Spring represents the season of rebirth in Japan. Spring usually takes place from April to June. At this moment where Hanami arrives, many regions of Japan will get crowded with foreign tourists to witness the beautiful of cherry blossom. In Hokkaido, winter snow and ice melt from the city streets, rolling farmland and snow-laden mountains, new shoots take their place in multi-hued greens. If you think only summer and winter seasons offer plenty of things to do in Hokkaido, you are wrong! There is a large variety of activities you can do in Hokkaido during spring time. This post would sure make you fall in love with Hokkaido’s spring beauty.
1. Witness the beauty of Pink
Moss
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| Pink Moss at Shibazakura Photo Credit: Tabijikan website |
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| Moss carpeted pink in their peak season Photo Credit: TripZilla.sg |
Pink Moss is
a ground-hugging plant with small flowers similar to cherry blossoms. In the
early of May to early June, the hillside will gets covered with countless pink
moss. You will see a vast flower fields with the moss carpeted pink when they
reach their peak season. The eastern Hokkaido towns of Ozora and Takinoue are well
known for their pink moss flower blossom. The locals of Takinoue celebrate the
Shibazakura festival during the peak season of pink moss which is the most
popular photogenic spots in Hokkaido.
2. View the epic Rape Blossoms
Japan’s largest area of rape fields is located at central Hokkaido, in the city called Takikawa. There are about 60 canola flower fields in Takikawa city and is in full bloom from late May to early June. You can enjoy scenery of the canola flower in Ebeotsu district (江部乙地区) like typical Hokkaido scenery. An observatory deck is built for tourists to look over the canola flower field from the top.
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| Rape Blossom at Takikawa Photo Credit: Good! Hokkaido! |
Takikawa Canola Flower Festival (滝川菜の花祭) is held while canola flowers are blossoming. In addition to admiring the canola flowers at the main venue of Ebeotsu district, there are stands and a stage at Maruka Heightland (丸加高原). At that place, many entertainments are performed. Admission and the parking lot are free of charge. Portable restrooms are established too. The yellow canola flowers and the blue sky will sure take your breath away.
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| Observatory Deck at Takikawa Photo Credit: Good! Hokkaido! |
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| The Pathway to view the rape blossom Photo Credit: Good! Hokkaido! |
3. Experience the mystic of
Cherry blossoms
Due to geographical location, Hokkaido welcomes hanami (sakura viewing) bit later than
other parts of Japan. Shizunai Nijukken
Road in Shinhidaka Town, central Hokkaido, is said to have one of the longest rows of cherry blossom trees
in Japan. Approximately 3,000 trees are in full bloom along the straight 7-kilometer-long
road from early to mid-May.
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| Hanami in Shizunai Nijukken Photo Credit: Pam, Inc. |
In the early of May, the popular Hanami sightseeing
spots such as Hakodate, Matsumae, Sapporo and Asahikawa will have their gorgeous Sakura Hanami Festivals. You can spend your time picnic or BBQ alongside locals
to celebrate the joys of spring.
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| Cherry Blossom Trees in Shizunai Nijukken Photo Credit: JapanPhotoTrip |
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| Cherry Bloosom Photo Credit: GaiJinPot |
4. Celebrate Sapporo Lilac Festival
Started in 1959, the Sapporo Lilac Festival is eagerly awaited by Sapporo's residents. As
the official tree of Sapporo, the lilac is held in high esteem. There are two
locations which celebrate this festival; they are Odori Park in Sapporo and Kawashimo
Park in Shiroishi-ku from May 17-28, 2017, when lilac blossoms are at their
best.
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| Lilac blossoms in Sapporo Photo Credit: Sapporo Travel website |
In Odori Park,
it has its beautiful walking paths which you can enjoy drinking a bowl of whipped
powdered green tea or listening to live music while viewing around 400 lilac trees in full bloom. Besides
that, you can also join their photo contest, various workshops, taste wine and
have delicious street food form the food carts. While in Kawashimo Park, there are about 1700 lilac trees of 200 different kinds. It is very relaxing when
you take a stroll around the park and view such a large number of lilacs in a
single place.
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| Sapporo Lilac Festival in Odori Park Photo Credit: DoHokkaido website |
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| Liliac trees in Kawashimo Park Photo Credit: Sapporo Travel website |
5. Involve in Adventure
Activities
Hokkaido
contains many lakes, wetlands, rivers and other natural resources. It offers opportunities
to enjoy canoeing in beautiful natural
surroundings. Furthermore, in the end of winter and arrival of spring signals
the start of the whitewater rafting
season in Hokkaido. Rivers swell with large amounts of melting snow that raise
water levels to create fantastic rapids. The locations that offer whitewater rafting
and canoeing are Toyohira River
outside Sapporo, Chubetsu River
outside Asahikawa, Mukawa and Saru Rivers in Hidaka etc.
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| Canoeing during Spring season Photo Credit: Flickr |
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| Whitewater Rafting activity Photo Credit: Outdoor Japan Website |
If you
love to hike and trek, Hokkaido is
the best place for you to experience it as it owns plenty of mountains. As
Hokkaido has a low population density compare to the rest of Japan, you can
have sufficient trails, campsites and mountain accommodation. The central Hokkaido’s mountains are
the most popular hikes among the mountains in other states of Hokkaido. One of
the well-known hiking destination is Mt.
Yotei, or "Fuji of the North",
which towers impressively over the farmlands of the Niseko area. Hikers can enjoy
the landscapes, flowers, trees, gentle forest aromas and birdsong of Hokkaido,
while trekking through the field and mountain.
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| Central Hokkaido: Most Popular Hikes Photo Credit: Hokkaido Nature Tour |
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| Hiking and trekking in Hokkaido Photo Credit: Walk Japan website |
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