油菜花 / Rape blossoms

北海道的賞花信息「油菜花」

日文的「菜之花」指的就是油菜花。「菜」意味著可以食用，可以做為蔬菜來食用以及採取油脂。油菜花的最佳觀賞時期是從5月中旬到6月上旬。從札幌開車約2個小時車程的滝川市的油菜花田很有名，種植面積為日本第一。整片都變成黃色的田地。也有舉辦油菜花祭典，也販賣使用油菜花的各種食物。 事先在網路或道路休息站取得花田地圖也很方便。

Hokkaido Flower Information

Rape blossoms

Nano Hana is the nick name of rape blossoms. “Nano” stands for “edible” and “hana” means flowers. In Japan, they have long been cultivated for both the production of oil and eating. The best season for rape flowers is between the middle of May to the beginning of June. Takikawa City is famous for large fields of them, producing more than anywhere else in Japan. People can watch the field becoming yellow. In Takikawa, Nano Hana Fedtival is held in the end of May, with unique foods using rape offered. The fields’ map for sightseeing is useful.

Asahikawa

Asahikawa(旭川市）是位在國道237號線上的道路休息站。有販賣豐富的當地特產的商店、著名的旭川式拉麵的拉麵店2家、麵包店、咖啡廳、蕎麥麵店、有定食餐廳的美食街等。在觀光資訊處，很符合道北地區的中心都市-旭川的形象，宣傳與提供道北的美食和文化的資訊。從JR旭川站過去也很近。

Asahikawa (Asahikawa City) is a road station on route 237. Both souvenirs and various food products are sold at the shop onsite. In addition, there is a food court housing two ramen shops serving Asahikawa style ramen - with fish-based soup and soy sauce flavor. Moreover, the food court has a bakery, cafe, buckwheat noodle shop, and restaurant offering traditional Japanese set menus. As Asahikawa is the biggest city in northern Hokkaido, the information counter introduces food and cultural information of the northern area. This road station is not far from JR Asahikawa Station.

芝櫻 / Moss phlox, or Pink moss

北海道的賞花信息「芝櫻」

北海道的芝櫻最佳觀賞時節是從5月上旬到6月上旬為止。從名字聽起來像是櫻花樹的一種種類，但其實是完全不同的植物。粉紅色的花朵群聚綻放著，也被稱作「粉紅色的地毯」。鄂霍次克地區的大空町，以及滝上町的廣大的芝櫻公園雖然很有名，也可以在札幌市區內和附近的公園看到芝櫻。

Hokkaido Flower Information

Moss phlox, or Pink moss

The best season for moss phlox, or pink moss in plain English, is from the beginning of May to the beginning of June. It’s called shibazakura, and sounds somewhat like the cherry trees species. However, pink moss is completely different from cherry trees. Pink moss is seen blooming on the ground and a beautiful, unique vision of a carpet of pink spreads out before one’s eyes. In Hokkaido, Ozora Town and Takinoue Town are especially famous for large scale shibazakura vistas. In the suburbs of Sapporo and even in downtown Sapporo, pink moss can usually be seen in the parks.

Sony Store 札幌αPlaza / Sony Store Sapporo αPlaza

Sony Store 札幌αPlaza（位於札幌市中央區）在商店的2樓有藝廊。雖然是個小的展示空間，但是進行著以攝影和影像為主題的展示。推薦給攝影喜好者。也有放置和攝影相關的免費雜誌。因為位在大通地區的中心地，在逛街途中很容易就順道去看看。1樓則是Sony制造的家電產品的展示空間。

Sony Store Sapporo αPlaza (Sapporo City Chuo-ku) is a gallery housed on the second floor of the building. The gallery consists of just a single room, and exhibits photos and movies. As there are a few photo-themed galleries in Sapporo, it’s good destination for photography enthusiasts. The Scene, a free Hokkaido magazine focusing on photos and cameras, is available here. Sony Store Sapporo is near Odori subway station, and has convenient access, even for tourists. The first floor has a showroom of Sony products, so visitors can inspect the latest models of their cameras.

札幌紫丁香花季2018年 / The Sapporo Lilac Festival 2018

札幌紫丁香花季2018年在大通公園（5月16日～27日）和白石區的川下公園（6月2日和3日）舉行。這個祭典是札幌的春季代表祭典，今年為第60屆舉辦。在大通公園的5丁目有以紫丁香花為主題的各式各樣的展覽和使用紫丁香花的工藝作品體驗區。6丁目會舉辦音樂祭，7丁目則是飲食店。

The Sapporo Lilac Festival 2018 is being held at two locations- Odori Park (May 16-27), and Kawashimo Park in Shiroishi-ku (June 2 & 3). This festival reminds the people of Sapporo that they are in mid spring and that summer is around the corner. 2018 sees the 60th anniversary of the festival. At 5-chome of Odori Park, there are many booths where visitors can experience lilac-themed hand-craft and see art work using lilac. At 6-chome, there are music events on a stage. At 7-chome, food and drinks are sold at stalls. Kawashimo Park will also feature events and stalls like Odori Park.

紫丁香 / Lilac

北海道的賞花信息「紫丁香」

在北海道的紫丁香的賞花時期是在5月中旬到下旬。因為紫丁香是比較喜歡涼爽氣候的植物，所以在日本本州比較少看到。在北海道紫丁香花是一般都常看到的花，在春天盛開。有紫色的花和白色的花兩種種類。在宛如葡萄般的圓筒狀枝葉上附著著許多花。在北海道的札幌市、長沼町和釧路市，紫丁香被當作市（町）花。在札幌也有舉行紫丁香的祭典活動。

Hokkaido Flower Information

Lilac

The best season for lilacs in Hokkaido is from mid-May to the end of May. As lilacs thrive in a relatively cool climate, they are rarely seen in Honshu. In Hokkaido, lilacs are popular, serving to remind people that spring has come. There are two species, with purple or white flowers. Many of the small flowers form bunches on the lilac trees. The shape of the bunches is somewhat like a bunch of grapes. In Hokkaido, the lilac has been named as the city or town flower for Sapporo City, Naganuma Town and Kushiro City. In Sapporo, the Lilac Festival is held in Odori Park, which has more than 400 lilac trees.

鬱金香 / Tulip

北海道的賞花信息「鬱金香」

在北海道的鬱金香的最佳賞花時節是在5月。快一點的話5月上旬鬱金香就會開始綻放。在札幌即使是普通的小公園，也有很多地方會在花壇種植鬱金香。札幌中心部的大通公園有鬱金香花壇。札幌站附近的歷史建築物-清華亭的庭園也可以看到鬱金香。市郊區的原公園（北區）則是百合花很有名。

Hokkaido Flower Information

Tulip

The best season for tulips in Hokkaido is in May, with the early ones blooming in the beginning of May. In Sapporo, tulips are common, and can be seen in flower beds even in small parks in residential areas. In Odori Park, there are colorful tulip beds, and the park is handy for Hokkaido's visitors from around the world. Near Sapporo Station, the historical Seikatei building is also a good spot for tulips. In the suburbs, Yurigahara Park is good because the park is a flower-themed park. Yubetsu Town in eastern Hokkaido is famous for tulips and holds an annual tulip festival.