Your Guide to Odori Park in Sapporo: Best Attractions, Events and Food Options

Get to know Odori Park

Odori Park was established in 1871 as a firebreak for the governmental, residential and commercial districts of Sapporo. It's about 1.5 kilometers long and covers an area of about 7.8 hectares.

After enlisting the expertise of a landscaping specialist from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to transform the park into a haven for flora and fauna, Odori Park has evolved into a tranquil retreat for locals as Sapporo City expanded.

Nowadays, the park is used as a venue for events such as the Yosakoi Soran Festival, the Snow Festival, and the Lilac Festival.

Odori Park
Address: Odorinishi 1-chome to Odorinishi 12-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido Prefecture
Access: 11-min walk from JR Sapporo Station; short walk from Odori and Nishi-Juitchome stations
Official website: https://odori-park.jp/en/

Book a sightseeing taxi and visit various tourist spots in Sapporo, including Odori Park, Sapporo Clock Tower, and the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building.

The highlights of Odori Park

Odori Park stretches from Odori-nishi 1-chome to 12-chome in Sapporo City, and is divided into five zones, each with its own popular facilities.

Sapporo TV Tower: The city’s symbol

The area around Odori-nishi 1-chome is home to the 147.2-meter-tall Sapporo TV Tower, erected in 1957. It no longer transmits radio waves, but it’s open to visitors to enjoy views of Sapporo from its observation deck.

The tower is beautifully lit up at night, and Odori Park itself hosts numerous illumination events at certain times of the year.

Sapporo TV Tower
Address: Odori-nishi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture
Access: Short walk from Odori Station
Official website: https://www.tv-tower.co.jp/

Odori Flower Garden: Admire creative flower arrangements

There are six types of flower beds that can be viewed while strolling the park from Odori-nishi 1-chome to 8-chome. including the spring flower beds, contest flower beds, border flower beds, summer flower beds, sponsor flower beds, and volunteer and corporate flower beds. A contest is held annually, so you can look forward to some amazing creations.

Rose Garden: Enjoy different types from around the world

At the Rose Garden in the Sunken Garden Zone at Odori-nishi 12-chome, you can admire different varieties of roses cultivated in the United States and Germany.

Don’t miss the beautiful lion statue at the entrance, which is modeled after those at a gate of the Shenyang Imperial Palace, plus a tranquil space covered with bricks produced in China.

Watercourse: Cool off at the park’s water feature

Located in the Entertainment and Event Zone at Odori-nishi 9-chome, the watercourse is designed for children to splash around, featuring a shallow water depth of only 5 to 12 centimeters.

It’s open from June to mid-September, so if you’re visiting in the summer, be sure to drop by and cool off.

Seasonal events at Odori Park

The vast Odori Park hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including flower festivals, beer gardens, and more.

Flower Festa Sapporo

The Flower Festa Sapporo is held annually in June. The event includes a gardening contest, a flower market, a display of hanging baskets and the Hokkaido Orchid Award, and an orchid consultation corner.

There are also restaurants, allowing you to relax while admiring the beautiful flowers.

Flower Festa Sapporo
Official website: https://www.hanafes-sapporo.jp/ (in Japanese only)

Sapporo Summer Festival & Beer Garden

During the annual Sapporo Summer Festival, Odori Park hosts a number of events including the highly-popular beer garden.

Here, you can enjoy beer from Japan's leading breweries including Suntory, Asahi, Kirin, and the local brand Sapporo. With about 13,000 seats available, it’s an event designed to be enjoyed by both locals and tourists.

Sapporo Summer Festival
Official website: https://www.sapporo.travel/summerfes/

Sapporo Snow Festival

The Sapporo Snow Festival is held annually in February, when the city is covered in fluffy snow. It attracts two million visitors every year and is one of the three largest snow festivals in the world.

Odori Park is one of the festival venues, featuring an ice-skating rink and giant snow sculptures. On-site, you’ll find a number of food stalls selling Hokkaido specialties like ramen, soup curry, seafood dishes, yakitori chicken skewers, pork rice bowls, and more.

Sapporo Snow Festival
Official website: https://www.snowfes.com/en/

Food options around Odori Park

Following a leisurely stroll through Odori Park, treat yourself to some local specialties. Hokkaido, being one of the few prefectures in Japan with a food self-sufficiency rate exceeding 100%, offers a plethora of local dishes. Here are two recommended food spots around Odori Park that are conveniently located for a quick stop.

Toukibi Wagon

Odori Park’s famous Toukibi Wagon is a food stall selling grilled and boiled corn on the cob, plus buttered potatoes. The grilled corn is seasoned with soy sauce and beet sugar from Hokkaido.

Depending on the time of year, the number of stalls and business hours may vary. Check the official website before visiting.

Toukibi Wagon
Address: Odori-nishi 1-chome to 9-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido Prefecture
Access: 11-min walk from JR Sapporo Station
Official website: https://www.instagram.com/toukibi.wagon/ (Instagram)

Murakami Curry Shop Pulu Pulu

If you want to try Sapporo’s famous soup curry, visit Murakami Curry Shop Pulu Pulu. It’s a popular restaurant near Odori Park that offers four different types of soup curries, including chicken leg and tomato chicken flavors.

The restaurant may close earlier if the menu sells out, so drop by early if you want to get a taste of Sapporo’s local specialty.

Murakami Curry Shop Pulu Pulu
Address: Kentaku Building 29 B1F, Minami 2-jo Nishi 9-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido Prefecture
Access: Short walk from Chuo Kuyakusho-mae Station
Official website: http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~pulu2-cr/ (in Japanese only)

Odori Park: Access information

Odori Park can be reached on foot from JR Sapporo Station, but you can also opt for the subway or local bus.

On foot

JR Sapporo Station (South exit by the West ticket gate) → 11-min walk south → Odori Park

By train

Sapporo Station → Namboku Subway Line → Odori Station → 2-min walk → middle of Odori Park between Odori-nishi 3-chome and 4-chome

By bus

Sapporo Station Bus Terminal → Jotetsu Bus lines Kaisoku 7, Kaisoku 8, Jozankei Onsen Kappa Liner, or Minami 55 → Odori-nishi 1-chome bus stop (middle of the park)

Get around Hokkaido with the Hokkaido Rail Pass and enjoy unlimited rides on all JR Hokkaido Lines.

Discover Odori Park

Odori Park, with a history spanning over 100 years, stands as a cherished retreat for Sapporo locals. The well-maintained park boasts lush greenery and hosts numerous events throughout the seasons, providing an ideal setting for leisurely strolls. Be sure to include it in your Sapporo sightseeing itinerary.

Explore more of Japan by using one of the many different transportation passes.

*The information in this article, such as prices and business hours, was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Please refer to the official website(s) for the latest information.

Sapporo sightseeing taxi (3 hrs)

・Explore famous sightseeing spots in Sapporo by a chartered sightseeing taxi.
・The itinerary includes the Sapporo Clock Tower, Odori Park, and other locations.

Ticket (adults): Sapporo TV Tower

・Enjoy panoramic views of Sapporo and Odori Park from the Sapporo TV Tower.
・Explore the Sky Shop for souvenirs, located 90 meters above ground.

Hokkaido Rail Pass (5/7 days)

・Unlimited rides on all JR Hokkaido Lines (except Hokkaido shinkansen).
・Exclusively available for foreign visitors to Japan with a non-Japanese passport.