Seven Recommeded Autumn Leave Spots in Sapporo!

Autumn leaves can be seen all over the city of Sapporo, leading people to say that “the entire city turns crimson.”
In this article, we will be presenting seven autumn leaves viewing spots on the outskirts of Sapporo that are much loved by its citizens from classic spots to best-kept secrets.
We will also be talking about clothes for the autumn leaves season and hope that this will serve as a good reference for you!

*USD currency rate’s data on this article is on July 21st, 2016. currency rates changes depending on financial condition.
Contents
1. A classic! Jozankei Onsen
2. Hoheikyo, just 10 minutes drive from Jozankei! Hoheikyo
3. Let’s visit the forest! Takino Suzuran Hillside National Government Park
4. Go on a little outing: Eniwa Valley
5. Central Area – 1: The rows of ginkgo trees at Hokkaido University
6. Central Area – 2: Maruyama Park
7. Central Area – 3: Nakajima Park
8. About clothing

1. A classic! Jozankei Onsen

Jozankei Onsen is located about 40 minutes by car from downtown Sapporo and has been much loved by Sapporo citizens and tourists for many years.

It is located on the upper reaches of the Toyohira River, which runs through the center of Sapporo.
Its beauty is set off by the way that it contrasts with the valley.

What makes the autumn leaves at Jozankei Onsen distinctive is that they can be enjoyed in many different ways. Visitors are also feel free to stroll about the site.

The Koyo Kappa Bus is in service during the autumn leaves season.
A local guide will introduce this stunning site for viewing autumn leaves.

The Koyo Gondola is also in service for a limited time only.
It belongs to the Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort, which is about 30 minutes from the onsen by car, and offers passengers aerial views of the autumn leaves that spread all over the mountains. Shuttle bus services also run from the onsen.
Use your ticket stub to take advantage of discounts for day visits to the onsen!

Maizuru no Toro: The best spot for autumn leaves.
While the autumn leaves can be seen from Nishikibashi Bridge, viewing it from a canoe is highly recommended.
Jozankei offers a full range of activities that first-timers can enjoy, including canoing and rafting.
A totally different world opens up when you watch the the autumn leaves from the surface of the water.
So what are the ways to enjoy the autumn leaves at Jozankei Onsen, where the entire valley gets covered in leaves?

Jyozankei Onsen
Annual Best Autumn Leave Season: the beginning to middle of October
Jyozankei Tourism Association TEL:011-598-2012
Autumn-Leave Kappa Bus
Terms: October 1st to 21st, 2016 / four buses running per day
Reservation: 9:00 the day you will use the bus
Fee: JPN 500 YEN (USD4.77) per seat
Autumn-Leave Gondora
Terms: September 24th to October 10th, 2016
Operating Time: 9：30-15：30
Fee: Adults JPN 1,100 YEN (USD 10.49)
Jyozankei Canoe(Amuse Sports)
Estimated time: about 60 minutes
Fees: Adults JPN 3500 YEN (USD 33.37)*depending on the course
Access:About 100 minutes from Shin-Chitose Airport / about 60 minutes from Sapporo (about 40 minutes by car)
Direct Shuttle bus runs!

2. Hoheikyo, just 10 minutes drive from Jozankei!

Located in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Hoheikyo offers visitors beautiful scenes of the autumn leaves contrasting with the Hoheikyo Dam, a site which was selected for inclusion in both Japan’s 100 Selected Forest Water Sources and 100 Selected Reservoirs.

Different views can be enjoyed from the dam embankment and the observation deck.

Park your car in the free car park at the entrance to Hoheikyo Dam and travel to Hoheikyo Enchi by hybrid electric bus.
Along the way, enjoy sweeping visas of the Kudan no Taki Falls and Senjoiwa.

Photo credit by Hoheikyo Onsen

Traveling down from the dam a little by car, visitors will find the Hoheikyo Onsen.
With its spacious ambiance and constantly flowing waters, the large open-air bath is a popular spot.
The autumn leaves, light up fantastically at night, can also be enjoyed from the open-air bath.

Photo credit by Hoheikyo Onsen

A must-eat for anyone visiting this spot is authentic Indian curry prepared by Nepalese chefs.
The fact that this onsen won the top spot for day-visit onsens in Japan on Trip Adviser in 2013 is also rather convincing.

A sightseeing orchard is also located nearby.
Because Jozankei Waiwai Farm is located at a high altitude, it is distinctive for the sweetness of its fruits.
Apples, prunes, pears, and grapes come into season around October.
The farm also features a fishing pond that is fun for children, and visitors are welcome to take home some of the natural spring water.

