Es Con Field Hokkaido is a state-of-the-art stadium that opened in 2023 as the home of the Nippon-Ham Fighters, a professional baseball team in Japan.
With a modern design reminiscent of Major League Baseball (MLB) stadiums, it stands out for its innovative architecture and unique facilities.
It has become a highly talked-about destination, especially among baseball fans in Japan.
The area centered around Es Con Field (the stadium) is known as "F VILLAGE." It has been developed as a multifunctional complex that serves not only as a baseball venue but also as a hub for tourism, leisure, and community interaction.
To be honest, I'm not that interested in baseball—I just visit purely as a leisure spot! 😆
Since it gets crowded with baseball fans on game days, I usually go on non-game days. It's less crowded and really enjoyable!
The restaurants inside and around the stadium offer high-quality dining experiences.
Notably, one of Japan’s most renowned craft beers, Yona Yona Ale, is brewed right inside the stadium at "Sorato Shiba by Yona Yona Ale", allowing visitors to enjoy freshly brewed, delicious beer.
On non-game days, you can freely access the outfield seats, making it a fantastic spot to relax with a beer in hand and soak in the atmosphere.
In addition, there are many restaurants and cafés that showcase the finest local ingredients from Hokkaido, making dining a delightful experience.
Surprisingly, the stadium even features a hotel and, believe it or not, a hot spring!
At the "tower eleven onsen & sauna" facility, visitors can apparently enjoy watching the game while soaking in the hot spring on game days. (Though I haven't tried it myself!)
Additionally, the Nippon-Ham Fighters, the team based at this stadium, are well known as the former team of Yu Darvish, who now plays for the San Diego Padres, and Shohei Ohtani, currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB.
Inside the stadium, there are large panels featuring both players, which have become popular photo spots among fans.
This stadium is located in Kitahiroshima City, which is right next to Sapporo. However, aside from the stadium, there aren’t many notable attractions in Kitahiroshima, so choosing a convenient way to get there is probably the best approach.
The most recommended option is taking a taxi from central Sapporo, which takes about one hour (approximately 23 km) and costs around 10,000 yen. If you share the ride with three people, the cost per person comes to just over 3,000 yen, making it a reasonable choice.
If you prefer to use public transportation, you can take a train from Sapporo Station and transfer to a shuttle bus, which should cost less than 1,000 yen per person. However, you’ll need to check the train and bus schedules, wait for transfers, and plan accordingly—which I personally find a bit of a hassle.
That said, if you enjoy the adventure of navigating public transport, it could be a fun challenge to take on!
Official Website : https://www.hkdballpark.com/
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