Witness Stunning Vista in Sapporo Where Cherry Blossoms Bloom from Late Apr to Early May; Cherry Blossoms in Art, Tunnel of Cherry Blossoms, and Cherry Blossoms with Snow

You probably think that it’s too late to enjoy Hanami (a Japanese word referring to appreciating cherry blossoms and sometimes a picnic while enjoying the scenery with them) in Japan, don’t you? Actually, in Sapporo, you can appreciate fully blooming cherry blossoms from late April to early May. In this issue, let’s take a look at 3 instagramable yet less crowded spots where you can enjoy cherry blossoms with supporting characters to color up the scenery of the spring in Sapporo.

“Moerenuma Park” where blossoms of 1,700 cherry trees and colorful playsets create a unique scenery like works of art

With the concept of ‘the whole being a single sculpture’, a world-famous sculptor Isamu Noguchi designed “Moerenuma Park” (モエレ沼公園) where the glass pyramid is the landmark. The vast site of the park, where it takes more than one and a half hours to go around, is zoned into more than 10 areas, and ‘Forest of Cherry Trees’ among them is the one you want to visit during the Hanami season. About 1,700 cherry trees are planted around 126 playsets on seven playgrounds. The collaboration of colorful playsets like artworks and the countless cherry blossoms coloring the landscape will make you feel like being in the world of a painting of the spring. As this park can entertain both parents and kids, it should be a must-visit place when it comes to a trip to Sapporo in the spring.

Opening Hours	7:00AM – 10:00PM / Open All Year Round *Refer to its official site for details
Address	1-1 Moerenumakoen, Higashi-ku, Saspporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture
Access	A 10-minute walk from Moerenuma Koen Higashi-guchi (モエレ沼公園東口) Bus stop which is 20 stops away on 東79 bus from Kanjyo Dori Higashi Station Bus stop. Kanjyo Dori Higashi Station (H04) is 3 stations away on Toho Line (H) from Sapporo Station (H07/N06).
URL	https://moerenumapark.jp/english/

Appreciate a magnificent view of cherry blossoms with Mt. Moiwa covered with snow, and the vast ground colored by fully bloomed Katakuri at “Makomanai Park”

At “Makomanai Park” (真駒内公園) served as the main venue of the Sapporo Olympic Games held in 1972, you can literally feel the great nature of Hokkaido with approximately 13,200 planted trees, 50,000 natural ones, and old ones over 135 years. When the spring has come, blossoms of 1,000 cherry trees in two kinds color the landscape in pink. The Ezo Yamazakura (エゾヤマザクラ, sargent cherry tree) will be in full bloom from the end of April, and the Yae Zakura (ヤエザクラ, double-flowered cherry tree) will do so from the mid of May. In addition to the beautiful cherry blossoms, the famous Mt. Moiwa (藻岩山) which is known as a night view spot is covered by snow, and plays an important role make you enjoy the view in which the spring and the winter are in the same time. Besides, early May is the best season also for “Katakuri” (カタクリ, Erythronium japonicum) blooming like lilac flowers. This park is said to have the largest field growing wild Katakuri among urban parks in Japan.

Opening Hours	24/7
Address	3-1 Makomanaikoen, Minami-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture
アクセス	A 5-minute walk from Kamimachi 1-chome (上町１丁目) Bus stop which is 4 stops away on 南90, 南95, 南96, 南97, 南98 or 環96 bus from Makomanai Station Bus stop. Makomanai Station (N16) is 10 stations away on Namboku Line (N) from Sapporo Station (H07/N06).
URL	https://www.sapporo.travel/en/spot/facility/makomanai_park/

At “Toda Memorial Park” with 8,000 Yoshino cherry trees, the 200-meter-long cherry blossom tunnel awaits

For those who seek one-and-only scenery of cherry blossoms and can spare some time, “Toda Memorial Park” (戸田記念墓地公園) located in Ishikari City that is one hour away on a bus from the city center of Sapporo is the next destination. Thanks to the wild forest and around 78,000 trees planted, various wild animals such as deer, squirrels, warblers, and cuckoos inhabit the park. Every May, thousands of 30- to 50-year-old cherry trees of several kinds including 8,000 Yoshino cherry trees alone come to be in full bloom and delight visitors’ eyes. The 200 meter-long “Sakura-no Tunnel” (桜のトンネル, cherry blossom tunnel) created by Yoshino cherry trees planted on both sides of the road is truly an epic. Don’t forget to take a photo to bring the spring scenery back home.

Opening Hours	9:00AM – 5:00PM (admission until 4:40PM) / Closed on Tuesdays and 28th Dec to 4th Jan *Open from 10:00AM to 4:00PM during the period from 1st Dec to 31st Mar
Address	327 Morai, Atsuta-ku, Ishikari City, Hokkaido Prefecture
Access	Direct bus service is available from Kita 5-jo Nishi 1-chome (北５条西１丁目) *Refer to its official site for details as the direct bus service is available once a day
URL	http://hokkaido-soka.jp/todaboen/