Spring season in Japan is immersed in the world of cherry blossoms, which start spreading from Okinawa Kyushu Shikoku in late winter and early spring, and bloom all the way to Kyoto and Tokyo in Honshu in March and April, and when the cherry blossom season in Honshu draws to a close in April and May, it ushers in the blooming period of Hokkaido's cherry blossoms. In this article, we will tell you when is the best time to go to Sapporo for cherry blossoms and where can you see Sakura in Sapporo in 2024? It doesn't matter if you can't take a vacation, can't book a room, or can't buy a plane ticket during the Japanese cherry blossom tree festival in March, as you can go to Sapporo in April or May to enjoy a perfect spring trip full of cherry blossoms blooming in Japan. Now submit your preference to plan your private guided trip at 2024 Sapporo Cherry Blossoms season. Embark on our tailored itinerary to visit the Shiroi Koibito Park to experience the process of making chocolates and enjoy the unique charm of chocolate, gaining more romance for your Sapporo tour during the fantastic Sakura season.
Table of Contents
1. Cherry Blossom Time in Sapporo 2024
2. Hanami to Celebrate Sapporo Sakura Season
3. Clothing Tips for Sapporo Cherry Blossom Viewing in May
4. Perfect Viewing Spots for Sakura Festival Japan Sapporo
1. Sapporo Cherry Blossom Season Forecast 2024
For people who enjoy cherry blossom viewing in Hokkaido, you may ask when can I see Sakura in Sapporo? According to the Cherry Blossom Japan 2023 Forecast released by Japan Meteorological Agency, one of the four major cherry blossom forecasting websites in Japan, and its 1st Forecast Announced on January 10, 2024, the cherry blossom season in Sapporo in 2024 is forecasted to be from May 2 to May 6. How long do cherry blossoms last in Sapporo? It normally lasts for about 7 days from its first blooming to fading. If you want to enjoy the Sakura viewing in Sapporo, Hokkaido, you can plan your Japan 1-Week Tour Itinerary and order flights and drinks in advance. Please note that there is a difference between the actual bloom time and the predicted time, as this is only a prediction and is subject to change. The best time to see the Japanese Sakura tree is the week after they bloom, so it is recommended that you arrange several Japanese cherry blossom tours and make adjustments depending on the final bloom.
2. Hanami to Enjoy the Cherry Blossom Season in Sapporo
Hanami, also referred to cherry blossom viewing, is a Japanese custom of gathering outdoors with family and friends to appreciate the beauty of Japanese cherry blossoms. Popular Sakura spots for Hanami are crowded with people sitting on plastic sheets or picnic tables under the cherry trees to enjoy the stunning view. Hanami in Sapporo involves eating and drinking, often prioritizing the latter over the cherry flowers. In Hokkaido cherry blossom season, a common way to enjoy Hanami is to have a barbecue party under cherry trees.
3. Clothing Tips for Sapporo Sakura Viewing Time in May
When it comes to what month is cherry blossom in Japan 2024, for the southern areas of Japan, cherry blossom Tokyo dates and cherry blossom time in Kyoto, and the best time to visit Osaka cherry blossom is normally in late March and Fuji Kawaguchiko Cherry Blossom Festival in early April. But for the Sapporo in Hokkaido, the best Sakura month is early May. So, you are suggested to pay attention to the clothing tips for your Sakura tours in Sapporo in May.
The average high temperature in Sapporo in May is 17.3°C and the average low temperature is 8.3°C. Generally, it is quite warm during the day, but it is still very cold in the morning and evening. In addition, when it rains, the temperature is low and even you may feel cold in the daytime. It's a good idea to pack an extra warm top when you're going on a Hokkaido cherry blossom trip.
4. Best Spots to See Sapporo Cherry Blossoms
For anyone who plans to make a trip in the spring season, there are so many perfect spots to view cherry blossoms in Japan, and if your Japanese tour is just to Sapporo, the best places to enjoy the Sapporo Sakura listed in the following will be helpful for you.
