2017.03.09
nakamura

5 Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Hokkaido

Even Hokkaido, the northernmost region in Japan that has strong image of being a very cold place, gets to welcome spring every year and see sakura come in full bloom. Here are five famous spots in Hokkaido for hanami (cherry blossom viewing). Enjoy the dynamic view of the cherry blossoms in full view, something you won’t see in the city!

Index

1. Nijukken Road Cherry Blossom Trees
2. Goryokaku Park
3. Moerenuma Park
4. Matsumae Park
5. Shibazakura Takinoue Park

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1. Nijukken Road Cherry Blossom Trees

The first spot on the list is the row of sakura trees at Nijukken Road that is considered to be the most-renowned line of sakura trees in Japan. Here, roughly 3,000sakura trees are in bloom on both sides of the road that spans about 7km. The Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) is also held in this area at around early May each year to usher in the best time for viewing the sakura flowers, so this spot is thronged with lots of people during this season. Enjoy the sight of sakura that seem to go on and on over the long stretch of the road.

1. Nijukken Road Cherry Blossom Trees

Shizunaitahara-Shizunaimisono, Shinhidaka-cho, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaido

2. Goryokaku Park

Goryokaku Park is a special historic spot that is located in Hakodate. Here, about 1,600 sakura trees are in their full glory by around early May, the best time for viewing the flowers, and they cover the star-shaped fortress. The trees are also lit up at night, and there are areas (paid) that are designated for barbecuing and eating Genghis Khan (a local Hokkaido specialty of grilled lamb and vegetables). Another recommended way to view the cherry blossoms is to ride on a rental boat and marvel at the beautiful flowers from the moat!

Yuki Shimazu/Flickr

2. Goryokaku Park

44 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate-shi, Hokkaido

3. Moerenuma Park

Moerenuma Park was built based on the basic design made by the world-famous sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Here, the vast property has been shaped into a single sculpture, creating a gorgeous view that fuses nature and art. Inside the park, there are around 2,300 cherry blossom trees planted, so it is a hanami spot that adults and children alike would love during the flowering season. The best time to come here for viewing cherry blossoms is from early to mid-May.

3. Moerenuma Park

1-1 Moerenumakoen, Higashi-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido

Detail

Next page: 4. Matsumae Park

4. Matsumae Park

This park inside the Matsumae area is an area that is located in the southernmost part of Hokkaido that has grown into a castle town. Within this vast space that measures about 395,000sq.m., you will find many sightseeing spots such as the Matsumae Castle that has become the symbol of this town. It is also a popular spot for cherry blossoms, as around 10,000 cherry blossoms of different varieties are planted here, including those that are about 300 years old. There are about 250 varieties of cherry blossoms in this space that blossom in different periods, too, so one of the appeals of this park is that it lets guests enjoy going for hanami excursions for about a month, from late April until late May. A lot of events are also held here during the hanami season, so please come and check them out!

4. Matsumae Park

Matsushiro, Matsumae-cho, Matsumae-gun, Hokkaido

5. Shibazakura Takinoue Park

The last spot on the list is a park that is located on top of a small hill in the middle of the metropolitan city of Takinoue. Here, you will be able to view flowers from unconventional variety of shibazakura (moss phlox) with these light pink flowers carpeting the 100,000sq.m. area. If you get near the flowers, you will even smell a faint sweet aroma. The best time to view them is from mid-May until early June. There are also various shows and stage events held in this park during the hanami season. If you visit this park for cherry blossom viewing, you will surely have a great time.

5. Shibazakura Takinoue Park

Motomachi, Takinoue, Monbetsu-gun, Hokkaido

Cherry blossoms bloom after April all over Japan, but in Hokkaido, the best time to see them is around May. So, if you adjust your travel itinerary, you just might be able to enjoy hanami twice: once in Honshu and once in Hokkaido!

*Please note that the information in this article is from the time of writing or publication and may differ from the latest information.