Nakajima Park is a popular hangout area in the heart of Sapporo. Completely covered in snow during winter, it’s a real fantasy land at night!
Along Sapporo’s Toyhira River is a large piece of open land called Nakajima Park. Abundant in cherry blossoms during spring, golden brown leaves in autumn, and pure white snow in winter, it’s a park for all seasons.
More Snow Sculptures!
If you haven’t had enough of the sculptures at the Sapporo Snow Festival, Nakajima Park offers a few more exhibits for you to enjoy. Not quite as impressive as those at Odori Park, but at least it’s less crowded so you can get a better view of them.
Great Accommodation Location
Surprisingly, there are a few accommodation places in and around Nakajima Park that give easy access to Sapporo’s best attractions. The Sapporo Park Hotel is a good choice for a peaceful stay that is away from the crowds of Odori Park but still close enough to get there on foot or tram.
Furthermore, there is a police station just outside Nakajima Park which gives a sense of safety and security. In fact, during my last visit I handed in a lost wallet to that particular police box which seemed to belong to a tourist (even their passport was inside!). I do hope they got it back…
The Frozen Pond
The Iris Pond is a large body of water in the center of Nakajima Park, typically home to calm waters and koi fish.
However, the entire pond is totally frozen during the winter, a thick layer of icy snow covering the entire pond. Don’t jump the gate though, because you can still fall through the ice if you set foot on the frozen pond!
I’m not sure where the rays of light were coming from in the distance, but it made for a cool light show by the Iris Pond during the calm hours of the night.
The Big Blue Mansion
As you walk toward the other side of Nakajima Park, you’ll come across this big blue and white mansion that looks like it came from another era in time. Well, according to my research, it’s known as the Hohei Kan and is a historical hotel that was opened by the Meiji government back in 1880. Once a western-style hotel, it is now used as a tourist attraction and can also be booked as a wedding venue which is pretty cool!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!