Starting from the south of Japan in Okinawa in January, the cherry blossoms slowly creep their way up through Japan, finally arriving in Hokkaido in late April.

This phenomenon is called the Cherry Blossom Front and Japanese people await the blooming season in each of their locality.

Hokkaido cherry blossom season starts in late April which takes about a month to go through the entirety of Hokkaido. Known as a place of beautiful snowscapes, from late April is when the snow on the ground finally begins to melt, allowing the flowers to bloom.

In other areas, the cherry blossom is a symbol of the peak of spring, but in Hokkaido, it announces the arrival of spring.

Those who have seen the cherry blossoms in Honshu might think that the ones in Hokkaido somehow look brighter. This is because they are a slightly different variety.

While the number of the more popular Yoshino cherry tree has increased, the Sargent cherry tree, which bears a deeper pink color, is commonly found in Hokkaido.

Another characteristic of this cherry blossom is that red leaves come out together when the tree starts blooming, which makes it appear darker, emphasizing its rustic beauty.

It goes without saying that people in Hokkaido love cherry blossom viewing. When these trees start blooming, it has become a tradition to prepare a charcoal fire and meat - instead of bento or lunch boxes as in other parts of Japan - and start making Jingisukan, or Mongolian barbecue.

Hokkaido cherry blossoms begin to bloom from the south. After a 2-hour-car ride from Hakodate, you will find Matsumae Park where Matsumae Castle is located.

This park has 250 kinds of cherry blossoms numbering to 10,000 trees, such as the single-flowered Yoshino cherry tree and the double-flowered Naden cherry tree. There are early-blooming, middle-blooming, and late-blooming cherry blossoms, which allows everyone to enjoy the flowers for a month.

The Matsumae Sakura Festival held from late April to mid-May hosts various events such as product fares featuring seafood and sweets and live performances.

Among these events, the highlight is the Samurai Procession featuring warriors wearing armors. You should also try the cherry blossom ice cream sold in the park at this time.

Hakodate is also an area in Hokkaido where you can enjoy cherry blossoms in late April. Goryokaku was designated as a national special historic site and is now open as a park known for its famous cherry blossoms. You can eat jingisukan while enjoying cherry blossoms in designated areas.

The 107m-high Goryokaku Tower adjacent to the park is a spot where you can marvel at a unique view of the gorgeous Hokkaido cherry blossoms from above.

Oniushi Park, a famous spot for cherry blossoms, is located in Morimachi, about an hour by car from Hakodate City to the north. "Oniushi" means "a place where there are many trees" in Ainu language.

There are 19 types and about 500 cherry blossom trees in the park, which bloom one after another from late April to mid-May. Aside from the Yoshino cherry tree and
Ōyamazakura, this park also features rare cherry blossom trees endemic to Morimachi such as the Komamizakura and Horiizakura.

In particular, Komamizakura is a valuable variety which only bears a limited number of flowers. This variety was born in the middle of cultivating Morikomachi which is a cross between Horiizakura and Yoshino cherry blossoms.

The roadside station You Yū Mori located next to the Oniushi Park is a place where you can gaze at the cherry blossoms and Morimachi from the rooftop lounge.

In May, the Cherry Blossom Front reaches Central Hokkaido, but in the early years, the front comes to Sapporo, which has a relatively higher temperature.

In Sapporo, Maruyama Park is a park that has long been a popular cherry blossom spot. About 150 cherry blossoms such as Sargent cherry tree and Yoshino cherry tree are planted in the park, and the best time to see them is from late April to mid-May.

Wild squirrels and wild birds can be seen in the park located on the north side of the Maruyama Genshirin designated as a national natural monument, where you can feel the nature of Hokkaido up close.

The cherry blossoms at Hokkaido Shrine next to Maruyama Park are also exceptional. In addition, you can also find a plum forest in Hokkaido Shrine. In several parts of Honshu, plum blooms from February to April while cherry trees blossom from March to April.

However, in Sapporo, plums and cherry blossoms bloom at the same time. In other words, Hokkaido Shrine is a place where you can enjoy both trees at the same time.

This is a row of cherry blossom trees en route to Noboribetsu Hot Spring from the Noboribetsu Station, which about an hour's drive from the New Chitose Airport.

In commemoration of the birth of the Crown Prince (and former Emperor) at that time in 1934, Sargent cherry trees were planted by citizens, whose entire length spans across 2 kilometers. These cherries bloom from early to mid-May and are widely known among the locals as a cherry blossom tunnel.

Noboribetsu is a famous hot spring area. It also has many tourist spots such as the hot spring spa, the Noboribetsu Jigokudani, which is an old crater formed by eruptions, and the natural footbath that you can enjoy while strolling through the woods.

The Nijūkken Road Sakura Namiki is located in Shinhidaka Town, about an hour and a half drive from New Chitose Airport. This is a 7-kilometer beautiful row of approximately 2,200 cherry blossom trees.

This road was originally built as a road for the royal family to visit the Imperial Farm (currently the Imperial Household Agency) of the Imperial Household in the area. In 1916, when Sargent cherries were transplanted from neighboring mountains, the road width was about 20 ken or 36 meters. Hence the name Nijūkken Road.

