The Snow Festival Where Sapporo Turns a Park Into a Winter Gallery

Updated October 15, 2026 | By Tokyo Paul

Every February, the center of Sapporo turns into an open-air gallery of snow and ice. Giant sculptures rise along Odori Park, glittering ice carvings line the streets of the Susukino entertainment district, and families spill into a snowy playground at the Tsudome site. The Sapporo Snow Festival, known in Japanese as Yuki Matsuri, is one of the best-loved winter events in Japan, and it is easy to see why: it is free to wander, wonderfully photogenic and full of warm food stalls.

What makes it even more charming is where it started. This enormous festival began as a small local project by students, and it grew year by year into an international event. This guide covers that history, what each of the three sites offers, the best times to visit, how to reach each venue, and a practical packing list so you can enjoy the whole thing without shivering. Dates and details below come from official and reputable sources, but always check the official site before booking.

How a Student Project Became a Winter Icon

According to the official Sapporo tourism page, the festival started in 1950 with six snow sculptures made by local junior and high school students. Japan-guide.com adds that the students built them in Odori Park. Wikipedia's festival entry describes that first event as a one-day affair.

Growth came steadily. Wikipedia notes that in 1955 members of the Self-Defense Forces from the nearby Makomanai base joined in and built the first large snow sculptures, which became a signature of the festival. The International Snow Statue Competition began in 1974, and in 1983 the Susukino Ice Festival was approved as a site focused on ice carving in the nightlife district. The Tsudome site took its current form in 2009. Today, the official page says the festival draws more than two million visitors a year.

2027 Dates and What to Expect

Both the official Sapporo tourism page and japan-guide.com's festival page list the 2027 festival as February 4 to 11. That is an eight-day run, opening on Thursday, February 4, with Thursday, February 11 falling on a national holiday. Dates, hours and programs can be adjusted, so check the official festival website, snowfes.com, closer to your trip.

Entry to the festival areas is generally free, though some activities, especially at Tsudome, may charge a fee, so check the official festival site for details. Plan to see all three sites if you can. The official page advises visitors to see each one, because each offers something different.

The Three Sites

Odori Park. This is the main site. Japan-guide.com describes it as stretching along the 1.5 kilometer Odori Park, with about a dozen large sculptures and more than 100 smaller snow statues, some of the largest over 25 meters wide and 15 meters high. Sculptures are lit in the evening, and the official page says the International Snow Sculpture Contest takes place at 11-chome, where visitors can watch contestants at work. The Sapporo TV Tower at the eastern end offers a fine view over the park.

Susukino. About one subway stop south of Odori Park, this site features roughly 100 ice sculptures, according to japan-guide.com, along with an ice sculpture contest and an ice bar on the official page. It is lit later than Odori, until 23:00 according to japan-guide.com, which makes it ideal for an after-dinner stroll.

Tsudome. This family-oriented site has snow slides, snow rafting, a play area and indoor food stands, and it is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00 according to japan-guide.com. It is best visited in daytime, and some rides may charge a fee. Tsudome is also where the festival's more hands-on fun happens, so bring children, or just your inner child.

Getting Around and Timing Your Visit

Odori and Susukino are close together: it is a short walk, or one stop on the Namboku subway line. Tsudome is farther out. Japan-guide.com says it is a 15 minute walk from Sakaemachi Station on the Toho Subway Line, with frequent shuttle buses from the station for 200 yen one way, and no parking near the site. Sapporo Station to Sakaemachi takes about 10 minutes by subway for 250 yen, according to the same page. Fares and shuttle services can change, so verify them before you travel.

For timing, weekdays are generally quieter than the weekend of February 6 and 7 or the February 11 holiday, and dusk into evening gives the best lighting, since the sculptures are lit from sundown. One more practical point: the sculptures are taken down after the festival ends, so arriving after February 11 means missing them. Downtown hotels can also fill up during festival week, so book early.

Odori and Susukino together: an easy evening pairing, starting at dusk.
Tsudome: a daytime trip, best with children.
Food stalls: Hot soup, grilled corn and hot cocoa are common festival snacks around Odori, a great way to warm up between sculptures.

What to Pack for a Sapporo February

The Sapporo tourism guide to what to wear in Sapporo in winter gives February averages of about minus 3 degrees Celsius, with highs near 0 and lows around minus 6.6, and an average snowfall of 147 centimeters. Its advice starts with a warm inner layer, then thick knitwear, then a down jacket or long wool coat, ideally with a hood. Cold-proof, windproof pants help, and fleece-lined styles are a good choice.

Footwear matters most. The Sapporo Travel page on what to wear in winter (see Further Reading) recommends snow boots or shoes with non-slip soles, and says clip-on grip soles are sold at convenience stores and shoe stores in central Sapporo for about 1,000 to 2,000 yen. Add a scarf, gloves, a knitted hat and perhaps ear muffs. Because buildings are well heated indoors, wear layers you can remove easily. A pack of disposable hand warmers is also worth bringing. If your trip includes a soak afterward, the Onsen Etiquette guide on this site is a good companion for a winter getaway.

Making the Most of It

Walk slowly, since compacted snow can hide ice, and keep a spare pair of socks in your day bag. Take photos at dusk, when the lights come on, and again after dark for a different mood. Because the festival is a seasonal community celebration, it pairs nicely with an understanding of Japan's wider festival culture, which the shrine festivals article explores. Finally, remember that schedules, ticketed activities and site programs are updated each year, so use the official site as your final check.