Discover Hokkaido’s Best Snow Festivals

This article is contributed by Japan Ski Experience.

Every winter, travelers from around the world flock to Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido for one unforgettable reason: the Sapporo Snow Festival. Renowned for its towering snow sculptures and dazzling lights, it’s the largest and most iconic winter event in the country. But the magic of Hokkaido in winter isn’t confined to its capital city.

1. Sapporo Snow Festival

When: Held annually in early February
Main Venues: Main venues include Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome

The Sapporo Snow Festival is Japan’s premier winter event and one of the most famous snow festivals in the world. Since its beginnings in 1950, when local students built a few snow statues in Odori Park, it has grown into a multi-venue event that draws over two million visitors annually.

Odori Park hosts the most iconic snow sculptures, many of them multi-story monuments carved by both Japanese and international teams. The detail is staggering: famous landmarks, anime characters, and historical scenes are sculpted from packed snow and illuminated at night to create a larger than life experience.

The Susukino site features elaborate ice sculptures, often with embedded lights or objects, and a lively nightlife backdrop. The third site, Tsudome, caters to families with snow slides, tubing, snow rafting, and indoor rest areas with food and activities for kids.

The Sapporo Snow Festival sets the standard for winter events in Japan, but it’s just the beginning of what Hokkaido has to offer.

2. Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

Dates: Late January to mid-February
Venue: Lake Shikotsu, Chitose

Set against the backdrop of Lake Shikotsu, this ice festival is best known for its vividly lit ice sculptures made from the lake’s famously clear water. Located about an hour from Sapporo this event transforms the lakefront into a frozen dreamscape.

Sculptures here are formed by spraying lake water over frames during sub-zero weather, creating surreal structures that become illuminated by lights after sunset. The festival includes ice caves, towers, tunnels, and, depending on the year, ice slides and activities for kids.

3. Otaru Snow Light Path Festival

When: Held annually in mid-February
Venues: Otaru Canal and Temiyasen Kaijo

Otaru, a port city about 45 minutes from Sapporo, hosts one of the most romantic and serene winter events in Hokkaido. During the Snow Light Path Festival, thousands of candles are placed in hand-packed snow lanterns lining the historic canal and former railway line.

Volunteers help maintain the candles each night, and the city’s nostalgic stone warehouses add to the tranquil beauty particularly along the famous historic canal area.

4. Nayoro Snow Quality Festival

When: Held annually in early February
Venue: Former Toyonishi Elementary School grounds, Nayoro

Known for having some of the driest, finest powder snow in Japan, Nayoro’s snow quality is celebrated with a local yet impressive winter festival. Set in the heart of Hokkaido’s northern Kamikawa region, this three-day event balances traditional snow fun with creative and technical snow sculptures.

One of the main draws is the Nayoro International Snow Sculpture Contest, where artists from around the world sculpt detailed artworks from giant snow blocks. These creations are just as stunning under the sun as they are when lit at night.

Visitors can try thrilling rides down massive snow and ice slides, walk through a giant snow maze, or take a snowmobile ride across the grounds.

Food is another highlight. Stalls and kitchen trucks from Nayoro and nearby towns serve hearty winter dishes. The local specialty, Nayoro-style simmered Jingisukan (lamb barbecue), made famous on national TV, is a must-try.

5. Sounkyo Onsen Ice Fall Festival

When: Late January to mid-March
Venue: Sounkyo Gorge, Kamikawa Town

Sounkyo Onsen is home to one of the most dramatic ice festivals in Japan. Known as the Ice Fall Festival, this event is set in the Sounkyo Gorge and features frozen waterfalls, ice caves, and glowing ice sculptures along the Ishikari River.

Visitors can walk through a multi-level village of ice structures, some of which house shrines, bars, and interactive sculptures. At night, colorful lights transform the entire area into a surreal frozen palace. Fireworks light up the sky on weekends, and the nearby hot springs (onsen) offer a perfect way to thaw out after wandering through the icy maze. Many guests come to Sounkyo specifically to enjoy the famous onsen which is a great way to warm up after enjoying the festival.

6. Asahikawa Winter Festival

When: Held annually in early February
Main Venues: Asahibashi Riverside Site and Heiwa Dori

Often referred to as the second-largest snow festival in Hokkaido, the Asahikawa Winter Festival is best known for producing some of the largest snow sculptures in the world. The main event area by the Asahibashi Bridge is home to a giant snow stage and sculptures the size of multi-story buildings.

The festival includes snow slides, ice carving demonstrations, and a children’s snow play area. A short walk away, Heiwa Dori Shopping Park turns into an open-air gallery of ice sculptures submitted by international artists which are illuminated by coloured lights at night.

7. Kutchan Yukitopia Snow Festival

When: Held annually in mid-February
Venue: Asahigaoka Park and Kutchan Town Centre

Located in the heart of the Niseko region, Kutchan’s Yukitopia Snow Festival is a locally run event that blends classic festival fun with deep community involvement. It’s a celebration not only of winter, but of the area’s agricultural and snow culture.

The festival features snow tubing, snow rafting, sledding races, stage performances, and a snowman-building contest. While the size is modest compared to Sapporo or Asahikawa, the energy is high, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

If you’re looking for Niseko accommodation, Japan Ski Experience has many options in the area, making it easy to enjoy local events like Yukitopia as part of a broader winter holiday in Niseko. Local food vendors serve regional comfort dishes like curry soup, yakitori, and Hokkaido-style oden, adding to the atmosphere.

8. Jozankei Onsen Yukitouro (Snow Candle Way)

When: Held annually from late January to early February
Venue: Jozankei Shrine, Sapporo

Held during the darkest and coldest part of winter, this candlelit event transforms the Jozankei Shrine area into a tranquil realm of light and snow. Each evening, 1,000 handmade snow candles are lit at the Jozankei shrine. In addition to the candles, the event features the “Prayer Forest”, a nature-immersive installation that blends snow, forest scenery, and digital projection to create a spiritual visual experience.

Admission begins at 5:20 p.m., and visitors can even help light the candles before the official opening at 6:00 p.m. Entry is by donation (500 yen) for adults, and is free for those staying at local accommodations (with an invitation ticket).

The entire experience is serene and beautiful, making for a peaceful winter evening in one of Hokkaido’s most scenic hot spring towns.

More to Winter Festivals in Hokkaido

While the Sapporo Snow Festival may be the crown jewel of Hokkaido’s winter calendar, these other events show the incredible range of creativity, tradition, and community spirit of Hokkaido’s people. From enormous ice palaces and artistic snow sculptures to candlelit paths and sub-zero BBQs, each festival offers its own distinctive slice of winter culture.

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