Moerenuma Park

Overview

Moerenuma Park is a 189-hectare landscape park on a reclaimed waste disposal site, designed by Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. The park's geometric hills, fountains, and play equipment function as massive sculptures integrated into the landscape. It represents Noguchi's lifelong vision of sculpting the earth itself.

Highlights

• Glass Pyramid (Hidamari): A glass and steel pyramid housing exhibition spaces, a restaurant, and performance halls.
• Sea Fountain (Umi no Funsui): A 25-meter water performance running 3–4 times daily in summer, set to music and light.
• Mount Moere: A 62-meter man-made hill with panoramic views of the park and surrounding mountains.

History

Sapporo invited Noguchi to design the park in 1988; he completed the master plan shortly before his death that same year. The park opened in 2005 after 17 years of construction. Built atop 2.7 million tons of waste, it exemplifies turning environmental liabilities into public assets.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: Rent bicycles near the entrance — the park is too large to cover on foot comfortably.
• Tip 2: The Sea Fountain performances (June–October) are spectacular at sunset; check scheduled times at the entrance.
• Duration: 90–150 minutes.