The 29th Northern Capital Sapporo Two-Day Walk was held on Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14, 2025, with Nakajima Park Free Square serving as the main venue.
The event aims to promote healthy living, social connection, and rediscovery of Sapporo’s unique charm. Participants could choose from a wide range of courses, from 2 km to 30 km.
The first day focused on history, while the second day highlighted nature, allowing walkers to enjoy both Sapporo’s urban landscape and its abundant greenery.
The event was organized by the Sapporo Arukōkai Walking Association (NPO), The Hokkaido Shimbun Press, and the Hokkaido Health Promotion Foundation.
In this article, I will share a report from Day 1: the 30 km “Cultural Heritage and History Course.”
We’ve created a video that captures the experience. The audio adds a strong sense of realism, helping viewers feel the atmosphere as if they were there.
September 13, 2025 The 29th Kita no Miyako Sapporo Two-Day Walk Kawatabi Hokkaido (YouTube Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYFkjTz0u70
Two-Day Walk 2025 Course Map
After starting in Nakajima Park, the course leads through the riverside paths of the Toyohira River, stretching from Minami-Ohashi Bridge to Kita 24-jo Sakura-Ohashi Bridge.
The riverside paths are well maintained and easy to walk, offering wide-open skies and scenic views of Sapporo’s cityscape and surrounding mountains, along with the powerful flow of the Toyohira River.
The Kita 24-jo Sakura-Ohashi Bridge, completed in August 2023, marks the northern end of the Toyohira River section.
Its name was chosen through a public contest, with “Sakura (cherry blossoms)” added in reference to the nearby Toyohira River Sakura Forest. In spring, around 1,000 cherry trees bloom here, creating a beautiful harmony between the bridge and the landscape.
From Sankakuten Street, the route continues to Moerenuma Park and Sapporo Satoland.
Moerenuma Park is known for its artistic landscape designed by Isamu Noguchi, featuring the iconic Glass Pyramid, an artificial mountain, and fountains.
At Sapporo Satoland, families were enjoying the farm scenery and flower fields. Just as fatigue began to set in, the checkpoint treats—bananas and Satoland’s soft-serve ice cream—provided a welcome boost of energy.
After passing Okadama Airport and entering Kita Ward, the route goes through Daigakumura Forest and Mikaho Park, eventually leading into the Hokkaido University campus.
Starting from the stately northern buildings, the course winds past unique faculty buildings, the famous Poplar Avenue, and the Statue of Dr. William S. Clark. Walking through the lush campus and exiting through the southern gate, the scenery gradually opens back into the city.
The walk from Seikatei to the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building (Red Brick Office) offered a strong sense of harmony between history and modern city life.
Seikatei, built in 1880, is a Western–Japanese style wooden structure designated as a tangible cultural property of Sapporo.
The Red Brick Office, a symbol of Hokkaido’s pioneering era, allowed us to fully experience the passage of time and the history of Sapporo.
After nearly six hours of walking, we completed the full 30 km course and returned to Nakajima Park in the rain. Reaching the goal brought an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
Although my legs felt heavy toward the end, the cityscape and natural surroundings of Sapporo encouraged me to keep going, step by step, making the experience deeply satisfying.
After the walk, I also joined the participants’communication event—a Genghis Khan (grilled lamb) party—where I had the chance to hear valuable stories from members of the Sapporo Arukōkai Walking Association and participants who had traveled from outside Hokkaido.
Mapcode for Nakajima Park:9 433 780*75
