Autumn leaves throughout Takino Suzuran Hillside National Government Park (滝野すずらん丘陵公園) in Minami Ward, Sapporo, have been at their best since Friday, October 16. The Takino Autumn Leaves Festival (たきの紅葉まつり) is under way through Tuesday, November 10.
Autumn Leaves Across the Park Are Reaching Their Best
Yellow katsura trees and white birches, red Boston ivy (natsuzuta), orange maples, and conifers that stay green are coloring the scenery of Takino in a mix of shades. The kochia also remain at their autumn color best.
From the end of October into November, visitors can also see carpets of fallen leaves and the yellow leaves of the larch (karamatsu). Autumn in Hokkaido is short, and now is the main season for the autumn scenery of Takino and its rich natural surroundings.
- Dates: October 3 (Sat) to November 10 (Tue)
- Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Venue: Throughout the park
Details: Takino Autumn Leaves Festival 2026
Recommended Autumn Leaf Spots (as of October 20)
Central Zone: Fluffy Kochia
Photographed October 18, 2026
The kochia are still at their best for autumn color.
The variety that does not turn red, Kochia "White," will fade further from here and change to a pale shade. The best viewing period is expected to continue until around the fourth week of October.
Note: The kochia are scheduled to be pulled out starting Monday, November 2.
- Expected best viewing: Until around the fourth week of October
- Varieties and number of plants: 3 varieties, approximately 4,300 plants in total
- Rouge: approximately 2,200 plants
- Takino Fire Egg (滝野ファイヤーエッグ, an original Takino variety): approximately 1,000 plants
- White: approximately 1,100 plants
- Location: Lower section of the Country Garden (Central Zone)
Central Zone: Lawn Stadium
Photographed October 20, 2026
The trees around Lawn Stadium (ローンスタジアム) in Children's Valley (こどもの谷) are also brightly colored. At this time of year, the red "bikkuri balls" (びっくりボール) add to the colorful autumn scene.
Stream Zone: Ashiribetsu Falls
Photographed October 20, 2026
The trees around Ashiribetsu Falls (アシリベツの滝) have reached their best autumn color.
A rainbow appears over the falls only on clear October mornings. Autumn leaf spots are also scattered along the route to the falls, so the walk is recommended for those who want to listen to birdsong and the sound of the stream.
Conditions for Seeing the Rainbow at Ashiribetsu Falls
- Season: Early to late October
- Time: Around 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Weather: Clear day
The rainbow is a natural phenomenon, so it is not always visible.
Takino Forest Zone East Area: Forest Deck
Photographed October 20, 2026
The autumn scenery seen from the Forest Deck (森のデッキ) is especially fine. It works as a rest spot during an autumn leaf walk, or as a place to simply relax and spend time on your own in the autumn forest.
Takino Forest Zone East Area: Morimi Tower
Photographed October 20, 2026
Morimi Tower (森見の塔) offers a panoramic view of the mountains in Sapporo. An elevator goes up to the top.
The top is windy, so take care that hats and similar items do not blow away.
Takino Forest Zone West Area: Rice Paddy
Photographed October 20, 2026
Takino has a rice paddy. After the autumn harvest, the autumn leaves of the surrounding trees can be seen reflected in the water of the paddy.
Free In-Park Shuttle Bus on October 25 (Sun) Only
A free in-park shuttle bus runs on Sunday, October 25, between the East Entrance and the Takino Forest Zone West Area.
Mori no Johokan (森の情報館), photographed October 23, 2025
The bus runs at a time when the autumn leaves in the Takino Forest Zone West Area are at their peak and the kochia can also be enjoyed.
The West Area is also hosting the "Takino History Exhibition" (滝野歴史展), where visitors can learn about Takino's history and try old-fashioned games such as stilts and rubber-band guns, and a plant specimen exhibition titled "Can You Tell the Look-Alikes Apart?" (そっくりさんを見分けられるかな？). In addition, volunteers of the Takino no Mori Club (滝野の森クラブ) offer the "Osanpo Guide" (おさんぽガイド), guided walks through the forest.
Details: Takino Forest Zone
Recommended Events During the Takino Autumn Leaves Festival
1. Forest Excursion: Autumn Leaves Tour of the 厚別山水車器械所 Site (First Edition)
This tour (森の遠足) takes visitors to the site of the 厚別山水車器械所, which was registered as a Recommended Industrial Heritage site in 2025, and through the surrounding autumn leaves.
