Odori Park
The coolest park in Sapporo, even when there's no snow!
- The 2020 Sapporo Autumn Festival: Sept. 11 to Oct. 3
The expansive park is one of Sapporo’s most famous attractions hosting Japan’s largest snow festival, as well as being home to the Sapporo TV Tower. Stretching from the TV tower up to the Maruyama neighborhood —a total of 1.5 km—the park is located right in the city center. Taking a stroll here is an excellent way to see downtown Sapporo.
Odori Park is a popular picnic and relaxation spot, serving both locals and visitors. Whether it’s a romantic picnic or salarymen having their lunch, the chilled vibe on a summer day is perfect for breaks from city sightseeing.
Television tower at Odori Park in September.
When night time arises, local skaters and musicians dominate the surroundings of the park, showcasing Sapporo’s youth culture.
Although extremely popular in winter, summer and autumn at Odori Park offer delicious seasonal food and beer festivals.
Sapporo Snow Festival
The park is host to millions of visitors from all over the world in February when the Sapporo Snow Fest transforms the area into a snow heaven. Massive snow and ice installations, as well as winter activities and warm foods, are part of the fun.
See gravity-defying ice sculptures at the famous Sapporo Snow Festival.
Sapporo Autumn Fest
When autumn leaves burst into color in September, the popular Autumn Fest is a must for foodies and beer lovers. Autumn is harvest season, and farmers’ markets line the park selling everything from wine to local sweets.
Photo by: Austin Chen Around 2.3 million people attend the Sapporo Autumn Festival annually. It’s a pretty big deal.
This is your chance to buy good quality organic Hokkaido vegetables, especially corn and potatoes, which the prefecture is well known for.
Look out for the German-style Oktoberfest area during the Autumn Festival for an awesome selection of both local and international brews.
Speaking of beer, the annual Odori Beer Garden is also held here in late July. Sapporo is a city known for craft beer and beer lovers from around the world gather to enjoy the biggest beer event in Japan. We wouldn’t expect anything less from the sister-city of Munich, Germany.
In the area
Odori Park is located next to the Sapporo TV Tower and the Sapporo Clock Tower. The Former Hokkaido Government Office, known colloquially as the Red Brick Office, is a short walk away. Check out its beautiful American neo-baroque architecture and historical exhibits.
The Sapporo Clock Tower surrounded by lilac flowers.
An array of department stores, high fashion boutiques, restaurants, and cafes can be found are next to the park. A very popular spot to try out regional specialties is the upscale buffet restaurant at the Sapporo Grand Hotel, also located near the park. The bustling nightlife of nearby Susukino makes the park an even more popular meeting spot.
Topics: food and drink, hokkaido, landmark, odori park, parks and gardens, sapporo, sapporo snow festival
