Shiroi Koibito Park Guide 2026: Hokkaido’s European-Style Estate and Chocolate Dream Factory
Shiroi Koibito Park is in Nishi Ward, Sapporo, a chocolate-themed factory attraction run by Ishiya Confectionery. A paid-area adult ticket of ¥1,200 gets you the light projection show and factory displays. We suggest allowing 2 to 3 hours for a full visit, and it is a sweet must-visit for families and couples in Hokkaido.
What Is Shiroi Koibito Park? Hokkaido’s Must-Visit Chocolate Factory Attraction
Shiroi Koibito Park (白い恋人パーク) was built by Ishiya Confectionery, maker of the Shiroi Koibito cookies, one of Hokkaido’s most popular souvenirs. With English Tudor architecture and European-style gardens as its theme, the park turns what was a simple cookie factory into a complex that combines sightseeing, learning and dessert experiences. It is more than a factory: it feels like a theme park inside a fairy tale, with red brick buildings, rose beds and a retro clock tower scattered about, making you forget for a moment that you are in Hokkaido and feel as if you are in a small English country town.
The grounds are spacious and divided mainly into the free outdoor gardens and the indoor paid Chocolate Fantasy factory area. The two have very different styles yet echo each other, and a half-day itinerary is a good fit for exploring at a leisurely pace. Whether you want to learn about how chocolate is made, or just take pretty photos and buy souvenirs, you can do it all here.
Who Is It For? A Dream Park for Families, Couples and Dessert Lovers
The reason Shiroi Koibito Park tops Hokkaido’s popular attraction rankings year after year is that it looks after the needs of different groups at once. Families can let the kids burn off energy at the outdoor Gulliver Town and bake cookies together at the Dream Experience Workshop. Couples can take romantic photos in front of the rose garden and the Tudor house that look like something from a European honeymoon. Dessert lovers should not miss the park’s exclusive chocolate soft serve, parfaits and ISHIYA limited-edition sweets.
For travelers who simply want to buy souvenirs, the park’s Piccadilly Store also stocks a wider range of Shiroi Koibito products than the airport, some of them cheaper, so it is a stop worth making a special trip for when planning your Hokkaido itinerary.
Highlights for 2026: Reopening on July 30 and New Facilities
Shiroi Koibito Park reopened on July 30, 2026. The factory area was upgraded to the “Shiroi Koibito Factory” (白い恋人ファクトリー), which presents the manufacturing process with projection and interactive displays. A new immersive experience space, the “Shiroi Koibito Big Box” (白い恋人ビッグボックス), was added, and by scanning a QR code on entry you can pick up a small 2-piece box of cookies at the gift station. Paid-area admission is now ¥1,200 for adults and ¥600 for ages 4 through junior high school.
How to Get to Shiroi Koibito Park in 2026: A Complete Guide to Routes and Costs
Shiroi Koibito Park is on the outskirts of Sapporo, and the subway is the recommended way to get there, saving the most time and effort. Below are the three main ways to get there for comparison.
How to Get to Shiroi Koibito Park: Subway, Bus and Driving at a Glance
| Transport | Cost | Travel time / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Subway Tozai Line (Miyanosawa Station) | ¥290 one way | About 20 minutes from Odori Station, then about a 7-minute walk from Exit 5; most recommended |
| Chuo Bus “Otaru Express” | ¥240 one way | Take the Otaru-bound bus from Boarding Gate 1 at the Sapporo Station Bus Terminal and get off at Nishimachi Kita 20-chome, then walk about 7 minutes |
| Driving (Parking Lots 1 to 4) | ¥300 per hour | Buying a paid-area ticket gets you a ¥300 rate for up to 3 hours; check the free parking information in advance |
| Regular sightseeing bus (Otaru direction) | Depends on the tour | Some Otaru day-trip regular sightseeing buses stop at Shiroi Koibito Park along the way, suitable for travelers who do not want to change transport themselves |
From Sapporo Station or Odori Station, take the Subway Tozai Line directly to the terminal station, Miyanosawa Station. The ride takes about 20 minutes and costs ¥290 one way, and from the exit it is about a 7-minute walk following the signs, with part of the route indoors. You can also take the Chuo Bus “Otaru Express” toward Otaru from the Sapporo Station Bus Terminal, get off at Nishimachi Kita 20-chome and walk about 7 minutes. If you drive, you can use the park’s parking lots, and buying a paid-area ticket gets you a ¥300 rate for 3 hours.
Note: Shiroi Koibito Park is actually in Nishi Ward, Sapporo, not in Otaru.If your itinerary starts from JR Otaru Station, you can take the “Kosoku Otaru” express bus toward Sapporo on a Maruyama-route service and get off at Nishimachi Kita 20-chome, then walk about 7 minutes. The ride takes about 35 minutes with no transfer. The full Sapporo-Otaru fare is ¥730.
