Moerenuma Park is a huge art park on the north-eastern edge of Sapporo, designed by the Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi as “one entire sculpture”. Built on a former waste disposal site inside a loop of the old Moerenuma river channel, it is full of geometric hills, play sculptures, fountains and a glass pyramid.
Entry and parking are free. It is a long way from the centre, but a highlight for anyone interested in design, landscape or simply wide open space.
Plan your visit to Moerenuma Park
- Entry: free
- Open 7:00 am – 10:00 pm (entry until 9:00 pm)
- Time needed: 2–4 hours
History of Moerenuma Park
Work on turning the landfill into a park began in 1982. In 1988 Isamu Noguchi visited the site and drew up a master plan for the whole park, but he died later that year, before construction could get far. The project went ahead using his design, overseen by his foundation and Japanese architects.
Parts of the park opened during the 1990s, and it was completed and opened in full in 2005, the year Noguchi would have turned 100.
Attractions at Moerenuma Park
- Glass Pyramid “HIDAMARI”: the park’s centrepiece, with exhibition spaces, a shop and a restaurant.
- Mt Moere: a 62 m man-made hill with views over Sapporo; used for skiing and sledding in winter.
- Sea Fountain: a 48 m-wide fountain with timed shows in which the water rises up to 25 m, in the warmer months.
- Play Mountain and Tetra Mound: two of Noguchi’s land sculptures, a grassy stepped hill and a giant steel pyramid frame on a mound.
- Moere Beach: a shallow paddling area that is popular with children in summer.
- Play equipment: colourful Noguchi-designed playground sculptures in the cherry tree groves.
Things to Do at Moerenuma Park
- Cycle around the park: rental bicycles are available in the warmer months, which helps with the long distances.
- Climb Mt Moere: walk to the top for a panoramic view, then come down Play Mountain.
- Catch a fountain show: check the schedule, as shows run a few times a day.
- Winter fun: sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing when the park is under snow.
- Picnic among the cherry trees: the groves bloom in spring.
Moerenuma Park – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
- Park: free, open 7:00 am to 10:00 pm (entry until 9:00 pm).
- Glass Pyramid: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm from 29 April to 3 November, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in winter; closed Mondays (Tuesdays if Monday is a holiday).
- Sea Fountain: runs from late April to around 20 October, with shows a few times a day.
- Check the official park website for current schedules.
How Long to Spend at Moerenuma Park
Allow at least 2–3 hours, as the park is large and the sights are spread out. A rental bike or half a day gives you time to see everything without rushing.
How to Get There
- Subway and bus: take the Toho Line to Kanjo-dori-higashi Station, then Chuo Bus route 69 or 79 (or 61 to the west entrance), about 25 minutes by bus.
- Taxi: roughly 30 minutes from central Sapporo, depending on traffic.
- Car: free parking at the park.
Arriving at New Chitose Airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer straight to your Sapporo hotel.
Eateries Nearby Moerenuma Park
- Glass Pyramid restaurant: the main sit-down option inside the park.
- Picnic: the park is huge and has few food options, so bringing a picnic is a good idea.
- Central Sapporo: for ramen, soup curry and seafood, head back to the Sapporo Station, Odori or Susukino areas.
Other Attractions Nearby Moerenuma Park
- Sapporo Beer Museum: on the way back towards the centre.
- Satoland: an agricultural park with flower fields and farm activities, in the same north-eastern part of the city.
- Odori Park: see Noguchi’s Black Slide Mantra sculpture in the city centre.
- Sapporo TV Tower: for views over the central city.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Sapporo: stay near a Toho Line station for the easiest trip out to the park.
- Get a Japan eSIM before you land, for maps and bus times.
Moerenuma Park is Isamu Noguchi’s last great work: a former landfill turned into a free, park-sized sculpture with a glass pyramid, a 62 m hill, a dancing Sea Fountain and playful land art. It is worth the trip out from central Sapporo, especially by bike in summer or for sledding in winter.
See another Noguchi piece, the Black Slide Mantra, in Odori Park, and stop at the Sapporo Beer Museum on the way back.
