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Exploring the Sapporo Snow Festival

The Sapporo Snow Festival is an incredible winter wonderland of all things snow & ice. Spread across 3 huge sites it’s the biggest winter festival in Japan so here are a few tips for getting the most out of your visit.

Sapporo snow festival

The Sapporo Snow Festival is amazing!  It was my first time in the snow and I was a bit overwhelmed by just how much snow there is in Sapporo and how soft and fluffy it is.  Maybe I was imagining a snow cone all icy and crunchy but I really hadn’t expected it to be so dry and well … powdery. 

Sapporo snow festival 2024 dates

The Sapporo Snow Festival is the biggest winter festival in Japan and will run from the 4th of February until the 11th of February 2024. 

The snow festival began in 1950 when high school students created a display of 6 snow statues attracting a crowd of 50,000 to see their work. From that impressive start it quickly evolved into the spectacle we enjoy today which brings in Sapporo’s biggest crowds of the year, over 2 million people were expected to rock up for the 2020 winter festival.

The festival went online and significantly downsized during border closures (2020 – 2022) but was back in 2023 and with Japan’s popularity as strong as ever it’s likely to keep growing in 2024, we can’t wait to see what they come up with.

The three sites of the Sapporo Snow Festival

The festival is located over three sites in Sapporo so while it’s good to stay centrally it’s not absolutely essential as you’ll be heading out to different spots anyway.  Something to keep in mind that I didn’t fully appreciate on our first visit is that what is a really easy walking distance normally isn’t an easy walk in snow.  Unless you are staying right near Odori Park you will probably use the subway for one or two stops.

Sapporo city street in winter

 Odori Park

The first spot you’ll probably want to see is the centrally located Odori park.  It’s really impressive and runs right through the middle of town for 12 city blocks or 1.5 kilometres. 

This is the main venue and hosts internationally themed snow and ice carvings, lots of food stands called yatai, an ice bar, a skating rink, an air jump ski ramp, live entertainment and ice slides for the children. 

There is so much to do here and when you need to warm up or take a break from the cold just duck down one of the many sets of subway stairs and you’ll find yourself in huge warm shopping malls with loads of cafes, restaurants and bars.

Sapporo snow festival scultpure

Given that smoking is still very socially acceptable in Japan I was surprised that the festival had a dedicated smoking area, I didn’t go inside but even if you were a pack-a-day smoker I imagine being relegated to the ice outhouse could make you think twice.  Or perhaps I missed the point and the tobacco companies were reinforcing the message that smoking is ‘cool’?

Several of the larger snow carvings incorporated stages for music and other entertainment.  The taiko drumming on the Lion King stage was one of the most popular.

sapporo ice stage

 Susukino

The Susukino site is all about ice. There are dozens of ice sculptures, an ice slide if you’re so inclined, the festival’s lovely ice queens who must have been freezing and a sparkly ice tunnel.

Toni and Drew in lights tunnel at Sapporo Snow Festival

Really bad selfie but the tunnel of lights and reflections on the snow on the ground was so pretty.

Susukino ice festival
Susukino ice festival

So just to clarify it is a SNOW festival and the weather is a bit variable.  Mostly we had a dull sky but no actual snow although there were a few squalls that come through that were quite intense like this one.  The best thing to do is head inside for a hot drink or a bowl of noodles and it’ll likely be over by the time you’re done.

Sapporo makes the best ramen all buttery and naughty but well you need to stay warm, don’t you?  Also, you’ll find many of the shopping and eating malls are underground.  They are well heated too so it’s easy to thaw out and get toasty warm again.

Tsudome

The Tsudome site has loads of fun things mostly focused on active and interactive activities for the children.  So, of course, I LOVED it.  We didn’t stay as long at this venue but you don’t want to miss out either.  There were a couple of local school trips on a midweek day that we went to, oh so cute.

This site wasn’t part of the 2023 festivities but is expected to rejoin the programme for 2024.

Tsudome site
Tsudome site

Traditional skiing with a rope attached to your narrow bamboo skis is at the more skilled end of the spectrum.  A few children were giving it a try but this young man was one of the few who was getting any distance.  He just would not give up, I think we might see him ski for Japan one day. 

The snow slide, on the other hand, was super popular and every child seemed happy to queue to give that a go.  I wanted to try but there were only children on it.  Without being about to converse in Japanese or read it I couldn’t work out if there was an age limit or whether adults in Japan are just a little more conservative about participating in that sort of thing.

Tsudome site

The big slide was also quite popular and at this one, they gave you an inflatable tyre for some cushioning to protect your butt.

Tsudome site

And finally a math puzzle for those in junior school, how many children can you fit in an igloo?

