We found out that cheery blossoms would arrive late in April in Hokkaido by chance during the planning of our ski trip there. It was late for the whole Japan, but the peak time for full bloom for Hokkaido.
Here is the chart for 2026 Japan Cherry Blossom timeline.
Arriving at Sapporo, we saw scattered blooming cherry trees here and there in some streets. There was one big Cheery tree with blooming cheery blossoms right outside the hotel.
We started looking for the perfect locations for Cheery Blossoms, many trees together and ideally some cheery blossom tunnel.
A standalone Big Blooming Cheery Tree
Checking cheery blossom reports for locations within walking distance to the hotel, we decided to go to Hokkaido University Campus and Odori Park to get better views of the Cherry Blossoms in the chilly morning of our day 2 at Sapporo. It was windy, and the wind chill made the temperature freezing. The wind also broke up the clouds, and brought out the blue sky which made the cheery blossoms looked so much more beautiful.
On Hokkaido University campus, the Cheery trees were spread out. There was one big blooming cheery tree by roadside, and adjacent to blooming yellow flowers, another hanging over a pond with mandarin duck couple in it, and yet another over a patch of snow!
Cherry Blossoms on Hokkaido Campus
Cheery Blossoms over a pond with a pair of mandarin ducks
Cheery Blossoms over a patch of snow remanent
Around the red brick old government building, there are two big ponds situate in its front, along with many decorative trees and blooming cherry trees, which make it a nice park.
The red bricks, green octagonal tower, and soft pink blossoms create a high-contrast, picturesque scene. The overstretching cherry blossoms over the pond offered their own charm!
The Odori park is a 1.5 km long, rectangular shaped urban oasis, lined with trees, the park has cherry trees dotted on either sides, a large, fragrant rose garden on the west side, fountains throughout the middle, and interesting statues scattered around.
Cheery Blossoms along the Sosei River
The spaced out cherry blossoms had no size effect, each formed a beautiful, charming tapestry with its surroundings, had their own elegancy and charm.
The long distance bus rides between Sapporo and Niseko, and from Sapporo to Shikotsu-Tōya National Park and surrounding areas, provided a different vista of cherry blossoms, in the valley of mountains, by the country roads, on the banks of the caldera lakes ...
Cheery Blossoms along Lake Toya
When we returned to Sapporo from skiing at Niseko, the Cheery Blossoms were at their peak bloom. We visited the more well known cherry blossom viewing area - Maruyama Park along with adjacent Hokkaido Jingu, have over 1000 cherry trees, providing a very dense display of blossoms, as well as varieties of cherry blossms - featuring primarily Ezoyamazakura (Sargent's cherry) - vibrant pink, Somei Yoshino - light pink, and Yae-zakura - vibrant, deep pink to pure white.
There were a lot more densely populated cherry blossoms, and there were large crowds as well.
There were so many people at the park, the walking crowd stir up dust cloud on the trail to the Hokkaido Jingu - like cars running over a dirt road. There were also a food street to serve the crowd. Viewing Cherry Blossoms is a festival!
Despite the crowd, we enjoyed viewing the Cherry Blossoms, and also enjoyed hot grilled corn and chocolate coated banana ice-cream.
The Cherry Blossom Tunnel by the plum garden
The Cherry Blossom Tunnel leading Hokkaido Jingu
On the last day of our stay at Sapporo, we visited Moerenuma Park, which was designed by the architect Isamu Noguchi. The whole site, including the glass pyramid, is a work of art.
There is forest of 1,600 cherry trees in the park consist of Ezoyamazakura, Kasumizakura, Minezakura, Yaezakura, and Somei-Yoshino. Due to relative inconvenience to get there from city center (1 hour bus ride, and the bus is infrequent), there were few people there to view the fully blooming Cherry Blossoms.
We, however, enjoyed the Cherry Blossom, almost, all by ourselves!
View of Play mountain from the cherry forest
part of the cherry forest
a children's slid is a piece of art in the cherry forest
Note
Generally the further north, the later the start of the bloom, and the shorter the blooming duration
Conversion of the cherry blossoms timeline pictorial into a chart reveals something not obvious
1) Kyoto, Tokyo and Kawaguchiko are exceptions in duration. Kyoto, Kawaguchiko had longer duration, and Tokyo has shortest duration
