Moerenuma Park — Attraction in Sapporo

I was here alone in the afternoon of January 21, 2016. My elder son and I had just done our skiing in Niseko and our stroll at Otaru three days before. We thought of having a day of our own, and my son would go shopping.

"What should I do?" I could stay in the comfortable hotel, composing a song or two, or having an adventure in Sapporo's winter. Inspired by my wife's advice to explore, I decided to make a two-hour walk (single journey) to the Moerenuma Park, despite the snow storms.

My son was a little worried but I thought I had a map and my handheld devices could help me navigate even though I was off-line. Off I went and had fun with the heavy snowing as I did not have that in Hong Kong. Having walked for nearly three hours, all my handheld device went dead but the Park was not in sight.

While I was a bit disillusioned, I saw a snow-covered point resembling one of the Park's identifiers and struggled walking towards it. When I got closer, I realized I was at the fringe of a closed Park. I struggled through the meter-deep of snow to get inside the Park by following a line of lamp posts and then I saw the dead beautiful landscapes!

My exhilaration overwhelmed my exhaustion as I succeeded not just in getting to the Park, but in challenging my spiritual and physical endurance. When safety concerns came up to my mind again, I quickly captured some photos and videos and left. I knew I would not be able to have anything to energize myself before it was too dark!

In May, 2016, I wanted to see cherry blossoms in Hokkaido and went to the Park again via an hourly public bus. Although the bus terminal was not at the Park, it was near enough to go there especially I had great memory of the Park's hallmarks. It was a world of difference and I went up to the top of the windy man-made...

🎆 Hokkaido Moerenuma Artistic Fireworks – A Dazzling Fusion of Light, Music, and Landscape

Held annually in early September, the Hokkaido Moerenuma Artistic Fireworks Festival is one of the most spectacular summer events in Sapporo—and arguably the most visually refined fireworks show in Hokkaido. Set within the sculptural terrain of Moerenuma Park, designed by renowned artist Isamu Noguchi, the festival transforms the park’s geometric hills and open spaces into a massive stage for a 50-minute pyrotechnic performance unlike any other.

What sets this event apart is its precision and artistry. Thousands of fireworks are launched in perfect sync with a curated musical score, timed down to 1/30th of a second. The result is a breathtaking audiovisual experience where each burst of color and sound feels intentional, emotional, and immersive. It’s not just a fireworks show—it’s a choreographed symphony in the sky.

Visitors can choose from premium reserved seating or unreserved lawn spots, and the atmosphere is festive yet elegant. Food stalls line the park offering local specialties, and the wide-open layout ensures unobstructed views from nearly every angle.

Whether you're a photography enthusiast, a romantic couple, or a family looking for a memorable night out, the Moerenuma Artistic Fireworks Festival delivers a refined, unforgettable celebration of summer’s end. It’s a must-see if you’re in Hokkaido...

The park features various pyramidal objects, a glass pyramid like at the Louvre, a step pyramid that reminds of pre-columbian America, a small pyramid features at the eastern wooded playground area, a square platform juts out and up triangularly above the soccer fields, a large mound is the largest structure and reminds one of steppe Kurgans or the pagan burial mounds of Scandinavia. There is much to do with the fluidity of structures of interconnected circles and straight lines, as well as the intentional use of glass, wood and stone, and how these create a particular modern ambience and become both practical and aesthetic in what is after all a public park. But you can say this park is also a fabulous work of art. And it's free, and the...