Some of Sapporo's many festivals have their origins in traditional events while others are inspired by the seasons. The season starts in spring with the Lilac Festival (held in late May). Visit the festival site at Odori Park to enjoy and participate in the many activities. Gifts of seedlings, music performances and a sketching contest are just a few of the events that highlight this festival. During the Yosakoi Soran Festival (early June) dancers in unusual costimes perform to lively music. The Hokkaido Shrine Festival (June 14-16) at Nakajima Park is Hokkaido's biggest festival. A festival full of fun and gaiety, you'll enjoy seeing ornate floats and shrines carried by enthusiastic revelers through the city. Come and see the Toyohira River Raft Festival (early July). This festival provides more comedy than competition as some of these home-made rafts disintegrate before your eyes! The fireworks display over the river is spectacular. Beginning with outdoor beer gardens set up in Odori Park the Sapporo Summer Festival (July 21-August 20) has fun events to see or participate in for a full month. The Hokkaido Marathon, an international event, is held in August. You'll enjoy Sapporo's comfortable summer nights. And whether you are at a beer garden or a riverside festival it is always safe. Sapporo's fun loving, open-hearted people are also known for being well-disciplined.

The Pacific Music Festival (held from early July to early August) could be called the last dream of premier conductor, composer and educator, Leonard Bernstein. The festival was created as a way of realizing Bernstein's dream of sharing the joy of music with people around the world and transcending national boundaries and languages. Annually since 1990, leading young musicians from around the world, selected through strict auditions, gather here to study and perform. Their concerts, open to the public, help further the enjoyment of music in the Pacific region.

All colors and varieties of chrysanthemums, the national flower, are displayed in the Odori underground shopping mall as part of the Sapporo Chrysanthemum Festival (early November).

Beginning with the first snowfall in winter, Sapporo shows visitors the city's beauty and wonder. Sapporo White Illumination (mid November to mid February) is an enchantingly romantic sight of millions of lights hung from trees along Ekimae Dori and Odori Park. The Sapporo Snow Festival (held around February 5 --11) is world-famous. Large, perfectly sculpted snow statues can be viewed at three sites: Odori Park, Makomanai and Susukino. A sight of fascinating beauty when illuminated at night, this unique festival is a fantasy of design and ingenuity any time of day. It is incredible what can be made with ice and snow, and you will have to see it to believe it!

World-class athletes are invited to participate in Sapporo International Ski Marathon (mid February) and International Miyasama Ski Games (early March). Other winter events are World Cup Sapporo Tournament, and the International Dogsled Race Sapporo Tournament.

ATTRACTIONS

The former Hokkaido Government office building was built in 1888. Constructed of red brick, its unusally shaped octagonal dome is similar to that of the Massachusetts State House. This American neo-Baroque style structure was built utilizing mainly local materials. At the time of its construction, the building was unique to Japan as it was one of the tallest and largest buildings of that era. It was rebuilt in 1911 after being devastated by fire; in 1969 it was officially designated an Important Cultural Property.

The Clock Tower, designated a National Important Property, is one of Sapporo's most famous landmarks, and is to some, a symbol of the city. Built in 1878, the architectural sytle of the buiding is that of American buildings of the same period. (Note: Currently under restoration, September 1997 is projected as the completion date.)

Mt. Moiwa once called "Inkarushipe" in the language of the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido, means "a place to command a view." The view from this 531 meter high mountain can be accessed by cable car. Mt. Moiwa is to be enjoyed for its trails that go through virgin forests as well as its dramatic and breathtaking views. Simply spectacular and magnificent, Mt. Moiwa was chosen as one of the top 100 best natural spots in Hokkaido. A sightseeing road runs along the south side of the mountain while the north side has a trail through forest thick with primordial trees.

The Sapporo TV Tower serves as an easily recognizable symbol of Sapporo. The147.2-meter tower has an observation deck at the 90.38-meter level that gives a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire city of Sapporo. The beautiful Odori Park stretches out directly in front of the TV tower; the view is wonderful during the daytime and delightfully romantic at night.

