Every February, the centre of Sapporo turns into an open-air gallery of snow and ice. Sculptures the size of buildings line Odori Park, ice carvings glitter under the lights of Susukino, and children slide down huge snow slopes at Tsudome. The Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり) is Japan's best-known winter event, and it is free to visit.
This guide covers everything you need to plan a trip to the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027: the dates, the three venues, how cold it gets, what to wear and how to get there.
1. Dates and Basics for 2027
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Thursday, February 4 to Thursday, February 11, 2027 (February 11 is National Foundation Day, a public holiday) |
| Edition | 77th Sapporo Snow Festival |
| Venues | Odori Park, Susukino and Tsudome |
| Admission | Free. You pay only for food, drinks and some activities. |
| Organiser | Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee |
The festival began in 1950, when local junior high and high school students built six snow statues in Odori Park. It has since grown into an event that draws visitors from around the world. Detailed programmes and opening hours for each venue are usually announced from mid-December, so check the official website before you go.
2. The Three Venues
The main venue. Snow sculptures line about 1.5 km of the park, from 1-chome to 12-chome, including huge sculptures with projection mapping shows and the International Snow Sculpture Contest at 11-chome.
Sapporo's entertainment district hosts an ice sculpture contest and illuminated ice carvings along the main street, from Minami 4-jo to Minami 7-jo.
A family-friendly site at the Community Dome Tsudome in Higashi-ku, with giant snow slides and indoor and outdoor snow activities.
Odori Park
Walk the length of the park from the Sapporo TV Tower end. The large sculptures are often detailed replicas of famous buildings or popular characters, and many have evening projection mapping shows. Food stalls sell Hokkaido specialities such as grilled scallops, corn and hot soup. According to Sapporo's official tourism site, the sculptures are lit up from sunset until 10:00 p.m.
Susukino
The ice sculptures here look their best after dark, when they are lit from within. Because Susukino is full of restaurants and bars, it is easy to combine with dinner. Try Sapporo's famous miso ramen or a Genghis Khan lamb barbecue nearby.
Tsudome
Tsudome is further from the city centre and is mainly a daytime venue. If you are travelling with children, it is the highlight of the festival. In past years, shuttle buses have run from Sakaemachi Station on the Toho subway line during the festival.
3. How Cold Is It?
Very cold. According to Japan Meteorological Agency normals, the average high in Sapporo in February is just 0.4°C and the average low is -6.2°C. Evenings standing still in Odori Park feel colder than the numbers suggest, especially in the wind.
A thick down coat, thermal underwear, a hat that covers your ears, a scarf and warm gloves.
Waterproof winter boots with deep grip. Pavements are packed snow and ice for most of the winter.
Disposable heat packs called kairo (カイロ) are sold at every convenience store and drugstore.
Slipping on ice is the most common injury for winter visitors. Sapporo's official tourism site advises taking small steps with your weight forward and wearing boots with good grip. Anti-slip spikes that attach to your shoes are sold at most convenience stores in Sapporo. For more, see our guide to what to wear in Japan in winter.
4. Getting There
- From New Chitose Airport: The JR Rapid Airport train runs to Sapporo Station in about 40 minutes. Snow can occasionally delay trains and flights, so build in extra time.
- To Odori Park: Odori Station on the Namboku, Tozai and Toho subway lines is right under the park. It is also about a 10 to 15 minute walk from Sapporo Station, much of it through the underground walkway.
- To Susukino: Susukino Station on the Namboku line, or walk south from Odori Park.
- To Tsudome: Sakaemachi Station on the Toho line, then a walk of about 15 minutes or a shuttle bus if one is operating.
5. Booking Hotels and Flights
The festival is Sapporo's busiest week of the year. Hotels near Odori and Susukino fill up months in advance, and prices rise sharply. Book your accommodation as early as possible, ideally in the autumn before. If central Sapporo is full, consider staying near Sapporo Station, or in Otaru, which is around 30 to 40 minutes away by JR train.
6. What to Eat at the Festival
Hokkaido is famous across Japan for its food, and the festival is a good place to try it. Food stalls at Odori Park sell local favourites such as grilled scallops and corn, potatoes with butter, hot soups and warm drinks. Indoors, warm up with miso ramen (味噌ラーメン), the style Sapporo is best known for, a bowl of soup curry (スープカレー), or Genghis Khan (ジンギスカン), grilled lamb cooked on a dome-shaped iron grill. Fresh seafood bowls topped with crab, salmon roe and sea urchin are easy to find around Sapporo Station and the Nijo Market. Popular restaurants have long queues during festival week, so eat a little earlier or later than the usual lunch and dinner rush. See our ramen guide.
7. Make It a Hokkaido Winter Trip
The canal town of Otaru holds its own snow and candle festival, the Otaru Snow Light Path, usually in February. Check the dates for 2027 before you go.
Ski resorts are within easy reach of Sapporo, and Niseko and Furano are a few hours away. See our Japan ski guide.
Jozankei Onsen, in the mountains southwest of Sapporo, is a classic place to warm up after the festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Entry to all three venues is free. You only pay for food, drinks, souvenirs and some paid activities.
One full day and one evening is enough to see Odori Park and Susukino. Add half a day for Tsudome if you have children, and extra days for Otaru, skiing or hot springs.
Weekday mornings are usually the quietest. The opening weekend and the final holiday on February 11 are the busiest.
Yes. Large sculptures are built in Odori Park in the weeks before the festival, and you can watch from outside the work areas.
Conclusion
The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the world's great winter events, and in 2027 it runs from February 4 to 11. Book your hotel early, dress for well below freezing, wear boots with real grip and see Odori Park both by day and by night. Then warm up with a bowl of miso ramen in Susukino. Planning your winter in Japan? Read Japan in January and our snow monkey guide.
Sources
- Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee — Official website: https://www.snowfes.com/english/
- Sapporo Travel (Official Sapporo tourism site) — Sapporo Snow Festival 2027: https://www.sapporo.travel/en/event/event-list/sapporo_snow_festival/
- Sapporo Travel — Winter walking tips: https://www.sapporo.travel/en/useful_information/sapporo_winter_walking_tips/
- Japan Meteorological Agency — Climate normals for Sapporo: https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/