Sapporo Snow Festival Is On Again

07 November, 2016 Sofie Lahtinen

Experience a dreamy winter wonderland with magnificent snow sculptures at the 2017 Sapporo Snow Festival.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Dragon snow sculpture at Sapporo Snow Festival.

It's coming again in 2017! The famous Sapporo Snow Festival is on again this February and will celebrate its incredible 68th year. Why not make it part of your itinerary to Niseko and Hokkaido this coming winter season?

The festival attracts over two million visitors each year with hundreds of magnificent snow statues and ice sculptures lining Odori Park, the grounds at Tsudome and the main street in Susukino. As one of Japan’s largest winter events, the festival will run for seven days from February 6th-12th and features approximately 300 impressive snow sculptures, turning Sapporo into a winter wonderland of crystal-like ice and snow.

With three main festival areas, you can enjoy a variety of snow spectacles and activities around the city. At Odori Park (Nishi 1 chome～ Nishi 12 chome) enjoy the art of snow and ice created by the citizens of Sapporo together with the Ground Self-Defense Force. The Odori Park site will run from February 6th-12th with the illuminations turning off at 10pm so why not have dinner beforehand then marvel at the icy creations.

The community dome, Tsudome, will open from 9am-5pm from February 1st-12th and will feature fun snow slides and snowrafting where you can have a snow-ice experience the whole family can join in o.

'Enjoy the Ice' is the theme for the Susukino site at the Ekimae-dori (Station Avenue), where you will wonder in the array of amazing ice sculptures including the Ice Sculpture Contest. This festival area will be illuminated until 11pm everyday night from February 6th-12th, except for the last night which will be until 10pm.

Sapporo Snow Festival5

The city of Sapporo illuminated with lights, and glowing snow and ice sculptures.

With the festival held in February, be sure to dress for some very chilly weather with temperatures averaging around -3 degrees Celsius at that time of year. So don't forget to put on your gloves, scarf and beanie and get ready to experience a magical winter wonderland like no other!

Access to the festival site is as follows:

Odori site: Hop off train at Odori Station on Subway Nanboku line, Tozai line or Toho line

Tsudome site: A 15 minute walk after getting off at Sakaemachi Station on Subway Toho line.

Susukino site: Hop off train at Susukino Station on Subway Nanboku line.

Spectacular sculpture lit up at night.
People strolling the many food stands at the festival.
Multi-coloured snow sculpture glows in the evening.
Ice sculpture creature.
Ice skating rink at the festival.
A worldly scene created in snow at the festival.
Snow building lit up at night with entertainers.
Artists hard at work creating the snow sculptures.

For more visit www.snowfes.com or call 011-211-2376.

Sofie Lahtinen
Sofie Lahtinen

Australian-born and Euro-blooded, Sofie has been living in Niseko since 2016. When she's not behind a desk, she gets her kicks from yoga, cycling, Mother Nature, and as a self-confessed 'speed-demon', riding anything with wheels or a motor is top of the list. Sofie's perfect day ends by getting red-faced in an onsen, then polishing off a bowl of Hokkaido's famous soup curry (yes, it's a thing!).