Part of the beauty of Japan is the changing of seasons and the festivals they bring, with each festival being quite different from the other. The end of the harsh winter is marked by the bloom of flowers throughout Hokkaido, and you’ll find that the highlight of spring is the many different flower festivals. As the weather gets warmer, the streets fill up with people. Summers are short but lively, with festivals emphasising the outdoors and soaking in as much of this sunshine as possible, with the highlight being the many spectacular fireworks displays throughout.
With so many things to do, where does one start? In this two part series, we highlight festivals and activities that evoke the best of Spring and Summer in Sapporo:
Lavender Farms (early July to early August)
There is no better season to see these beautiful purple flowers in full bloom. A short distance away from Sapporo and a wonderful idea for a day-trip, Farm Tomita is one of the best places in Hokkaido to view lavender. While originally a lavender farm, they have now expanded to include a whole range of other flowers such as poppies and French marigolds. The best viewing time would be in mid-July, and a variety of charming lavender-themed foods such as soft-serve are also available here as well!
Sapporo Summer Festival (mid July to mid August)
Held over the summer months of July to August, the Sapporo Summer Festival is one of the biggest summer festivals in Hokkaido. It is held in conjunction with numerous other events such as the Hokkai Bon Odori dance, the Tanuki Festival and the Susukino Festival. Of these, the most outstanding is the Sapporo Odori Beer Gardens which stretch along Odori Park. Here, over a hundred varieties of beers are available from many different breweries. With a capacity for over 13,000, you’ll find just about every local flocking here to enjoy the number of delicious food stalls and beer under the delightful summer skies.
Sapporo Craft Beer Forest
Held at the Bankei Ski Area, the Sapporo Craft Beer Forest is an event for craft beer enthusiasts, bringing craft breweries from throughout the country and even overseas to showcase their brews in this beautiful setting. Admission is free, so even if you’re not so much of a drinker yourself, come for the live music, performances and variety of delicious food to be enjoyed in the mountain setting of Bankei.
Pacific Music Festival (July)
Every July, you’ll find classical music lovers flocking to Sapporo for the Pacific Music Festival, where both aspiring musicians and established masters come to spend a month to showcase their various talents. Held throughout various venues in Sapporo, outdoor venues include Odori Park and Sapporo Art Park, where music and nature lovers are able to experience the best of both worlds. Many of these concerts are free to watch, allowing everyone to appreciate the beauty of classical music.
Sapporo City Jazz (July)
Another highly anticipated music festival in July, Sapporo City Jazz features the best of domestic and international jazz bands, as they come together in Japan’s largest jazz festival. Like the Pacific Music Festival, it is held in numerous venues around the city, the most famous being those at the Sapporo Music Tent at Odori Park, where performances are held almost daily for an entire month.
Firework Festivals (July to early Sep)
A staple of summer, firework festivals are held nearly every weekend during summer in Japan. In Sapporo, there are various firework festivals. The Hokkaido Makomanai Music Fireworks Festival is one of the largest fireworks festivals in Hokkaido, consisting of a total of 22,000 fireworks, is held in Makomanai Park. The Doshin UHB Fireworks Festival dates back over half a century, and is held near the Toyohira River Minami Bridge in central Sapporo. Moerenuma Artistic Firework features a combination of fireworks and music. The view of fireworks blossoming in the large expanse of the sky is stunning. Held at Takino Suzuran Park, LIGHT UP NIPPON HOKKAIDO was initially meant to raise funds for and to commemorate the areas and people affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and Tsunami, and it is now still held annually to help raise funds for other disaster relief efforts.
