Sakura in Ezo: Gorgeous cherry blossom viewing spots in Hokkaido

Japan is famous for their cherry blossoms (桜 sakura) which bloom every spring, attracting millions of tourists from around the world. During this season, flower viewing (花見 hanami) is a popular activity where you can have a picnic among the beautiful cherry blossoms. Hokkaido (北海道) is perfect for cherry blossom viewing in late April to early May, when there are no more cherry blossoms blooming in the rest of Japan. Ezoyama-zakura (蝦夷山桜), Hokkaido’s native cherry blossoms, are characterised by their deep pink blossoms, and can be admired in various spots around the prefecture.
Sapporo
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Located in Maruyama Park (円山公園 Maruyamakōen) in Sapporo (札幌), Hokkaido Shrine (北海道神宮 Hokkaido jingū) has been a popular cherry blossom viewing spot since 1900 because you can view 1,400 cherry blossom trees and 250 plum blossom (梅 ume) trees that bloom at the same time, making your trip even more worthwhile. In addition to enjoying the blooms, you can also get souvenirs at the shrine, like Jingū no ume (神宮の梅), a Japanese plum wine with a bottle shaped like a traditional sake (酒) vessel used in Shinto (神道) ceremonies, and jingu no sakura (神宮の桜), which is a herbal tea made with pickled cherry blossoms, seaweed, and black beans.
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Maruyama Park itself is also a popular cherry blossom viewing spot, where there are over 150 cherry trees as well as plum trees that bloom at the same time. This vast space also includes a zoo, a sports stadium, and an amusement park for children. As the park only allows the use of portable stoves during this season, you can view the blooms while enjoying a Genghis Khan (ジンギスカン Jingisukan), Hokkaido’s specialty of lamb and vegetables grilled on a special grill. It is common to see picnickers grilling their meals under the canopy of cherry blossoms.
Maruyama Park (円山公園)
Address: 3 Miyagaoka, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido 064-0959
Nearest station: Maruyama Koen Station (円山公園駅)
Directions: 5-minute walk from Maruyama Koen Station via Exit 3.
Opening hours: 24 hours
Admission fee: Free
Tel: +81 11-621-0453
Beyond Sapporo
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Nijukken Road (二十間道路 Nijukken-dōro), located in the town of Shinhidaka (新ひだか町 Shinhidaka-cho), is a 2-hour drive from Sapporo and is noted as one of Japan’s top 100 cherry blossom sites. This 7km-long straight road is lined with around 3,000 cherry blossom trees, making it easy to explore these pretty pink flowers by car, on foot, or by bicycle. The trees bloom in early May, when the Shizunai Cherry Blossom Festival (しずない桜まつり shizunai matsuri) is held around the Flower Tunnel. During this time, Ryu-unkaku (龍雲閣), a palace-styled guesthouse built in 1909, will be open to the public; it was previously used to host members of the Japanese Imperial family.
Nijukken Road (二十間道路)
Address: Shizunaitahara, Shinhidaka-cho, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaido 056-0144
Nearest station: Shizunai Station (静内駅)
Directions: 20-minute trip from Shizunai Station on the Donan Bus for Noya (農屋), then a 15-minute walk from Sakuraoka-sho (桜風園).
Opening hours: 24 hours
Admission fee: Free
Tel: +81 146-42-1000
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Goryokaku Park (五稜郭公園 Goryōkakukōen) in Hakodate (函館), Hokkaido’s second major city, is famous for its Old Fort, which is a century-old star-shaped fortress surrounded by a moat that is lined with about 1,600 cherry trees. Come spring, Goryokaku becomes one of Hokkaido's top cherry blossom viewing spots when these trees bloom—most of the cherries here are of the Somei Yoshino (染井吉野) variety, which are whiter than the deep pink that is more common in the rest of Hokkaido. Like Maruyama Park, it is also a popular place for picnickers to grill Genghis Khan while enjoying the cherry blossoms until the evening, when the park is lit up with illuminations.
Goryokaku Park (五稜郭公園)
Address: 44-2 Goryokakucho, Hakodate-shi, Hokkaido 040-0001
Nearest station: Hakodate Station (函館駅)
Directions: Take a Hakodate Bus in front of Hakodate Station and get off at the entrance to Goryokaku Park and walk for about seven minutes.
Opening hours: 5am–6pm
Admission fee: Free
Tel: +81 138-31-5505
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Just a two-hour drive from Hakodate is Matsumae Park (松前公園 Matsumaekōen), which boasts about 250 species of cherry blossoms among 10,000 trees, so you can fully observe the beauty of this flower. Certain cherry species are unique to this park only, such as Kechimyaku-zakura (血脈桜), Meoto-zakura (めおと桜), and Ezokasumi-zakura (蝦夷霞桜)—this means that for one whole month from the end of April until the end of May, you can witness the various stages of blooms. Events at the park include the march of armour-clad warriors, local folk entertainment and local food vendors. After sunset, there is a beautiful light-up of the imposing Matsumae Castle (松前城 Matsumaejō) where you can also see the Tsugaru Strait (津軽海峡 Tsugaru Kaikyō).
Matsumae Park (松前公園)
Address: Matsushiro, Matsumae-cho, Matsumae-gun, Hokkaido 049-1511
Nearest station: Kikonai Station (木古内駅)
Directions: Take a 95-minute bus ride from Kikonai Station.
Opening hours: 24 hours
Admission fee: Free
Tel: +81 139-42-2275
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If you want to see another type of spring flower, head to Takinoue Park (滝上公園 Takinouekōen) near Asahikawa (旭川市 Asahikawa-shi), which holds the annual Shibazakura Festival (芝桜まつりShibazakura matsuri) from early May till early June. Shibazakura (芝桜) are pink moss phloxes, five-petal flowers similar to cherry blossoms that grow on the ground; they start blooming in late April and reach their peak between mid-May and late May. You can stroll along walking paths to admire this pink carpet of flowers. The park is also home to multi-coloured tulips, and the snow-capped Daisetsuzan (大雪山) mountain range is visible on a clear day. During the festival, you can enjoy activities like stage performances, or take a sightseeing helicopter ride.
Takinoue Park (滝上公園)
Address: Motomachi, Takinoe-cho, Monbetsu-gun, Hokkaido 099-5604
Nearest station: Kamikawa Station (上川駅)
Directions: Take a 75-minute bus ride from Kamikawa Eki mae Bus Stop (上川駅前) to Asahimachi Bus Stop (旭町). Walk for about 5 minutes to reach the park.
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
Admission fee: Free
Tel: +81 139-42-2275
Hokkaido is a colourful place to visit during spring—especially late in the season after most of Japan has already experienced the blooms—when you can see its unique species of cherry blossoms as well as other types of flowers that create a perfect setting for enjoying a picnic outdoors.
This article is adapted from Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Singapore Office.
Header image credit: photoAC