[Makomanai Park in Sapporo] Cherry Blossoms Can Be Enjoyed in Peaceful Place for Sapporo Citizens

Edwin Dun Memorial Park

Edwin Dun Memorial Park (エドウィン・ダン記念公園) is a city park near Makomani Park (真駒内公園) and Subway Namboku Line Makomanai Station in Makomanai, Minami ward, Sapporo city, and is far away from the downtown of the Sapporo. Predecessor park is Makomanai Central Park (真駒内中央公園), and the park along Makomanai River and National Route 453. In 1964, Mr. Edwin Dun started to livestock in a place currently known as the Makomanai Park for the first time in the Hokkaido. Dun and Machimura Memorial Association (ダンと町村記念事業協会) related to Machimura Ranch (町村牧場) in Ebetsu moved former Makomanai Cattle Ranch Office (真駒内種畜産場事務所) from the place currently known as the Makomanai Park to the park, and reconstructed here, and Edwin Dun Memorial Hall (エドウィン・ダン記念館) has been opened. * The Machimura Ranch was founded by Mr. Hirotaka Machimura (町村 敬貴), and Mr. Kinya Machimura (町村 金弥), his father, studied about livestock under Mr. Dun. In 2005, the Makomanai Central Park has been renamed as the Edwin Dun Memorial Park to honor his great achievement. The park is known as a good place to see cherry blossoms in a spring and fall foliage in an autumn, and local people relax themseleves here. The best cherry blossom season is about from late April to mid May. The best fall foliage season is about from mid October to late October. Admission free. A parking lot is not provided at the site. Read More

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

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. Read More

Cherry Blossoms of Makomanai Park

In the Makomanai Park, the cherry blossoms are bloom here and there. Sakura-no-Michi (桜の道) is a path with both sides of cherry trees along Taiyo-no-Hiroba (太陽の広場). But cherry blossoms of the Sakura-no-Michi was too ealry when I visited here in May 1, 2018, and a tunnel of the cherry blossoms did not appear. On the other hand, the most beautiful cherry blossoms were the cherry trees along Kineju Street (記念樹通り). That was the most suitable place for a cherry blossom viewing party under full blooming cherry blossoms.

Grounds of the Taiyo-no-Hiroba are grassland, and cherry trees grow there. A low cherry tree is popular in those cherry trees. A very small mountain is built beside it, and selfie can be enjoyed as background of cherry blossoms at a high position. A lots of visitors gathered the mountain.

The Sakura-no-Michi is built along the Taiyo-no-Hiroba. When I visited here, cherry blossoms were not in full bloom. Unfortunately, I came too early. But the cherry blossoms of a large cherry tree were in full bloom, so a lot of the visitors took a photo.

White Magnolia Trees are lined along a path beside the Makomanai Outdoor Stadium. The white magnolia blossoms of very low trees look very good. I think that it is a photogenic place if the trees were very near the cherry trees.

The most beautiful cherry blossoms are the cherry trees along the Kineju Street. Those are just full in bloom, and gradation of pink cherry blossoms is amazing! Here is the most suitable place for the cherry blossom viewing party because the cherry blossoms are very close.

Atmosphere of Makomanai Park Can Be Watched on Youtube

Moive of Makomanai Park

Dogtooth Violet of Makomanai Park

Katakuri-no-Sato (カタクリの里) is the innermost colony of the Dogtooth Violet at the Makomanai Park, and the claret red Dogtooth Violet and light blue Corydalis Ambigua can be seen in the spring. Here is one of the largest nature colonies of the Dogtooth Violet in city parks in Japan. So the site is large, and the grounds are slanted, so visitors may have a little tired. Yezo squirrel can be seen if you are lucky.

Fall Foliage of Makomanai Park

I visited here to see marvelous fall foliage in late October. It was the perfect timing. I took a walk around the park for a hour. Evergreen trees were planted at Mushroom Open Space (きのこ広場), so colourful leaves were enjoyed. At the Sun Open Space (太陽の広場), fall foliage and fallen leaves were enjoyed. This is a good place to see fall foliage after all.

Sapporo Toyohira River Salmon Museum

Sapporo Toyohira River Salmon Museum (札幌市豊平川さけ科学館) is a museum in the northern part of the park, and has been established since 1984. The museum was built to return salmon in Toyohira River near the park, and salmon roe is hatched, and young fishes are raised and are released into the river. A main building (本館), a pond for observation (屋外観察池), a fish hall (さかな館) and a training hall (実習館) are built at the site, and salmon and trout are displayed and are raised there. Those are open to the public, and a lots of parents with children are always seen. Some events such as Experience of Releasing Young Salmon (サケの放流体験) are held. Admission free.