The History of Nakajima Park

The Toyohira River and Nakajima Park

The Toyohira River, flowing down from the majestic valleys of Jozankei, widens as it approaches the base of Mt. Moiwa, forming a vast alluvial fan. The city of Sapporo was built and thrived on this fertile plain. Nakajima Park originated along one of the distributaries of this fan, the Kamokamo River. Its creation is deeply connected to the natural water systems and the history of Sapporo itself.

The Birth of the Park

In 1874 (Meiji 7), a water gate was constructed on the Kamokamo River, creating a log pond. Timber cut upstream along the Toyohira River was temporarily stored here before being sent to sawmills along Otomo Canal (now Sosei River). By 1882 (Meiji 15), the log pond fell out of use and began to deteriorate. Local residents petitioned for its transformation into a park, leading to the establishment of Nakajima Playground in 1887 (Meiji 20). The former log pond was eventually transformed into what is now known as Shobu Pond.

In 1907 (Meiji 40), Anpei Nagaoka, a leading authority in Japanese landscaping, was invited from Tokyo to design a comprehensive plan for the park. His foundational designs remain influential to this day. During the same period, Nagaoka also designed the layouts for Odori Park and Maruyama Park.

Expositions and Exhibitions

In 1887 (Meiji 20), the park hosted the first Hokkaido Product Exhibition, featuring displays of regional specialties in a newly built exhibition hall. This event marked the beginning of Nakajima Park as a hub for Hokkaido’s industries, people, and information. The park continued to host various expositions over the years, such as the 1918 (Taisho 7) Hokkaido Expo, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hokkaido’s development, which also saw the inauguration of Sapporo’s first tramline. The 1958 (Showa 33) Hokkaido Expo introduced new attractions such as an observatory and an amusement park (later relocated to Maruyama Zoo and eventually closed).

A Birthplace of New Culture

In 1906 (Meiji 39), Sapporo’s first fireworks festival was held in Nakajima Park. Later, in 1928 (Showa 3), the NHK radio broadcasting station JOIK Sapporo Broadcasting Station opened within the park, marking the beginning of radio broadcasting in Hokkaido. In 1949 (Showa 24), a former military barracks purchased from the American Occupation Forces was converted into Japan’s first public children’s center. Over the years, the park became a birthplace of cultural innovation and development.

Seasonal Beauty in Historic Rows of Trees

The park’s ginkgo tree-lined avenue, beginning at the entrance on Minami 9-jo Street, is one of Hokkaido’s most picturesque promenades, comparable to those at the Hokkaido Government Office and Hokkaido University. In autumn, the fallen leaves form a vivid golden carpet. Along the western edge of the park, the weeping willows by the Kamokamo River add a poetic touch with their branches dipping gracefully into the clear waters.