| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Residence: 9:00 - 17:00 Garden: 8:45 - 17:30 |
| Closed | Weekends, public holidays, New Years *Closed occasionally due to official affairs |
| Contact | 011-611-4221 |
| Notes | No parking |
| Location / Getting There | 16 Chome Kita 1 Jōnishi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 060-0001 5 minute walk from Nishi 18 Chome subway station (Tozai Line) Located across from the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art From Sapporo Station on JR, Subway Namboku and Toho Lines, take the Chuo Bus or JR Hokkaido Bus (42, 55, 65, 57, 66, 80, 62, 63) and get off at "Doritsu kindai bijutsukan" |
Spacious lawn
The Hokkaido Governor’s Official Residence was first built in 1936 as a holiday home for the Mitsui Gakuin Company. In 1953 it became the property of Hokkaido and used as the residence for the governor. It has since been used for various meetings and other functions, for national and foreign dignitaries. The residence was selected in 1998 as one of 100 local cultural sites known as the ‘Furusato Bunka Hyakusen’. In 1999 it was registered as a cultural asset. Apart from serving as a space for functions, it has served as a location for various television programs.
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Japanese elms
The Governer’s Residence is a hidden gem in Sapporo. Covering 5 square hectares the Governor’s residence has a huge lawn, and garden area with over 2400 trees making it the perfect spot to walk around and relax. Interestingly, the garden contains a pit dwelling from the Jomon era, thousands of years old. Pristine streams snake their way through this well manicured park area and there are plenty of benches to sit, relax and take in the greenery. The lawn and wooded area also contains sculptures.
The house itself is 2 stories and is designed in the ‘Half-timber style’ similar to that of English and northern European architecture. The reception staff is very helpful and you are free to walk around and look through the rooms, though taking off shoes is required. There are a dozen or so rooms to look around and are spacious with high ceilings and oak furnishings. It is interesting to walk through and read about each room! Information is available in multiple languages.
| Admission | Main Exhibition Hall Adults ¥600 Students ¥300 Hokkaido Museum & Hokkaido Historical Village Adults ¥1200 Students ¥700 |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 - 17:00 (May to September) 9:30 - 16:30 (October to April) |
| Closed | Every Monday (If the Monday is a public holiday then the Tuesday will be closed) December 29th - January 3rd |
| Contact | Phone: 011-898-0466 Fax: 011-898-2657 |
| Notes | Audio Guides are available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean and Russian. Audio Guides are available for rental at the Welcome Center on the 1st Floor. In the Main Exhibition Hall, there are multilingual explanation boards in each exhibition area. Wheelchair access Lockers available |
| Getting There | From Shin-Sapporo Station Bus Terminal Stop 10 Take the JR Bus No. “Shin 22” bound for the Historical Village of Hokkaido, then get off at Hokkaido Museum The bus ride lasts 15 minutes. From Shinrinkoen Station Higashiguchi (East Entrance) stop The aforementioned bus from Shin-Sapporo Station stops at Shinrinkoen Station. The bus ride lasts 5 minutes. On foot It is 20 to 25 minutes on foot from Shinrinkoen Station. |
The Hokkaido Museum, also known as Mori-no-Charenga was opened in 2015. This 2 story building replaces the old Historical Museum and joins the Ainu Research Culture Centre. The museum is open to the public and introduces a look into the history, culture and nature of Hokkaido. It researches the relationship between the natural environment and people, the Ainu culture, and the lives of the immigrants coming from Honshu. It also collects and preserves materials from the land and the people of Hokkaido, and conducts exhibitions, educational activities and events.
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The museum is beautifully laid out and the exhibits are well presented, well lit and the information is available in English and Chinese. There are 2 floors. The bottom floor looks at the history of Hokkaido and goes through artifacts and fossils throughout the region. It also has models and artifacts looking at the history of the fascinating Ainu culture. The 2nd floor looks at the more modern history of Hokkaido and its wildlife. It has some hands on items that are great for the kids. The second floor also has a lookout platform and rest area that has views of Nopporo forest.
2nd floor exhibit
The Hokkaido Historical Museum is a well designed museum with lots of information. There is a coffee shop on the 1st floor, lockers for bags and it has wheelchair access. There are a number of events throughout the year on their calender with special exhibitions. This museum is also in a great spot to see the Centennial Memorial Tower, which is a 10 minute walk away. The museum is also a 10 minute walk from the Hokkaido Historical Village, that is also a must see when in Nopporo Forest!
| 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 | - |
| 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
| Dates | Early May - Mid May |
| Contact | 0146-42-1000 (Shinhidaka Tourist Association) |
| Getting there | 15 minutes by taxi from JR Shizunai Station 3 hour drive from Sapporo |
| Notes | Best to get there by car |
| Location | Shizunaitahara to Shizunaimisono, Shinhidaka-cho, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaido 056-0144 |
Shizunai 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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You 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 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.
One of Japans oldest and most famous symbols is that of the cherry blossom (sakura). Such is the beauty of this national flower that the practice of “Hanami” (cherry blossom viewing) started over 1000 years ago. Under the sakura trees, people had lunch and drank sake in cheerful feasts. This tradition is as popular now as it was back then. BBQ’s, quiet picnics, lunches and of course, the consumption of beer and wine are very popular all over the country. In Japan, cherry blossoms symbolize clouds due to their nature of blooming en masse, and are said to be an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life.
