The cherry blossom season has arrived in Hokkaido, the land of the north! Here are five spots in Hokkaido where you can see beautiful cherry blossoms.

■ Goryokaku Park (Hakodate City)

Goryokaku Park is a castle ruin, famous for its star-shaped pentagonal moat, and is a popular spot all year round. In spring, 1,600 Yaezakura and Somei-Yoshino cherry trees bloom in full bloom, making it even more beautiful. You can look down on the magnificent cherry blossoms from the top of Goryokaku Tower. The best time to see them is from late April, so it's a great place to include in your long holiday plans. It's a little far from JR Goryokaku Station, so if you find it difficult to walk for about 20 minutes, it's convenient to take a bus. This year, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, banquets and other events are prohibited, but you can still enter the park, so it's a good idea to take a stroll under the cherry blossoms. ▼For more information, please see the Domingo spot page. Goryokaku Park

■ Odori Park (Sapporo City)

It is also a popular spot for tourists, with attractions such as the Sapporo TV Tower. Located in the center of Sapporo, Odori Park is about 1,500 meters long and has the appeal of being a place where you can enjoy a natural landscape despite being in a big city. It becomes even more beautiful during the cherry blossom season that arrives every year around Golden Week. It is only one subway stop from Sapporo Station, but if you don't have a lot of luggage, it is about a 15-minute walk, so we recommend taking a stroll and enjoying the scenery of Sapporo. Since it is a park in Odori, banquets are not allowed, but if you sit on a bench under the cherry blossom trees and look up at the blooming cherry blossoms, you will surely feel so comfortable that you will forget that you are in a big city. ▼For more information, please see the Domingo spot page. Odori Park

■ Maruyama Park (Sapporo City)

Maruyama Park, located near the center of Sapporo, is one of Hokkaido's leading cherry blossom viewing spots, with a wide variety of beautiful plants to enjoy. The best time to see the flowers is from late April to mid-May. Maruyama Park is conveniently located, just three minutes from Maruyama Koen Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway. This year, due to the effects of COVID-19, the use of firearms is prohibited, and people are urged to refrain from holding parties with blankets as much as possible and to visit at quiet times and on quiet days. Although there are some restrictions on how you can enjoy the park, the beauty of the cherry blossoms remains the same as in previous years, so why not consider it as one of your cherry blossom viewing spots? ▼For more information, please see the Domingo spot page. Maruyama Park

■ Asahiyama Park (Asahikawa City)

Asahiyama Park, adjacent to Asahiyama Zoo, one of Hokkaido's leading zoos, is also one of Hokkaido's leading cherry blossom viewing spots. Located at an altitude of just over 200m at the foot of Mount Asahi, the park also offers beautiful views. The best viewing time is from early to mid-May, and the park is lit up at night during the season. The illuminated cherry blossoms at night have a different atmosphere from the daytime and are very fantastical. You can access the park by bus from JR Asahikawa Station. We also recommend using a rental car.

■Kitami Shrine (Rishirifuji Town)

The last place we'll introduce is the cherry blossom spot on Rishiri Island, an isolated island located in the northernmost part of Hokkaido. As it is a shrine, banquets and the like are not permitted, but it is also famous as the last spot in Japan to enjoy cherry blossoms. The best time to see them is from late May. Cherry blossoms bloom in abundance on Rishiri Island, just as the rainy season is about to begin in Honshu. Rishiri Island is home to many other beautiful flowers that bloom naturally in addition to cherry blossoms, making it one of the islands you should definitely visit. It takes about 100 minutes by ferry from Wakkanai to get there.