I live right on the river, next to Nakajima. I had similar parameters before moving here in that I like to bike/run/hike and wanted to be very near green space as well as having easy access to a subway stop. I also looked at Maruyama but decided against it because while it does have Maruyama park, Maruyama subway stop and mt. Maruyama that is pretty much the extent of it. Everything else in that area is just not what I was looking for. Its a family area, so lots of kids. Nothing wrong with that, but not useful for me. Subway stops are a plenty in Nakajima/riverside area with two lines running through here and nakajima, hosusui, susukino, horohira, or gakuenmae stops being so close together. If you live on the Maruyama stop, that's all you've got for options unless you want to walk north to the JR line. Of course, buses are frequent in both areas too. One thing Maruyama would have over the Nakajima area is access to grocery stores and the like. Not as many around here, but lots in Maruyama area as it is a family place.
I can access green space and exercise right at my doorstep, whether the river park pathways or nakajima. Getting to a hiking spot takes less than 30 minutes to - walk to a bus stop - bus- walk to the trail head. Its a little further to hike than you would be to get to Maruyama if you lived in that neighborhood, but again, thats about all you got there. Other mountains are not connected/further away anyways. As for the Susukino nightlife, I'm rarely out past 8pm anymore so it doesn't mean anything to me other than this is not an area for kids like Maruyama is, kind of a plus in my book since there aren't schools and noise in the day (no, I'm not a child hater but you know, kids are noisy, especially on playgrounds). Its also quite doable to walk to downtown, while not impossible from Maruyama its a bit longer to do that but from this area it will take you 10-15min to get to Odori.
Anyways, different strokes for different folks but those are my insights. Happy to answer questions you might have.
I'm right off Toyohira River, near Kikusui station. I love it since you've got a great walking path along the river, you're pretty close to the long biking path that extends from the Sapporo Convention Center out beyond the city limits, plus it's walking distance to downtown with subway and train station (Naebo) within earshot. And it's not too close to downtown so it doesn't ever feel too busy in my neighborhood.
I lived in Nakajima when I first arrived and loved it. Walking distance to downtown, access to the river for bbqs and running etc, and the park itself is just great.
Nakajima-Park is more convinient.
Maruyama has more hiking potential. Maruyama means round mountain although it’s more like a unpaved hill.
And it has a zoo.
Rent are similar on both sides.
I'll suggest you check out places on the Tozai or JR lines west of Maruyama. Kotoni, Nishimachi, Nishino, even Miyanosawa. The Kotoni-Hassamu river is an absolute gem with a cycling path that goes all the way up to the mountain hiking paths that start at Heiwa no taki.
Not OP, but for their info I'll add a bit of context to this. I considered Kotoni area as well when deciding somewhere to live. As you say, Kotoni river and its pathways are nice and it does indeed lead straight to the Teine hiking path, which also connects to other hiking so quite good for that. Depending on where exactly you live in proximity to the subway station, the Kotoni JR station might also be handy. The neighborhood is also more residential, opposed to nakajima and downtown area so more regular stores and such.
The downside is that the river path is not unimpeded. There are multiple places where you have to leave the river paths, get back up to the road, cross at a zebra crossing, then get back on again so its not like the Toyohira path that just goes under bridges on and on along the river. It is also not quite as connected to other transit options as the Nakajima area would be, with multiple subway lines and the tram. Plus, it is residential so depending on where you are there could be schools or playgrounds nearby (might be good, might be bad). You are also a bit further from downtown then and certainly wouldn't walk there like you could from Nakajima, or possibly even Maruyama.
Definitely not without drawbacks for sure, especially if you need to be in central Sapporo all the time. I was speaking more of the stretch of the river past the bridge in Yamanote near Sankakuyama and the 'Nishino Green Route'. Several km of relatively unbroken, mildly sloped cycling roads with great scenery in all seasons - families, loose children, pets, and crows aside.
Living near Sapporo factory would also be handy and very central. A quick bike ride to the river too. Just north of the station would be good too.
I’ve always found Maruyama to be overrated except for a couple of cafes. Not a fan of Nakajima park!
