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This Weekend
Sapporo Autumn Fest throws open 300 stalls across seven blocks of Odori Park this Friday — Hokkaido's biggest food festival, and the unofficial start of the season. Down in Kushiro, the island's largest fireworks shells go up over the harbor the very next night, so if you're picking one weekend to eat and watch the sky light up, this is it.
NEW ON THE SITE
Planning a trip for later in the year? We just launched the Hokkaido Events Map — an interactive way to browse festivals, food, and culture by month and by region, all in one place, so you're not stuck scrolling old newsletters to plan ahead. It's still growing, so if you know of an event coming up — big or small — submit it here: https://www.hokkaidotoday.com/submit-event
Explore the map: https://www.hokkaidotoday.com/hokkaido-events-map
Reader Photo of the Week
Makomanai Takino Cemetery — submitted by Lisa Eachus
"This cemetery is breathtaking with the different sculptures from around the world and then the huge Buddha under the hill. I believe the lavender when in bloom is a sight to see — sadly we missed it, but it's a must for any visitor to see."
今週の一言 · WORD OF THE WEEK
祭り
Matsuri
mah-tsu-ree
"Festival." The most basic word in the Japanese festival vocabulary, and the one doing the most work this week — Sapporo's got one, Kushiro's got one, Otaru's got one, and even the mountain has one. Late summer into early autumn is when Hokkaido's matsuri calendar gets fairly crowded, and this week is close to it.
SAPPORO
Featured
Sapporo Autumn Fest
Fri Sept 11 (opens) | Sapporo Autumn Fest · Odori Park (Blocks 4–8, 10, 11), 10:00–20:30, free entry — 300+ stalls across a 1km stretch of the park, drawing 2 million visitors a year. The 11-chome "PRECIOUS TABLE" zone runs gourmet menus from top chefs that sell out fast — go there first. Runs through Oct 3.
Sun Sept 13 — Sapporo International Market for Kids · Sapporo Community Plaza, 1F (SCARTS Mall A), free, registration required — A multicultural festival for foreign families raising kids in Japan: target shooting, sugar candy carving, yo-yo balloon fishing, and more traditional festival games.
Sat Sept 12, 17:00 & Sun Sept 13, 13:00 — Sapporo Symphony Orchestra Subscription Concert · Kitara, Main Hall — Conductor Matthias Bamert leads Schubert's Symphony No. 5 and Bruckner's Symphony No. 4, "Romantic."
Sun Sept 13 — Super Mario: RUN TO THE GOAL in Hokkaido 2026 · Daiwa House Premist Dome, Hitsujigaoka — A family obstacle-course event themed around Super Mario, with kids' game corners and food trucks.
Sat Sept 12, 10:30–16:00 — Moiwayama Bon Odori — "Dance High in the Sky" · Sapporo Moiwayama Ropeway, midway station, free (ropeway fare extra) — A J-POP-themed Bon Odori on the mountain, with character appearances in the afternoon.
BEYOND SAPPORO
Featured
Kushiro Tairyo Donpaku | Fireworks!
Sat Sept 12 – Sun Sept 13 | Kushiro Tairyo Donpaku (23rd edition) · Sachimachi Ryokuchi Park — Hokkaido's largest fireworks shells light up the harbor Saturday night at 19:00, alongside food stalls, mini-live performances, and stage shows. "Donpaku" — the boom of fireworks, the sound of eating.
OTARU
Saat Sept 12 – Sun Sept 13 - Taru Fes 2026 · Grand Park Otaru, 5F, Wing Bay Otaru —
A family appreciation festival: local food and kitchen-car vendors, a science show, a reservable parent-child cooking class, and student music and dance performances.
Standing (through Sept 30): Otaru Canal illumination + projection mapping, nightly.
FURANO
Sun Sept 13- Furano Vege Walk · Furano — A walking event built around Furano's local vegetables, pairing sport with the region's farm-to-table identity.
HAKODATE
⚠️ Last chance: teamLab Future Park Hakodate closes Sept 23 — two weeks left.
NOBORIBETSU
Standing: Jigokudani Demon Fireworks — every Thursday in September, including Sept 10 and Sept 17. Yukijin (guardian demons) launch hand-held fireworks through the onsen town.
TOKACHI/OBIHIRO
Sat Sept 12 – Sun Sept 13 - Hokkaido Organic Village Great Harvest Festival · Tokachi Plaza (Sat, lecture) / Midorigaoka Park Green Stage (Sun, market) — A harvest festival tied to Hokkaido's Organic Village initiative.
Sun Sept 13, 10:00–14:00 - Obihiro Airport "Sky Day" Festival · Tokachi-Obihiro Airport, free entry — Family-friendly, aviation-themed: tarmac viewing, control tower tours, cabin crew experience for kids.
KUSHIRO
Standing (May 26–Nov 3): KAMUY LUMINA, Lake Akan — An immersive night walk through the forest, themed around Ainu mythology.
See you out there. · 今週末も楽しんで。
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