Eating soft serve ice cream from the observatory was 450 yen, but it was refreshing and sweet. I'm sure it would taste even better if eaten at a farm. However, there may not be any other unique value in eating it from the observatory. Thank you for the meal!

Before the Hokkaido Marathon, I decided to do some light sightseeing at the Okurayama Ropeway. The soft serve ice cream was as delicious as described, with a rich flavor. I enjoyed it slowly while taking in the breathtaking view. The scenery and the ice cream were both delightful.

- Menu: Soft serve ice cream made with local ingredients - 350 yen - Review: Located at the lift exit of Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium, this cafe offers a limited but varied selection of drinks and light snacks. The soft serve ice cream is rich in milk flavor, with a light and smooth texture that melts in your mouth quickly. The highlight is the amazing view of the ski jump from the observation deck. You can see Sapporo's Odori Park and distant mountains in one glance, making the soft serve ice cream taste even better.

The day after a large family gathering with about 40 relatives, my father, mother, sister, and I had breakfast at Nijo Market before heading to "Okurayama" as part of the economic measures towards ending the COVID-19 pandemic, several facilities including the TV Tower were free to use. At "Okurayama," the lift and museum were also open for free. I was a bit worried about putting my parents, who are over 80 years old, on the lift, but they insisted on going so we went up. I've been in Sapporo for about 40 years, but this is only my second time going up here. Luckily, the weather was nice and the view from the observation deck was amazing. I had to try the soft serve ice cream being sold for 350 yen plus tax, as it's a must when visiting a tourist spot. It had a rich milk flavor and was airy type, quite delicious. Soft serve ice cream was also being sold around the museum area, and even though I remember having it before, the taste seemed completely different this time. If you go up to the observation deck, I highly recommend trying it, especially for those who came from the Honshu region. Thank you for the meal.

On August 9th, it was the last day of my stay in Sapporo with a night flight departing from New Chitose at 9 p.m., so I still had plenty of time for sightseeing until around 5 p.m. I had a filling breakfast and lunch at the guesthouse, checked out, and headed to the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium. I arrived at the parking lot around 11:30 a.m. and found it to be empty and free. I took the escalator up and headed to the ticket counter. I debated whether to just get a lift ticket or also visit the Olympic Museum, but ended up purchasing a set ticket (1200 yen for adults), which turned out to be a good choice. The view from the observation deck was amazing, and the museum had displays of famous athletes who participated in the Winter Olympics, as well as interactive attractions. The lift to the observation deck was a two-seater, and they stopped it and made it easier for my elderly mother to board. Despite the rainy weather that day, I could see the city of Sapporo from the observation deck, including landmarks like the Sapporo Dome and the Sapporo Station. There was a lounge cafe on the observation deck that sold drinks and soft-serve ice cream. I bought a milk-flavored soft-serve ice cream from Otokoppe Town and enjoyed it while admiring the view. It was small, but the milk flavor was rich and delicious. The cone was also tasty. Soft-serve ice cream in Hokkaido is always delicious no matter where you eat it. Thank you for the meal.

Decades ago, I visited the Okurayama Observatory Lounge once, but I hadn't been there for a long time. I took advantage of a free event at a facility in Sapporo and dropped by (*^^*). It was just at dusk and luckily not crowded! I enjoyed the gradually darkening scenery to the fullest and took a break here. I had a "soft serve ice cream" (tax included 400 yen) which was a mix of vanilla and melon flavors. The melon flavor was subtle, but it was refreshing and delicious on a hot day! I also had an "iced coffee" (tax included 400 yen), which was probably commercial but had a good balance of bitterness and was easy to drink! Above all, the view was fantastic, and I would like to come back and pay to visit again. Thank you, "Lounge"♪

On February 11, 2019 at 9:24 (from receipt), I visited this shop as part of the sightseeing bus tour <Sapporo morning sightseeing> Okurayama & Hitsujigaoka Observatory course (departing from Sapporo Station at 8:50, 2700 yen). The view is amazing! The fear of the unseen at the ski jump platform. Limited edition at the mountaintop, Okurayama special Yubari melon soft serve for 350 yen. It's a luxurious sweetness. It was a delicious soft serve that brought out the flavor of melon.

This is the large Kura-yama jump arena in Miyanomori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido. From the parking lot, you can take a covered escalator to the Kura-yama jump platform. The main office building can be seen in front. When you arrive at the large hill, you can take the observation lift to the Kura-yama observatory. From the balcony of the observation lounge, you can enjoy the view of Sapporo city. The view from the observation deck is excellent, especially on a sunny day. There is a shop in the observation lounge where you can buy Japan's finest soft serve ice cream. I chose the Yubari melon soft serve and it was delicious, with the flavor of melon spreading in my mouth. It was a special experience to enjoy this soft serve while looking at the same view that the athletes saw during the Sapporo Olympics. The observation lounge shop has been renovated and is now called the Celeste Cafe, and it seems that the Yubari melon soft serve is no longer available.

I visited the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium and Okurayama Observatory. There was an indoor observation room on the 2nd floor of the observatory. Although it wasn't snowing, being at the mountaintop was quite cold. I took a break indoors to warm up a bit. There was a lounge and a shop selling Okurayama special Yubari melon soft serve ice cream. It's considered the highest quality soft serve ice cream in Japan! I couldn't resist trying it. The melon flavor was amazing with a strong aroma. The melon juice was rich and delicious. Despite the cold outside, enjoying this soft serve ice cream while looking at the view from the warm room was the best. It was lucky to not only enjoy sightseeing but also savor Hokkaido gourmet food.

