Highlights
- ~400 lilac trees, Sapporo's symbolic flower
- Lilac wine garden in Odori Park
- Open-air concerts and a stamp rally
Background & story
Begun in 1959 to celebrate the lilac as Sapporo's symbolic tree, the festival marks the city's late, brief spring.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- Immediate access from Odori Station (Subway Namboku/Tozai/Toho lines). Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- families, music fans
Good to know
Late May is peak bloom; the dates shown follow the festival's usual mid-to-late-May window — check the official site when 2027 dates publish.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Sapporo Lilac Festival 2027?
- As of 11 October 2026 the exact 2027 dates have not been announced. The event list on sapporo.travel, the official tourism site of the Sapporo Tourist Association, which hosts the festival's executive committee secretariat, gives "late May 2027" — a provisional window, not confirmed dates. The dates shown on this page are likewise an estimate based on past years, not confirmed dates. The most recent edition in 2026 ran at the Odori venue from Wednesday 20 May to Sunday 31 May (12 days; the 5-chome area closed on 24 May) and at the Kawashimo venue on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May. Check the official site (sapporo.travel/lilacfes) for confirmed 2027 dates (verified 2026-10-11).
- Where is it held and how do I get there?
- The Odori venue is Odori Park, West 5–7 chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, right outside Odori Station on the Namboku, Tozai and Toho subway lines (no parking; the organizers ask visitors to use public transport). The Kawashimo venue is Kawashimo Park (2651-3 Kawashimo, Shiroishi-ku), reached by Chuo Bus from Shiroishi Station on the Tozai line. The alighting stop and walking time depend on the bus route, and the official pages list them differently, so check the official access page (https://www.sapporo.travel/lilacfes/access/) before you go (verified 2026-10-11).
- Is there an admission fee?
- Admission is free (conditions may differ for some events). Food and wine are paid for separately at each sales booth. Check the official site for details (verified 2026-10-11).
- What are the highlights?
- The Odori venue has about 400 lilac trees in bloom, along with the Lilac Music Festival, a wine garden serving Hokkaido wine and local food, a stamp rally, and hands-on corners for traditional games, origami and calligraphy. At the Kawashimo venue there are guided tours of the Lilac Forest, where more than 200 varieties bloom, plus concerts in Kawashimo Park (verified 2026-10-11).
- What happens if it rains?
- Some events may be changed or cancelled in rainy weather. During the festival, check the news section of the official site (sapporo.travel/lilacfes) for changes. By phone, contact the Sapporo Lilac Festival Executive Committee secretariat for the Odori venue (at the Sapporo Tourist Association, 011-281-6400, weekdays 8:45–17:15) or the Kawashimo Park Management Office for the Kawashimo venue (011-879-5311) (verified 2026-10-11).
Getting there
Odori Park (5–7 chome) — Odori Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido