SPRING
Approx. April to June
After a long winter, spring in Sapporo bursts to life with fresh and colorful scenery abounding as a multicolored array of flowers start to bloom on the once white landscape. Although the snow thaw is well underway, the mountains still have their white coating—allowing you to enjoy the last snow of the season.
Savor Japan’s cherry blossoms for longer
Cherry blossoms famously symbolize spring in Japan. With Sapporo’s cherry blossoms blooming a whole month later than their counterparts in Tokyo, even if the viewing season has ended in Tokyo or Osaka, there’s still time to catch them in Sapporo—you might even be able to time your trip so you can enjoy double the cherry blossom viewing fun. In an average year, Sapporo’s cherry blossoms are at their peak from late April to early May.
Admire colorful flowers
Cherry blossoms are just the beginning of Sapporo’s vibrant springtime blooms. As the snow melts, the city’s streets and parks come alive with a stunning array of flowers, each vying to catch the sun’s rays. By May, Sapporo’s official tree, the lilac, starts blooming. Its sweet fragrance fills the air in Odori Park where countless lilacs have been planted.
Takino Suzuran Hillside National Park
With sprawling colorful flower gardens, this is Hokkaido’s only National Government Park (differing from national parks, these are spaces established under the City Park Law). It’s famous for its breathtaking tulip garden—check it out from late May to early June.
Botanic Garden, Hokkaido University
Encounter a wide variety of plants, with many native to Hokkaido
Experience the lingering presence of snow
Sapporo’s spring arrives later than Tokyo and Osaka. At the beginning of the season, you can still experience the lingering presence of snow in the mountains with the lifts spinning for spring skiing at the same time as the cherry blossoms are blooming from late April to early May. The rivers flowing through Sapporo are swollen from the melting snow, making rafting during this season a unique experience as the rapids are especially thrilling.
Jozankei
The Toyohira River, which flows through Jozankei, offers particularly exciting rafting this time of year
Sapporo Teine
Experience something extraordinary as you carve up the mountain with Sapporo City sprawling below
Spring events
Sapporo’s spring events are truly colorful. At Odori Park, the lilac—a favorite among Sapporo locals and the city’s official tree—starts blooming. You can savor the scent of lilacs along with music and wine at the Sapporo Lilac Festival. June is host to two major events. The Yosakoi Soran Festival, an event where teams from all over Japan come to Sapporo to perform creative dances based on a Hokkaido folk song; and the Hokkaido Shrine Festival, which features a parade of portable shrines and floats through the city, and food stalls at the Hokkaido Shrine and Nakajima Park. The festivals attract a large turnout of Sapporo locals.
Must-try Sapporo cuisine in spring
Corn wagon
When spring arrives in Odori Park, the corn wagons open shop. In Hokkaido dialect, corn is called tokibi, and the grilled tokibi sold in the wagons is popular for its unique flavor accented by burnt soy sauce.
Genghis Khan
Hokkaido’s famous Genghis Khan is beloved by Sapporo locals and often makes an appearance at their BBQs. In spring, a growing number of people enjoy the local cuisine in their yards or in parks, and the smell may have you wanting to try it yourself.
Spring attractions in Hokkaido
Hakodate, Matsumae
Southern Hokkaido, where Hakodate City and Matsumae Town are located, is the first area to welcome cherry blossoms in Hokkaido. In Hakodate City, Goryokaku Park with its roughly 1,500 cherry trees is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot. In Matsumae Town, Matsumae Park boasts 10,000 cherry trees, of which there are 250 different varieties, and is recognized as one of Japan’s 100 best cherry blossom spots.
Access: Hakodate:
Approx. 4 hours from Sapporo by JR train
Approx. 4 hours 25 minutes from Sapporo by car
If you’re coming from Honshu (Japan’s main island): Approx. 20 minutes from the Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Hokkaido Shinkansen Station by JR train
Matsumae:
Approx. 5 hours 15 minutes from Sapporo by car
Approx. 2 hours from Hakodate by car
If you’re coming from Honshu (Japan’s main island): Approx.1 hour from the Kikonai Hokkaido Shinkansen Station by car
Otaru
This port town next to Sapporo is stunning no matter what time of the year you visit. You can enjoy beautiful canals and romantic streets. It’s both great as a day trip from Sapporo or a stop on your travel itinerary. Views of the harbor and cherry blossoms from Temiya Park overlooking Otaru Port are a particular treat.
Access: Approx. 40 minutes from Sapporo by JR train