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🗿 Moerenuma Park, Sapporo

Moerenuma Park — Isamu Noguchi's Park Built as One Giant Sculpture

A whole park on the edge of Sapporo, shaped by sculptor Isamu Noguchi as a single work of land art — a Glass Pyramid, a man-made hill you can climb, a huge water fountain, and geometric mounds laid out across reclaimed land. It's free to enter, easy to roam by bike, and unlike anything else in the city.

Start Here

A Park That Is Really One Big Sculpture —Isamu Noguchi's Last Great Work

Picture a huge open space on the northern edge of Sapporo where the hills, the pyramid and the fountains weren't just placed in a park — the whole place is the artwork. That's Moerenuma Park. It was designed by the Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, who treated the entire 188-hectare site as one single sculpture rather than a collection of separate attractions. The land was once a waste landfill, reclaimed and reshaped into smooth grass hills, a glass pyramid, water shows and geometric mounds.

Noguchi drew up the master plan in 1988 and died that same year; the park was carried through and opened fully in 2005. The result is a place that feels calm and almost otherworldly — clean geometric lines against open sky, with the Sapporo skyline in the distance. People who've been will tell you to give yourself a half-day here, rent a bike, climb the hill of Mt Moere for the view, and time your visit around one of the Sea Fountain shows. This page walks you through what to see, when to come, and how to get out here.

🗿 Straight up, first off: the park sits in the far north-east outskirts of Sapporo, so getting here takes about an hour each way by subway and bus — it's worth planning as a half-day trip rather than a quick stop. Admission is free, the Sea Fountain only runs in the warmer months, and opening days vary by season, so check the official calendar before you go. Prices and times on this page reflect 2026 information and may change.
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One Single Sculpture
Noguchi's land-art masterwork — the entire park shaped as one piece, not separate attractions.
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Glass Pyramid
HIDAMARI, a glass-and-steel pyramid that's the park's hub — gallery, café and shop inside.
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Climb Mt Moere
A man-made 62 m hill with a path to the top and a sweeping view over the whole park.
Sea Fountain Show
A giant choreographed water show that runs a few times a day in the warmer months.
Park Overview

What's Where in the Park —The Pieces of Noguchi's Design

Every feature is part of one connected work of land art, spread across a big open site. This table helps you see what each piece is, when it's at its best, and roughly where it sits in the park.

FeatureTypeKnown forBest timeWhere in park
Glass PyramidHIDAMARIBuildingGlass-and-steel hub · gallery, café, shopAny timeWest side
Mt MoereMt MoereLand formMan-made 62 m hill, panoramic viewSunsetNorth
Sea FountainSea FountainWater showChoreographed jets, a few shows a dayShowtimes (warm season)Centre, by the marsh
Play MountainPlay MountainLand formStepped earth pyramid with stone stairsDaytimeSouth
Tetra MoundTetra MoundSculptureThree steel legs over a grass moundDaytimeEast side
Cherry ForestSakura no MoriGarden~3,000 cherry trees, play structuresEarly May (blossoms)East
🗺️ How to plan it well: start at the Glass Pyramid HIDAMARI to get your bearings (and a coffee), then loop the park — easiest by rental bike — taking in the Sea Fountain around a showtime, climbing Mt Moere for the view, and finishing at Play Mountain and Tetra Mound. Give it a half-day if you can.
What to Do / What to See

6 Things to Seeat Moerenuma Park

From the glass pyramid to the man-made hill and the fountain show, here's what makes the park worth the trip out. People who've been agree on one thing: time your visit around a Sea Fountain show and climb Mt Moere for the view.

Moerenuma Park in Sapporo, with the Glass Pyramid and Noguchi's land-art landscape 🔺 Building1
Glass Pyramid HIDAMARI
Glass Pyramid · HIDAMARI

The park's centrepiece building — a glass-and-steel pyramid whose name, HIDAMARI, means "a sunny spot". Inside is a bright atrium that fills with daylight, plus a small gallery on Isamu Noguchi, a café and a shop. It's the natural place to start, get oriented, and warm up in winter. The glass faces catch the light beautifully at the start and end of the day.