●Maruyama Park & Hokkaido Shrine: A Classic Cherry Blossom Tour Itinerary for Local Residents
Best Viewing Time: May 2 - May 6
Nearby Station: Maruyama-Koen Station
Address: 3 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Miyagaoka 064-0959
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Tel: +81 11-621-0453
Are there cherry blossoms in Sapporo? If you want to go to Sapporo for cherry blossom viewing in Japan, you are highly recommended to visit Maruyama Park. Conveniently located in Sapporo, Maruyama Park is easily accessible by subway and has been a popular Sakura Hanami spot in Sapporo from the past to the present, just like Nara Park is the most representative spot for Cherry Blossom Viewing in Nara. There are more than 150 cherry trees in the park, which attracts crowds during the Sakura season in Sapporo. Inside the park is the Hokkaido Shrine, where you can enjoy the rare beauty of Sakura flowers and plum blossoms blooming in Japan at the same time, which will be a great joy for anyone who plans to make Japan nature tours during the spring season.
●Odori Park: Sapporo's Premier Cherry Blossom Viewing Spot
Best Viewing Time: May 2 - May 6
Address: 2 Chome Odorinishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0042, Japan
Access: Subway Tozai, Namboku, and Toho Line Odori Station
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Admission: Free
Tel: +81 11-251-0438
Originally designed by the city government in 1871 (Meiji 4) as a large firewall in the center of the city, Odori Park has grown to become an oasis in the center of the city for the people of Sapporo. When the cherry blossoms bloom in early to mid-May, it is the best time for Sapporo Sakura viewing. And there is a good chance to see tulips and cherry blossoms blooming together in the flower garden near Odori Nishi 2-chome, which is a unique Hokkaido spring scene in Japan blooming season.
●Former Hokkaido Government Office Building: Enjoy Sapporo Hanami as well as Magnolias and Tulips at the Same Time
Best Viewing Time: May 1 - May 6
Address: 6-chome, Kita 3-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
Access: About a 5-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station or Odori Subway Station
Opening Hours: Open daily from 8:45 a.m. to 18:00 p.m., except from December 29 to January 3 of the following year when the museum is closed
Admission: Free
Built in 1888, the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, also known as the Red Brick Hall, was built in a neo-baroque style and has been used as an administrative building of the Hokkaido Government for 80 years, and is currently on the list of National Important Cultural Properties by the government. Admission to the building is free.
The Former Hokkaido Government Office Building features two opportunities for cherry blossom viewing in a year. The first opportunity is to admire the early blooming Kasumizakura cherry blossoms. They are fewer in number, but the large Kasumizakura cherry blossoms, which look like red sashes, together with the elegant red-brick building of the hall, can only be described as breathtakingly beautiful. The second opportunity to enjoy the Sapporo Sakura season there is to see the late blooming Yaezakura cherry trees. They are planted on both sides of the road and bloom in late May. So it is very romantic to take a walk while enjoying the spectacular blooming of the Japanese Sakura cherry blossom tree in Former Hokkaido Government Office Building. There are also many other kinds of flowers and plants planted in the front yard, so you can enjoy Sapporo Hanami as well as magnolias and tulips for your Japan tours.
●Nakajima Park: A Sakura Viewing Spot Full of Cultural Facilities and Historical Buildings
Best Viewing Time: May 2 - May 6
Address: 1 Nakajimakoen, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0931, Japan
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Tel: +81 11-511-3924
Admission: Free
Access: Take the municipal subway North-South Line from Sapporo Station to the Makomanai side and get off at Nakajima Koen Station (5 minutes), and take Exit 1 or 3.
Nakajima Park is located in the center of Sapporo, adjacent to the town of Hosono Pleasant Street, and only three stops from Sapporo Station on the city-run subway. The park is surrounded by the Iris Pond, nationally important cultural assets such as the Hōhei Kan, and the Hasso-an, as well as the Kitara, a hall dedicated to music, and the Observatory. There are various kinds of cherry blossoms such as Yaezakura, Ezo-yamazakura, and Shidarezakura. There is a subtle difference in the Sakura blooming time in Japan of each variety, which lengthens the period of cherry blossom viewing in Nakajima Park. On the west side of the park, there is a Japanese-style garden where you can enjoy Japanese cherry blossom tree festival in a time-traveling atmosphere. In addition, you can rent a boat to visit the Sapporo in the center of the park. The view of the cherry blossoms at the water's edge from the boat has a unique flavor, which will be a very pleasant visual feast during the Sapporo cherry blossom season.
