Sapporo’s Trip to Feel Beauty of Spring Nature in May: Park Colored by over 4,700 Trees and Flowers, Shrine with Cherry and Plum Blossoms in Full Bloom and Observatory with a Great View of Nature and Landmarks

In Hokkaido, people have to wait for spring to come until May, however, beautiful cherry blossoms are waiting to be discovered by early in May for those who have missed cherry blossoms in other areas. In this article, let us take you to places where you can feel spring in the great nature of Hokkaido, and all of them are in reach within an hour from Sapporo Station. Enjoy the spring Hokkaido has to offer in our three recommended sites.

“Sapporo Odori Park” with 4,700 trees and flowers of over 90 species

“Sapporo Odori Park” (さっぽろ大通公園) is the iconic park of the city and most visitors include this park to their to-visit list. In this park, you can enjoy seasonal events as ‘Sapporo Snow Festival’ (さっぽろ雪まつり), ‘Sapporo White Illumination’ (さっぽろホワイトイルミネーション) and ‘YOSAKOI Soran Festival’ (YOSAKOIソーラン祭り) throughout year. The park stretches out on twelve blocks of 1.5 Km from Odori Nishi 1-chome to Odori Nishi 12-chome. With the 4,700 trees and flowers of 90 species, the park always entertains your eyes regardless of the season you visit. From crocuses to forsythias followed by cherry blossoms and tulips, flowers keep blooming one after another in April. Flowers in the park bring colors to the people of Sapporo who overcame the white-only world of long winter. Starting from May 19^th to 30^th, the park will accommodate ‘Sapporo Lilac Festival’ (さっぽろライラックまつり), celebrating the full bloom of 400 lilac flowers in light purple and white. Lilac has been named the flower of the city.

Address	Odori Nishi 1-chome to Odori Nishi 12-chome, Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture *You are kindly advised to check the latest information of ‘Sapporo Lilac Festival’ at its official website as the schedule is subject to change due to the condition.
Access	A 8-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Sapporo
URL	https://odori-park.jp/en/

“Hokkaido Jingu Shrine” hosting 1,400 cherry blossoms and 250 plum blossoms inspires you with spiritual energy

“Hokkaido Jingu Shrine” (北海道神宮) was built in 1869 to worship the guardian deity of the development of Hokkaido and to uplift the spirit of the pioneers. In spring, 1,400 cherry trees such as Ezoyama Zakura (エゾヤマザクラ), Somei-Yoshino (ソメイヨシノ), Yaezakura (ヤマザクラ), Weeping cherry (シダレザクラ) and Chishima cherry (チシマザクラ), and about 250 plums such as Bungo Japanese apricot (豊後梅), red plum (紅梅), and white plum (白梅) bloom one after another, creating heaven-like atmosphere. The highlight comes between late in April to early in May. Among great view spot throughout the site, our recommendation is the street having cherry trees alongside continuing through to the main approach (表参道) from the second gate (第二鳥居) on Kita-Ichijo Dori Street (北1条通). As you walk down the approach, your site will be colored by many kinds of pink. Besides, when you make a left once you enter the approach, you will get to walk a tunnel made of cherry blossoms of Somei-Yoshino and Yaezakura.

Opening Hours	7:00AM – 4:00PM from January 8th to the end of February / 7:00AM – 5:00PM in March / 6:00AM – 5:00PM from April to October / 7:00AM – 4:00PM in November and December *For opening hours from January 1st to 8th, please refer to its official announcement.
Address	474 Miyagaoka, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture
Access	1-station ride on Namboku Line from Sapporo Station to Odori Station and 3-stations ride on Tozai Line from Odori Station to Maruyama Koen Station, and a 15-minute walk from Maruyama Koen Station
URL	http://www.hokkaidojingu.or.jp/eng/

Overlooking the magnificent nature and landmarks of the city colored with fresh greenery

At the “Okurayama Viewing Point” (大倉山展望台), visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Sapporo over the ski jumping platform used during the 1972 Winter Olympic Games in Sapporo. The observatory is located at an altitude of 307m, the starting line of the ski jumping platform, and you can go to the observatory by taking a ski lift giving you an aerial tour. We guarantee that your heart beats on your way facing toward the steep slope of the jumping platform. Arriving at the observatory, you will be greeted by a large panorama stretching along the ridge of mountains, the cityscape with modern buildings, the Ishikari Plain (石狩平野) lushed by fresh greenery being awakened from a long winter sleep, the magnificent Ishikari Bay (石狩湾), Sapporo Odori Park (さっぽろ大通公園), Sapporo Dome (札幌ドーム) and Sapporo TV Tower (さっぽろテレビ塔) all at the same time. The view literally expresses the city of Sapporo where the great nature and the civilization are orchestrating. Since no window glass is installed, you can enjoy the same powerful view and the refreshing spring breeze as if you are an Olympian about to take off from the jumping platform.

Opening Hours	＜Ski lift to observatory＞ 8:30AM – 9:00PM from April 29th to October 31st / 9:00AM – 5:00PM from April 1st to 28th and from November 1st to March 31st ＜Observation Lounge and Café＞ 11AM – 6:00PM from April 29th to October 31st / 11:00AM – 5:00PM from November 1st to March 31st *You are kindly advised to refer to its official website as opening hours are subject to change. *Ski lift is out of operation from April 1st to 13th due to an annual inspection.
Address	1274 Miyanomori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture
Access	1-station ride on Namboku Line from Sapporo Station to Odori Station and 3-stations ride on Tozai Line from Odori Station to Maruyama Koen Station, The Kuramaru-go (くらまる号) Bus service to Okurayama Kyogijo Iriguchi (大倉山競技場入口) Bus stop and a 9-minute walk from Okurayama Kyogijo Iriguchi Bus stop
URL	https://okurayama-jump.jp/en/