The 厚別山水車器械所 was a government-run sawmill set up in 1879 (Meiji 12) for the development of Sapporo. The timber needed to build up Sapporo was cut from Takino at the time.
The tour departs from Lodge Yukizasa (ロッジゆきざさ) in the Stream Zone and visits the remains of the sawmill, which are not open to the general public. No buildings remain today, but visitors can see the huge hole used to turn the water wheel and the remains of the waterway, as well as Ashiribetsu Falls and the autumn leaves seen from above. This is the only day this year that the site can be viewed.
- Date: October 24 (Sat)
- Hours: 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
- Meeting place: Lodge Yukizasa (ロッジゆきざさ)
- Fee: Free
- Capacity: 5 groups (up to 5 people per group). As of October 20, there is a waiting list for cancellations.
Details: Forest Excursion
2. Takino Autumn Color Hunt Bingo
Visitors stroll through the colorful autumn park and look for colors and natural features in a bingo game. Kochia, cosmos, autumn leaves, waterfalls, and other autumn scenery around the park are all part of the fun.
- Dates: Through November 10 (Tue)
- Bingo card distribution hours: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Distribution and collection locations:
- Takino Park Information Center (滝野公園案内所) (Stream Zone)
- East Gate (Central Zone)
- Central Entrance Gate (Central Zone)
- Mori no Koryukan (森の交流館) (Forest Zone East Area)
- Fee: Free
- Capacity: None
Details: Takino Autumn Color Hunt Bingo
3. Find the Giant Honoki Leaf!
Visitors look for giant honoki (Japanese bigleaf magnolia) leaves that have fallen in the Takino Forest. Bring a leaf to the reception desk at Mori no Koryukan (森の交流館), and if its length plus width is 60 cm or more, you receive a prize.
- Dates: Through November 10 (Tue)
- Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Venue: Mori no Koryukan (森の交流館)
- Fee: Free
Details: Find the Giant Honoki Leaf!
4. See the Kochia From Above!
The rooftop of the Central Entrance (中央口), which is normally closed, is open on limited dates. Visitors can look down on the kochia in autumn color spread out below.
- Dates: October 24 (Sat) and 25 (Sun)
- Hours: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM (last entry 1:50 PM)
- Venue: Rooftop of Central Entrance Building A
- Fee: Free to view
Details: See the Kochia From Above!
Summer Season Ends November 10, Winter Season Starts December 23
The summer season runs through November 10 (Tue), and the winter season begins on December 23 (Wed). In winter, the park, filled with flower fields from spring through autumn, turns into a snowy landscape for snow play.
"Takino Snow World" (滝野スノーワールド) can be enjoyed by small children and first-time snow players. Gentle ski slopes, a slope dedicated to tube sledding, snowshoe courses, and other Hokkaido-style snow activities are available in the spacious park. Rental corners, restaurants, and snack corners are also available, so visitors can enjoy winter in Hokkaido without bringing their own gear.
Note: Depending on snow conditions, some facilities may not be available after the opening date.
- Open period: December 23 (Wed) to March 31 (Wed)
- Hours: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Admission: Free (parking fee required separately)
Details: Takino Snow World
Park Information
Takino Suzuran Hillside National Government Park is Hokkaido's only national government park. It is about 30 minutes by car from central Sapporo and offers flower fields that change with the seasons, waterfalls and clear streams, and forest walks. Tulips, cherry blossoms, and spring wildflowers bloom in spring, sunflowers and blue flowers in summer, and red kochia and autumn leaves color the whole mountain in autumn. In winter, the park is covered in snow and offers winter activities including a 200 m tube sledding course, described as one of the largest in Japan.
- Address: 247 Takino, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-0862
- Official website: https://www.takinopark.com/
Opening Hours
| Period | Hours |
|---|---|
| April 20* to May 31 | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| June 1 to August 30 | 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM |
| September 1 to November 10 | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| December 23* to March 31 | 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
*If April 19 or December 22 falls on a Sunday, the park opens on that day.
Closed Days
- Spring closure: April 1 to April 19*
- Winter closure: November 11 to December 22*
*If April 19 or December 22 falls on a Sunday, the park opens on that day.
Access
- By car: About 30 to 40 minutes from central Sapporo, or about 30 to 40 minutes from Kitahiroshima IC
- By bus: About 30 minutes from Makomanai Station on the subway by Hokkaido Chuo Bus Takino Line (真106)
