Odori Park (Odori Koen)

Odori Park (Odori Koen) is the green heart of Sapporo, stretching 1.5 kilometers through the center of Hokkaido’s capital from the iconic Sapporo TV Tower westward through 12 city blocks. This broad, tree-lined boulevard serves simultaneously as Sapporo’s most important public space, its primary outdoor event venue, and a beloved daily refuge for residents seeking greenery amid the urban grid.

The park is the epicenter of Sapporo’s celebrated seasonal festivals. In February, it hosts the world-famous Sapporo Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri), when hundreds of monumental snow and ice sculptures transform the park into an extraordinary winter spectacle attracting over 2 million visitors annually. Summer brings the Sapporo Beer Garden festival, and autumn sees the park filled with the colors of changing leaves. Year-round, the park’s fountains, rose gardens, and lawns provide space for market stalls, concerts, and casual recreation.

Eleven distinctly designed sections line the park’s length, each with its own character — some formal with geometric flowerbeds, others naturalistic with mature elms and lilac groves. The lilac festival in May, celebrating Sapporo’s official city flower, is one of Hokkaido’s most fragrant seasonal events. Odori Park is also the starting point for exploring Sapporo’s walkable city center, connecting seamlessly to the underground shopping arcades and subway system that make the city so navigable in Hokkaido’s long winters.