Fun Spring Festivals and Events in Hokkaido (April and May 2024)

Goryokaku Park Night Cherry Blossom Light-up – Enchanting Beauty! (April to May; Hakodate City)

Caption: The cherry tree-lined paths are illuminated, creating a fantastical world. Photo courtesy of Goryokaku Tower.

Approximately 4 hours by express train or about 4 hours and 30 minutes via expressway from Sapporo, Goryokaku in Hakodate City is a star-shaped fortress built in the late Edo period, a rarity in Japan. Known as one of the prime cherry blossom spots in Hokkaido, it boasts around 1,600 Somei Yoshino and Yaezakura cherry trees blooming from late April to early May. The sight of the area filled with pink blossoms is akin to a floral fortress.

Ascending Goryokaku Tower, visitors can survey the cherry blossoms and fortress in one sweeping view. The park is illuminated from 5 PM to 9 PM during the blossom season, revealing a different, enchanting beauty from daytime. Even if the peak of Somei Yoshino has passed, late bloomers like Yaezakura are still there to enjoy.

Hiraoka Plum Festival – Enjoy Plum and Cherry Blossoms Together! (April to May; Sapporo City)

Image provided by the Sapporo City Parks and Greenery Association.

The “Hiraoka Plum Festival” is an event held annually from late April to early May at Hiraoka Park in the Kiyota Ward of Sapporo City. The park, one of the largest plum groves in the Sapporo area, is planted with a 4:6 ratio of Bungo red and white plum trees, totaling about 1,200 trees. Many visitors come to see the blossoms when they bloom.

Image provided by the Sapporo City Parks and Greenery Association.

During the festival, a temporary shop, “Hiraoka Ume Honpo,” opens, selling popular plum soft-serve ice cream and other original plum-related products for a limited time. While there are no flashy attractions, please enjoy Sapporo’s plum blossoms that bloom about two months later than those in Honshu. To get to Hiraoka Park, take a bus from the Subway Tozai Line’s Shin-Sapporo or Oyachi stations and get off at Hiraoka 5-jo 3-chome or Hiraoka 6-jo 4-chome.

Shizunai Cherry Blossom Festival – A Blossoming Tunnel Along 8 KM! (April to May; Shinhidaka Town)

Image: photo AC

The “Shizunai Cherry Blossom Festival” is a cherry blossom festival held annually from late April to early May. Along the Shizunai Nijukken Road Cherry Tree Avenue, named for its width of twenty ken (approximately 36 meters), about 2,200 Ezo Yamazakura, Kasumizakura, and Miyamazakura cherry trees bloom over an approximately 8-kilometer stretch.

Image: photo AC

A main venue is set up near the cherry blossom tunnel-like avenue, where visitors can enjoy food and drink at stalls, interact with ponies, and watch dances performed by locals. At night, the beautifully lit-up cherry blossoms, with petals fluttering in the wind, create a magical atmosphere.

In 2023, a temporary bus service operated between the old Shizunai station and the cherry blossom festival venue (operating hours unknown). Since the festival dates may change due to delayed blossoming, please check social media and other sources before visiting.

Jozankei Onsen Stream Koinobori – Carp Streamers Dancing in the Sky! (April to May; Sapporo City)

Image source: Sapporo Tourism Photo Library

The “Jozankei Onsen Stream Koinobori” is a spring tradition in the historic Jozankei, held every April to May. In line with the “Children’s Day” festival, which celebrates boys’ births and prays for their healthy growth, about 400 carp streamers donated by families from across Hokkaido fly above the Toyohira River in the hot spring town. Each koinobori carries cherished memories, inviting visitors to enjoy the fusion of historical culture and scenic beauty in Japan.

Access to Jozankei Onsen is convenient via the direct bus from Sapporo Station, the “Kappa Liner,” or the Jozankei Onsen route bus. You can also access from the Makomanai Station on the Subway Namboku Line. Take the Jotetsu Bus Jozankei Line and get off at Jozankei Onsen.

Sapporo Lilac Festival – Announcing the Arrival of Early Summer in Sapporo! (May; Sapporo City)

Image source: Sapporo Tourism Photo Library

The “Sapporo Lilac Festival” is held from mid to late May, celebrating Sapporo’s symbolic lilac trees. Events take place at Odori Park in central Sapporo and Kawashimo Park in Shiroishi Ward. Odori Park, home to about 400 lilac trees, hosts a music festival, stamp rally, and various other events. Food booths offer delicious dishes, sweets, and drinks throughout the day.

