When we talk about cherry blossom viewing, we tend to focus only on the cherry blossoms, but there are many other beautiful flowers that bloom in spring, aren't there?

From showy varieties that produce large, magnificent blossoms to charming ones that bloom at your feet, spring flowers offer a wide variety of blooms. There are plenty of spots in the Hakodate and southern Hokkaido area where you can enjoy flowers other than cherry blossoms.

Unfortunately, these flowers are rarely featured. So, this time, we'll introduce the flowers that adorn Hakodate and southern Hokkaido in spring, along with recommended viewing spots.

<Table of Contents>
1. Wisteria and azaleas at Goryokaku Park
2. Azaleas at Esan Azalea Park
3. Skunk cabbage in Onuma Quasi-National Park
4. Crocuses at Iai Girls' Junior and Senior High School
5. Dogtooth violets and Japanese anemones at Takumi no Mori Park
Final thoughts

Goryokaku Park is famous for its cherry blossoms in the spring. That's why many people plan their trips to Hakodate during Golden Week when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

However, the timing of cherry blossom blooming varies depending on the temperature and weather each year, so I'm sure there are many people who have gone all the way to Hakodate only to find that the cherry blossoms have already finished blooming.

Even if the cherry blossoms at Goryokaku Park have already finished blooming when you visit, don't be disappointed.

There are spring flowers in the park that you can enjoy a little after the cherry blossoms have bloomed.

One of the must-see spring flowers at Goryokaku Park is the wisteria. You can walk under the wisteria trellis, which forms a tunnel, allowing you to leisurely admire the hanging wisteria blossoms.

Wisteria is also popular for its pleasant fragrance, so you can enjoy both the scent and the beautiful scenery as you approach the wisteria trellis.

The wisteria trellises in Goryokaku Park feature not only the common purple wisteria flowers, but also white wisteria blossoms.

The contrast with the dark green leaves is so beautiful. The sky visible through the white flowers is also lovely.

Photo by Wikipedia: A pruned Satsuki azalea (Rhododendron quinquefolium) tree in bloom. The one in the photo is (probably) the cultivated variety "Oosakazuki". /Gombe　https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:R-indicum_satsuki_tree.jpg

Among the spring flowers you should definitely see at Goryokaku Park are azaleas. Azaleas are planted in various locations throughout the park, so it's recommended to admire them while strolling through the park.

Also, there are many different varieties of azaleas.

Goryokaku Park also has several varieties of azaleas planted, and they all bloom at the same time, so be sure to compare them!

Esan, located a little distance from the bustling city center of Hakodate, is more famous for its azaleas than its cherry blossoms in spring.

At the foot of Mount Esan is Esan Azalea Park, which features azaleas as its main attraction, and attracts many visitors during the peak blooming season.

It is said that there are as many as 60 azalea bushes in the area around the park and at the foot of the mountain, and in spring the foot of the mountain is dyed in the color of azaleas.

Climbing Mount Esan offers a spectacular view of the sea alongside azaleas.

The Esan Azalea Festival is held every year from mid-May to early June, so if you'd like to go see the azaleas at Esan, be sure to check the official website of Hakodate City.

Photo by Wikipedia: Taken in Onuma Park / User: Keyaki　https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C5%8Cnuma-K%C5%8Den01.jpg

Onuma Quasi-National Park is a popular spot where visitors can enjoy beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons. The park is home to Ezo cherry trees, which are in full bloom from late April, but even before that, the Japanese bayberry (Miss Basho) signals the arrival of spring.

Onuma Quasi-National Park is a wetland area centered around Lake Onuma and Lake Konuma. As such, it is home to large clusters of skunk cabbage, which thrive in damp environments.

The skunk cabbage (Mizubasho) begins blooming in mid-April. The best time to see them continues until around Golden Week, so be sure not to miss them if you visit Onuma Quasi-National Park during this period.

In addition to the skunk cabbage, other lovely flowers such as Corydalis ambigua and Viola grypoceras bloom in Onuma Quasi-National Park during the spring.

Next, I'd like to introduce a place that isn't a typical tourist spot, but is a place that makes Hakodate residents feel the arrival of spring. Iai Girls' Junior and Senior High School, located near the Goryokaku area, is a school with a long history. Buildings that reflect that history are scattered throughout the grounds.
Crocuses bloom every year in the garden on the school grounds. The sight of so many purple and white crocuses blooming on the green lawn is truly beautiful. However, visits are only allowed during school hours, so please be sure not to make any noise.

Hokuto City, famous for having Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station where the Hokkaido Shinkansen stops, is also an area with abundant nature.

In particular, Kijihiki Plateau, which overlooks Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, boasts a wealth of facilities where you can connect with nature, such as a forest park and a campsite.

Takumi no Mori Park, a forest park, is known for its large clusters of dogtooth violets, a spring wildflower.

In addition to dogtooth violets, other wildflowers such as Japanese anemone also grow here, so you can see many flowers in the spring.

The best time to see the dogtooth violet is for about two weeks from late April to early May each year, while the best time to see the Japanese anemone is from early to mid-May.

We've introduced some of the flowers that adorn Hakodate and southern Hokkaido in spring, along with some recommended viewing spots. Did you find anything you liked?

Some flowers, like wisteria and azalea, are showy, while others, like crocuses and dogtooth violets, are small but beautiful.

Using this information as a guide, I hope you'll plan a trip to enjoy spring flowers!

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