📍Location: West side of the park · the main hub building
🎟️Entry: Free to enter (café and shop charge as usual)
🕗Open: Roughly 09:00–22:00 · closed on some days (check the calendar)
💡Tip: Pop in first for a map and a coffee, then head out to loop the park.
Sapporo Attractions →
View over Sapporo, near Moerenuma Park ⛰️ Land form2
Mt Moere
Mt Moere · Man-Made Hill

A man-made hill about 62 metres tall, shaped from the reclaimed land and crowned with a flat lookout. Walk up the path and stone steps — about 10–15 minutes — and the whole park spreads out below you: the Glass Pyramid, the fountain, the geometric mounds, with the Sapporo skyline and the mountains beyond. It's a local favourite for sunset, and in winter people ski and sled down its slopes.

📍Location: Northern part of the park
🥾Climb: About 10–15 minutes up paths and stone steps
🌄Best time: Late afternoon for the light and the sunset view
💡Tip: In winter it doubles as a sledding and ski slope — pack for the cold.
Sapporo Travel Guide →
⛲ Water show3
Sea Fountain
Sea Fountain · Water Show

The park's signature water feature — a huge fountain by the marsh that runs a choreographed show of jets and shapes a few times a day, the tallest reaching dozens of metres into the air. Each full program lasts around 15–40 minutes depending on the time slot. It only runs in the warmer months, roughly late April to mid-October, and the showtimes change by season, so plan around one.

📍Location: Centre of the park, beside the marsh (numa)
⏱️Show length: About 15–40 minutes per program
📅Season: Warmer months only (~late Apr–mid Oct) · check posted showtimes
💡Tip: Check the schedule on arrival and time your loop of the park to catch a full show.
Sapporo Attractions →
⛏️ ⛏️ Land form4
Play Mountain
Play Mountain

A stepped earth pyramid that grew out of a much earlier Noguchi idea — one face is a long flight of stone stairs, the other a smooth grass slope you can walk or roll down. It's a clean, satisfying piece of geometry to look at and to climb, and it pairs visually with Mt Moere across the park. A quiet spot most of the year, and a sledding hill in winter.

📍Location: Southern part of the park
🪨Known for: Stone-stepped face on one side, grass slope on the other
🕗Best time: Daytime, when you can see the lines clearly
💡Tip: Stand back to take it in as a whole — it reads as a sculpture, not just a hill.
Sapporo Attractions →
🔻 🔻 Sculpture5
Tetra Mound
Tetra Mound

A striking sculpture set on a small grass mound — three big stainless-steel legs joined at the top into a tripod, mirror-bright against the sky. You can stand right underneath and look up through it, and the polished surfaces throw back distorted reflections of the park and clouds. It's one of the most photographed spots after the Glass Pyramid, and it sits well on its own little rise.

📍Location: East side of the park, on a grass mound
📷Known for: A mirror-finish steel tripod you can walk under
🕗Best time: A clear day, for sky reflections in the steel
💡Tip: Pair it with the nearby Cherry Forest in spring for the prettiest loop.
Sapporo Attractions →
🌸 🌸 Garden6
Cherry Forest + Bike Rental
Sakura no Mori · Cycling

The park's Cherry Forest holds around 3,000 cherry trees mixed with playful sculptural play structures, and in early May it turns into one of the city's nicer, less crowded spots for blossoms. The park is big and flat, so the easy way to take it all in is to rent a bicycle near the entrance and loop the whole site — pyramid, fountain, hills and forest — at your own pace.

