Yurigahara Park opened in 1983 as a general park in Sapporo's Kita Ward. Since then, it has long been cherished by the citizens of Sapporo as a place of relaxation and recreation. A multitude of plants are cultivated here, with various flowers coming into full bloom depending on the season. We visited to see what kinds of flowers you can encounter now, as spring transitions into summer. (Date of visit: May 18, 2022)

Yurigahara Park covers an area of 25.4 hectares. It's quite spacious, with different themed areas where various plants are grown.

Just inside the entrance is the Yurigahara Green Center, which has an impressive greenhouse facility (with an admission fee), but this time, let's explore the outdoor areas.

Incidentally, just outside the park grounds, lilac trees are planted along a stretch of about 650 meters, creating a path named the "Lilac Walk" that delights passersby.

Many lilacs are also planted within the park itself. In a corner of the botanical garden, about 50 varieties of lilacs, mainly French lilacs, are currently in full bloom, filling the air with a wonderful fragrance.

The lilacs are planted so as to surround a plaza, and with several benches available, it seems like a great spot to take a break while admiring the flowers. During our visit, we saw people enjoying packed lunches and reading books.

In a corner of the lawn plaza, at the base of a silo, is an area about 80 meters long and 15 meters wide named the "Muscari Path." From mid-May, blue-violet muscari (grape hyacinths) bloom like a vibrant carpet.

The sight of tulips blooming among the muscari, as if floating, is also very popular with visitors. There are 80 varieties of tulips, each with its own unique character! However, at the time of our visit, some of the tulips were already past their peak.

You can also get a close-up view of this area from the windows of the "Lily Train," which runs slowly through the park. From now on, you can enjoy views of early summer flowers like roses and lilies from the train. The Lily Train is also recommended for those with small children or anyone who finds it difficult to walk around the large park.

Now, let us introduce one more plant that is currently in full bloom: the dove tree, planted in the World Lily Plaza.

At first glance, it may seem like there are only leaves, but if you look closely, you can see white flowers blooming. Two bracts embrace the central flower, and because they look like white handkerchiefs, the tree was given its name (the Japanese name is "handkerchief tree").

The dove tree flowers were at their peak, but soon, rare plants that can only be seen in a few botanical gardens in Hokkaido, such as the chocolate lily, the Himalayan blue poppy, and Ashe's magnolia, will begin to bloom one after another.

We've also put together a video showing a walk around the vast Yurigahara Park, so please take a look if you're interested!



Please come and visit Yurigahara Park to meet its many different plants.