Tips for surviving in the snow for those not used to it

Dressing for the cold

If you aren’t used to this much snow then it does pay to dress for it.  A good warm jacket is essential, a hat, gloves, wool socks and thermals were a good idea but I just layered those with my normal clothes.  Either tights or thermals under my jeans, a thermal under my top and a warm ski jacket. 

What surprised me most my first time in this sort of climate was that I didn’t feel cold.  I felt uncomfortably hot more often than cold.  There are so many underground shopping malls, restaurants and arcades and they are all kept toasty warm.  Each time I descended the steps I’d start stripping layers and with the thermals underneath I still couldn’t really get cool enough.

Kairo heat packs

If you do feel cold and want to stay outside exploring then the pharmacies and dollar stores sell little hot packs.  They are single-use items that you activate and put in your pockets or where ever you want them and they generate a comfortable warmth for several hours. 

They are really inexpensive. If you can’t spot them on the shelf just ask for kairo.  I hadn’t come across these before our first trip to Japan but oh my goodness I am their biggest fan now.

And a random tip, probably best not to ride a bike in these temperatures.  Seriously!

Bikes in the snow
Spotted in a parking lot near our hotel

Footwear in the ice and snow

Do make sure you pack boots with non-slip soles.  I had one very lucky escape when crossing the road in Otaru just outside Sapporo.  There was a collective gasp all around me as I flailed my arms around, fortunately, I regained my balance before hitting the icy ground or skittering anyone else on the crossing. 

It shook me up though, I’d thought I’d been careful but living in such a warm climate I wasn’t used to slippery ground and my boots in honesty weren’t built for it. They call it black ice I believe, you can’t see it but it’s a slippery sucker.

You can buy bands that wrap around your footwear called Suberi Dome in train stations if your vanity allows.  They give more traction or you can walk like a penguin with short steps and your arms low at your side ready to take on your surfer pose to save yourself at any moment.

Where to stay for Sapporo Snow Festival

As I mentioned above, the snowy conditions make it much slower to get around. The footpaths are cleared regularly in the central city area and around hotels but only a block or two out the bulk of the snow is still piled to the side but they are much more slippery.

If you’re attending the festival you’ll want to spend your time seeing the various sites and exploring the city so ideally, you want to be centrally located in the Odori Park or Susukino area. You may also want easy access to either of those subway stations.

We did note in Sapporo that rooms were often smaller than we’d experienced in the major cities of Tokyo and Osaka. It wasn’t a significant issue as we were only staying a few nights and weren’t in our rooms much with so much happening both day and night.

We suggest booking your Sapporo accommodation as soon as you are able to confirm your dates. The city is at capacity during the whole event and accommodation prices are high so the earlier you get onto it the more choice you’ll have and the better deal you’re likely to find.

A couple of good options are The Cross Hotel Sapporo and La’gent Stay Sapporo.

The Cross Hotel Sapporo is about 5 minutes’ walk from Odori Park/subway station and 10 minutes from Sapporo Station which is where you’ll arrive if you get the train from the airport. The Airport bus also stops at this hotel. It’s a clean and modern property, the rooms are stylish and international but there are a few nice Japanese touches. On the top floor, there is a public bath and lounging area with great views across the city from both.

Check the price and availability for Cross Hotel Sapporo

The La’gent Stay Sapporo is a really convenient location, with a 5 minutes walk to both Odori Park and Station or Susukino Park and Station. Tanukikoji shopping street is very close and a choice of many restaurants. The nearest airport bus stop is about a 5-minute walk or you can take the train then a short taxi ride from the station. This property is clean, stylish and modern. It also has a public bath for men on Level 3 and women on Level 5.

Check La’gent Stay Sapporo price & availability

10 other things to do in Sapporo during the festival

  • Head down to Nijo Market, it’s conveniently located near Odori Park and offers a diverse range of seafood and other food options. It’s interesting to explore and enjoy a delicious fresh meal. Read more in our article on our favourite Japanese markets.
  • With a history of providing everything customers need since 1869 Tanukikoji Shopping Street is a popular covered shopping street. It’s almost a kilometre long with shopping, restaurants and regular events. If you are looking for something you’ll likely find it here.
  • The Sapporo TV Tower observation deck offer’s some great views all year round but is especially pretty at night looking down the length of the park.
  • Sapporo beer garden and Museum preserves 130 years of the company’s brewing history and is a popular choice to try out a range of beers on tap.
  • Sapporo’s main entertainment district is in Susukino and it’s the largest north of Tokyo. You’ll be heading here for the ice carving area but there is much more to see. Whether you are after bars, restaurants, karaoke, Pachinko or shopping you’ll be spoilt for choice.
  • For lovers of ramen noodles, you can’t go past Ramen Yokocho in Susukino. The narrow alleyway has over 17 specialty ramen restaurants packed into the 43-metre lane. They are so good that it’s busy from morning until late into the evening.
  • For a spectacular view out over the wider Sapporo area in all its snow-covered beauty take the ropeway up Mt Moiwa. It’s open from 11 am until 10 pm in winter.
  • Take a trip out to Otaru to explore the town and their own evening snowy light up through town and along the canal in front of the old warehouses. Find more information about the Otaru snow light path festival in this article.
  • Moerenuma Park is an art park but when it’s buried in snow during winter you can have a fun snowshoeing experience here. Climb up to the top for the views, have a snowball fight or trek around taking photos and enjoying the unique experience.
  • You might have seen photos of Japanese ice fishing, with the tiny tents, pitched over holes in the river ice. You can also try your hand at smelt fishing on the Barato River and try out the tasty tempura fish.

