[Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill in Sapporo] Statue of Dr. Clark and Typical Scenery of Hokkaido Can Be Enjoyed at Lookout

Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill

Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill (羊ヶ丘展望台) is a lookout on a small hill in Toyohira ward, Sapporo city, and has opened a business since 1959. The distance is away from the downtown of the Sapporo. As its name suggests (羊 means sheep in English), sheep are released in the pasture lands. Here is famous for a statue of Dr. Clark (クラーク博士の立像) that is familiar words “Boys be ambitious!” and looking over Sapporo Dome, and is surrounded by pasture lands, so visitors can feel comfortable. Admission fee is JPY 530. A parking lot is free of charge.

Cross-country skiing, snow tubing and miniature snowman can be experienced for free in a winter from January to March. But the admission fee is charged.

Movie of Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill in Winter

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. Read More

Look of Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill

The Statue of Dr. Clark, Monument for Yujiro Ishihara and His Song (恋の町札幌歌謡費), Clark’s Departure Bell (旅立ちの鐘), Sheep Hut (羊の家), Clark’s Chapel (クラークチャペル), Sapporo Snow Festival Museum (さっぽろ雪まつり資料館), Sapporo Blanc Birch Chapel (札幌ブランバーチ・チャペル), Hitsujigaoka Rest House (羊ヶ丘レストハウス) and Austrian Pavillion (オーストリア館) are built at the site. I visited here in an early summer.

Speaking of the Statue of the Dr. Clark, Hokkaido University and Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill are famous. Originally, the Statue of Dr. Clark was built only in the Hokkaido University. But it was too much popular with tourists, so its popularity obstructed school management. In order to solve this problem, the Statue of the Dr. Clark has been built since 1976 here. It is a work made by Mr. Tando Saka (坂坦道). The work name is “Dr. Clark on Hill (丘の上のクラーク)”. Although the Dr. Clark stayed only for 8 months in the Sapporo, I think it is great that he got good results, and was made the statue for his good results.

The Statue of the Dr. Clark is well-known for pointing to something with one finger. The pointing with one finger is not Nishioka (西岡) or a goal. It is the everlasting truth. It sounds difficult to me… By the way, Dr. Clark pose is standard when the visitors take a photo with the Statue of Dr. Clark.

A restraunt at 3 story building is famous for a Mongolian mutton barbecue. A playroom is on the 3rd floor. The Austrian Pavillion is 2 story building, and Hitsujigaoka Soft Serve Ice Cream Shop (羊ヶ丘ソフト), a souvenir shop and Sapporo Hitsujido (札幌ひつじ堂) are at the building. The visitors can savor sweets. Funny photo studio at the souvenir shop is the birthplace of a print club photo booth picture.

At the Sapporo Snow Festival Museum, documents and successive miniature snow sculpture models are displayed.

A courtyard covered with grass is at the back side of the Hitsujigaoka Rest House. In a summer, Lavender can be enjoyed, too.

The Sapporo Blanc Birch Chapel is a building for a wedding ceremony, but only the 3rd floor is open to the tourists, and the Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill can be viewed.

Atmosphere of Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Toyohira Ward. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

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Premier Hotel Tsubaki Sapporo(プレミアホテル-TSUBAKI-札幌)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Sapporo International Youth Hostel(札幌国際ユースホステル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
UCHI Living Stay TOYOHIRA(UCHI Living Stay TOYOHIRA)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Sapporo Guesthouse Nariya(札幌ゲストハウス 成屋)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
SAKURA34(SAKURA34)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Pension Setsurin(ペンション 雪輪)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Terrace Toyohira(Terrace Toyohira)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Sejour Toyohirakoen(セジュール 豊平公園)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Marutomi Ryokan(丸富旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel SULATA Sapporo(ホテルSULATA札幌)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten