:00 (LO food 22:00) |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | brooklynparlor.co.jp +81 11-209-3737 |
| Notes | Coffee shop, seating 130, non smoking, books available to read, hamburgers on menu, English menu available |
| Location / Getting There | Central Sapporo. Located in Akarenga Terrace shopping centre, on the 2nd floor. Top of the escalator and turn to the right 〒060-0002 Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Kita 2 Jōnishi, 4 Chome−1, Akarenga Terrace. North 2, West 4 |
Shopping in downtown Sapporo can be exhausting work. In and around Sapporo station are a multitude of opportunities to spend money. Visitors to the city flock to the big electronics stores, apparel shops and boutiques from sun up to sun down. Inevitably, with all the walking, bag toting and picture taking that comes with such activity, the need to sit, relax and replenish one’s energy will arise.
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Perfect brew to relax
Located on the 2nd floor of the new Akarenga Terrace Building between Sapporo and Odori stations, BROOKLYN PARLOR is a great place to refuel. With seating for 130 people, there is rarely a need to wait to take a table. This is important, as this establishment is the type of place where it’s very easy to while away the afternoon into the evening. Part high-ceiling café, part sit-down restaurant BROOKLYN PARLOR offers a variety of New York-styled dishes. From coconut lattes and caramel-drizzled pancakes to juicy avocado and bacon cheeseburgers and a pint of Brooklyn Lager, there’s something sure to please any hungry guest. Or for those just wanting a beverage, there are a number of specialty coffee drinks and cocktails, as well as non-alcoholic cocktails, juices and teas.
The interior design has all the trappings of a good book café back in the Big Apple, with funky tables and chairs, lots of plants and hundreds of books to thumb through at your leisure. Large windows provide a great view of the brick plaza leading up to the Douchou, the former Hokkaido capital building. Jazz music helps set the mood and on weekends local and out-of-town musicians perform on a small side stage.
BROOKLYN PARLOR’s appeal lies in the comfort of its ambiance and quality of its menu. In a highly competitive area for restaurants, this is one that’s sure to be around for a long time.
