Report on the early summer tradition, the Sapporo Lilac Festival!
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This time, we would like to introduce the “Sapporo Lilac Festival,” held every May at Odori Park.
The Sapporo Lilac Festival began in 1959 with a call from cultural figures to “hold events rich in culture during the season when lilac flowers are in full bloom.” Loved by Sapporo citizens as a harbinger of early summer, the lilac, also designated as the city’s official tree, blooms beautifully during this time.
Event Overview
- Sapporo Lilac Festival (Odori Site)
- Location: Odori Nishi 5-7 chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City
- Dates:
- Odori 5 chome / Wednesday, May 14, 2025 – Sunday, May 18, 2025
- Odori 6-7 chome / Wednesday, May 14, 2025 – Sunday, May 25, 2025
- WEB
Odori 5 Chome Space
Odori Venue 5-chome is a cultural experience and market area.
At the experience corner, there are tastings of matcha and sencha, as well as a “Nodate” corner where you can enjoy the flavors of traditional Japanese sencha and matcha while experiencing the procedures of various schools.
“Nodate” is apparently an outdoor tea ceremony where you can enjoy making and drinking sencha and matcha.
Sapporo is very pleasant at this time of year, and an outdoor tea ceremony is exceptional!
In addition, there are plenty of other activities such as a workshop to create Himmeli, a traditional Nordic decoration, using wheat straw from Hokkaido’s “Haruyokoi” wheat, and a calligraphy workshop.Origami and traditional games corners were also available for children to enjoy.
In the market area, there is a handmade market by Sapporo citizens selling handmade crafts and accessories. There was also a lilac sapling sales corner and a flower arrangement exhibition corner, creating a lively atmosphere where many citizens interacted, enjoyed shopping, and admired the flowers.
Odori 6 Chome Space
At Odori Venue 6-chome, there is an event stage. Depending on the dates and times, there will be brass band performances by local elementary and junior high school students, as well as live music by local musicians active mainly in Sapporo.
The food and drink stalls at this venue mainly feature sweets and cafes.
You can enjoy popular cafe food and sweets from within Hokkaido.
Among them, the “Lila Terrace” booth is packed with fun for both adults and children, including the “Lila Terrace cafe” where popular cafes in Sapporo set up shop on a rotating basis, the “Lila Terrace bakery” where you can enjoy freshly baked bread made with Hokkaido wheat, and the “Lila Terrace BAR” where popular craft beers from within Sapporo gather.
Odori 7 Chome Space
At Odori Venue 7-chome, a wine garden is being held.
Apparently, they have over 200 types of Hokkaido wines from more than 50 wineries and vineyards in the region. With so many choices, you might wonder which one to choose, but at this venue, a team of wine guides is available to help you select the best one for you!
Furthermore, at the “Hokkaido Winery Village,” where staff from wineries all over Hokkaido promote and offer their own wines, you can directly learn about their appeal.
Inside the venue, there is also a Hokkaido cheese corner where you can enjoy Hokkaido handmade cheese that goes perfectly with wine. In addition, there are also stalls such as the sommelier-supervised “Pairing Kitchen” and the chef-supervised “Deli Marche,” making it irresistible for wine lovers.
At the food and drink seating arranged around the fountain, customers were enjoying wine and food pairings in the pleasant breeze.
How did you like it?
The Sapporo Lilac Festival, a beloved early summer tradition for the citizens, is an event where you can experience Hokkaido’s culture, enjoy gourmet food, and is also recommended for tourists.
Despite being in the center of Sapporo, Odori Park during this season, surrounded by greenery and flowers, is a refreshing and pleasant place just to walk around.
This park is famous for hosting the Snow Festival in winter, but it’s also a spot where you can enjoy seasonal events, such as one of the largest beer gardens in Japan in summer, the Autumn Fest in fall, and the Munich Christmas Market during the Christmas season.
When you come to Sapporo, why not visit Odori Park?
Odori Park
UNWIND HOTEL& BAR SAPPORO
Experience an extraordinary, lodge-like atmosphere with the comfort of home at our hotel.UNWIND HOTEL & BAR Sapporo is a sophisticated lifestyle hotel with a simple and chic ambiance.
HOTEL OVERVIEW
- Hotel Name: UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO
- Location: 5-289-111 Minami 8 Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Access: 4-minute walk from Nakajima Koen Station on the Namboku Line