1 2026 Sapporo Lilac Festival: A Celebration of Flowers, Music, and Food in Sapporo's Spring (Sapporo)

This event brings a splash of spring color to Sapporo's Odori Park. The Odori Park venue, spanning from 5-chome to 7-chome, features different themes in each section. You'll find corners for shopping for flowers, tea, and crafts, terraces to enjoy cafes, sweets, and craft beer with music, and a wine garden featuring Hokkaido wines and gourmet food. There are also plenty of stage performances, including live music and brass band concerts. At the Kawashimo venue, about 200 varieties of lilacs are in full bloom, where you can also enjoy walks, quiz rallies, and workshops.

2 Takikawa Canola Flower Festival: A Breathtaking View of Hillsides Dyed Yellow (Takikawa)

This event is held when the canola flower fields blanketing the hills of Takikawa City are in full bloom. Boasting one of the largest cultivation areas in Japan, the landscape transforms into a stunning yellow carpet. At a special venue open only on weekends, you can admire the flowers up close. We also recommend viewing the fields via a guided taxi or rental cycle. Additionally, a gourmet festival will be held at Michi-no-Eki Takikawa, where you can enjoy local delicacies and limited-edition sweets.

3 The 78th Matsumae Cherry Blossom Festival: Enjoy Night Illuminations and Food Stalls at a Historic Sakura Spot (Matsumae)

A traditional spring festival held in Matsumae, one of Hokkaido's premier cherry blossom viewing spots. With about 10,000 cherry trees of various kinds, it's a fantastic place to enjoy a long flower-viewing season. The trees are lit up at night, creating a magical atmosphere different from the daytime. During the festival, food stalls line the park, offering treats like yakitori, grilled seafood, and festival games. There are also stamp rallies where you can get a "Sakura Calendar" and various stage events.

4 The 77th Morimachi Cherry Blossom Festival: A Spring Fest Packed with T-Rex Races and Stage Events (Mori)

A popular spring event in Mori Town that attracts visitors from near and far. In addition to the cherry blossom illuminations, the festival features a variety of stage events, including singing shows, taiko drum performances, and magic shows. A special highlight is the unique "T-Rex Race," where participants run in Tyrannosaurus costumes, filling the venue with laughter and excitement. With inflatable play areas and hands-on booths, it's a festival the whole family can enjoy all day long.

5 The 42nd Higashimokoto Shibazakura Festival: Be Enveloped in the Sweet Scent of Moss Phlox (Oozora)

This event is held at Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park, a popular spot where moss phlox (shibazakura) covers the rolling hills. The pink flowers spread over approximately 100,000 square meters, creating a stunning carpet-like beauty. During the event, there are performance stages, live music, and food and drink stalls. You can also take a leisurely tour of the park on a sightseeing cart, and the view from the observatory is not to be missed. With facilities like go-karts and a fishing pond, it's perfect for a family outing.

6 Haru Kani Gassen in Abashiri: A Festival to Savor Post-Drift Ice Horsehair Crab... With Crabs Flying Overhead?! (Abashiri)

A gourmet event where you can fully enjoy the spring delicacy of the Okhotsk region, the "post-drift ice horsehair crab." The main attraction is the famous "Kani-maki" (crab toss), where participants scramble to catch crabs thrown into the air. Participation is by a same-day lottery with tickets, but you can reserve tickets in advance, making it accessible for those traveling from afar. In addition, various food and drinks are sold at the venue each year, including boiled crab and other seafood dishes.

7 Nanohana Sanpo 2026: A Scenic Early Summer Stroll Through Canola Flower Fields (Abira)

A popular early summer event held in the canola flower fields spread across the hills of Abira Town. There are plenty of hands-on activities, such as the "Nanohana Drive," a tour of the fields in a covered wagon pulled by a tractor, and the "Nanohana Walking Path," which allows you to walk through fields that are normally inaccessible. A limited-time "Nanohana Cafe" and information center will also be set up at the Michi-no-Eki, where you can enjoy canola-themed gourmet food and a town-wide stamp rally.

