Summer brings an abundance of wildlife to Takino Suzuran Hillside National Government Park, turning the entire Takino Forest into a natural museum.
Visitors looking to search for insects and other creatures are invited to the nature-filled Takino Forest Zone, where staff and volunteers are on hand at the Forest Information Center throughout the event period, making it a welcoming spot even for first-time visitors to the forest zone.
| Period | July 26 (Sun) to August 11 (Tue/Holiday) |
| Hours | Weekdays: 10:00 AM–3:00 PM / Weekends & Holidays: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM |
| Venue | Takino Forest Zone West Area (information hub: Forest Information Center) |
| Nearest Entrance Gate | Takino no Mori Gate (nearest parking: Takino no Mori Gate Parking Lot) |
| Capacity | None (same-day registration) |
| Fee | Free (park admission and parking fees apply separately) |
Outside the hours listed above, no staff will be at the Forest Information Center, but visitors can search for creatures anytime during the park's regular opening hours.
Event notes: Creatures found within the park cannot be taken home. After observing them, please return them to where they were found, or place them in the "Insect Return Box" set up at the Forest Information Center.
More about the Insect Outdoor Museum
Pick Up an Adventure Card and Head Out to Search
The Forest Information Center distributes an "Adventure Card" that visitors can take along on their search for creatures. The card includes a walking map and tips for finding insects, so it's worth a look before heading into the forest.
Insect Bingo Challenge
Visitors can look for the insects pictured on the card. Circle each insect found, and completing a bingo earns an original insect sticker.
Prize exchange: Forest Information Center reception, weekdays 10:00 AM–3:00 PM / weekends & holidays 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. Outside these hours, prizes can be exchanged at the Mori-guchi Toll Gate or the Mori no Koryukan (Forest Exchange Hall).
Return Found Creatures to the "Insect Return Box"
Creatures found by visitors each day become part of a display at the Forest Information Center. Since the contents change daily, visitors may encounter insects they've never seen before.
Location: Forest Information Center, 1st floor
Display hours: Weekdays 10:00 AM–3:00 PM / Weekends & Holidays 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Camouflage Quiz
The quiz features 10 questions that challenge visitors to spot insects hidden within photographs.
Location: Forest Information Center, basement 1st floor
Ask the Takino Forest Club Volunteers
Takino Forest Club volunteers patrol the area throughout the event period. Visitors are welcome to ask them about anything they notice in the forest, or for directions.
Patrol hours: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Recommended Clothing and Gear
- Long sleeves, long pants, a hat, and athletic shoes
- An insect net and cage
- A change of clothes and a towel
- Insect repellent spray
- Something to drink
Visitors searching for aquatic creatures may also find a water net and marine shoes useful. Note that the Takino Forest Zone has no restaurants or shops, so those who need a meal should bring their own.
Free Insect Net and Cage Rental
During the event period, insect nets and cages are available for free rental at the Forest Information Center. Since quantities are limited, visitors who already own this equipment are encouraged to bring their own. Those searching for aquatic creatures should bring their own water nets.
Location: Forest Information Center
Rental hours: Weekdays 10:00 AM–3:00 PM / Weekends & Holidays 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Takino Forest Zone West Area — Two Kinds of Nature
Forest Information Center
Observation Deck
Rice Field Plaza
Stream Plaza
The Takino Forest Zone West Area's theme is "two kinds of nature." In spring, visitors can observe wildflowers such as Shirane Aoi; in summer, they can search for creatures around the rice paddies and streams; and in autumn, colorful foliage lets visitors experience Hokkaido's nature within Sapporo city limits.
The area has also been inhabited since the Meiji era, and visitors can learn about the relationship between people and nature through the remnants of old dwellings and charcoal kilns. Volunteer-guided tours and forest-building activities are also held regularly.
Brown Bear Safety Measures
The area around Takino Suzuran Hillside National Government Park is brown bear habitat, and bears have entered the park on several occasions in the past. The following measures are in place:
- Surveillance cameras
- Patrols within the park
- Perimeter fencing with an electric fence
Wildlife Caught on Surveillance Cameras
The park's surveillance cameras, installed to watch for brown bears, also capture footage of many other wild creatures. Their presence is itself a sign of how rich Takino's natural environment is.
