[Photo from welcome.city.sapporo.jp]

[Photo from welcome.city.sapporo.jp]

The red and white-flowered plum grove announces the arrival of spring in Sapporo. The extensive grounds allow for casual nature observation.

Hiraoka Park is a 66.4hectare park located approximately 11kilometers south east of central Sapporo. More than half of the park is wooded and functions as a habitat for numerous wild birds including the Great Spotted Woodpecker and insects such as Miyama Stag Beetle and Anotogaster Sieboldii (Oniyanma dragonfly). The park also features athletic facilities including a baseball field, tennis court (reservations and fee required), and park golf course (free).

On holidays, the park is filled with people enjoying sports. In the west side of the park is one of the largest plum groves in Sapporo. The 6.5hectare grove comprises approximately 1,200 plum trees. The ratio of red to white-flowered plum trees is 4 to 6. 100,000 people visit annually in May, when the plum blossoms bloom. The delicate colors of the red and white plum blossoms create a vivid contrast against the green grass and blue sky. Many fans visit the park every year to see the plum blossoms.