We were in Sapporo in March a few years back. Snow had stopped falling but had piled up on the ground. It was still very cold, my wife and I still needed our down-fill jackets.

It's not the worst time to be here, but it's not the best time.

There's still snow on the ground, but some freezes and remelts, so the streets are wet and icy. And it's a bit cold. If you're getting around by subway and rail, you won't have any trouble.

And the ski resorts are still open.

Hi

I normally use http://www.weatherbase.com to check out weather stats. It should give you an idea of what to expect.

Regards

Gard

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. We noted on the weather. Since we will missed the Snow Festival, what else we can do at Hokkaido in March? We planned a couple of days at Sapporo visiting the town and ski resort, and probably stay at hotels that have onsen. Then to Otaru, also for town visit.

What about travelling out of Sapporo and Otaru? To Furano-but no flowers blooming. To Nororibetsu-for onsen, but we can do so at Sapporo. Worth the trip to northen, eg.: Lake Akan?

Thank you.

Regards;

Kim

Do your kids like zoo !?

Asahiyawa Zoo in Asahikawa has a special winter event from Dec. to Mar., the "march of the penguins". Twice daily king penguins come out in the open and your kids can have close encounter with them, though not allowed to touch them. www.zooclub.jp

Less than 1 hr. bus from Sapporo is the North Safari Sapporo zoo/farm. Though smaller in scale, you can pet and feed the animals including penguins. www.north-safari.com

Hi William,

Thanks for the reply. All children like zoo, mine no different. But as we been to many many zoo, esp., last June 08, we been to San Diego zoo, we though of giving zoo a miss.

We want to enjoy more on Hokkaido's unique stuffs, like Otaru city's canal, which is unique to Hokkaido, unless you compare to Vienna, then different stories again. Or Sapporo, Clock Tower. We want to bring education and also teach our children the beautiful world we have, and also how countries preserve their culture and histories.

Of course, we also look forward to great Hokkaido seafood.

Regards;

Kim

Sapporo in March -- Dining, hot springs, shopping.

And the sights around town: Clock Tower, Botanical Gardens museum, Historical Village of Hokkaido.

thanks, nessie3. can I conclude that we won't be able to see any Ice Sculptures at Odori Park around 6-15 march 2009?

secondly, no point to travel out of Sapporo and Otaru in March, as no flower blooming at Furano, hot springs we can enjoy it at Sapporo, no need to travel to Noboribetsu?

what about travelling to Hakodate? was told would be about what we going to see at Otaru. and no point to Lake Akan as no algae, unless we want to go to see ices at Abashiri. appreciate a reply.

thank you.

regards;

kim

Hi there,

since Nessie3 and Amanda are now on their summer hols, I'll do my best to reply. You could go to Hakodate with the kids- certainly great seafood there and I believe there is a park which has some monkeys in it on the outskirts (these are the monkeys found in other parts of Japan not hokkaido). Its a pretty town with some very nice buildings- though quite similar to Otaru as they are really both pretty historical towns, so the choice is yours. It will be a 4 hour train trip to Hakodate and you could stay overnight.

I would recommend going to Noboribetsu for your onsening, Jozankei is nice, but Noboribetsu has got Hell's valley which you can walk round and see the volcanic lakes and even paddle in the hot stream (even in March with snow- I did it this year). Its true you can go easily from Sapporo as a day trip or stay overnight in one of the onsen hotels and get hotel bus there and back from Sapporo.

As to Akan- I haven't been yet, but it will be pretty snowy and cold up there still so no algae. The ice flows may still be around and I've heard if you see them its pretty spectacular with the sea eagles, disappointing if you don't and its along way up there. The cranes at Abishiri should still be around and those are pretty spectacular. It depends on the weather and temperature. This year everything melted very early as it was unusually mild in March. You definitely will have missed the snow sculptures in Sapporo- they demolish them the day after the festival finishes!

I hope that helps a little.

Sapporolite

>>thanks, nessie3. can I conclude that we won't be able to see any Ice Sculptures at Odori Park around 6-15 march 2009?

The ice sculptures are only for about a week in early February.

>>secondly, no point to travel out of Sapporo and Otaru in March, as no flower blooming at Furano, hot springs we can enjoy it at Sapporo, no need to travel to Noboribetsu?

Nothing to seen in Furano except maybe some hothouse flowers. Otaru and Hakodate both have historical sights and good views, so they would be good even in March. Better to visit one or the other and not both.

The ice at Abashiri may be worth seeing, but you need to have updated information about when it will be on the coast. Probably not worth the long trip to eastern hokkaido just to see ice.

The Historical Village in Sapporo is good even in winter. Another place to visit is Hoheikyo Dam, where you can see snow and waterfalls fed by the melted snow. Oh, and Sapporo Art Park, an outdoor sculpture park that's about an hour south of downtown.

My holiday starts Friday. Yaay! I can be a traveler for a change.