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So! With that in mind, when and where is the best spot in Hokkaido to have a Hanami, get some good cherry blossom pics, or to simply walk around and enjoy the beauty of these flowers?
First, the when. Hokkaido’s cherry blossoms come out in early May! Usually in the first or second week. Cherry blossoms are very fleeting, and the blooming is usually over within 2 weeks. Full bloom (mankai) is usually reached within about one week after the first blossoms (kaika) open. Another week later, the blooming peak is over and the blossoms are falling from the trees. Strong wind and rain can cut the blooming season even shorter. Hokkaido is the last place in Japan for cherry blossoms to bloom, as the warm weather travels north.
Next, is the where! There are hundreds of great spots to see the cherry blossoms in Hokkaido, but these are our picks for the top ten spots in Hokkaido.
1) Matsumae Park
Noted as one of Japans top sakura viewing spots, Matsumae is Hokkaido’s number one place for viewing cherry blossoms. Sitting at the bottom of Hokkaido it is a trek to get there. There are approximately 10,000 sakura trees. The Matsumae Sakura Festival is held here during the hanami season, usually from late-April to mid-May each year. In addition, The Matsumae Castle, Ryuunin Temple, Kozenji Temple, Sakura Museum, and Matsumae Shrine are a must see and all are inside the park grounds.
2) Fort Goryokaku
Located in Hakodate, Goryokaku is a star shaped fort and was built in the last years of the Edo Period. This beautiful public park is home to more than 1600 cherry trees. There is a 107 meter observation deck where you can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the massive star-shaped fortress filled with tons of cherry blossoms, the Mt. Hakodate range, and the ocean in the distance.
3) Hakodate Park
Also in Hakodate this park is a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing and especially for Hanami – picnics and BBQ’s under the sakura trees. In this park there are street food stalls, a fountain, children’s playground and a mini zoo. What makes this spot unique is that it is set up for Yozakura which is night time viewing!
4) Shizunai Nijukken Road
Nijukken Road in Shizunai is also said to be on the list of Japan’s top 100 hanami spots. The road is very straight, about 7 kilometers long and 36 meters wide, and is lined with approximately 3,000 sakura trees. It is said to be the longest row of cherry trees in Japan and offers you an amazing tunnel of cherry blossoms so a car is needed. There are places to stop and walk along the path and get some great photos! The best time to see sakura here is from early May to mid May. Also home to the Shizunai Sakura Festival. For more information look at our article on Shizunai Cherry Blossom Festival.
5) Nakajima Park
Perfect spot for a picnic
Nakajima Park has been listed as one of “100 most popular urban parks in Japan.” Like other planned Japanese gardens, Nakajima Park changes with seasons. Definitely a great place to take a stroll. The park highlights both early and late blooming cherry trees of different kinds. Where as Maruyama park has tonnes of BBQ’s going on, and lots to do, Nakajima park is a lot more tranquil, due to its bigger area. Nakajima park is more suited to a quiet picnic under the trees.
6) Moerenuma Park
Designed and built by Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, this park took 7 years to complete. There are many things to see at this park but for cherry blossoms there is a whole section called the ‘Sakura no Mori’ or ‘Forest of Cherry Trees’. It has about 2300 sakura trees of different kinds. There are also huge grass areas where you can have a picnic and unwind. Great spot for walking around!
7) Maruyama Park
Cherry blossom season
Maruyama park is located in Sapporo and is easy to get to! Probably, the top place for hanami in Sapporo. There are lots of stalls, and lots of BBQ’s and picnics going on during this time! Maruyama park is also home to Hokkaido Shrine. The path to the shrine is lined with sakura trees so it makes for a breathtaking sight as you look down to and from the shrine. Maruyama also has plum blossoms on the grounds. Though not as stunning as the sakura trees, these stay in bloom much longer and are still worth a look!
8) Asahiyama Park
Shrine among the cherry blossoms
Asahikawa is famous for its ramen (chinese noodles) and Asahiyama zoo, which is the biggest in Hokkaido. It also can lay claim to having a fantastic park to view cherry blossoms, so coming in at no. 8 is Asahiyama park in the central city of Asahikawa. This park is an excellent spot for parties, picnics and enjoying the atmosphere to the fullest. The cherry trees here are also lit up at night so yozakura (sakura night viewing) is also on the menu! This park is home to more than 3000 wild sakura trees.
9) Noboribetsu Onsen Sakura Tunnel
Noboribetsu Onsen is said to be the most famous hot spring resort in Hokkaido. The road leading from the JR Noboribetsu Station to Noboribetsu Onsen is lined with about 2000 Ezo Yamazakura cherry trees. It’s a fantastic road to cruise along in your car or motorbike, breath in the mountain air and enjoy the cherry blossom tunnel! Mid May is said to be the best time to see these cherry blossoms!
10) Seiryuji Temple
Last and coming in at no.10 you will have to travel east, far east to the city of Nemuro. Situated on the eastern most point of Hokkaido the sakura trees are located on the grounds of the Seiryuji Temple. The trees are Chishima-zakura cherry trees and they feature one of the oldest cherry blossom trees, which is 150 years old! These are known as the ‘Trees of Nemuro’. Because Nemuro is one of the last places for the cherry blossom trees to bloom, it is best to go around mid May.