Winter Snow Festivals

Most of Japan's distinctive snow festivals cluster across early February. Sapporo and Asahikawa overlap; Otaru runs a few days later; Yokote in Akita closes the cluster. With careful planning you can chain three of the four in a single trip.

When to go

2026 dates (most events shift by a day or two each year):

• Sapporo Snow Festival: February 4 to 11
• Asahikawa Winter Festival: February 6 to 11
• Otaru Snow Light Path: February 7 to 14
• Yokote Kamakura Festival: February 13 to 14

The cluster runs February 4 to 14 with overlaps. Hokkaido hotels in Sapporo and Asahikawa book six months ahead for these dates; Yokote needs less notice.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Three sites across the city. The Odori Park site, a 1.5 km strip running through downtown, holds the large snow sculptures and the International Snow Sculpture Contest at 11-chome; lit up after sundown until 22:00. The Susukino site, in the entertainment district, runs the ice sculpture contest, an ice bar, and illuminated ice pieces. The Tsudome site (a 30-minute bus ride from downtown) is the family-and-snowplay site, with slides, tubing, and indoor warmup space. Two million-plus visitors over the eight days; expect crowds at Odori from late afternoon onward.

Asahikawa Winter Festival

The other half of the Hokkaido week. The main snow sculpture, by the Asahibashi Bridge on the Ishikari River, runs around 140 metres wide and 20 metres tall and doubles as a stage for live performances. The Heiwa Dori shopping arcade, a few minutes from JR Asahikawa Station, displays around 50 ice sculptures from international competitors, lit at night. From Sapporo, a 90-minute Lilac or Kamui limited express runs hourly. Pair with the Asahiyama Zoo's penguin walk if you have a half day.

Otaru Snow Light Path

The quietest of the four and the most photographed. The canal site (a 30-minute Hakodate Main Line ride from Sapporo) runs candle-lit lanterns floating on the water in glass floats and along the disused Temiya rail line, lit from 17:00 to 21:00. Less a festival, more a winter walking event; an evening commitment, not a daytime program.

Yokote Kamakura Festival

The cultural anchor of the cluster. Around 4,200 small candle-lit kamakura (snow houses) line the riverbed and city streets on the evenings of February 13 and 14, with 20 large kamakura at four central venues. Inside the large kamakura, locals serve amaeko (a sweet rice drink) and offer prayer to the water deity. The festival runs from 18:00; from Sendai by JR via Omagari is around three hours.

Image: Sapporo Snow Festival Odori-Site At Night Panorama 1 by ja:User:京浜にけ, CC BY-SA 3.0.