Arriving in Tokyo in mid-April, I had hoped to witness Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms in full bloom. But by the time I reached, only a few surviving Sakura remained. Hoping for a second chance with spring, I planned a visit to Hokkaido during Golden Week.
As the weather in Hokkaido remained mostly rainy, I decided to skip the longer outing to Maruyama Park and instead explore Yurigahara Park Google Map link,a peaceful floral paradise beautifully known for its lilies, tulips, roses and lavender, while cherry blossoms and rhododendrons appears more like a seasonal bonus than the park’s main attraction.
For just ¥600, I purchased a combined entry ticket that included access to the World Gardens , the Greenhouse Conservatory , and the charming Lily Train that slowly circles through the vast gardens.
What makes Yurigahara Park especially unique is its “World Garden,” created to celebrate Sapporo’s friendship and cultural exchange with its sister cities around the world.
Instead of designing only a traditional Japanese garden, the park thoughtfully includes themed landscapes inspired by sister cities such as Portland in the United States, Munich in Germany, and Shenyang in China.
Walking through these gardens felt almost like travelling across different cultures through flowers and nature.
The Portland Garden particularly caught my attention. Designed in collaboration with people connected to Portland, it reflected the peaceful simplicity of an ordinary family garden. Hidden within it was a touching story of friendship between the two cities. I came across board describing “The Sisters,” a water sculpture gifted by the people of Portland to the people of Sapporo a quiet symbol of cultural connection and goodwill.
Another fascinating discovery inside the park was the old silo structure standing gracefully among the flowers.
What initially appeared to be a scenic decorative landmark actually carries deep historical meaning.
The silo once belonged to a local dairy farmer and was originally used to store feed corn for cattle. When Yurigahara Park was being developed, local residents requested that the silo be preserved as a reminder of the area’s once thriving dairy farming community.
Rather than removing it, the structure was carefully relocated and transformed into an observation tower in 1983. Today, it remains an important symbol of the park’s history and rural heritage.
Everywhere I looked, the park was overflowing with colourful tulips, elegant roses, fragrant lavender, lilies, rhododendrons, and beautifully lined Sakura trees gently decorating the pathways.
What fascinated me most was how differently spring unfolds in Hokkaido compared to Tokyo. While Tokyo’s flower season had already faded by early April, Sapporo still felt fully immersed in spring’s beauty.
The atmosphere of the park felt extremely family and child friendly. Scattered throughout the gardens were open wooden resting pavilions where many elderly visitors sat quietly admiring the surroundings a simple yet beautiful reflection of Japan’s calm and slow garden culture.
The park even has a wheelchair rental facility ,restrooms for differently abled people and also warmly welcomes dogs on leash and cyclists, while locals gather here for picnics, family outings, and peaceful moments surrounded by nature.
By the end of my visit, Yurigahara Park no longer felt like just another flower garden. It felt like a place where history, international friendship, seasonal beauty, and everyday community life quietly came together in the heart of Hokkaido.
Am tagging @SarathUpendran because during this visit he called me, and I showed him around. He also had a query about Silo, which I’ve answered above.
Tagging @curatorofmemory as well, since he had asked me to cover Sakura, and this post is also in reference to the spring challenge initiated by @TusharSuradkar
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