Odori Park is really the heart of Sapporo. The 1.5-kilometre long park (Odori means ‘large street’) is a sort of city median, which separates Sapporo into a northern and a southern part. The park dates from 1871 and was originally designed to protect against the spread of fires. Today it is an amazing place for people watching and to take in the monuments, stalls selling corn, fountains, flowers, play areas, rose garden and more.