Must-See Sights at Shiroi Koibito Park in 2026: A Guide to the 12 Highlights
From the factory area to the outdoor gardens, here are the must-visit highlights and photo spots in order of importance.
Chocolate Fantasy Factory: Where Shiroi Koibito Is Born, and 2026 Reopening News
The heart of the paid area is the “Shiroi Koibito Factory” (白い恋人ファクトリー), where you can watch how Shiroi Koibito is made. “Chocotopia House” (チョコトピアハウス) introduces the four revolutions of chocolate with light projection, and the “Shiroi Koibito Big Box” (白い恋人ビッグボックス) is an immersive experience space. Admission is ¥1,200 for adults (high school age and above), ¥600 for ages 4 through junior high school, and free for ages 3 and under.
We suggest entering on a weekday morning when it is less crowded. Since the reopening on July 30, 2026, the factory area presents the manufacturing process with projection and interactive displays; see the official website shiroikoibitopark.jp for details.
Giant Chocolate Clock Tower: A Puppet Carnival on the Hour
The giant chocolate clock tower standing in the courtyard is the park’s most representative landmark and a popular Instagram spot. On the hour, the tower puts on a mechanical puppet music carnival of about 10 minutes, with small puppets spinning and dancing to the music. The scene is lively with a strong European classical flavor, drawing large crowds who stop to watch and take photos.
When planning, try to arrive at the plaza in front of the tower 5 to 10 minutes before the hour to claim a spot for the best angle. On winter evenings the tower also gives an extra rainbow light show at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour, glowing together with the surrounding lights, a romantic winter-only sight.
“Four Revolutions of Chocolate” Light Projection: A Two-Hundred-Year Chocolate Journey
This is the most educational and visually striking exhibit in the paid area, located in “Chocotopia House” (チョコトピアハウス). Using large-scale light projection, it presents the evolution of chocolate with animation and lighting effects on the walls and on three-dimensional models. The content runs from the discovery of cacao beans, to European aristocrats turning chocolate into a drink, to the key turning point of mass production after the Industrial Revolution, teaching while entertaining.
The whole projection suits children, who can learn while playing, and is one of the most recommended indoor activities for a family outing.
European Rose Garden: Roses in Bloom at an English Estate
The European rose garden in the free outdoor area grows many varieties of roses, set off by Tudor-style red brick buildings and neatly trimmed hedges, as if you were in a classic English estate. The best viewing period is May to July each year, when the flowers bloom in a riot of color. It is one of the park’s most popular photo spots and the Shiroi Koibito Park scene that appears most often on social media.
Even if you do not visit in flower season, the garden’s European architecture and neat paths are still worth a stroll and some photos, and in autumn and winter it changes into different seasonal decorations and lights for a completely different atmosphere.
Tudor House: A Romantic Photo Spot Styled After English Tudor Architecture
Tudor House is another very distinctive building in the park. Its exterior imitates the timber-framed style of 16th-century Tudor England, with black-and-white timber beams and white walls under pointed eaves. It complements the surrounding rose garden and creates a strong European countryside atmosphere.
Many travelers come here specifically for wedding-style or couple photo shoots, and the soft light of the afternoon (about 2 to 4 p.m.) is the best time. The area is open all year and free to visit, so you can take photos freely without buying an extra ticket.
Former Shiroi Koibito Railway Site: A Retro Showa-Style Platform Photo Spot
The park keeps a retro steam locomotive model platform and a landscaped section of track. Although the little train no longer runs, the platform, rails and surrounding decorations are fully preserved, full of Showa-era nostalgia, and it has become a hidden photo spot much discussed on social media in recent years.
Because it is less well known than the rose garden and clock tower, it is usually less crowded and you can take photos at leisure. It suits those who like a retro style or railway fans, and we suggest stopping for about 10 minutes for photos on your walk through the garden.
Gulliver Town: A Role-Play World Just for Kids
“Gulliver Town Pocke” is in the paid area and has miniature shops and houses where children can play role-play games, a corner where families tend to stay longer. The paid area also has a hands-on dessert experience, “Sweets Workshop Dream Kitchen,” and an arcade area, which families can include together.
Park facilities and operating status may change, so we recommend checking the official website for that day’s information before you go.
Cacao Pod Study Base: The Secrets from Cacao Fruit to Chocolate
The Cacao Pod Study Base (スタディベース・カカオポッド) in the paid area uses projection to introduce the many ways of enjoying chocolate and has a chocolate tasting experience, suitable for visitors who want to learn more about chocolate.