●Moerenuma Park: A Sakura Spot that Blends Nature and Art
Best Viewing Time: May 2 - May 6
Nearby Station: Kanjodor-higashi Station
Address: 1-1 Moerenumakoen, Higashi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 007-0011
Opening Hours: 7:00 - 22:00
Admission: Free
Tel: +81 11-790-1231
Access: Take the Chuo Bus [Higashi 69] for about 25 minutes from the Subway Higashitoyo Line's Circle Dori Higashi Station, get off at the Moerenuma Park East Exit, and walk for about 5 minutes
Designed by the world-renowned sculptor Isamu Noguchi, Moerenuma Park is a comprehensive park that not only features parkland but also includes a geometrically shaped hill, a fountain for family fun, and an observatory with a view of the landscape, which presents a marvelous combination of nature and art. It is one of the famous Sakura spots to see Hokkaido cherry blossom. In spring when it is best time to see Sakura in Japan, 2,600 cherry blossom trees bloom in the park, adding a layer of romance to your Japan trip in Sapporo.
●Makomanai Park: Secret Spot to Admire Sapporo Japan Cherry Blossom
Best Viewing Time: May 1 - May 5
Nearby Station: Makomanai Station
Address: 3-1 Makomanaikoen, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-0017, Japan
Opening Hours: Closed at 9 PM
Tel: +81 11-581-1961
Makomanai Park was the main venue for the 1972 Sapporo Olympics and is a famous viewing spot for Sapporo cherry blossom season. It is also famous for viewing the red leaves in late fall, so there are many people who come here to enjoy the Japan flower festival. You can easily find some travelogues recommending viewing cherry blossoms in Makomanai Park. Makomatsuchi Park is easily accessible from the center of Sapporo. You can take the Sapporo Subway North-South Line and get off at Makomanai Station, the southernmost station, and walk about 15 minutes from the subway station. It is near the station, and maybe you can't help but stay in front of the station for a while to take pictures before heading to the park. The park is on the outskirts of the city, and the streets are clean, so it's nice to stroll along the green paths under the Japanese tree with pink flowers. If you go to the park in May when it is the best month for cherry blossoms in Hokkaido, you will find that every cherry blossom tree is pink and there is a large green meadow against it.
●Kanchidoboku Research Institute: Off-the-Beaten-Path Sakura Spot to Avoid Crowds
Best Viewing Time: May 2 - May 6
Address: 3 Chome-1-34 Hiragishi 1 Jo, Toyohira Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 062-0931, Japan
Opening Hours: 09:00-18:00
Admission: Free
Access: Take the municipal subway North-South Line from Sapporo Station to the Makomanai side for 8 minutes, get off at Nakanoshima Station, and walk for about 3 minutes from Exit 1.
It goes without saying that everyone knows that when the famous cherry blossom viewing spots are in full bloom, it is sure to be crowded. If you want to enjoy Japanese Sakura cherry blossom tree quietly, you may want to consider the Sapporo cherry blossom season at the Kanchidoboku Research Institute. Although the area is usually sparsely populated because only related personnel come and go, there are about 200 cherry trees planted along the creek in the hinterland. You can enjoy the sound of the river and the cherry blossoms in full bloom, and the area is not crowded, making it a relaxing place to enjoy the Sakura Hanami in the suburbs of Sapporo. The parking lot in the hinterland of the Kanchidoboku Research Institute is also open to the public when the Sapporo cherry blossom season begins, but space is limited, so it is recommended that you take public transportation to get there. This is a niche secret cherry blossom viewing spot with stunning Sakura scenery.
5. Conclusion
We have listed 7 best cherry blossom viewing spots for the Sapporo cherry blossom season, and hope we have solved your doubts about where can I see cherry blossoms in Sapporo? Of course, there are many other spots suitable for Sapporo Hanami, so if you want to explore them at your leisure by visiting Sapporo at cherry blossom time during late April and early May, why not plan your Japan cherry blossom tour now?