Sapporo Snow Festival Information

Getting to the various sites of the Sapporo snow festival is easy, exit the subway at either Odori or Susukino and you can’t miss the festival right outside.  For Tsudome there are a couple of options.  Buses run between the sites for a few hundred yen but they can be a little cramped.  

We preferred taking the subway to Sakaemachi and it’s a 10-minute walk (or shuttle bus)  from there.  There are so many volunteers waiting to make sure you head off in the right direction it’s impossible to get lost!

And a final tip, if your itinerary allows for it.  Try to see the Odori Park and Susukino sites in both day time and lit up at night.  It’s a quite different experience and like most of Japan, it’s very safe at night even in the subways.

For all your detailed planning around this year’s specific displays, teams, events and entertainment check out the official site.

And finally, if you have a day or evening free there are a couple of other snow festivals in Hokkaido where the timing overlaps with the Sapporo one.  We got out to the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival.  It’s a smaller community event but that adds a different element and we enjoyed it just as much.

Have you been to a Japanese festival?  If you were in Japan during winter would you travel to see the Sapporo snow festival?

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Sapporo snow festival
Sapporo snow festival - Pinterest poster

Useful travel tips for Hokkaido

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Dee

Friday 19th of August 2016

I am hoping to visit Feb 2017. Can you recommend the accommodation that you used in Sapporo?

2 Aussie Travellers

Monday 22nd of August 2016

Hi Dee, I wouldn't specifically recommend our hotel, there was nothing wrong with it but we booked late so it was a case of finding something as close as possible to the city centre that wasn't booked out and not ridiculously overpriced :) The room was very small, we've made a number of visits all round Japan and the room was small compared to all the others we have stayed in there so I think being during the festival you got a lot less for your money. Also we went with something that we considered was very easy walking distance but didn't take into account we had no experience walking in icy snowy conditions and only the main central paths are kept really clear and ice free so we ended up using the subway even though I think it was only one stop from memory. In hindsight I would have paid a bit more to be closer if I was making the same trip again where a large part of the reason for being in Sapporo was to spend most of the time around the festival areas and central city. I also hadn't allowed for even the soft powder snow being wet, yes that is obvious to most people but I had no experience so it was quite nice to duck back to the hotel during the day or before going out for dinner and the evening light-up and shows to warm up and dry out for an hour or so before tackling it again.

Camberwell Taxi a

Wednesday 16th of March 2016

very nice , really superb , nice festival & photography thanks for your sharing .

Duke Stewart

Wednesday 2nd of March 2016

I always wanted to visit this festival while living in Japan but alas, no money to do it and I was stuck in the city (Tokyo). It really does look like a fun time and worth a try at making it someday. I had a friend who lived in Hokkaido and taught there. I always loved seeing his photos of a snow-covered car in October so it kind of surprised me that you mentioned there wasn't so much snow falling. I guess I just imagined it always being a blizzard. Haha.

Anyway, thanks for sharing this! I look forward to reading more of your Japan travels:)

2 Aussie Travellers

Wednesday 2nd of March 2016

LOL yes I guess it's relative - I've never lived anywhere it snows so I'd imagined when there was that much snow everywhere it must snow constantly but in 3 days we only really got properly snowed on the once. It was amazing though and if I do get the chance to go back to Hokkaido I want to stay significantly longer, there was so much we missed. We got to Sapporo and Otaru festivals but we missed another that was on at the same time and really saw little outside the festivals themselves and a few city spots in that time.

Fairlie

Friday 26th of February 2016

I've had this on 'my list' since I first read about it when I was around 11 years old. I'll get there one day!

Vicki

Monday 8th of February 2016

This looks incredible! Japan is an obsession of mine - and because of the distance, I try to see as much as possible on each trip - but my Japan list is getting too long to do in one hit! Thank you for sharing & inspiring!!

2 Aussie Travellers

Tuesday 9th of February 2016

I'm the same Vicki, I shuffled and juggled our first itinerary, and then subsequent ones, to fit in as much as possible but still my Japan wishlist continues to grow not shrink :) It really is an incredible country to visit.

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