Poplar Avenue

The poplar trees of ‘Poplar Avenue’ have become a proud symbol of Hokkaido University. The poplar was introduced to Hokkaido in the mid-Meiji era when its seeds were imported from the United States to develop windbreak forests. The first line of poplar trees at Hokkaido University were planted in 1903. However, it could not be called an avenue until 1912, when 45 trees were planted by students of the School of Forestry. Unfortunately, public access to Poplar Avenue has been forbidden for decades due to the possible danger of the collapsing of these aged trees. To commemorate the 125th anniversary of the university, a new Poplar Avenue was planted about 500 meters to the north of the original in 2000. Seventy poplars were planted this time with consideration given to other existing trees in the area. These young trees were grown from cuttings collected from the old Poplar Avenue in a nursery garden belonging to the Faculty of Agriculture.

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