is the scenic spot located in Toyohira-ku, Sapporo

Toyohira-ku, Sapporo

is one of the 10 wards in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. The ward was established in 1972, when the Sapporo Olympics was held in Sapporo. Four other wards in Sapporo are bounded on Toyohira-ku.- Overview :...

, Hokkaidō

Hokkaido

, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

.
The bronze statue of Dr. William S. Clark

William S. Clark

William Smith Clark was a professor of chemistry, botany and zoology, a colonel during the American Civil War, and a leader in agricultural education. Raised and schooled in Easthampton, Massachusetts, Clark spent most of his adult life in Amherst, Massachusetts...

, which stands on the hill, is well-known as the symbol

Symbol

A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...

 of frontier spirit of Hokkaidō.

History

In 1906, the hill was developed as former national cattle

Cattle

Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...

 breeding station, and in 1919, sheep breeding was started.
From which the place name "Hitsujigaoka" derives. The literal meaning is "hill of sheep".

In 1959, Hitsujigaoka observation hill was opened on upper side of the hill in the Hokkaido National Agricultural Experiment Station.

In 1976, the statue of Dr. Clark was erected as a centennial monument to his visit in Hokkaidō. His famous words "Boys, be ambitious!" is inscribed on the pedestal.

Charm of the hill

Hitsujigaoka observation hill is the gentle hill which commands a panoramic view of Sapporo and Ishikari plain.

In the foreground of panorama a flock of sheep are grazing, which creates a pastoral scenery.

The statue of Dr. Clark is famous for the symbol of Hokkaidō's frontier spirit. Lots of tourists take pictures of themselves with the statue in the background.

Facilities

• Austrian House - souvenir shop
• Rest House - the restaurant where you can eat "Genghis Khan", mutton barbecue originated in Hokkaidō
• Clark Chapel
• Hitsujigaoka Wedding Palace
• Sapporo Snow Festival
  Sapporo Snow Festival
  The is a famous festival held annually in Sapporo, Japan over seven days in February. Currently, Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome are the main sites of the festival. The 2012 Yuki-matsuri dates are February 6 to 12.-Overview:...
  
  Museum

External links

• Hitsujigaoka observation hill official website(Japanese)