📍Location: Cherry Forest on the east side · bike rental near the entrance
🌸Blossoms: Usually early May in Sapporo (later than Tokyo)
🚲Get around: Rental bikes available in the warm season (small fee)
💡Tip: A bike makes the whole park doable in a couple of hours — well worth the small rental fee.
Sapporo Day Trips →
Getting There

How to Reach the ParkFrom Central Sapporo

Moerenuma Park is out on the north-east edge of the city, so it's not a five-minute hop — plan for about an hour each way. Here are the three ways most visitors get there.

OPTION 1
Subway + Bus

The standard route. Ride the Toho subway line to Kanjo-dori Higashi Station, then catch a Chuo bus toward Moere Koen Higashiguchi for about 25 minutes to the park. Allow roughly an hour each way from the centre. Check the bus times before you set off — they're not super frequent.

OPTION 2
Taxi or Rental Car

More direct, and worth it if you're short on time or in a group. A taxi from central Sapporo takes around 30–40 minutes depending on traffic. There's plenty of free parking on site if you're driving yourself — handy in winter when buses are slower.

OPTION 3
From the Airport

Coming from New Chitose Airport, head into Sapporo first (JR or subway to the centre), then take the subway-and-bus route above. There's no direct line from the airport to the park, so it's easiest to base yourself in the city and visit from there.

🚇 Plan your transport: a day pass or topped-up IC card makes the subway-and-bus combo painless. For the full rundown of Sapporo's subway, buses and IC cards, read our guide to getting around Sapporo before you head out.
Eat & Drink

Food at the Parkand Nearby in Sapporo

The park itself keeps food simple — a café in the Glass Pyramid and warm-season stands. Save the serious eating for back in the city, where Sapporo's signature dishes await. Here's what to know.

Café in the Glass Pyramid
A café inside HIDAMARI for a coffee, a light meal, or somewhere warm to sit — the easiest food option in the park.
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Hokkaido Soft Serve
Hokkaido is dairy country, so the soft serve at the park is a treat — best on a warm day after climbing Mt Moere.
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Pack a Picnic
The big grass lawns are made for it — grab something at a konbini before you ride out and eat with a view of the pyramid.
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Sapporo Miso Ramen
Save your appetite for the city — rich miso broth with butter and corn is Sapporo's own. See where to find it in our food guide.
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Soup Curry
A spiced, brothy curry born in Sapporo, eaten with big chunks of Hokkaido vegetables — a great dinner back in town.
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Hokkaido Seafood
Crab, scallops and sea urchin are everywhere in the city — pair a park visit with a seafood dinner in central Sapporo.
🍜 Hungry after the park? Plan your meals back in the city with our Sapporo food guide — miso ramen, soup curry, jingisukan, crab and dairy desserts, with where to find each.
Map

Moerenuma Parkon One Map

See how the pieces sit across the site — the Glass Pyramid HIDAMARI on the west, Mt Moere to the north, the Sea Fountain in the centre by the marsh, and the main entrance to the south.

Where to Stay

Where to Sleepfor a Moerenuma Park Visit

The park is on the city's edge, so it makes sense to base yourself centrally and visit out and back. Pick an area near a subway line for the easy ride to Kanjo-dori Higashi.

🏨 How to choose your location: stay near Sapporo Station or Odori for the most convenient subway access — both put you a short ride from Kanjo-dori Higashi, where the park bus leaves · the lively Susukino nightlife district is also well connected and great for food and drinks in the evening · the park is a half-day trip, so prioritise a central, well-linked base over staying near the park itself.
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Sapporo Travel Guide

Where to stay, what to see, and how to get around the whole of Sapporo — pick the right area for your trip.

Open the Sapporo Guide →
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Getting Around Sapporo

The subway, buses and IC cards explained — exactly how to ride out to Kanjo-dori Higashi and the park bus.

Getting Around Sapporo →
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Compare Hotel Prices

Search and compare Sapporo hotels on Agoda for your dates and budget before you decide to book.

