1 Enjoy wine and music under the sweet scent of lilacs at the 67th Sapporo Lilac Festival in 2025 (Sapporo City)

A spring tradition that heralds the arrival of early summer in Sapporo. With purple, pink, and white lilacs decorating the venues, various events can be enjoyed at each venue, such as the Lilac Wine Garden 2025, where you can taste Hokkaido wine, the Lilac Terrace 2025, where a performance stage featuring citizen participation will be held, and the Odori Venue 5-chome, where you can exhibit, shop, and experience lilacs. Guided tours and concerts will also be held at Kawashita Park in Shiroishi Ward, where visitors can take part in lilac forest tours.

2 The contrast between 10,000 cherry trees and Matsumae Castle at the 77th Matsumae Cherry Blossom Festival (Matsumae Town)

At the Matsumae Sakura Festival held in Matsumae Town, the northernmost castle town in Japan, approximately 10,000 cherry trees bloom in a variety of colors for a month. Enjoy the exquisite contrast with Matsumae Castle, and take part in a stamp rally around the old trees and famous sites, as well as the special appeal of the nighttime illuminations. There will also be food stalls offering gourmet food and shooting galleries, as well as stage events featuring performances and music. Come experience a cherry blossom feast woven together by history and nature.

3 The 2025 Takikawa Rape Flower Festival - Rape flowers blooming in the hills (Takikawa City) - features golden rapeseed fields.

A gourmet festival using local ingredients will be held against the backdrop of a golden rapeseed field. You can tour the spectacular rapeseed scenery, which has been selected as one of the "100 Most Moving Moments in Hokkaido," on a special "Nanoka Bus" or "Nanoka Taxi." In addition, confectionery shops in the city will be selling limited edition rapeseed sweets.

4 The 2025 Yubetsu Tulip Fair (Yubetsu Town) will feature 700,000 tulips of approximately 200 varieties in full bloom.

The Tulip Fair is held at Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park. Approximately 700,000 tulips of about 200 varieties bloom in full glory. During the fair, you can enjoy various events and experience digging up your favorite tulips and taking them home.

5 The Hiraoka Plum Festival (Sapporo City) also offers the popular plum soft serve every year.

Hiraoka Park's plum grove is home to about 1,200 plum trees, and is bustling with nearly 100,000 visitors during the flowering season. You can also enjoy special shops such as "Hiraoka Umehonpo," which sells limited-edition plum-related products. It's the perfect opportunity to feel the arrival of spring while tasting the popular "plum soft serve ice cream," which can only be enjoyed during the plum blossom season.

6 "Nanohana Sanpo 2025" (Abira Town) - a rapeseed field covering approximately 100 hectares

The Nanohana Sanpo event is held in Abira Town, Hokkaido's leading rapeseed flower viewing spot. The spectacular yellow rapeseed flower fields spread out as far as the eye can see. This event is bustling with visitors, and includes a covered carriage pulled by a tractor through the rapeseed fields, a walk along the Nanohana Promenade through fields that are normally off-limits, and local rapeseed cuisine. Enjoy this special experience along with the beautiful scenery that symbolizes spring in Abira Town.

7 The 3km-long cherry blossom tunnel is a spectacular sight at the 58th Yushun no Sato Urakawa Cherry Blossom Festival (Urakawa Town)

The famous cherry blossom spot, "Yushun Sakura Road," is a veritable "cherry blossom tunnel" with over 1,000 Siberian cherries lined up over 3km. There is a food court where you can taste local produce, various workshops, stage events, pony riding experiences, and illuminated cherry blossom trees, making it a fun place for the whole family to enjoy.

8 Approximately 12,000 Ezoyama azalea trees paint the venue red at the 45th Hiroo Azalea Festival (Hiroo Town)

The Hiroo Azalea Festival sees Omaruyama Forest Park dyed scarlet, attracting visitors with its spectacular view of approximately 12,000 Ezoyama Azalea trees. You can enjoy the rich flavors of Hiroo Town to your heart's content, including grilling and tasting local seafood at the free barbecue corner and purchasing seafood clam chowder. There are also stage events for children and candy handed out, making this an especially recommended event for families.