We suggest visiting it together with the “Four Revolutions of Chocolate” light projection for a fuller picture of chocolate’s history and the ways to enjoy it.
Dream Experience Workshop: A DIY World of Handmade Shiroi Koibito
The Dream Experience Workshop is the park’s most popular interactive area, where visitors can decorate or bake their own Shiroi Koibito cookies under the guidance of staff and take the finished product home as a keepsake. It is a highly recommended activity for both families and couples.
Places are limited, so we suggest checking the official website in advance for booking methods and available sessions, and booking early especially in peak season.
Sweet Winter Illumination: A Dreamy Courtyard Decked with 100,000 LEDs
From about mid-November to March 31 of the following year, Shiroi Koibito Park holds its “Sweet Illumination” event. In the evening the courtyard lights up more than 100,000 LEDs, turning the whole European garden into a sparkling winter fairy-tale world, with the giant clock tower’s rainbow light show at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour. It is one of Hokkaido’s must-see romantic winter night views.
The actual dates, times and opening hours of the illumination differ each year, so check the official website announcements before you go and plan to enter in the late afternoon so you can enjoy two quite different looks of the park, by day and by night.
Piccadilly Store: The Last Stop for Souvenir Shopping
The Piccadilly Store is in the free area and is the largest souvenir shop in the park. Besides the classic Shiroi Koibito cookies in various packaging sizes, it sells park-exclusive baumkuchen, stationery, plush toys and seasonal-flavor sweets, some of which are sold only here and cannot be found at the airport or city stores.
We suggest making this shop your last stop before you shop, so you do not have to carry big bags of souvenirs while taking photos and walking around the garden. If you want a custom commemorative magnet or cookie gift box, you can also ask about having one made while you are here.
Chocolate Cafes and Sweets Corners: Soft Serve, Parfaits and Limited-Edition Curry
The park has several dining spaces of different styles, including Chelsea Bakery, Butler’s Wharf Cafe, Chocolate Lounge Oxford and Trial Place Covent, offering choices from light bites to full meals. The signature Shiroi Koibito soft serve is rich and smooth without being too sweet and is much talked about on social media. Chocolate dessert lovers should also not miss the Shiroi Koibito parfait and ISHIYA’s limited-edition seasonal sweets.
If you want a full meal, we suggest checking the dining page on the official website first for each shop’s menu and opening hours. Mealtimes are busy, so plan the order of your visit around the park in advance.
Hokkaido Jingu: A Side Trip at the Heart of Sapporo’s Faith
If you have time, we suggest adding Hokkaido Jingu to the same day’s itinerary. It is the most important spiritual center for Sapporo locals, enshrining Okunitama no Kami, Onamuchi no Kami, Sukunahikona no Kami and Emperor Meiji, and is said to be especially effective for prayers about pioneering endeavors, romance and business prosperity. The omamori charms and goshuin stamps sold in the grounds are also popular with visitors, making it an excellent place to experience traditional Japanese faith culture.
From Shiroi Koibito Park, take the Subway Tozai Line and transfer to Maruyama Koen Station, then walk about 15 minutes. The grounds are lush and green, good for cherry blossoms in spring and maple leaves in autumn, and it suits an afternoon side trip after Shiroi Koibito Park.
Odori Park, Otaru Canal and Nearby Sights: Linking a Sapporo Day Trip
There are several sights near Shiroi Koibito Park worth linking, including Odori Park in the city center, the Sapporo Beer Museum where you can taste draft beer and tour historic buildings, the Hokkaido University campus with its strong academic atmosphere, Nakajima Park, beautiful in all four seasons, and the Otaru Canal, reached by train and famous for its romantic canal night view.
Because these sights are scattered in different directions across Sapporo’s city center and suburbs, we suggest ordering them by the priority of your route for the day. For example, visit Shiroi Koibito Park in the morning, return to Odori Park and the Beer Museum in the city at midday, and if you have time, decide whether to add a trip to the Otaru Canal, so you do not spend too much time on travel back and forth.
How Much Does Shiroi Koibito Park Cost in 2026? Tickets and Tour Options
Below are the costs and contents of the various tickets, experiences and tour options for Shiroi Koibito Park, to help you plan your budget in advance.
Chocolate Fantasy Factory Ticket: ¥1,200 for Adults / ¥600 for Children
This is the basic ticket for the paid area: ¥1,200 for adults (high school age and above), ¥600 for ages 4 through junior high school, and free for ages 3 and under. It covers the “Four Revolutions of Chocolate” light projection, the Cacao Pod Study Base and the factory display area. Last entry to the paid area is 16:30, and opening hours follow the official website announcements. After purchase you can enter and leave the paid area as many times as you like that day.
