Hokkaido Region – Famous sakura onsen spots with latest full-bloom forecast, 2020

Photo:Temiya Park

Hokkaido Region

Being the northernmost district in the country, Hokkaido’s sakura (cherry blossoms) season is the latest in Japan. In some areas, sakura start to bloom as late as mid-May. Endowed with nature, you can enjoy sakura at apparently all onsen resorts there.

Note

Sakura (Cherry blossoms) start blooming in the south in places like Kyushu, then gradually make their way north, so between the southern and northern parts of Japan the peak viewing seasons are more than a month apart. Sakura bloom at different times depending on how warm it is or how much it rains, so if there are several warm days in a row they will bloom earlier, and vice versa. This means that at times actual bloom times will differ from estimates.
Typically you can enjoy peak viewing for about one week from when they fully bloom.
The estimates for the peak viewing times are made on 9th January, 2020.

 

 

Moerenuma Park (モエレ沼公園)　[ Map ]

Usual time of full-bloom
Early May

Number of Sakura trees
2000

Access　25 min by bus (East 69 or 79 [東69・79番]) from Kanjo-Dori-Higashi Station (環状通東駅) on Sapporo Subway Toho Line to Moerenuma Koen Higashi-guchi (モエレ沼公園東口), and then 15-min walk from there

 

Hokkaido Jingu Shrine & Maruyama Park (北海道神宮・円山公園)　[ Map ]

Usual time of full-bloom
Late April

Number of Sakura trees
1500

Access　20 min by Sapporo City Transportation (Tram) from Sapporo Station (さっぽろ駅) to Maruyama Koen Station (円山公園駅), and then 5-min walk from Maruyama Koen Station

 

Sapporo Odori Park (札幌大通り公園)　[ Map ]

Usual time of full-bloom
Late April

Number of Sakura trees
 ――

Access　10-min walk from JR Sapporo Station (札幌駅)

List of Ryokans in Jozankei Onsen

List of Ryokans in Lake Shikotsu Onsen

 

 

Temiya Park (手宮公園)　[ Map ]

Usual time of full-bloom
Mid-May

Number of Sakura trees
700

Access　10 min by taxi from Otaru Station (小樽駅, JR Limited Express stops here)

List of Ryokans in Otaru Onsen

 

 

Naka-Noboribetsu Cherry Blossom Road (中登別桜のトンネル)　[ Map ]

Usual time of full-bloom
Early May

Number of Sakura trees
2000

Access　5 min by taxi from Noboribetsu Station (登別駅, JR Limited Express stops here)

List of Ryokans in Noboribetsu Onsen

 

 

Lake Toya (洞爺湖)　[ Map ]

Usual time of full-bloom
Early to mid-May

Number of Sakura trees
――

Access　20 min by bus from Toya Station (洞爺駅, JR Limited Express stops here) to “Toya-ko Onsen (洞爺湖温泉)”. The sakura area is within walking distance from the onsen.

List of Ryokans in Lake Toya Onsen

 

 

Asahigaoka Park (朝日ヶ丘公園)　[ Map ]

Usual time of full-bloom
Early May

Number of Sakura trees
3000

Access　10 min by taxi from Furano Station (富良野駅)

List of Ryokans in Furano & Biei Onsen

 

 

Mishima’s Shibazakura Garden (三島さんちの芝ざくら)　[ Map ]

Usual time of full-bloom
From late May to early June

Number of Sakura trees
――

Access　15-min walk from Kutchan Station (倶知安駅)

List of Ryokans in Niseko Onsen

 

 

Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park (東藻琴芝桜公園)　[ Map ]

Usual time of full-bloom
From early to late May

Number of Sakura trees
――

Access　50 min by bus from Abashiri Station (網走駅) to Higashimokoto (東藻琴), and then 5-min taxi ride

List of Ryokans in Abashiri (Memanbetsu) Onsen

List of Ryokans in Shiretoko (Utoro) Onsen

List of Ryokans in Lake Akan Onsen

 

 

Goryokaku Park (五稜郭)　[ Map ]

Usual time of full-bloom
Late April

Number of Sakura trees
1600

Access　15 min by Hakodate City Tram from Hakodate-eki-mae Station (函館駅前) to Goryokaku Koen-mae Station (五稜郭公園前), and then 15-min walk from there.

List of Ryokans in Hakodate Yunokawa Onsen