Okurayama Observatory is located at the top of the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium, a famous venue where international competitions have been held and which was also used during the Winter Olympics. Reaching the observation area by the same two-person chairlift used by ski jump athletes makes the journey itself part of the experience.
At an elevation of approximately 307 meters, the starting point of the ski jump offers a sweeping panorama of Sapporo and the Ishikari Plain. Standing at the top gives visitors a vivid sense of the steep slope that ski jumpers face before launching into the air.
From this elevated viewpoint, you can look across the city and spot numerous Sapporo landmarks, including Sapporo Dome and Hokkaido University. Beyond the urban landscape, the view extends toward Ishikari Bay and the distant mountains, creating an impressive sense of scale.
When no competition is taking place, visitors can enjoy the Observation Lounge behind the ski jump starting area. From here, you can experience a perspective similar to that of an athlete preparing to make a jump.
The stadium is an all-weather ski jump facility, allowing athletes to train even during summer by spraying water onto the course. Depending on the timing of your visit, you may even have the chance to see ski jumpers practicing.
During the summer season, the observatory remains open into the evening, offering a beautiful view of Sapporo after dark. The city lights spread across the landscape below, creating a spectacular panorama from the ski jump’s elevated starting point.
Sapporo has been recognized as one of Japan’s New Three Great Night View Cities, and Okurayama provides a distinctive vantage point from which to appreciate the city’s illuminated skyline.
In winter, the scenery changes completely. Snow covers the surrounding mountains and cityscape, creating a vast white landscape that feels worlds apart from the colorful summer view.
The contrast between the steep ski jump and the snow-covered surroundings is particularly striking, making Okurayama an attractive destination for visitors who want to experience the atmosphere of winter sports in Hokkaido.
The ski jump complex also houses the Sapporo Winter Sports Museum, where visitors can learn more about winter sports and enjoy simulated experiences related to ski jumping.
The museum provides an entertaining way to discover the techniques and challenges involved in winter sports, making a visit to Okurayama enjoyable even for travelers who have never watched a ski jumping competition.
Okurayama Observatory offers more than a conventional city viewpoint. Here, the dramatic structure of an Olympic-level ski jump forms part of the viewing experience, allowing visitors to appreciate both the scale of the sporting venue and the panorama of Sapporo.
The chairlift ride to the summit, the steep starting gate, the panoramic views, and the Winter Sports Museum together create a distinctive attraction that combines ski jumping, sports history, and spectacular scenery.
Whether you visit during the green season to see Sapporo illuminated at night or in winter when the entire landscape is covered in snow, Okurayama offers a memorable perspective on the city.
For travelers interested in sports, mountain scenery, photography, or simply discovering a different side of Sapporo, Okurayama Observatory is a place where the excitement of ski jumping meets a magnificent panoramic view.
Summer (April 29 - October) 8:30 - 21:00
Winter (November - April 28) 9:00 - 17:00
Closed during jump competitions, official practice sessions, and lift maintenance periods.
Lift Fees
Adults 1000yen
Elementary school students and under: 500 yen
Subway Tozai Line Maruyama Koen Station, Exit 2, Maruyama Bus Terminal, JR Bus Maruyama 14 Araiyama Line, 10 minute walk from Okurayama Stadium Entrance stop.
By Car: 20 minutes from the center of Sapporo City