[Nakajima Park in Sapporo] Famous Cherry Blossom Spot and Fall Foliage Spot is Easily Accessible

Nakajima Park

Nakajima Park (中島公園) is a comprehensive park of 236.295 m2 nearby Susukino (すすきの) in Chuo ward, Sapporo city, and has opened since 1886. It has been chosen as one of Japanese City Park Best 100 (日本の都市公園100選) and Japan's Top 100 Historical Parks (日本の歴史公園100選), and is famous as a park with rich nature at the downtown of the Sapporo city. The park has Shobu Pond (菖蒲池), Japanese Garden (日本庭園), Hoheikan (豊平館), Concert Hall Kitara, Astronomical Observatory, Hassoan (八窓庵), Kogumaza Puppet Theater (こども人形劇場こぐま座), Nakajima Sport Center (中島体育センター), Hokkaido Museum of Literature (北海道立文学館), Nakajima Tennis Courts (中島公園庭球場), Yahiko Shrine (弥彦神社) and Nakajima Park Boat Pier (中島公園ボート乗り場), and a lot of people come. Here is also well-known as a good place to see cherry blossoms in a spring and fall foliage in an autumn, and is a peaceful place for Sapporo citizens. The best time to see the cherry blossoms is about late April to early May. The best time to see the fall foliage is about from mid October to late October. Cosplay photography sessions are sometimes held, and they look fun. Admission free. A parking lot is not provided.

Movie of Nakajima Park

The Hoheikan is the most famous building in the Nakajima Park, and has been designated as a national important cultural property. The Westren-style building with beautiful ultramarine blue was built as a hotel in 1880. At present, it is rental space, and visitor can have a look around. Admission fee is JPY 300. They offer a photo service for a wedding ceremony. The appearance looks like a colonial style of Former Public Hall of Hakodate Ward in Hakodate, and the visitors can feel an atmosphere in those days.

The Hassoan is a tea house made by Mr. Enshu Kobori (小堀遠州 * Masakazu Kobori (小堀政一), a famous Japanese tea master and a feudal lord, and has been designated as a national important cultural property. It is called the Hassoan because the building has 8 windows. * Hasso (八窓) means 8 windows in English. The tea house used to be built at Komuro Castle (小室城), Omi Domain (近江国). But it was relocated several times, and the building was reconstructed to Mr. Mochida's residence at the Sapporo in 1919. After that, it has been gaven to the Sapporo city, and has been relocated to Japanese Garden of the Nakajima Park since 1971. Only the appearance can be seen. Although the building was repaired many times, the tea house is valuable building because 1600S's building can hardly be seen in the Sapporo.

The Concert Hall Kitara is Hokkaido's first concert hall established in 1997, and is home music hall of Sapporo Symphony Orchestra. It has good acoustics, so it has been chosen as one of The BEST 100 of Theaters and Public Halls in Japan (優良ホール100選). Main Hall (大ホール), Small Chamber Music Hall (小ホール), a gallery, a cafe, Terrace Restaurant Kitara and Kitara Shop are at the building. Pacific Music Festival uses the hall as a venue, too. According to types of concerts, ticket prices are around JPY 3,000. Those are reasonable price as I expect.

Sapporo Children's Puppet Theater "Kogumaza" is Japan's first public theater dedicated to puppet shows established in 1976. The puppet shows and play for children are held. Admission free. Theater fee is required separately.

Sapporo City Astronomical Observatory is a small astronomical observatory on a small hill, and has been established since 1958. It is quite popular with those that know about it because stars can be watched at the downtown of the Sapporo city. Via f/12 refracting telescope with a caliber of 20 cm, the sun can be watched in the daytime, and the stars can be watched in the evening. Admission free.

In the Nakajima Park, some events are held. Snow Light in Nakajima Park (ゆきあかりin中島公園) is held between 3days in early February, Sapporo Festival (札幌まつり) is held between 3days in mid June, Kamokuma Festival (かもくま祭) between 2days in early July, the Pacific Music Festival is held from early July to early August, Toyohira River Fireworks Display (豊平川花火大会) is held only in a day, late July, and Kamokamo River Nostalgia (鴨々川ノスタルジア) is held between 2days in early September. In addition, cross coutry skiing can be borrowed for free from early January to early March beside the Nakajima Sport Center. It is popular with overseas tourists in particular.

SAPPORO

Sapporo (札幌) that about 1,960,000 people live is the largest city in Hokkaido. Although there are various theories, its origin of the name is "Dry Big River (乾いた大きな川)" in Ainu language. A population of the Sapporo is the 4th largest city after Yokohama, Osaka and Nagoya in japan, and the population accounts for 36 % of Hokkaido's population! So the Sapporo has been flourished as the center of the Hokkaido. The area of the Sapporo is 1,121.26 km2, and is about as big as Hong Kong, and is the 7th largest city in the Hokkaido. The Sapporo is also famous as a tourist city, and about 15 million people come. As for a climate, it is hot that temperature rises to nearly 25 degrees in a summer, but it is easy to live without moisture. I always feel a little cool. It is cold that temperature falls to nearly -10 degrees in a winter, and amount of snowfall sometimes has more than 1 m. Article is here

Cherry Blossoms of Hokkaido

Cherry blossoms begin to bloom from late April in Hokkaido. The cherry blossoms in the Southern Hokkaido including Hakodate begin to bloom from late April, and in case of late blooming, the cherry blossoms in the Eastern Hokkaido and the Northern Hokkaido seem to bloom in early June. The cherry blossoms in Honshu (the main island of Japan) begin to bloom from mid March, and tourists can enjoy the cherry blossoms until too late season. If everybody forget to see the cherry blossoms in the Honshu, please visit the Hokkaido to savor the cherry blossoms. Article is here

Fall Foliage of Hokkaido

It is said that the Fall Foliage of the Hokkaido turns into red color at the earliest in Japan. The best time to see the fall foliage comes in Daisetsu-zan at high altitude, and it comes gradually in low areas. It comes in Mt. Asahidake (旭岳) and in Mt. Kurodake (黒岳) in mid September, and autumn leaves fall in early November. As for the highlight of the Fall Foliage of the Hokkaido, tourists are bowled over by vast nature with the fall foliage, or are bowled over by small space that goes well with the fall foliage. Except famous beauty spots for the fall foliage, there are less famous beauty spots for the fall foliage such usual mountains and rivers or gorges here and there. Article is here