HITSUJIGAOKA OBSERVATION HILL

This hill earned its renown by being chosen as the location for what is now Sapporo’s most famous statue. There’s not a single person from Hokkaido who doesn’t know the quote “Boys, be ambitious”. Those immortal words were uttered by William Smith Clark, an American agricultural expert who was instrumental in the development of Hokkaido. The view from the hilltop is as iconic as the statue, and crowds of tourists head up the hill in summer to enjoy the panoramic view of the city streets and flocks of sheep grazing in the fields. Winter is a treat for visitors as the observation area becomes Hitsujigaoka Snow Park. There’s a smorgasbord of winter fun including inner tube sledding, a mini slide, ski walking and snow hut building, keeping kids and adults alike entertained for hours. The only cost is the observatory admission, and with its location near the city center, it couldn’t be easier to slot it into your itinerary. That’s the great thing about Sapporo—you don’t have to go far to have fun in the snow!