Search on Agoda →
Related Guides

Keep Exploring Sapporo — Sights, Food, and Stays

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Sapporo Travel Guide

A whole-city overview — sights, hotels, transport, and the districts beyond the parks.

Open the Sapporo Guide →
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Sapporo Attractions

The best of Sapporo's sights, in the city and beyond, with how to get there and opening hours.

Sapporo Attractions →
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What to Eat in Sapporo

Miso ramen, soup curry, jingisukan, Hokkaido crab, and dairy desserts — a deep dive into the best places.

Sapporo Food Guide →
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Sapporo Day Trips

Easy escapes from the city — Otaru, Lake Toya, Noboribetsu and more, with how to get to each.

Sapporo Day Trips →
🏔️

Hokkaido Travel Guide

The whole prefecture — cities, nature, hot springs and seasons, with links into every area.

Hokkaido Guide →
🇯🇵

Full Japan Travel Guide

Every region and city, with links into city guides, hotels, and attractions across Japan.

Japan Guide →
Frequently Asked Questions

Questions AboutMoerenuma Park

Who designed Moerenuma Park and what's the idea behind it?
The park was designed by the Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, who treated the entire site as one single sculpture rather than a normal park with separate features dotted around. The land was a former waste landfill that was reclaimed and reshaped into smooth hills, a pyramid, fountains and geometric mounds. Noguchi drew up the master plan in 1988 (he died that same year) and the park opened fully in 2005, so what you walk through is a finished work of land art on a huge scale.
How do I get to Moerenuma Park from central Sapporo?
The park sits in the far north-east outskirts of Sapporo, so it takes a bit of effort. The usual way is to ride the Toho subway line to Kanjo-dori Higashi Station, then catch a bus (the Chuo bus toward Moere Koen Higashiguchi) for about 25 minutes to the park. Allow roughly an hour each way from the city centre. If you're short on time or travelling as a group, a taxi or rental car is more direct — there's plenty of parking on site.
Is there an entrance fee for Moerenuma Park?
No — admission to the park is free, and so is climbing Mt Moere and walking the grounds. The only thing you pay for is bicycle rental if you want to loop the park on two wheels, plus food and drinks. The Glass Pyramid HIDAMARI is also free to enter. The park is open from early morning until late evening, but note the gates close on certain days and over the New Year period, so check the official calendar before you go.
What is the Sea Fountain and when does it run?
The Sea Fountain is the park's signature water show — a huge fountain that runs a choreographed sequence of jets and shapes a few times a day, with each full show lasting around 15–40 minutes depending on the program. Showtimes are posted at the park and on the official website and they change by season, so check the schedule when you arrive and time your visit around one. It only runs in the warmer months, roughly late April to mid-October, not in deep winter.
Can I climb Mt Moere, and what's the view like?
Yes. Mt Moere is a man-made hill about 62 metres tall, shaped from the reclaimed land, and you can walk up it on paths and stone steps. From the top you get a wide view over the whole park — the Glass Pyramid, the fountain and the geometric mounds laid out below — with the Sapporo skyline and the mountains in the distance. It's an easy climb that takes about 10–15 minutes, and it's a favourite spot for sunset and, in winter, for sledding down the slope.
When is the best time to visit Moerenuma Park?
Late spring to early autumn is the sweet spot, when the Sea Fountain is running and the weather is good for walking and cycling. Spring brings cherry blossoms in the park's cherry forest, usually around early May in Sapporo. Autumn has clear, cool air and good light from the top of Mt Moere. Winter shuts the fountain down but turns the park into a snowfield where locals come to ski and sled — quiet and a different kind of beautiful, if you can handle the cold.
Ready to Explore Sapporo?

Base Yourself Centrally
and Make Moerenuma Park an Easy Half-Day

Pick a hotel near Sapporo Station or Odori for the smoothest ride out to the park, with the city's food and nightlife on your doorstep. Open our full Sapporo guide, or compare prices on Agoda for your dates and budget.

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