Information
Landmark: Makomanai ParkCity: Sapporo
Country: Japan
Continent: Asia
Makomanai Park, Sapporo, Japan, Asia
Overview
Makomanai Park (真駒内公園, Makomanai Kōen) spreads across the southern edge of Sapporo, Hokkaido, offering wide green lawns and quiet tree-lined paths.The park’s lush trails, sparkling lake, and year-round attractions draw both locals and visitors, especially anyone looking to get outside and unwind.Number one.Makomanai Park sits in Sapporo’s southern Makomanai district, where tree-lined paths wind past the river.From Sapporo Station, you can get there in about 30 minutes by car, or hop on the subway and be there in roughly 20-just enough time to finish a cup of hot coffee.Size: The park stretches across roughly 70 hectares-about 173 acres-wide enough to hold sweeping lawns, winding paths, and still be one of the largest in Sapporo.First opened in 1967, Makomanai Park has grown into a lively spot where people play tennis, jog along tree-lined paths, and wander quiet trails through the woods.The number two.Makomanai Park Highlights - Spot the winding riverside path near the north gate.One of Makomanai Park’s standout landmarks is the Sapporo Dome (札幌ドーム), a striking stadium where crowds gather for baseball games, soccer matches, and other big events.Baseball: The Dome hosts the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, a pro team that can whip a fastball past you before you’ve even blinked.During the season, it puts on regular baseball games, the crack of the bat echoing through the stands.It’s also where Consadole Sapporo, the city’s pro soccer team, plays its home matches, with fans waving red scarves in the stands.Concerts and events: Beyond sports, the Sapporo Dome hosts massive concerts, bustling exhibitions, and a range of other gatherings, from roaring rock shows to quiet art displays.The Dome is known for its one-of-a-kind retractable roof, a gleaming structure that slides open like a giant skylight, and for its bold, modern design.It’s among Sapporo’s best-known landmarks, the kind people photograph against a winter sky heavy with snow.Make sure the meaning stays the same.Makomanai Park offers plenty for outdoor enthusiasts, from a full-sized athletics track to spaces for running, walking, and field sports-you can almost hear the steady rhythm of sneakers on the track.Tennis Courts: Open to the public, these courts welcome casual hitters and serious players alike-you might hear the sharp pop of a serve echoing in the afternoon sun.Baseball Fields: Beyond the Sapporo Dome, the park offers fields where local teams crack bats and kick up dust on summer evenings.In winter, part of the park transforms into an ice rink, where locals and visitors glide across the ice beneath bare, frost-dusted trees.Number three.Makomanai Park offers lush lawns and winding gardens, perfect for stretching out on a blanket, sharing a picnic, or just breathing in the fresh scent of pine.The park stretches out in broad, sunny fields where you can spread a blanket on the grass or toss a frisbee with friends.Tucked inside the park, the rose garden bursts with color each summer, crimson petals spilling over neat green hedges, drawing visitors for photos and unhurried walks.Cherry Blossom Viewing: Each spring, the park fills with people spreading blankets under clouds of pale pink blooms for hanami.By late April and into early May, the park’s cherry trees burst into pale pink bloom, drawing people to spread blankets beneath the drifting petals.Number four sat scrawled in thick black ink across the top of the page.The Makomanai Ice Arena (真駒内アイスアリーナ) sits inside the park, its chilled rink hosting everything from fast-paced hockey matches to graceful figure skating under bright, echoing lights.The rink hosts training sessions for a range of ice sports, and during certain hours, anyone can lace up skates and take a turn on the cold, glossy surface.The Ice Arena has welcomed international events, and it’s a great spot for skating fans to train or cheer from the stands as blades hiss across the ice.Five-just a small number, like the fingers wrapped around a warm mug.In winter, Makomanai Park turns into a snowy wonderland, its paths blanketed in crisp white drifts.In the park, visitors can glide across the ice, race downhill on sleds, or trace ski tracks through the quiet snow.The park’s wide, open fields are perfect for rolling big snowballs into snowmen and enjoying all kinds of winter fun.Spring/Summer: When the days turn warm, the park invites you to jog along shaded paths, ride your bike past blooming flowers, or just stretch out in the grass and breathe.Wide open fields and a quiet, easy air make it the perfect place to slip away from the city’s constant hum.Number six.Makomanai Park bursts with lush greenery, from tall pines to soft moss underfoot, and its sweeping landscape draws visitors year-round.Shaded by tall oaks and bright with wildflowers, the park blooms in every season, inviting you to wander its paths any time of year.In autumn, the park bursts with color, red and gold leaves crunching underfoot and framing every trail in a vivid backdrop for anything from picnics to long walks.Number three.If you’re heading to Makomanai Park from Sapporo Station, hop on the Tozai Line subway-it’s the quickest route, and you’ll be gliding past city blocks in minutes.Get off at Makomanai Station (真駒内駅); it sits just a short walk from the park’s main gate.It’s only a five‑minute stroll from the station, just far enough to hear the crunch of gravel under your shoes.By bus, you can catch several routes from Sapporo Station to the Makomanai area, and some stop just a short stroll from the park’s main gate.Take a quick look at the local bus routes so you know which stop’s just around the corner.By car, you can reach the park from Sapporo Station in about 30 minutes, passing rows of small shops along the way.You’ll find plenty of parking by the Sapporo Dome, along with spots near other facilities in the park-including one shaded by tall pines.Number four.Best time to visit in spring, from March to May, when the park fills with soft pink cherry blossoms swaying in the breeze.In early May, the park’s cherry trees burst into pale pink bloom, drawing crowds who spread blankets beneath the petals for hanami picnics.Summer, from June to August, is perfect for outdoor sports, lazy picnics under the shade of old oak trees, and wandering through gardens bursting with bright flowers.Fall, from September to November, is a great time to visit, with October bringing a blaze of red and gold as the leaves turn.From December to February, the park turns into a snowy playground, where you can glide across the ice or trace fresh ski tracks through the quiet, frosted trails.Number five sat there, small and plain, like it was waiting for its turn.In short, Makomanai Park stays lively all year, with everything from quiet walking trails dusted in snow to summer festivals bursting with color.You can catch a baseball or soccer game at the Sapporo Dome, wander through lush green lawns, hit the slopes in winter, or stroll past roses and pale-pink cherry blossoms-this sprawling park has something for nature lovers, sports fans, and families alike.Makomanai Park offers a peaceful retreat in Sapporo, where you can stroll under quiet pine trees and enjoy a mix of activities that blend fun with relaxation.