Shiroi Koibito Park Annual Pass: A Great-Value Plan for Year-Round Visits
If you plan to visit several times in a year, or live near Sapporo, consider an annual pass: ¥2,500 for adults and ¥1,200 for children, with unlimited entry to the paid area for a year. It is especially suitable for locals or long-term residents who like to visit in different seasons (flowers, autumn leaves, illumination). Annual pass prices and sales methods follow the official website announcements.
Custom Original Souvenir Gift Boxes: Magnets and Cookie Gift Boxes
Travelers who like personalized souvenirs can order an original keepsake at Photo Shop Memento on the first floor of Tudor House, in styles including magnets and cookie gift boxes. Please check prices and production time on site or on the official website. We suggest placing the order as soon as you arrive and picking it up after your visit to save the most time.
Regular Sightseeing Bus Otaru Head Office Tour: Shiroi Koibito Park x Otaru Day Trip
If you do not want to plan transport yourself, you can also join a regular sightseeing bus tour that combines the Otaru Canal, Mt. Tenguyama and the former Nippon Yusen Otaru Branch, with a stop at Shiroi Koibito Park along the way. It suits travelers who do not want to drive or change transport, linking two popular sights near Sapporo in one trip.
Where to Stay Near Shiroi Koibito Park in 2026? Recommended Areas
Shiroi Koibito Park is about 20 minutes by subway from central Sapporo, so we suggest choosing accommodation around convenient city stations.
Around Odori Station: A Prime Location for Sights and Nightlife
Odori Station is close to the Susukino entertainment district and Odori Park and is Sapporo’s liveliest place to stay. From here the Subway Tozai Line runs directly to Miyanosawa Station for Shiroi Koibito Park, which is very convenient: about 20 minutes, ¥290 one way, with no transfer. There is a wide choice of hotels in this area, from business chain hotels to luxury hotels, and in the evening you can also visit Susukino’s izakaya and ramen shops, suiting travelers who like nightlife and shopping.
Around Sapporo Station: Easiest for Shinkansen and Airport Bus Transfers
Sapporo Station is Hokkaido’s biggest transport hub, where JR limited express trains, airport buses and the subway meet. If your trip also includes Otaru, Asahikawa or New Chitose Airport, staying around Sapporo Station greatly reduces the hassle of changing transport with luggage. From the Sapporo Station Bus Terminal you can also take an Otaru-bound express bus directly and get off at Nishimachi Kita 20-chome to reach Shiroi Koibito Park, a very smooth route.
FAQ
Q: How much are Shiroi Koibito Park tickets in 2026?
Paid-area adult tickets (high school age and above) are ¥1,200, ages 4 through junior high school are ¥600, and ages 3 and under are free. The outdoor gardens are free to enter. Annual passes are ¥2,500 for adults and ¥1,200 for children.
Q: What is the most convenient way to get to Shiroi Koibito Park?
We suggest taking the Subway Tozai Line to the terminal station, Miyanosawa Station, about a 7-minute walk away. The ride takes about 20 minutes and costs ¥290 one way, making it the most recommended route.
Q: How do I get to Shiroi Koibito Park from JR Otaru Station?
In front of Otaru Station, take the “Kosoku Otaru” express bus toward Sapporo on a Maruyama-route service and get off at Nishimachi Kita 20-chome, then walk about 7 minutes. The ride takes about 35 minutes with no transfer. Services via Hokudai do not stop here, so check carefully before boarding. You can also take JR to Sapporo Station and transfer to the Subway Tozai Line for Miyanosawa Station.
Q: What are Shiroi Koibito Park’s opening hours?
Please follow the official website announcements for the park’s opening hours. Last entry to the paid area is 16:30, and we suggest allowing 2 to 3 hours for a visit.
Q: What is new after the 2026 reopening?
The factory production line renovation was completed on July 29, 2026, and the park reopened on July 30 as the “Shiroi Koibito Factory” (白い恋人ファクトリー), which now presents the manufacturing process with projection and interactive displays.
Q: Do I need to book the Shiroi Koibito Park DIY experience?
Places are limited, so we suggest checking the official website (shiroikoibitopark.jp) in advance for booking methods and available sessions, and booking early especially in peak season.
Q: Can I see the illumination at Shiroi Koibito Park in winter?
The Sweet Illumination runs from about mid-November to March 31 of the following year. More than 100,000 LEDs light up in the evening, and the clock tower has a rainbow light show at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour.
Q: When is the best time to visit Shiroi Koibito Park?
We suggest entering between 10 and 11 a.m. on a weekday when it is less crowded. May to July is good for the roses, while November to March offers the winter illumination, each with a different look.