This well-located spot is just 10 minutes by car from Jozankei.
You can enjoy a whole day with Hoheikyo Dam, a day visit to the onsen, and fruit picking.

Hokeikyo
Annual Best Autumn Leave Season: the beginning to middle of October
Access：about 50 minutes from Sapporo by car
・Hoheikyo Dam
Hoheikyo Hybrid Electric Bus : Adult JPN 620 YEN(USD 5.91) / round-trip　~May to the middle of November~
・Hoheikyo Onsen
Admission Fee: Adults JPN 1,000 YEN (USD 9.53)
Jozankei Waiwai Farm
Apple・Plume・Japanese Peer・Grape / Single Fruit Picking : 1 hour Adult JPN 800 YEN (USD 7.63)

3. Let’s visit the forest! Takino Suzuran Hillside National Government Park

There is a huge forest park in Sapporo.
This park is 400 hectares in size and is divided into three distinctive zones. It is full of attractions.

The Mountain Stream Zone (free of charge) has four waterfalls.
Among these, the Ashiribetsu Falls were selected for inclusion in Japan’s 100 Selected Waterfalls.
It is a gorgeous spot for autumn leaves.
If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the Ahiribetsu Falls rainbow soon after the park opens in October.

The Takino Forest Zone is especially rich in nature.
The East Area has a paved walking path where visitors can enjoy walks in the forest of autumn leaves to their heart’s content.
All sorts of forest play can be enjoyed, including the roller slide.

The Central Zone has areas that children will be thrilled with, where they can use their bodies to play, such as the Children’s Valley forest house.
The autumn leaves here are not to be missed.
The maples in the Water Plaza are also highly recommended.

In the Country Garden, this fluffy plant’s leaves also turn red. The plant is a kokia.

You can see the autumn leave’s situation by this Webpage

The park is so large that you cannot get around it all in one day.
It is located about an hour’s drive from Sapporo city center.

Photo Credit by Takino Suzuran Hillside National Government Park

Takino Suzuran Hillside National Government Park
Annual Best Autumn Leave Season: the middle to late of October
Address： Takino 247 Sapporo Minami-ku, Hokkaido 005-0862 Japan
TEL：011-592-3333
Opening Hours：【Autumn】September 1st to November 10th 9：00-17：00(depending on season)
Admission Fee：Adult JPN 410 YEN(USD 3.91) *free admission for part of area
Access：about 32 minutes from subway makomanai station by chuo bus takino line
Webpage：http://www.takinopark.com.e.bn.hp.transer.com/

4. Go on a little outing: Eniwa Valley

Eniwa Valley is a best-kept secret among autumn-leaf viewing spots in the Sapporo suburbs.
Three unique waterfalls are lined up the main road that runs along the valley.

Walking paths and waterfall-viewing areas can be found along the mountain stream, and it takes about an hour to look around.

The three-tiered waterfall does not have any parking, so proceed to the car park at Rarumanai Waterfall or Hakusen Falls.
The Hakusen Falls car park has shop and toilet facilities.
There is no public transportation, such as buses.

Eniwa is located about an hour’s drive from Sapporo Station.
Lake Shikotsu can be found forty minutes further along Route 453.
Chitose Airport is about 50 minutes from the valley.

The autumn foliage at Lake Shikotsu is also beautiful.
We also recommend it as a place to drop by along a drive around Lake Shikotsu.

Eniwa Valley
Annual Best Autumn Leave Season: the beginning to middle of October
Address： Banjiri Eniwa, Hokkaido 061-1422 Japan
Parkings：Free / 25 spots available
Access：about 25 minutes from Eniwa city to Shikutsu lake by car
about 30 minutes from Eniwa IC by car
TEL：0123-33-3131(Ext. 2521) Eniwa Ecomonic Section・Tourism Administration
Webpage: http://www.city.eniwa.hokkaido.jp/www/contents/1365653405787/

5. Central Area – 1: The rows of ginkgo trees at Hokkaido University

The Hokkaido University campus is located 10 minutes’ walk from Sapporo Station.
While the campus is frequently visited by tourists and Sapporo locals, many people come to see the rows of ginkgo trees during the autumn leaves season.

The campus covers a vast site and is accessed by three different subway stations.
The Kita 13 Jo Station is convenient for accessing the rows of ginkgos. ( Alight at Kita 12 Jo Station, Namboku Subway Line. Five minutes’ walk)

You can check the autumn leaves’ situation by This Webpage.