On the third day in Hokkaido, we originally planned to visit Maruyama Zoo, but the overcrowding made us change our plans. Instead, we visited Okurayama Observatory near the zoo. It was not too crowded, and we were able to take the lift up to the observatory without waiting. After enjoying the panoramic view of Sapporo city, we bought soft serve ice cream from the shop. The Yubari melon flavored soft serve ice cream we purchased had a natural melon flavor and was very delicious. Whenever we visit tourist spots, why do we always crave soft serve ice cream? (laughs)

The weather improved from being disappointing to offering a stunning view. They claim to have Japan's highest quality soft serve ice cream made with Yubari melon. I ordered the Yubari melon soft serve for 350 yen. The taste was rich with the flavor of Yubari melon. It was delicious. Enjoying the stunning view and the Yubari melon soft serve, it truly felt like the highest quality soft serve ice cream in Japan.

Eating soft serve while enjoying the view of Sapporo city is exceptional. I arrived at the site early in the morning, before the lifts were even running! But since I wasn't in a hurry, I leisurely strolled around, reminiscing about the "Hinomaru Squadron" at the Sapporo Olympics. Back then, they referred to it as the 90m and 70m jumps, not the current large and normal hills. I vividly remember the gold medalist Kassaya jumping into the snow with a shout of "Kassayaa!" So, aiming to be the first to reach the summit, I took the lift up, only to find... Wait, the lift wasn't running, but there were already some locals there. It seems they were doing a little mountain climbing for health reasons? I couldn't help but feel envious. Anyway, as tourists, we got our hands on the famous Yubari melon soft serve and enjoyed the view of Sapporo city from the top of the 90m jump hill. The taste was fantastic, with plenty of melon juice and delicious Hokkaido milk. How could it not be delicious? I was completely satisfied with the taste and the view! By the time we descended, there were many tourists forming a long line, chatting in foreign languages, waiting for their turn on the lift. It was a great experience thanks to the early wake-up call!

At Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium, you can take a lift to the top of the jump platform and slide down. It's amazing to watch the athletes jump from such a height. The view is breathtaking, and you can enjoy delicious soft serve ice cream at the shop. It's a must-visit in Sapporo, and it will give you a new perspective when watching winter jump competitions on TV. The athletes are truly incredible!

I went to the Okurayama Observatory in Sapporo City. It's amazing that you can reach the Okurayama Observatory, which overlooks Sapporo City, in about 20 minutes from the city center. The holy land of ski jumping that has produced many dramas is so close to the city...it's a bit surprising! The sky was clear and refreshing, so I took the lift to the mountaintop. From the starting point at an altitude of 307 meters, you can see a panoramic view of Sapporo's cityscape and the Ishikari Plain. And the ski jump in front of me...it's steeper than I imagined! I can't believe that Sara Takanashi jumps from such a place! At the Okurayama Observatory, I found a sign saying "Japan's finest soft serve ice cream"! I have to try it as a food blogger, right? The Okurayama Special Soft Serve Ice Cream for 350 yen is made with Yubari melon juice. By the way...at this year's first auction, Yubari melons were sold for 3 million yen for 2 melons. This year, the weather was good, and the sugar content was high, resulting in the highest price ever! I ordered the "mix" flavor, which is a mix of vanilla and Yubari melon. As soon as I held it, the scent of melon filled the air. I took a bite...so sweet! It's full of milk and melon juice, and it's delicious. I wonder if Sara Takanashi and Noriaki Kasai have also tried this "Okurayama Special Soft Serve Ice Cream"? Thank you for the meal!

The view from the jumping platform is completely different from what you see on TV, and actually climbing it is a whole new experience! Enjoying a cold soft serve ice cream while feeling the cool breeze and looking at the breathtaking scenery is also a great memory. The view is amazing and the soft serve ice cream is rich and delicious.

On the first day in Hokkaido, I also visited the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium. I thought ski jumping was only in winter, but it turns out they jump in summer too! When I went, it was just before a competition and the athletes were practicing their jumps. Among them, I saw a very skilled jumper with a beautiful form soaring through the air. Yes, it was the famous athlete, Funaki, who had a great performance at the Nagano Olympics. It was so exciting to see him jump right in front of me. Also, they sell soft serve ice cream at the top observation deck's shop. The soft serve had a refreshing sweetness from the Yubari melon and a hint of tartness, making it very delicious. It's not easy to find such tasty soft serve ice cream. However, you need to take the lift to get there, so you have to pay for a round-trip lift ticket to enjoy it.

After buying bread at the bakery La Fontaine de Lourdes in Okurayama, my husband suddenly wanted to see the ski jump in Okurayama. We checked Google Maps and found out that it was only a few minutes away by car, so we decided to go. When we arrived at the ski jump, there were many tourist buses and school trip buses parked in the parking lot. We took the escalator up with the school trip students and were greeted by the impressive ski jump right in front of us. The top was really high, and it was surprising to think that people jump from there. We sought refuge from the scorching sun by entering the building in front of the ski jump, where it was bustling with school trip visitors. I noticed lavender soft serve ice cream, which reminded me of Hokkaido's lavender fields in Furano and Biei, so I chose that flavor. The refreshing scent of lavender was delightful. We took a break while admiring the ski jump, and my husband searched for a place to have lunch. He found a delicious-looking restaurant nearby, so we set off to have lunch.