Sapporo Snow Festival
Hokkaido · Snow and ice festival
Eight days of large snow and ice sculpture in central Sapporo, spread across the Odori, Susukino and Tsudome sites.
Dates
4 to 11 February 2027
Held every year in early February, usually for eight days.
The festival began in 1950 with six sculptures built by local students, and now runs to a couple of hundred across three sites. Odori Park is the main one, a mile of snow down the middle of the city with the largest pieces lit after dark. Susukino, a few blocks south, does ice rather than snow, which reads very differently under the street lighting. Tsudome is the family site, with slides and space to get out of the wind. Odori is worth seeing twice, once in daylight for the carving and once after dark for the projection work on the big sculptures.
Getting a good spot
Odori is busiest between 18:00 and 20:00 when the projections run. Walking the park from the west end works better than starting at the TV tower, where everyone arrives.
Where it happens
Access
Common questions
When is the Sapporo Snow Festival?
Early February, for eight days. Unlike most Japanese festivals the dates shift a little each year, so confirm them before booking.
Which site should I visit if I only have one evening?
Odori Park. It holds the largest sculptures and the projection displays, and Susukino's ice carvings are a ten minute walk south if you still have time.