9 The 41st Higashimokoto Shibazakura Festival (Ozora Town) features 10 hectares of pink moss phlox

The Higashimokoto Shibazakura Festival will be held at Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park. You can enjoy the beautiful contrast between the bright pink moss phlox hills that spread across 10 hectares and the blue sky. A variety of events are scheduled to take place from May 3rd to 31st, including an opening event, a music stage, street performances, and Higashimokoto beef tasting and sales.

10 The Hokuto Sakura Corridor (Hokuto City) is a spectacular sight, with weeping cherry trees that are over 300 years old

This event allows you to enjoy the fantastical scenery of cherry blossoms, including the 300-year-old weeping cherry tree at Houki-ji Temple, the cherry blossom tunnel at the site of the Matsumae clan's Tokiriji Jinya, the rows of cherry trees along the Ono River, and the Senbonzakura at Kiyokawa. At night, the illuminated cherry blossoms attract visitors, and you can also enjoy food stalls and BBQs using local ingredients. There are also stage events and a festival day that children can enjoy, adding color to spring in southern Hokkaido.

11 Komagatake and about 1,000 cherry trees at the 76th Morimachi Cherry Blossom Festival (Morimachi)

The Morimachi Sakura Festival, held at Morimachi Aobagaoka Park, will be held for two weeks, during which about 1,000 cherry trees of 17 varieties, including Somei-Yoshino, will be in full bloom. A special venue will be set up where you can enjoy a variety of events, including singing shows, karaoke scoring battles, and horse racing competitions, and workshops and children's festivals are also planned. Please spend a special time feeling the arrival of spring under the illuminated rows of cherry trees.

12 The 76th Akkeshi Sakura and Oyster Festival (Akkeshi Town) where you can also enjoy Akkeshi's specialty oysters and clams

At the Akkeshi Sakura Oyster Festival, you can enjoy Akkeshi's specialty seafood, fresh oysters and clams, grilled over charcoal under the cherry blossoms. Various events are held, including clam and oyster catching for children, live performances, and you can also enjoy Akkeshi-exclusive whiskey highballs. At night, Oysterjima Benten Shrine is lit up, adding color to the spring evenings.

13 The 7km long cherry blossom avenue along Nijukken Road is worth a visit at the 62nd Shizunai Cherry Blossom Festival (Shizunai Town)

The Nijukken Road Sakura-namiki, which is the venue for the event, is one of Japan's most famous cherry blossom viewing spots, stretching for about 7km in a straight line. Approximately 2,000 cherry trees, mainly Ezoyamazakura, will be covered in pink. There will also be a program for families to enjoy, including a pony petting experience and stalls selling local specialties.

14 A pink carpet seen from a helicopter at the "2025 Fairy Tale Village Takinoue Moss Phlox Festival (Takinoue Town)"

This festival is held when the park is decorated with a carpet of moss phlox. During the festival, there are plenty of family-friendly events, such as the "Phlox Marche" where you can experience food and markets and workshops, mini live shows, and a large gathering of local characters. In addition, from May 17th to 27th, you can enjoy the spectacular view of the moss phlox from the sky on the "Takinoue Moss Phlox Sky Cruise" helicopter tour.

15 An event to enjoy late-blooming cherry blossoms: the 44th Kushiro Town Cherry Blossom Festival (Kushiro Town)

The Sakura Festival is full of food and fun for friends and family to enjoy the arrival of spring. In addition to food trucks, festivals, fluffy play equipment, and stage events, there will also be woodworking experiences and seedling giveaways. At night, the cherry blossoms are lit up, creating a fantastic atmosphere.

16 About 2,000 cherry trees will be in full bloom at the "Sakura Festa and Night Cherry Blossom Illumination 2025 (Takasu Town)"

A variety of programs will be available at Palette Hills, where approximately 2,000 cherry trees are in full bloom. In addition to nighttime illuminations, food and drink stalls, street performances, a flea market, workshops, and even wonderful mini-live shows are planned.