Many tourists from all over the country go to famous places featured in "The 100 Best Roads in Japan", "Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Sites", and "Hokkaido Heritage".

The Shizunai Cherry Blossom Festival is held from the beginning of May to the middle of the flowering season where souvenirs are sold. In addition, “Ryuunkaku” is open to the public for a limited time during the Sakura Festival, and valuable national treasures will be displayed here. (Festival dates are not yet released as of February 2024.)

Moerenuma Park was designed by the sculptor Isamu Noguchi. It's a 30-minute drive from downtown Sapporo, and it sits on a vast site of 188.8 hectares. The park is decorated with glass pyramids and large monuments, with a variety of artworks in each section.

One of them, the Sakura Forest, is a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing. 1,800 cherry trees rise in and around seven playground areas. In early May, everything is covered with cherry blossoms (mainly Ezo-yamazakura, Kasumi-zakura, and Chishima-zakura). This is a perfect spot to enjoy cherry blossom viewing with children.

Nakajima Park is about 9 minutes walking from Susukino, one of Sapporo's most vibrant areas. There are about 400 cherry trees in Nakajima Park, and they include varieties such as Ezo-yamazakura, Somei-Yoshino, and Yae-zakura. The best time to visit is from late April to early May.

There are also historic buildings in the park. Some elegant must-see during spring in Sapporo, are the combination of cherry blossoms and the Hassouan teahouse in the Japanese garden, and the Hoheikan, a wooden Western-style building from the early Meiji period (1868-1912).

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Odori Park stretches for roughly 1.5km in the center of Sapporo City. In early May, its 50 cherry trees are in full bloom. Most of them are Ezo-yamazakura, Satozakura, and Somei-Yoshino cherry trees, but there are also Kasumi-zakura, Chishima-zakura, and Miyama-zakura varieties.

Every year in late April, the "corn wagon" opens for business in Odori Park, offering great Hokkaido Corn to be enjoyed while taking it the beauty of cherry blossoms, azaleas, tulips, and more flowers that delight visitors every spring.

From the observation deck in the TV Tower in Odori Park, you can gaze out on Odori Park in spring and enjoy Sapporo's beautiful cityscape. It's a highly recommended experience!

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Tsukushima Park is a five-minute walk from Misono Station on the Toho subway line, a short distance from the center of Sapporo. The park sports tennis courts, and a golf course, as well as playgrounds, making it perfect for children and adults alike.

In the park's 22-hectare area, you can find Ezo-yamazakura cherry trees, and weeping cherry trees. You can definitely enjoy the blossoms while strolling in the park, but the best experience is the boat pond. The best time to see the blossoms from a boat is from the end of April to early May.

The cherry blossom front usually reaches Northern Hokkaido in May. In the eastern part of Asahikawa City, at the foot of the 295-meter-high Asahiyama Park, about 3,500 Ezo-yamazakura cherry trees are in full bloom in early May. During this period, the park fills with people and stalls selling food and drinks.

At the Night Cherry Blossom Festival, held in the same period, the beautiful trees are illuminated. This is a great way to enjoy blossoms in different atmospheres in the daytime and at night. Since the park is adjacent to Asahiyama Zoo, it's particularly recommended for families.

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Seiryu-ji Temple in Nemuro City in the East Hokkaido area is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot that is considered the finishing line of the cherry blossom front. The best time to view cherry blossoms here is from mid-may to early June, when the Chishima cherry and Ezo-yamazakura, Hokkaido's representative cherry trees, are in bloom.

The Chishima cherry was transplanted from Kunashiri Island to Nemuro City in 1872 (at that time it was called Kunashiri cherry), and in 1903 it was transplanted to the precincts of Seiryuji Temple.

It's believed that the origin of many Chishima cherry trees in Hokkaido is Seiryu-ji Temple. The Chishimazakura is characterized by its short stature and branches that split from the base. The low-hanging flowers make their fragrance more enjoyable.

There are many places in Hokkaido where you can find cherry blossoms right along the JR Hokkaido tracks. For trainspotters and shutterbugs alike, these make for sensational photos!

One place we especially recommend checking out is the cherry blossoms around Minami-Otaru Station. As the train slowly arrives at the platform, the trees sway in the breeze and a sakura snowstorm ensues - such a fantastic moment you'll cherish forever!

Minami-Otaru Station can be reached in about 30 minutes from Sapporo Station by rapid airport train, and is a 5-6 minute walk from the Marchen Kosaten (where the Otaru Music Box Museum is located) at the end of the tourist street along the Otaru Canal. It's the perfect way to cap your trip to Otaru!

The view of the cherry blossoms from the station plaza and platform is also an exciting sight. The best time to see the cherry blossoms is from late April to early May. Try to find your favorite photo spot.

One additional spot is between Shin-Sapporo and Kami-Nopporo stations on the JR Chitose Line, where the trains pass right by cherry trees in a small park. When traveling from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo, you can enjoy this picturesque place from the left side of the train.

Text by: Minna no Kotobasha

*This article was originally published in March 2021 and updated in February 2023.