Sapporo: A city with night views that represent Japan
Spectacular views beyond your imagination
Along with Nagasaki and Kitakyushu, Sapporo is one of the Japan's new top 3 cities for night views.
You will be fascinated by the beautiful night views visible from the summits, towers,
and a observation deck at high-rise building and also various night views such as the White Illumination,
lit-up trees on the streets and the Snow Festival.
The night view of Sapporo was chosen as one of the Japan's new top 3 cities for night views along with Nagasaki and Kitakyushu in a questionnaire survey "your choice best night view," which the Night View Tourism Convention Bureau conducted to 5,542 "Night View Certifiers" around Japan in order to introduce them as a new Japanese brand to Japanese and overseas tourists and to revitalize night view tourism.
(In the questionnaire, one chose 5 night view spots.)
Characteristics of Sapporo Night View.
Appreciate the "layers of light,"visible from different heights.
Not many know that Sapporo White Illumination was the forerunner for various illumination events held across Japan. It is said that illumination displays began in 1900 (Meiji 33) in Japan, when the battleships flashed their lights across the sea in Kobe during a fleet review at night. However, today's large-scaled illumination events to attract tourists actually originated in Sapporo White Illumination, which was first held in 1981(Showa 56). You could say that in Japan, Sapporo was the origin of "festival of lights" to combine the city with lights.
1st Sapporo White Illumination
Sapporo is surrounded by mountains and you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views from the mountains, parks on the hills, the TV tower, Ferris Wheel, and observation decks at buildings in the city. Another interesting fact is that you can enjoy the night view of Sapporo from various locations at different altitudes, such as Mt. Moiwa Summit Observation Deck (531m), Horomi Pass Lookout Parking Lot (320m), Okurayama Viewing Point (307m), JR TOWER Observatory T38 (160m), Asahiyama Memorial Park (137.5m), Sapporo TV Tower Observatory Deck (90m), NORIA (Ferris Wheel) (78m), and even from low-rise hotels. Indeed, there are "layers of light" that sparkle and glitter in the night sky of Sapporo, which are like stratums of history. It is unique, and unlike any other city in Japan.
from Mt. Moiwa
from JR TOWER Observatory T38
These "layers of light" provide us with a night view that resembles countless stars glittering in the universe, as well as night views that allow us to feel the glamourous breath of a metropolis. One can be both swept away into a fantastic dreamland, or gain a sense of elation from the bright neon signs of the city. There is such a variety of view points in Sapporo, which is why the night view was chosen as one of the Japan's new top 3 cities for night views and has been attracting interest as a night view that represents Japan lately.
from Sapporo TV Tower
Sapporo; the city where illumination festival began, and where "layers of light" provide various night views. It is difficult to know and visit all of these viewpoints in just a day or two. However, we hope you will utilize this web site as an introduction to the profound "Sapporo night view"
Sapporo Night View Guide Editorial Supervisor
Sapporo Night View Sightseeing Promotion Association Council Advisor
Motoo Marumaru
Night View Critic/Night View Producer/Illumination Producer
Night View Tourism Convention Bureau Chairman
Born in 1965. Graduated from Tourism Division of the Department of Sociology at Rikkyo University. Published the [Tokyo Night View] in 1992, begins career as the only night view critic in Japan. Criticizing the beauty of night views based on the principles of color psychology and landscape studies, he has been working to build his own "study of night views" to highlight the true nature of night views. He has written over 50 books related to night views, the most recent being [The Latest Issue of Japan's Night View Heritages] (Kawade Shobo Shinsha), and [The Best of Japan's Illumination] (Kosaido Publishing). He has also served as an advisor on night view tourism for Kobe, Yokohama, Nagasaki, Kawasaki, Shunan, Ashikaga, Hiroshima, Sapporo, etc. He is also a general supervisor of the [Night View Certification (Night View Certifiers)] and [Illumination Certification] and received "Kanagawa Tourism Award" for his work on the factory night cruise that was first in Japan. Illumination producer for [Apa Resort Joetsu-Myoko Illumination], [Mojiko Retro], [Ogura Illumination], [Huis Ten Bosch], [Tokyo German Village], [Nagasaki Glover Garden], [Oku-Nikko Snow Festival], [Gunma Flower Park Ikutopia Shoku Hana Illumination], etc. For Lighting Projects: [Dejima], [Oura Tenshudo] (national heritage), Nakamachi Church, Kita Kyushu Iron Tree, etc. *Trademark Registration [Night View Critic] No. 4408194 *Lighting Consultant (Certified by the Illuminating Engineering Institute of Japan) * Public Ambassador for Scout Association of Saitama.
Official Website