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Shikotsu-Tōya NP., Hokkaido
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Once called 物見ヶ岡 (Monomi-ga-oka), “Lookout Hill,” Sobetsu Park lives up to its name: a geopark sign identifies views of 4 active-volcano landmarks—Usu, Yōtei, Niseko and Komagatake.
At Sobetsu Park, cherry blossoms can open a little before the Bungo plums—a quirky reversal of the order many expect. Hokkaido lists both flowering in early to mid-May, while local guides say Sakura leads.
Until the pre-COVID pause, the park sold its plums on just 1 day a year, only to Sobetsu residents. Now the aging trees’ fruit is removed so they can put more effort into next spring’s flowers.
Sobetsu Park began as community beautification, not a plum garden: in 1919, the local scenic-preservation association planted cherry, maple, chestnut, pine and azalea; in 1926, it became a village park.
A town-hall employee’s idea created today’s famous plum slope: in 1961, Sobetsu planted its Bungo grove across about 20,000 m² of hillside. That planting is much younger than the park itself.
Bungo ume, the kind planted here, is thought to be a natural ume–apricot hybrid. Hokkaido trials found that some Bungo strains suited the northern climate, though others did not.
The town once checked the rounded “about 300” the hard way: staff pink-taped and numbered every living plum, counting 260. Officials also reported planting about 10 young trees a year to renew the aging grove.
On the approach, before the park summit, a bronze “Playing with the Wind” by sculptor Goro Suzuki greets visitors. It is one of 58 works in Lake Tōya’s lakeshore sculpture park.
