In Hokkaido (北海道), in the city of Sapporo (札幌), one of the largest winter festivals in Japan takes place annually: the renowned Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり). In this article, we will explore all the details of this grand Snow Festival, which attracts tourists from all over the world.
The festival usually takes place in February, the month with the heaviest snowfall in Sapporo, offering impressive ice sculptures, winter activities, and a unique cultural experience. It lasts for 7 days and the “Snow Festival” has been happening since 1950 to this day.
The Sapporo Snow Festival takes place in three main locations: Odori Park, which is the heart of the festival with its gigantic sculptures; the Susukino district, famous for its stunning illuminated ice sculptures; and Tsudome, a family-friendly venue offering snow slides and other interactive activities.
Read also: Hokkaido Guide – Sapporo, Hakodate, Otaru, and Asahikawa
Table of Contents
The Origin of the Sapporo Snow Festival
This festival began in 1950, when elementary school students created six snow sculptures in Odori Park. In 1955, the Japan Self-Defense Forces got involved, building the first large snow sculptures that gave the festival its fame. Although other snow festivals have occurred in Hokkaido, many have eventually faded away, while the Sapporo Snow Festival has grown and established itself as an iconic event.
Today, the Sapporo Snow Festival attracts over 2 million tourists every year, coming from various parts of the world. The festival is known for its more than 250 snow and ice sculptures, which vary in size and complexity. Some of these gigantic sculptures reach up to 15 meters in height and 25 meters in width. In addition to the impressive sculptures, the festival includes ice and snow sculpting competitions, with categories for all ages and skill levels.
Event Attractions
The event is not limited to just sculptures. It offers a variety of attractions for all tastes, including ice skating rinks, skiing areas, aerial jumping spaces (AIR Jumping), hiking, and snow tubing. These activities provide fun for the whole family, making the Sapporo Snow Festival a complete winter experience.
Some sculptures are gigantic and require machines and a base to be made. Cultural sculptures from around the world are created at the event. There have been years when we had sculptures of Star Wars, Sazae-san, Hatsune Miku, and various references to the POP world.
Read also: Star Wars Quotes in Japanese
The grandeur of the event catches the world’s attention with unimaginable and brilliant sculptures, replicas of castles and monuments. If you want to know more, visit the official event website: snowfes.com
During the festival, visitors can enjoy various culinary delights such as crab soup, grilled lamb, hot chocolate, hot sake, and the famous Sapporo ramen.
Curiosities and Interesting Facts
- Records – Some snow sculptures are so large that they measure up to 15 meters in height and 25 meters in width.
- International Team – Teams of sculptors from various countries participate in the competitions, bringing a multicultural aspect to the festival.
- Lighting – The ice sculptures in Susukino are illuminated at night, creating a stunning visual spectacle.
How to Get to the Sapporo Snow Festival?
The festival areas are open from 10 AM to 10 PM, with the sculptures illuminated at night until 9 PM. See below how you can get to the location using local trains:
From New Chitose Airport to Sapporo:
- Train – Take the JR Rapid Airport train to Sapporo Station (about 40 minutes).
- Bus – There are several bus services connecting the airport to downtown Sapporo.
Within Sapporo:
- Odori Park – From Sapporo Station, walk for about 10 minutes or take the Toho Line subway to Odori Station.
- Susukino – Take the Namboku Line subway and get off at Susukino Station.
- Tsudome – Take the Toho Line subway to Sakaemachi Station and then a direct bus to Tsudome.
To make the most of the Sapporo Snow Festival, it is important to be well prepared for the extreme cold. Wear thermal clothing, heavy coats, gloves, hats, waterproof boots, and always remember to drink water.
Snow Vocabulary in Japanese
Let’s learn some Japanese words related to the Festival, Snow, and Hokkaido?
- 雪祭り (Yuki Matsuri) – Snow Festival
- 札幌 (Sapporo) – City of Sapporo
- 北海道 (Hokkaido) – Hokkaido
- 大通公園 (Odori Kōen) – Odori Park
- すすきの (Susukino) – Susukino
- つどーむ (Tsudome) – Tsudome
- 雪像 (Setsuzō) – Snow Sculpture
- 氷像 (Hyōzō) – Ice Sculpture
- 寒さ (Samusa) – Cold
- 温かい飲み物 (Atatakai Nomimono) – Hot Drink
- スープカレー (Sūpu Karē) – Soup Curry
- ラーメン (Rāmen) – Ramen
- 観光客 (Kankōkyaku) – Tourist
- 祭り (Matsuri) – Festival
- 氷 (Kōri) – Ice
- 雪 (Yuki) – Snow
- 夜間照明 (Yakan Shōmei) – Night Lighting
- 雪像コンテスト (Setsuzō Kontesuto) – Snow Sculpture Contest
- 氷の彫刻 (Kōri no Chōkoku) – Ice Sculpture
- 観光 (Kankō) – Tourism
- 温泉 (Onsen) – Hot Spring
- 宿泊施設 (Shukuhaku Shisetsu) – Accommodation
Videos of the Sapporo Snow Festival
Were you one of the lucky ones who had the chance to attend this event? Tell us your experience! Fortunately, those who cannot be present at the event can still watch the videos below to see the grandeur of the Sapporo Snow Festival.
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