is a famous scenic spot located in

Toyohira-ku, Sapporo is one of the 10 wards in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. The ward was established in 1972, when the Sapporo Olympics was held in Sapporo. Four other wards in Sapporo are bounded on Toyohira-ku. As of April 1, 2012, the ward has an estimated populatio ...

Hokkaidō is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The la ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. The bronze statue of Dr.

William S. Clark William Smith Clark (July 31, 1826 – March 9, 1886) was an American professor of chemistry, botany and zoology, a colonel during the American Civil War, and a leader in agricultural education. Raised and schooled in Easthampton, Massachuse ...

, which stands on the hill, is well known as the

symbol A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different conc ...

of frontier spirit of Hokkaidō.

History

Since 1906, the hill was developed as a former national

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult mal ...

breeding station, and in 1919,

sheep Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus ''Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated s ...

breeding was started. From which the place name "Hitsujigaoka" derives. The literal meaning is "hill of sheep". In 1959, Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill was opened on the upper side of the hill, within the Hokkaido National Agricultural Research Center. In 1976, the statue of Dr. Clark was erected as a centennial monument to his visit to Hokkaidō. His famous words "Boys, be ambitious!" are inscribed on the pedestal.

Charm of the hill

The Hill, located in the southeast part of Sapporo provides a panoramic view of the ''Ishikari plain'', with the Sapporo Dome in the foreground. Sheep graze freely in the area during the summer, which creates a pastoral scenery. The statue of Dr. Clark is famous as the symbol of Hokkaidō's pioneer spirit. Many tourists take pictures of themselves with the statue as the background.

Facilities

*Austrian House - souvenir shop *Rest House - the restaurant where you can eat " Jingisukan", mutton barbecue originated in Hokkaidō *Clark Chapel *Hitsujigaoka Wedding Palace *

Sapporo Snow Festival The is a festival held annually in Sapporo, Japan, over seven days in February. Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome are the main sites of the festival. In 2007 (57th festival), about two million people visited Sapporo to see the hundreds of s ...

Museum

Access

* Hokkaido Chuo Bus: 10 minutes from

Fukuzumi Station is a rapid transit station in Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. The station number is H14. It is the southern terminus of the Tōhō Line. The Sapporo Dome is about 10 minutes walking distance south of the station. Platforms Surroundi ...

( Tōhō Line) to Hitsujigaoka Tenbodai Bus stop.

External links

* {{coord, 42, 59, 57, N, 141, 23, 41, E, region:JP_source:kolossus-jawiki, display=title Toyohira-ku, Sapporo Tourist attractions in Sapporo Geography of Hokkaido

History

Charm of the hill

Facilities

Access

See also

External links