Image source: Sapporo Tourism Photo Library

At Kawashimo Park, concerts are held on a special stage on the lawn, alongside participatory content like lilac guided tours, lilac artwork workshops, and a lilac quiz rally. The Kawashimo Park venue is open for two days only. Enjoy blending in with the locals. Odori Park is a station or a less than 15-minute walk from Sapporo Station on the Toho or Namboku Subway Lines. Access Kawashimo Park by taking a Chuo Bus Shiro 24 Kawashimo Line from Subway Tozai Line’s Shiroishi Station, and get off at Kawashimo Park.

Rusutsu Resort GW Special Fireworks – Enjoy Amusement Park and Fireworks! (May; Rusutsu Village)

Image provided by: Kamori Kanko

The “Rusutsu Resort GW Special Fireworks” is an event held every Golden Week at the Sun Sun Field, a grassy plaza within Rusutsu Resort. Around 1,200 fireworks are launched to music, marking the grand opening of the green season. Entry to Rusutsu Resort requires either an accommodation or an amusement park ticket. Enjoy the amusement park by day and fireworks by night. Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention has staff who speak English, Chinese, and Korean.

Takikawa Canola Flower Festival – The Land Turns Yellow! (May; Takikawa City)

Image provided by: Takikawa City

The “Takikawa Canola Flower Festival” takes place from mid to late May in Takikawa City, about an hour by express train from Sapporo Station. With its thriving rapeseed cultivation, Takikawa City’s hillsides bloom beautifully with canola flowers, creating a vibrant yellow carpet that can only be seen during this season. A “Gourmet Festa” also takes place at the roadside station venue, featuring local eateries and popular kitchen cars to enliven the festival.

Akkesi Sakura and Oyster Festival – Feast on Oysters to Your Heart’s Content! (May; Akkeshi Town)

Image provided by: Akkeshi Town

The “Akkesi Sakura and Oyster Festival” is held in mid-May at Nenohi Park in Akkeshi Town, in the eastern Hokkaido area. Akkeshi’s name is derived from the Ainu word “Akkekesi,” meaning “a place with many oysters.” Akkeshi oysters are known for their plumpness, richness, and intense sweetness, cultivated in the cold seas over a long period.

Image provided by: Akkeshi Town

At the festival, visitors can enjoy charcoal-grilled local seafood such as oysters and clams under the colorful cherry blossoms, including the rare Fugenzo cherry. Various events also take place on Sundays during the festival period. To get to the venue, take the JR Hanasaki Line from Kushiro Station and transfer to a Kushiro Bus (Akkeshi-Kushiro Line) at Akkeshi Station, then get off at Nenohi Park.

Higashimokoto Shibazakura Festival – A Stunning Pink Carpet! (May to June; Ozora Town)

Captivating contrast of blue skies and shibazakura. Image provided by: Ozora Town Tourism Association

Starting with a handful of plants planted by local farmers in 1977 with the wish to “bloom beautiful flowers here,” Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park in Ozora Town has grown into a vast 10-hectare field of moss phlox. From late May to early June, the hills are covered in a breathtaking pink carpet. The “Shibazakura Festival” coincides with the peak bloom, featuring song stages on weekends and lively crowds. A park tour vehicle (Adults 400 yen, Children 200 yen round trip) runs throughout the vast grounds, making it easy for everyone to explore.

Spring: A Season to Feel the Power of Hokkaido’s Nature

Image provided by: Takikawa City

From April to June, Hokkaido bursts into life, releasing the energy stored over winter through the blossoming of plums, cherries, lilacs, and canola flowers. This vibrant display is truly a breath of life. Enjoy the refreshing Hokkaido climate and delicious local specialties at events held across the region.

(Note: The information in this article is as of February 2024. Please check the official websites for the latest information.)

Written by:

Masakazu Yoshida

Residing in Sapporo, Masakazu has built his career in various private enterprises and government positions in Hokkaido. In April 2016, he transitioned from being a company employee to a freelance writer. Currently, Masakazu works as a freelance writer alongside other occupations, primarily focusing on showcasing the charm of Hokkaido through web media platforms.