Okurayama Jump Hill is a site of the 1972 Winter Olympics. In 1972 when Sapporo played host to the first Winter Olympic held in Asia, the eyes of the world were focused on this hill. This world-class large jump is one of the longest hill in Japan. It can be accessed by gondola or hiking path. (Note: The lift is currently under repairs and scheduled to be completed in 2000.)

Unique in concept and splendid in design is the Sapporo Art Park. Started in 1984, this park which encompasses extensive exhibition space, is in the midst of its 15-year construction project. When completed, it will become the symbol for culture- and art-conscious Sapporo. Artists and art fans from Japan and abroad will be invited to participate in the park's various artistic activities. The Sapporo Art Park is already active today with numerous programs constantly in progress, ranging from art and craft classes and music sessions, to exhibitions of works by internationally renowned artists. The park also hopes to function as the medium for enhancing cultural exchanges between Japanese artists with their overseas counterparts.

Historical Village of Hokkaido is an authentic village recreated with preserved and replicated buildings from Hokkaido's frontier days. Located in Nopporo Forest Park, this outdoor museum was opened to the public in 1983 to show the buildings and the life of Sapporo's early pioneers. Horse drawn trolleys in summer and sleighs in winter add to the delight of visiting this authentic village.

Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill is known for a statue of Dr. Clark, showing the highly-regarded scientist and educator extending his hand toward Sapporo. This observatory point offers a panoramic view of Sapporo and a pastoral scene of grazing sheep, for which the observation hill is named.

Hokkaido University is one of Japan's most prestigious institutions of higher learning. Established originally as Sapporo Agricultural College in 1876, it is an institution of historical importance tha also has a respected academic reputation. Visiting the attractive and expansive campus, you can enjoy seeing the Poplar Promenade and the Faculty of Agriculture's Farm No. 2, a national Important Cultural Property. A bust of Dr.William S. Clark, a founder of the original institution, is one of the sights you will want to see when visiting the campus.

Moerenuma Park, which was designed by the internationally renowned sculptor, the late Isamu Noguchi, is under construction and scheduled for completion in 1997. Surrounding the Moerenuma Marsh are cherry and larch woods and a waterfront for recreation and fishing. Some of the park's completed areas are already open to the public.

CUISINE
The enormous entertainment district of Susukino, with its thousands of bars, restaurants, game centers and discos, is celebrated nationwide. Sapporo is the envy of the entire country for its cuisine that centers around the rich fresh bounties of its northern fields and sea. In Japan, seasonal gifts of crab or a box of tasty potatoes from Sapporo is one of the nicest gifts you can give or receive. Delectable Crab is the delicacy to be savored when you visit Sapporo. If you like sushi you will want to try Sapporo's, made from the freshest fish that are the catch of these cold northern waters. You'll eat the best salmon prepared in a variety of ways and if you want to eat it is as the folks in this area do, try the stew called "Ishikari Nabe." Other one-pot dishes, cooked in earthenware, such as the hearty chanko nabe favored by sumo wrestlers, are ideal for Sapporo's winter climate. Genghis Khan is the name given to the local specialty of mutton and vegetables grilled in a cast iron pan; this barbecue dish is a favorite throughout Japan. You'll want to have it along with an ice-cold beer at one of Sapporo's many Beer Gardens. In addition to the namesake Sapporo beer, also available are Asahi, Kirin and Suntory. Grilled corn and baked potatoes are a treat you can enjoy from outdoor vendors in summer in Odori. You won't have to look far for ramen, a noodle dish that has few rivals as a national favorite -- ramen shops are all over the place. Sapporo ramen served in a tasty broth of miso (fermented soybean paste) is the reason some people travel to Sapporo. They can eat the real thing in Ramen Yokocho Alley with its countless ramen shops.