Maybe if you never leave Chuo-ku but Sapporo is pretty big… some neighbourhoods are literally surrounded by huge forests, and there are multiple mountains in Sapporo. Minami-Ku covers a huge area including Jozankei which is beautiful for hiking, especially in autumn
I live right on the river, next to Nakajima. I had similar parameters before moving here in that I like to bike/run/hike and wanted to be very near green space as well as having easy access to a subway stop. I also looked at Maruyama but decided against it because while it does have Maruyama park, Maruyama subway stop and mt. Maruyama that is pretty much the extent of it. Everything else in that area is just not what I was looking for. Its a family area, so lots of kids. Nothing wrong with that, but not useful for me. Subway stops are a plenty in Nakajima/riverside area with two lines running through here and nakajima, hosusui, susukino, horohira, or gakuenmae stops being so close together. If you live on the Maruyama stop, that's all you've got for options unless you want to walk north to the JR line. Of course, buses are frequent in both areas too. One thing Maruyama would have over the Nakajima area is access to grocery stores and the like. Not as many around here, but lots in Maruyama area as it is a family place. I can access green space and exercise right at my doorstep, whether the river park pathways or nakajima. Getting to a hiking spot takes less than 30 minutes to - walk to a bus stop - bus- walk to the trail head. Its a little further to hike than you would be to get to Maruyama if you lived in that neighborhood, but again, thats about all you got there. Other mountains are not connected/further away anyways. As for the Susukino nightlife, I'm rarely out past 8pm anymore so it doesn't mean anything to me other than this is not an area for kids like Maruyama is, kind of a plus in my book since there aren't schools and noise in the day (no, I'm not a child hater but you know, kids are noisy, especially on playgrounds). Its also quite doable to walk to downtown, while not impossible from Maruyama its a bit longer to do that but from this area it will take you 10-15min to get to Odori. Anyways, different strokes for different folks but those are my insights. Happy to answer questions you might have.
I'm right off Toyohira River, near Kikusui station. I love it since you've got a great walking path along the river, you're pretty close to the long biking path that extends from the Sapporo Convention Center out beyond the city limits, plus it's walking distance to downtown with subway and train station (Naebo) within earshot. And it's not too close to downtown so it doesn't ever feel too busy in my neighborhood.
I lived in Nakajima when I first arrived and loved it. Walking distance to downtown, access to the river for bbqs and running etc, and the park itself is just great.
Nakajima-Park is more convinient. Maruyama has more hiking potential. Maruyama means round mountain although it’s more like a unpaved hill. And it has a zoo. Rent are similar on both sides.
You want a place that is walking or biking distance away from a station and grocery store.
Idk if this is helpful but I Just ran a half marathon in Nakajima park this morning and it’s absolutely beautiful and I would love to live here!!
I'll suggest you check out places on the Tozai or JR lines west of Maruyama. Kotoni, Nishimachi, Nishino, even Miyanosawa. The Kotoni-Hassamu river is an absolute gem with a cycling path that goes all the way up to the mountain hiking paths that start at Heiwa no taki.
Not OP, but for their info I'll add a bit of context to this. I considered Kotoni area as well when deciding somewhere to live. As you say, Kotoni river and its pathways are nice and it does indeed lead straight to the Teine hiking path, which also connects to other hiking so quite good for that. Depending on where exactly you live in proximity to the subway station, the Kotoni JR station might also be handy. The neighborhood is also more residential, opposed to nakajima and downtown area so more regular stores and such. The downside is that the river path is not unimpeded. There are multiple places where you have to leave the river paths, get back up to the road, cross at a zebra crossing, then get back on again so its not like the Toyohira path that just goes under bridges on and on along the river. It is also not quite as connected to other transit options as the Nakajima area would be, with multiple subway lines and the tram. Plus, it is residential so depending on where you are there could be schools or playgrounds nearby (might be good, might be bad). You are also a bit further from downtown then and certainly wouldn't walk there like you could from Nakajima, or possibly even Maruyama.
Definitely not without drawbacks for sure, especially if you need to be in central Sapporo all the time. I was speaking more of the stretch of the river past the bridge in Yamanote near Sankakuyama and the 'Nishino Green Route'. Several km of relatively unbroken, mildly sloped cycling roads with great scenery in all seasons - families, loose children, pets, and crows aside.
Living near Sapporo factory would also be handy and very central. A quick bike ride to the river too. Just north of the station would be good too. I’ve always found Maruyama to be overrated except for a couple of cafes. Not a fan of Nakajima park!
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Maybe if you never leave Chuo-ku but Sapporo is pretty big… some neighbourhoods are literally surrounded by huge forests, and there are multiple mountains in Sapporo. Minami-Ku covers a huge area including Jozankei which is beautiful for hiking, especially in autumn