A breezy campus, reminiscent of a park.

A statue of William Smith Clark, famous for his line, “Boys, be ambitious,” is located in the central lawn.

The university also has cattle and sheep grazing.
Souvenirs available exclusively at Hokkaido University are on sale at Elm Forest, the information center immediately inside the front gate.

It is nice to enjoy the cafeteria in the spirit of being a student again, or to drop into Restaurant Elm, which is a satellite restaurant of the Sapporo Grand Hotel.

It is so surprised to find such a magnificent campus, still full of history and nature, spread out in the middle of the city.

Hokkaido University
Annual Best Autumn Leave Season: November
Address： 5 cho-me, Kita8jonishi Sapporo Kita-ku, Hokkaido 060-0808 Japan
TEL：011-706-4680 (Information Center)
Access to Ginkgo Tree Avenue：
About 15 minute walk from JR Sapporo Station North Exit
About five minute walk from subway namboku line kita-12-jyo station
Parking：None　*you must use the neighborhood coin parking (will be packed during the autumn leaves)
*you cannot leave the car within the university campus.
Webpage： http://www.hokudai.ac.jp/news/2015/11/27-26.html

6. Central Area – 2: Maruyama Park

Maruyama Park is not a spot just for cherry-blossom viewing, but also a somewhat different, charming spot during the autumn leaves season.
It is conveniently located, five minutes’ walk from Maruyama Koen Station on the Tozai subway line.
The entire park fills with beautiful color with the reds of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, or the greens of katsura or ginkgo trees.

The park is connected to Hokkaido Shrine.
It sits beside the Maruyama Wild Forest and is equipped with a flat walking path.

Another feature of the Maruyama area is its gastronomic spots.
The park is dotted with famous, fine-dining restaurants such as the Michelin three-star, Hokkaido French restaurant Moliere, or more relaxing Italian restaurants and cafes, allowing visitors to enjoy a visit that combines lunch and walk in the park.

Rokkatei Maruyama has an adjacent tearoom. The well-priced lunch and sweets, and also being able to buy souvenirs, make this a popular spot.

May we suggest a visit by enjoying some relaxed forest therapy and licking your lips over some delicious lunch?

Maruyama Park
Annual Best Autumn Leave Season: the middle of October to the beginning of November
Address： Miyagaoka Sapporo Chuo-ku, Hokkaido 064-0959 Japan
TEL：011-621-0453(Maruyama Park Administrative Office)
Access：about five-minute walk from subway tozai line ”maruyama park” station
Parking：None　*you must use the neighborhood coin parking
Webpage：http://www.sapporo-park.or.jp/maruyama/

7. Central Area – 3: Nakajima Park

Lush with trees and water, and with Mt. Moiwa as a backdrop, this park was authorized for inclusion in Japan’s City Parks.
Alight at Nakajima Koen Station, and the park is right there.
The rows of ginkgo trees that extend from the entrance are a definite highlight.

The area around Shobu-ike Pond turns beautiful autumn colors, taking a ride in a boat is highly recommended.

(photo) With the Hokkaido Museum of Literature, a Japanese garden, a concert hall, an observatory, and a puppet theater
occupying the area of about the size of one subway station, this is a part that is dear to the people of Sapporo.
It is located close to the bustling Susukino area, but is very quiet, without any city din.

In addition to the Sapporo Park Hotel, which is located nearby and other high class hotels like the Sapporo Park Hotel.

The autumn leaves can be viewed from rooms in these hotels, and visitors are sure to leave with wonderful memories if they take a walk in the park before breakfast.

Nakajima Park
Annual Best Autumn Leave Season: the middle to late of October
Address: Nakajimakoen 1 Sapporo Chuo-ku, Hokkaido 064-0931 Japan
TEL：011-511-3924 (Nakajima Park Administrative Office)
Access：subway namboku line “nakajima park” station or Horohira-Bashi Station
Parking：None　*you must use the neighborhood coin parking
Webpage：http://www.sapporo-park.or.jp/nakajima/lang/english.html

About clothing

Perhaps you are wondering about the kind of clothes to wear during the autumn leaves season.

Average temperatures in Sapporo in October are 12°C(53.6°F), which is the temperature that Tokyo reaches in November.
Temperatures will be lower in the mornings and evenings, making jackets essential.
You’ll feel safer packing a windbreaker or a windproof down jacket.