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An Exhilarating View of the City! Work Up a Good Sweat Hiking Mount Maruyama!
For those of you living in Sapporo who might be feeling a bit out of shape lately, or perhaps are craving some time in nature, we highly recommend a hike up Mount Maruyama.
The word "hiking" might sound daunting, but this is a course you can easily tackle in sneakers as long as it's not the snowy season. Of course, it's also recommended for those who aren't Sapporo residents. Instead of lazing around on your day off, why not work up a good sweat and refresh yourself?
Mount Maruyama stands at an elevation of 225.4 meters. There are two main routes to the top: the "Hachijuhakkasho Course" and the "Zoo Course." While it varies from person to person, either route takes about 30 to 40 minutes to climb. First, head from Maruyama Koen Station on the Subway Tozai Line towards the Maruyama Zoo. Near the entrance to the Maruyama Primeval Forest, you'll find a sign like the one below.
As the sign says "Sapporo Area Nature Trail," the Mount Maruyama hike is not very difficult, so it's considered a "nature trail" rather than a "mountain trail." The "Hachijuhakkasho Course" (approx. 1km) starts to the left from the Daishido Hall just behind this sign. The entrance to the "Zoo Course" (approx. 0.7km), which starts to the right, is about another 1km away from here.
With no steep inclines, it's a casual climb, and it seems some locals hike it almost every day.
That said, you shouldn't let your guard down. Be sure to stay hydrated and proceed according to your own physical condition. In winter, we recommend wearing proper snow boots. If you do, you're sure to be greeted by the unique beauty and richness of nature in that season.
You might even encounter adorable small animals like Ezo squirrels and chipmunks, or wild birds with their distinctive calls.
Once you've had your fill of forest bathing and started to break a sweat, the summit will be in sight. The exhilarating feeling of looking down on the Sapporo cityscape is a special reward reserved only for those who make it to the top. Savor it to your heart's content and blow away all your daily fatigue and stress!
The word "hiking" might sound daunting, but this is a course you can easily tackle in sneakers as long as it's not the snowy season. Of course, it's also recommended for those who aren't Sapporo residents. Instead of lazing around on your day off, why not work up a good sweat and refresh yourself?
Mount Maruyama stands at an elevation of 225.4 meters. There are two main routes to the top: the "Hachijuhakkasho Course" and the "Zoo Course." While it varies from person to person, either route takes about 30 to 40 minutes to climb. First, head from Maruyama Koen Station on the Subway Tozai Line towards the Maruyama Zoo. Near the entrance to the Maruyama Primeval Forest, you'll find a sign like the one below.
As the sign says "Sapporo Area Nature Trail," the Mount Maruyama hike is not very difficult, so it's considered a "nature trail" rather than a "mountain trail." The "Hachijuhakkasho Course" (approx. 1km) starts to the left from the Daishido Hall just behind this sign. The entrance to the "Zoo Course" (approx. 0.7km), which starts to the right, is about another 1km away from here.
With no steep inclines, it's a casual climb, and it seems some locals hike it almost every day.
That said, you shouldn't let your guard down. Be sure to stay hydrated and proceed according to your own physical condition. In winter, we recommend wearing proper snow boots. If you do, you're sure to be greeted by the unique beauty and richness of nature in that season.
You might even encounter adorable small animals like Ezo squirrels and chipmunks, or wild birds with their distinctive calls.
Once you've had your fill of forest bathing and started to break a sweat, the summit will be in sight. The exhilarating feeling of looking down on the Sapporo cityscape is a special reward reserved only for those who make it to the top. Savor it to your heart's content and blow away all your daily fatigue and stress!
Writer Profile
Hokkaido Tourism Camera-Writer
Team Buchineko
We are "Team Buchineko," with many connections to tourist spots and facilities in Hokkaido. Even things that seem ordinary to those of us living in Hokkaido are wonderful resources. We're here to share the charm of this amazing prefecture.
