2025 dates: February 4 to February 11.
The Sapporo Snow Festival is a annual festival that takes place in around the city of Sapporo. In 2024, the festival celebrated its 75th anniversary. The first Sapporo snow festival was started by a small group of high school students. whom made a total of of 6 snow sculptures in the first year. Despite this, they still had a remarkable turnout, with an estimated 50,000 people turning out to see the sculptures.
Since the first festival many years ago, the Sapporo Snow Festival has developed into an event that attracts people from all over the world, and encompasses large areas of the city. Nowadays, millions of people flock to Sapporo to participate in the Sapporo snow festival, taking in the beautiful snow and ice sculptures, and taking part of the festivities.
There are 3 main areas for the festival, Odori Park, Tsudome(Sapporo Communtiy Dome), and Susukino (Ekimae-dori).
Odori Park, in central Sapporo, is where you’ll find most of the iconic and intricate snow sculptures. The snow art changes each year, with local artists often taking inspiration from pop-culture, and other icons of the time.
Susukino Ekimae is home to ice sculptures, as they can keep them indoors and out of the sun, prolonging their life longer than they would be out in Odori Park.
And lastly, the Sapporo Community dome hosts various snow and iced based games and festivities.
Due to the popularity of the festival each year, it is important that you book your hotels well in advance, as the affordable accommodation is quickly snapped up by the crowds all wanting to take part in this annual festival.
The Sapporo Snow festival usually takes place in Early February, typically the first or second week. This does change based on snowfall levels.
Getting around Sapporo
Sapporo has an extensive network of public transport, meaning that you can easily get between the different venues of the Sapporo Snow Festival all through public transport.
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Where to Stay
Dormy Inn Premium Sapporo
Hotel Lifort Sapporo
Hotel located with direct access to Nakajima Park, and excellent walking trails.
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JR Tower Hotel
World Class hotel, featuring rooms with possibly the best view of the city of Sapporo.
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