2026 Nakajima Park (中島公園) Water Play Area: Full-Day Course

One subway stop from the city centre, Nakajima Park (中島公園) is wrapped in greenery and water, and it holds a summer standard for families with children: the Nakajima Park Water Play Area. You can play in the stream around Shobu Pond (菖蒲池) inside the park, admission is free, and there are restrooms and a shop. The opening period for 2026 has not been announced; in past years it has fallen within the summer holidays. Sapporo City's information states that no fixed opening period or hours are set, so check the state of the waterside for that day before you set out. In the morning, see the white Western-style Hoheikan (豊平館), a national Important Cultural Property, spend quiet time at the Japanese Garden and Hassoan (八窓庵), and open your lunch boxes in the shade of the trees. In the afternoon, go out on Shobu Pond by boat, then change into swimwear for water play. History, gardens, boating and water play all play different roles within a single park, so there is little moving about and it is easy to plan even with small children. That is the strength of Nakajima Park. It makes just the right day for families who want to spend summer in Sapporo at an easy pace.