1 The 76th Matsumae Cherry Blossom Festival at Matsumae Castle, Hokkaido's Premier Cherry Blossom Spot (Matsumae Town)

Image source: Hokkaido Matsumae Tourism and Products Association

This popular event is held annually during the cherry blossom season at Matsumae Castle, a representative tourist spot in Southern Hokkaido. The contrast between the historic castle and the cherry blossoms is beautiful, and at night, the area is lit up, creating a magical atmosphere.

Image source: Hokkaido Matsumae Tourism and Products Association

In addition to the cherry blossom illumination, there will be food stalls offering various gourmet treats and activities like shooting galleries, as well as stage events and a lottery for children. Be sure to participate in the ever-popular cherry blossom stamp rally.

2 Enjoy Akkeshi's Famous Oysters and Cherry Blossoms at the 75th Akkeshi Cherry Blossom and Oyster Festival (Akkeshi Town)

Image source: Akkeshi Town

A festival to enjoy the full bloom of cherry blossoms and the taste of Akkeshi's famous local products. At the venue, seafood is sold and barbecue grills are available for rent, allowing you to fully savor delicious local flavors like oysters along with the cherry blossoms.

Image source: Akkeshi Town

With live music, dance performances, and an asari clam grabbing event for young children, it's an event the whole family can enjoy. At night, the cherry blossoms and Kakijima Benten Shrine are illuminated, offering a different atmosphere from the daytime that you won't want to miss.

3 The Inaugural Performance at the New Job-Kita Hachijo Theater in Sapporo: "Acchi Kocchi Sato-san" (Sapporo City)

Image source: Tanaka Memorial Theater Foundation

"Acchi Kocchi Sato-san" will be staged as the inaugural performance of the Job-Kita Hachijo Theater, which grand-opens on May 11. It is a masterpiece by Masahiro Naya, the head of Eleven Nines who has been appointed as the artistic director, and features a star-studded cast of Hokkaido's leading actors.

The performance will be a long run with a total of 30 stages from May to June. Tickets that come with a commemorative tenugui (hand towel) for the theater's opening are also available, making it a great memento of the grand opening and your theater experience.

4 A Sprawling Yellow Carpet of Canola Flowers at the Takikawa Canola Flower Festival (Takikawa City)

Image source: Takikawa Tourism Association

The Takikawa Canola Flower Festival is held to coincide with the peak blooming season of canola flowers. The fields, boasting one of the largest cultivation areas in Japan, are covered in canola flowers, creating a scene like a yellow carpet. A "Canola Taxi" tour with commentary and "Canola Rental Cycles" are also planned.

Image source: Takikawa Tourism Association

The special venue where you can enter the flower fields is a very popular spot for taking commemorative photos with the blooming canola flowers. Furthermore, at the Gourmet Festa held at the roadside station, shops recommended by the tourism association will be featured weekly, and a kitchen car festival will be held simultaneously.
*Please note that entry into canola fields other than the "Special Canola Field Venue" is prohibited.

5 Featuring a T-Rex Race This Year! The 75th Morimachi Cherry Blossom Festival (Mori Town)

Image source: Mori Town

An event to liven up the cherry blossom viewing season is held in Mori Town, one of Southern Hokkaido's famous cherry blossom spots. In addition to song shows, karaoke contests, and shamisen and taiko drum performances, there will be the thrilling "Morimachi Banba Horse Race" and a "T-Rex Race" where participants run in Tyrannosaurus costumes.

Image source: Mori Town

The venue, Aobagaoka Park, is home to about 1,000 cherry trees of 17 varieties, including Somei Yoshino, and the unique local species "Mori Komachi" also blooms delicately. On the final day's fireworks display, enjoy the collaboration of countless cherry blossoms and the large fireworks blooming in the night sky.

6 Trial Flights and Workshops in a Special Children's Day Event: "A Gift of the Big Sky for Children!" (Takikawa City)

Image source: Takikawa Skypark

Takikawa Skypark is a facility in Takikawa City, Hokkaido, where you can experience flights in gliders and other aircraft. In celebration of Children's Day on May 5, various airplane-themed events, including trial flights in light aircraft, will be held.

Image source: Takikawa Skypark

In addition to the light aircraft trial flights, a styrofoam plane workshop will be held where parents and children can build a styrofoam plane together. With simple assembly and adjustments, you can create your own well-flying airplane. Glider trial flights are also available on other days, making it a recommended spot for weekend outings.

7 About 12,000 Ezo Mountain Azaleas Paint the Landscape Crimson at the 44th Hiroo Azalea Festival (Hiroo Town)

Image source: Hiroo Town Tourism Association

This festival is held at Daimaruyama Forest Park during the peak blooming season of about 12,000 Ezo mountain azaleas. A barbecue area will be open for free use, where you can buy seafood from Hiroo Town and grill it on the spot.

Image source: Hiroo Town Tourism Association

It's an event that will satisfy both your heart and stomach while you admire the azaleas, with seafood clam chowder for sale, performer events, and a candy scramble for children.

8 A Beautiful Pink Carpet Spreads Out at the 40th Higashimokoto Shibazakura Festival (Ozora Town)

Image source: NPO Okhotsk Ozora Town Tourism Association

"Shibazakura," or moss phlox, which spreads like a lawn and has cherry-like flowers, is one of the must-see flowers of spring in Hokkaido. A popular spot for these beautiful shibazakura is Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park in Ozora Town. The breathtaking view of the endless blue sky and the pink shibazakura hills on a sunny day is overwhelming.

Image source: NPO Okhotsk Ozora Town Tourism Association

The "Higashimokoto Shibazakura Festival," which allows you to enjoy these lovely pink flowers even more, is packed with events like music stages, street performances, and character shows. This spring, be sure to pay attention not only to the cherry blossoms on trees but also to the shibazakura blooming on the ground.

9 Three Short Plays from Hokkaido: The 10th Performance "Saru Hito, Iru Hito, Kuru" (Sapporo City)

Image source: Pocket Kikaku

Pocket Kikaku, a group that operates under the theme of "theater that can be carried in your pocket," will perform "Saru Hito, Iru Hito, Kuru," a noteworthy work that has been selected for the final screening in two competitions. This project invites the citizen's theater group "Theater Company Siberia Base" from Asahikawa City, and you can enjoy a total of three short plays, including two new works by Pocket Kikaku.

Image source: Pocket Kikaku

Either "Yosugara" by Theater Company Siberia Base or "Hatsunetsu" by Pocket Kikaku will also be performed simultaneously. Furthermore, after-talk sessions are planned where you can hear interesting stories about theater in Hokkaido and behind-the-scenes tales of creation.

10 A Collaboration of Piano and Marimba: "Emi Muramoto & Yu Sato Classic Tourism Vol.3 ~The End of the Classic~" (Eniwa City, Makubetsu Town)

Image source: Obihiro Mallet gANG

A classical concert by pianist Emi Muramoto, who lives in Eniwa City, and marimbist Yu Sato, who lives in Tokachi, will be held in Eniwa City and Makubetsu Town. The sometimes gentle, sometimes powerful tones will resonate throughout the venue.

Image source: Obihiro Mallet gANG

With innovative arrangements for piano and marimba, they will perform a wide range of music from familiar classics to contemporary pieces. As a concert that transcends the boundaries of traditional classical music, it can be enjoyed by everyone from young children to adults.