05 cherry blossom viewing spots in Sapporo

1. Maruyama Park and Hokkaido Shrine

Surrounded by 1,400 cherry trees and 250 plum trees. The park and shrine are right next to each other and draw some of the biggest crowds for the Cherry Blossom Festivals in Sapporo.

The entrance to the Hokkaido shrine is lined with dozens of cherry trees, while the park area offers plenty of open space for people to spread out mats and enjoy food and drinks with friends under the flowers.

• Best time: late April to early May
• Location: 〒064-0959 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Miyagaoka, ３
• How to get there: From Sapporo Station (Sapporo Subway) take the Tozai Line heading towards Miyanosawa. And get off at Maruyama Koen station and walk for about 5 minutes.

2. Moerenuma Park

Moerenuma is a park with a unique style, designed by a Japanese-American artist named Isamu Noguchi. You will be hard pressed to find a park similar to this one in the whole of Japan!

There are about 1,800 cherry trees in the “cherry tree forest” with seven sculptures by Noguchi. You can have a picnic and watch children play with art installations in the cherry blossom forest.

• Best time: From early to mid-May
• Venue: 1-1 Moerenumakoen, Higashi Ward, Sapporo
• How to get there: From Sapporo Station (Sapporo JR) take the Hakodate Line towards Local Iwamizawa, get off at Naebo Station. And from Naeboeki bus stop take Bus (higashi (東) 6) to “Toyohata higashi”, get off Toyohata. Then walk for about 17 minutes.

3. Asahiyama Park

Asahiyama Park is the 11th most beautiful cherry blossom viewing spot in Hokkaido. There are about 3,500 cherry trees planted in the park, and a beautiful forest surrounds the cherry trees, creating a comfortable natural environment and picturesque scenery of the cherry blossoms.

• Best time: Mid-May
• Location: 4 Chome-1-3 Sakaigawa, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
• How to get there: From Sapporo Station (Sapporo Subway), take the Tozai Line, heading towards Miyanosawa. And get off at Maruyama Koen station. Take JR Hokkaido Bus (13 Maru) and get off at Asahiyama Koen Mae Bus Stop. Then walk for about 4 minutes.

4. Odori Park

Odori Park is the city's most famous park right in the heart of Sapporo. Although the park doesn't have any particularly famous cherry trees, it's not hard to find cherry trees scattered throughout Odori Park, which is something to look forward to if traveling in spring. .

• Best time: early to mid May
• Location: 7 Chome Odorinishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
• How to get there: Next to Odori Station, on the Nanboku, Tozai and Toho . subway lines

5. Sakura-Dori – Secret place that only locals know

There are about 79 cherry trees on the 900m long sidewalk, and because it is located in a quiet residential area, locals like to walk on the sidewalk with children. And enjoy a good time with your family with beautiful cherry blossoms on an ordinary day.

This cherry blossom viewing spot is becoming very popular, and more and more tourists from all over Japan come here during the cherry blossom season.

• Best time: From early to mid-May
• Location: 1 Chome Minami 4 Jonishi Chuo Ward Sapporo Hokkaido
• How to get there: From Sapporo Station (Sapporo Subway), take the Tozai Line, heading towards Miyanosawa. And, get off at Nishi Juhathome station and walk for about 7 minutes.