8 After Kashi-Haku Asahikawa 2026: The Excitement of the National Confectionery Exposition Returns (Asahikawa)

Carrying on the excitement of last year's highly successful "Asahikawa Kashi-Haku 2025," this is a major sweets event in Asahikawa. It will feature the "Mogu-Mogu Market" with famous confections from all over Japan, and an all-you-can-eat sweets buffet with about 25 types of cakes and Japanese sweets. There are also plenty of participatory events, such as the "Sweets Koshien," a collaboration between high school students and local shops, and confectionery-making workshops. With food, stage performances, and exhibitions to enjoy, it's a special three days wrapped in sweet happiness.

9 The 77th Akkeshi Cherry Blossom & Oyster Festival: Enjoy Full-Bloom Sakura and Seafood at the Same Time (Akkeshi)

A cherry blossom festival where you can enjoy both the sakura and gourmet food of Akkeshi Town. Under the fully bloomed cherry trees, you can savor the town's famous oysters and clams, grilled over charcoal. The festival features a popular event where you can grab large oysters with one hand, as well as a clam-grabbing event for children. There are also plenty of stage events, including live music and performances. It's an event where you can fully enjoy the spring flavors and lively atmosphere of Akkeshi.

10 Mashike Spring Flavor Festival 2026: A Spring Feast of Seasonal Seafood and Local Delicacies (Mashike)

A festival where you can fully enjoy the spring flavors of Mashike Town. The venue is lined with stalls selling local seafood products, grilled and fried foods, allowing you to taste Mashike's seasonal delicacies. The lively atmosphere is also a highlight, with stage events like live music and a Mikagura procession. At the concurrently held Sake Brewery Festival, you can also enjoy limited-edition sake and amazake (sweet fermented rice drink).

11 Yubetsu Tulip Fair: Where 700,000 Tulips of 200 Varieties Bloom in Glory (Yubetsu)

One of Hokkaido's premier flower events, featuring 700,000 tulips of about 200 varieties. The vast park is filled with colorful tulips, creating a breathtaking spectacle when in full bloom. There are various ways to enjoy the park, including touring on an electric bus or participating in a bulb-digging experience. Events and performances commemorating the 40th anniversary will also be held, adding even more to see and do. With many photo-worthy spots, it's a popular spring destination for everyone from families to couples.

12 The 45th Kushiro Town Cherry Blossom Festival: Savor Food and Fun with Japan's Latest-Blooming Sakura (Kushiro Town)

A spring event in Kushiro Town where you can enjoy food from kitchen cars and stalls while viewing the flowers known as Japan's latest-blooming cherry blossoms. A wide variety of flavors will be available, including yakitori, zangi (Hokkaido-style fried chicken), seafood, and sweets. The event is packed with fun, featuring a kids' land with inflatable play structures and stage events with comedy, music, and local folk performances, creating a lively atmosphere. There are also participatory events like mochi-maki (rice cake scattering) and candy giveaways, making it a spring flower-viewing event the whole family can enjoy.

13 The 46th Hiroo Azalea Festival: A Breathtaking Early Summer View Wrapped in Crimson Azaleas (Hiroo)

An early summer event in Hiroo held when the approximately 12,000 Ezo-yamatsutsuji azaleas that color Daimaruyama Forest Park are in full bloom. As the park is dyed in a vibrant crimson, stage events for children are held, bustling with families. A charcoal barbecue corner will also be set up, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the flavors of Hiroo amidst nature.

14 Spring Mikasa Railway Village Festival: A Fun-Filled Family Festival with Steam Locomotive Experiences and Stalls (Mikasa)

A festival packed with hands-on events for the whole family. There's plenty of fun for all ages, including stage shows, bingo tournaments, and festival game stalls. For railway enthusiasts, there are exciting activities like sitting in the driver's seat of a steam locomotive and blowing the whistle. In addition, there will be displays of police cars, fire trucks, and model trains, a stamp rally, and food from kitchen cars and stalls, making it a recommended event for a spring outing.

15 The 41st Nishin Banya Festival: A Gourmet Event Popular for its Free Sanpeijiru Soup (Obira)

A historic event in Obira Town held in front of the Former Hanada Family Herring Mansion, a National Important Cultural Property. Set against the backdrop of the mansion that tells the story of the town's prosperous herring fishing era, you can feel the local culture and spirit. The famous Sanpeijiru soup is served for free, and there are also corners selling local gourmet food and handmade specialty products. The stage features a variety of performances, including taiko drumming, brass bands, dance, and Matsumae Kagura. With a lottery and mochi-maki (rice cake scattering), the entire venue is filled with a lively atmosphere.