The Best Places To See Sapporo Autumn Foliage
Visiting during the autumn is one of the best times to come to Sapporo, the landscape completely changes and is so distinct with fiery oranges, yellows and reds. It offers a completely different viewing experience to other seasons, and well, autumn is special in Japan!
Hokkaido actually gets its red leaves (Kōyō (紅葉) the earliest in all of Japan, and they can be seen as early as mid September, all the way through to the start of November before the snow arrives.
As a local living in Sapporo, I can vouch for the fact that it is one of the best times here as the whole city is quite literally hugged with the mountainous, spectacular landscape and you can watch the colours change by the day.
I’ve pulled together all of the best places you can see Sapporo autumn foliage, as well as some nearby day trips from Sapporo that should be added to your holiday itinerary to make the most of this iconic season.
The Best Places To See Sapporo Autumn Foliage
Maruyama Park (Hokkaido Shrine)
The Hokkaido Shrine is always worth a visit, no matter the season you come to Sapporo, but it really takes on a whole new feeling in autumn as the leaves start to change.
Oranges, greens, reds and yellows dance around on either side of the path, providing the perfect place to enjoy this season. Hokkaido Shrine is next to Maruyama Park which is worth exploring for more autumn foliage.
Odori Park (TV Tower)
No matter what season you visit Sapporo, Odori Park is iconic to the city and is approximately 1.5km long, so there’s plenty to explore! It’s one of my favourite places to see autumn leaves in Sapporo because you can get a completely different perspective of it by going up the TV Tower in Odori Park.
Take in the lined, colourful view of Odori Park below and the staggering mountainous, silhouetted backdrop behind the city. That’s what I love about Sapporo, a bustling city, yet with visible mountains hugging the city.
Nakajima Park
Nakajima Park is another super accessible park in the city which can easily be accessed on the Namboku Subway line or walked to easily from across the city.
The Sapporo Autumn Illuminations take place during October/November and you can explore the exquisite park and Japanese Garden (at a small additional cost) under illumination.
The fiery reds and raging colours of the leaves take on a whole different level during the evening, and it is a beautiful way to spend an evening during your stay in Sapporo. This usually coincides with the sweet potato festival that they host here too which is a real winter warmer!
Hiraoka Tree Art Center
If you want that quintessential Japanese garden on your visit, prepare to have your breath taken away from the Hiraoka Tree Art Center, easily accessible by public transport, this garden is completely free to enter and stroll around.
As soon as you step into the gardens you’re greeted by a row of beautiful red acer trees, and yes, they do serve up the perfect photo opportunity!
This is such a peaceful spot of Sapporo without being too far out of the centre, it’s not overly touristy here so is a great hidden gem off the beaten path for your trip here in autumn.
Makomanai Park
Accessible on the Namboku subway line, Makomanai is a hidden gem in Sapporo that only the locals know about! Around 20 minutes by car from the centre of the city, this beautiful park offers a stunning mountainous backdrop and autumn leaves throughout.
The park has a 3km running route around it so you can take a lovely run, or walk whilst you’re here to take in the scenery. Whilst you’re here, I recommend heading over to the Rokkatei cafe for tea and cake afterwards before heading back into the city.
Red Brick Former Hokkaido Government Office
The Red Brick building is a stunning 1888 American Neo-Baroque building in central Sapporo and during autumn, the grounds in front of the red building come to life.
Whilst not as upscale as some of the other locations where autumn leaves are concerned, it’s a quiet, unspoilt spot that a lot of tourists don’t visit. I recommend going inside to the cafe to try the limited edition akarenga red biscuit sandwich too, so good!
Mount Hakkenzan
If you like hiking, Mount Hakkenzan is a fairly challenging hike, and one that is worth the views you receive at the top! It takes around 1 hour to reach the summit and the unspoilt autumn leaves and mountainous landscape offers another unique perspective in Sapporo.
You do need to be cautious of bear activity at this time of the year in Sapporo, so never hike alone and take precautions with you such as bear spray and bells.
Autumn Foliage Near Sapporo Worth Seeing
Sapporo Lake
Whilst Sapporo Lake isn’t technically in the centre of Sapporo, it is one that is hugely worth seeing if you can spare the time during your trip. Access is easiest if you have a car rental during your stay as there are no public buses that run on this route.
We hired canoes during the autumn and were the only ones on the entire lake! It was one of those ‘pinch me moments’, the landscape, colours and variation were absolutely breathtaking.
Jozankei
One of my favourite day trips from Sapporo is to Jozankei onsen town, I always recommend a visit here if you’re staying in Sapporo for more than a couple of days as it gives you a taste of what a traditional onsen town is like.
The sweeping views at Jozankei completely change during autumn and the changing leaves and colours put on a spectacular show. There are plenty of different spots in Jozankei that are worth a visit to see the autumn foliage, the Hoheikyo Dam offers an incredible place to take it all in.
Lake Toya
Around 2 hours from Sapporo lies Lake Toya, the centerpiece of the Toya Caldera and Usu Volcano UNESCO Global Geopark. The views are breathtaking of the autumn foliage no matter where you look, but my personal favourite way to take it all in is to take the ropeway up to Mount USU.
The ropeway itself was the best viewpoint for me, the colours of the leaves so vibrant and red as shown in my picture below, seeming even brighter against the reflection of the blue lake and sky.
Otaru
Another lovely day trip from Sapporo is Otaru and it’s a completely different vibe to Sapporo city. The main streets are full of autumn foliage, or if you want to take in the coastal views, head up to Temiya Park which overlooks Otaru port.
Noboribetsu
You can’t go too far in Hokkaido without seeing a volcanic crater, and autumn is one of the best times to Noboribetsu, just take a look at the below photo from mid-October.
The sheer red earth face of the mountain just adds to the drama, with the eerie volcanic smoke in the backdrop and flaming leaves in the foreground, this place is nothing short of perfect, and so photogenic. If you want a true taste of red leaves in Japan, there’s nowhere better to do it!
Sapporo offers so many incredible places to take in the beauty of the season and the changing of the leaves, whether you only have a day in the city or are planning to spend a few days exploring Sapporo.
If you’re in the midst of planning your autumn trip, don’t forget to pack a warm coat and even gloves and a scarf as the mornings and evenings can be extremely cold!
