Last week, I took a family trip to Sapporo during the May holiday. Our main goal was actually a foodie adventure with some hot spring relaxation thrown in—I honestly wasn’t thinking much about seasonal attractions. But right before we left, I discovered something amazing—early May happens to be cherry blossom season in Sapporo! That’s when I started looking for convenient cherry blossom spots in the city, which led us to discover the beautiful Nakajima Park.
Sapporo Cherry Blossom Season: A Late Spring Surprise
Did you know Sapporo’s cherry blossoms bloom much later than mainland Japan? While most of Japan enjoys sakura in March or early April, Hokkaido’s cooler climate means the blossoms typically reach their peak from late April to early May. I was thrilled that our trip coincidentally aligned perfectly with full bloom season!
This timing was especially nice since I hadn’t really gotten to enjoy cherry blossoms properly in Korea this year. And since my mom loves flowers, it made our trip that much more special.
After landing at New Chitose Airport and picking up our rental car, we headed to places like Jozankei Onsen and Otaru. I was expecting to see cherry blossoms everywhere right away, but surprisingly, they weren’t that easy to spot. I actually started wondering if it really was cherry blossom season in Sapporo after all.
Still, we decided to stick with our plan to visit Nakajima Park. Even if the blossoms weren’t at their peak, I figured a park stroll would be enjoyable anyway.
How to Get to Nakajima Park
Nakajima Park is located south of Susukino Station, which is a popular base for many Sapporo travelers. From Susukino, it’s less than 1km to the park entrance—only about a 15-minute walk. That’s how we got there, just a pleasant stroll from our hotel.
But let’s be real—Japan trips often involve WAY more walking than you expect! So using public transportation is definitely a smart option too. The Namboku subway line that connects Sapporo Station, Odori Park, and Susukino also goes to Nakajima Park. The station is literally called “Nakajima Koen Station” (koen means park in Japanese), and when you exit, you’re practically already at the park entrance. Talk about convenient!
You can also enter from the southern side and later exit near Horohirabashi Station if you want to save some steps after exploring the park.
Nakajima Park Cherry Blossoms: An Urban Oasis
Nakajima Park is a 24-hectare green sanctuary right in central Sapporo, home to about 5,000 trees including pines, ginkgoes, and of course, cherry trees. Beyond the gorgeous nature, the park features Japanese gardens, a pond, walking paths, the nationally important cultural property Hōheikan, Kitara Concert Hall, an observatory, and various other cultural and historical facilities. It’s beloved by both locals and tourists year-round. And the best part? It’s completely free and open 24 hours!
I visited on a Saturday, which meant it was pretty crowded and had a real “tourist attraction” vibe. There were several food trucks near the entrance selling coffee and desserts with people lining up, plus lots of folks enjoying picnics throughout the park.
When we first entered, I couldn’t see any cherry blossoms immediately, which made me a little nervous. As we walked further in, we spotted some cherry trees that had already dropped their petals and were showing green leaves. I started worrying that we’d missed the bloom, especially since it had rained and been super windy the day before—perfect conditions for knocking blossoms off the trees.
But as we continued deeper into the park…
Wow!
There they were—clusters of cherry trees in FULL bloom! It seems different areas of the park might have different cherry varieties, or maybe the trees near the entrance bloom earlier due to their location.
The further we went, the more spectacular the display became. Some trees were absolutely perfect—dense with blossoms and not a single petal fallen. My mother was absolutely delighted by the beauty, and I was just thrilled to experience cherry blossoms in May—something I hadn’t experienced before.
Inside the park, we saw many people spread out on the lush green lawns enjoying picnics. Even without the cherry blossoms, Nakajima Park’s landscaping is stunning—perfect for a slow, healing walk surrounded by nature despite being in the middle of the city.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Nakajima Park in Spring
I’ve now shared one of Sapporo’s best cherry blossom viewing spots: Nakajima Park. I think we caught it right at peak bloom, though the blossoms might be starting to fall by now. If you have the chance, I absolutely recommend visiting—we had such a wonderful time there. And honestly, even if you miss cherry blossom season entirely, the park is beautiful enough to visit any time of year!
