1. "The 76th Matsumae Cherry Blossom Festival" at Matsumae Castle, the best cherry blossom spot in Hokkaido (Matsumae Town )

Image credit: Hokkaido Matsumae Tourism and Products Association

This popular event is held every year during the cherry blossom season at Matsumae Castle, one of the most popular sightseeing spots in southern Hokkaido. The contrast between the historical castle and the cherry blossoms is beautiful, and at night the castle is illuminated to create a fantastic atmosphere.

(Image credit: Hokkaido Matsumae Tourism and Products Association)

During the festival, in addition to the lighting up of the cherry blossoms, there will be a variety of gourmet food stalls, shooting games, stage events, and a raffle for children. Please be sure to participate in the popular annual Sakura Stamp Rally.

2 Enjoy the oysters and cherry blossoms for which Atsugishi-cho is famous "The 75th Akkeshi Cherry Blossom and Oyster Festival" (Atsugishi-cho)

Image credit: Atsugishi-cho

This is a festival to enjoy cherry blossoms in full bloom and the taste of specialty products of Atsugishi-cho. At the venue, seafood is sold and grilled fare is available for rent, and you can enjoy the delicious taste of oysters and other specialty of Atsugishi-cho to your heart's content along with the cherry blossoms.

Image credit: Atsugishi-cho

In addition to live music and dance performances, there will also be an event for small children to catch scallions, making it an event that can be enjoyed by the whole family. At night, the cherry blossoms and Oyster Island Benten Shrine will be illuminated, creating a different atmosphere from that of the daytime, and the nighttime cherry blossoms are not to be missed.

3 Sapporo Jobkita Kitahachi Theatre KOKERAKOI performance "Here and There, Mr. Sato" (Sapporo )

Image credit: Tanaka Memorial Theatre Foundation

Here and There, Mr. Sato" will be staged as the opening performance of the Jobkita Kitahachi Theatre, which will have its grand opening on May 11, 2012. It is a masterpiece of Masahiro Natani, the leader of Eleven Nine, who has been appointed artistic director, and will be performed by a cast of leading Hokkaido actors.

The long-run performance will run for a total of 30 stages from May to June. Tickets with a commemorative tenugui (hand towel) are also available, and are recommended to commemorate the grand opening of the Jobkita Kita Hachi Theatre and your theater-going experience.

4 "Takikawa Rape Blossom Festival" (Takikawa City), where a yellow carpet of rape blossoms spreads all over the city

(Image credit: Takikawa Tourist Association)

The "Takikawa Rape Blossom Festival" is an event held when the rape blossoms are at their best. The rape fields, which boast one of the largest crop areas in Japan, are covered with rape blossoms as if they were covered with a yellow carpet. Rape blossom cabs" with commentary and "rape blossom rental bicycles" are also scheduled to take visitors around the rape fields.

(Image credit: Makutagawa Tourist Association)

A special site where visitors can enter the flower field is very popular as a place to take commemorative photos with the rape blossoms in full bloom. In addition, a gourmet festival will be held at the roadside station, featuring stores recommended by the tourism association on a weekly basis, and a kitchen car festival will also be held at the same time.
Please note that the rape blossom fields are off-limits except for the "rape blossom field special site.

5 "The 75th Morimachi Cherry Blossom Festival" (Morimachi), which also features Tyranno Race this year

Image credit: Morimachi

Morimachi, one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in southern Hokkaido, will hold an event to liven up the cherry blossom viewing season. In addition to singing shows, karaoke contests, shamisen and taiko performances, and other events, there will also be the "Morimachi Banma Competition," a heated race, and the "Tyrannosaurus Race," where visitors can ride in a Tyrannosaurus costume.

Image credit: Morimachi

Aobagaoka Park, the venue of the festival, is home to approximately 1,000 cherry trees of 17 varieties, including Someiyoshino cherry trees, and "Mori Komachi," an endemic species, will be in full bloom. On the last day of the festival, the fireworks display will be held, and visitors are invited to enjoy the collaboration of the many cherry trees and the large fireworks blooming in the night sky.

6 Experience boarding and workshops "Children's Day Special Event: Present of the sky for children! (Takikawa City)

Image credit: Takikawa Sky Park

Takikawa Sky Park is a facility in Takikawa City, Hokkaido, where visitors can try their hand at flying gliders, etc. In conjunction with Children's Day on May 5, events related to airplanes will be held, including a light aircraft experience boarding.

Image credit: Takikawa Sky Park

In addition to the light aircraft experience boarding, parents and children can make their own styrene airplanes together in the styrene airplane class. With simple assembly and adjustment, you can create your own flying airplane. Glider experience flights are also held on other days, making this a great spot for a weekend outing.

7 "The 44th Hiroo Azalea Festival" (Hiroo Town), where about 12,000 Ezo-yamatsutji azaleas turn red

Image credit: Hiroo Town Tourist Association

The festival is held at Daimaruyama Forest Park when the 12,000 Ezo-yamatsutji azaleas are at their best. A barbecue corner is open free of charge, and visitors can buy Hiroo Town's marine products and grill and eat them on the spot.

(Image credit: Hiroo Town Tourist Association)

The event also features seafood clam chowder sales, performer events, and children's candy rolls, allowing visitors to fully enjoy their hearts and stomachs while viewing the azaleas.

8 The 40th Nigashimokoto Shiba Cherry Blossom Festival, a beautiful pink carpet spreads across the city (Oozora Town)

(Image credit: NPO Okhotsk-Ohzora Tourist Association)

Shiba-zakura, cherry blossom-like flowers that spread like grass on the ground, are one of the can't-miss flowers in spring in Hokkaido. Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park in Ohzora Town, Hokkaido, is a popular spot for viewing these beautiful shiba-zakura. On a clear day, the spectacular view of the endless blue sky and hills of pink lawn cherry blossoms is overwhelming.

(Image credit: NPO Okhotsk Ohzora-cho Tourist Association)

At the "Higashi-mokoto Shiba-zakura Festival," where you can enjoy the lovely pink shiba-zakura even more, there are many events such as music stages, street performances, character shows, and so on. This spring, please take note of not only the cherry blossoms on the trees, but also those on the ground.

9 Three short plays from Hokkaido "The 10th Performance "Saruhito, Iruhito, Kuru" (Sapporo )

Image credit: Pocket Project

Pocket Kikaku, which is active under the theme of "theater you can carry in your pocket," will perform "Saruhito, Iruhito, Kuru," a remarkable work that has been selected for the final screening in two competitions. For this project, the citizens' theater group "Theatre Group Siberia Base" active in Asahikawa City will be invited to perform a total of three short plays, including two new works by Pocket Project.

Image credit: Pocket Planning

Yosugara" by Theater Troupe Siberia Base and "Fever" by Pocket Planning will also be performed at the same time. In addition, there will be an after-talk session where you can learn about interesting stories about theater in Hokkaido and the stories behind the creation of the plays.

10 Piano and Marimba Performance "Emi Muramoto & Yuu Sato Classic Tourism Vol.3 - The End of the Classic" (Eniwa City, Makuhibetsu Town)

Image credit: Obihiro Mallet gANG

Classic concerts by Emi Muramoto, a pianist living in Eniwa City, and Yuu Sato, a marimbist living in Tokachi, will be held in Eniwa City and Makubetsu Town. Their sometimes gentle, sometimes powerful tones will echo through the halls.

Image credit: Obihiro Mallet gANG

With his innovative arrangements on piano and marimba, he performs a wide range of music from familiar classics to contemporary pieces. This is a concert that transcends the boundaries of conventional classical music, and can be enjoyed by both young children and adults.