Last winter, I flew to Hokkaido to explore the region’s various snow and ice festivals. I got to walk through illuminated ice caves, see the sprawling Sapporo Snow Festival from high above, step into a cafe made entirely of ice, and much more!
The white powdery snow that blanketed the landscape around made views in every direction simply beautiful.
Keep reading to learn about Hokkaido’s Snow and Ice Festivals and see which ones you should add to your next winter trip.
I’ve also included bonus ideas for other exciting winter activities to do in Hokkaido, like ice fishing on a frozen lake!
Table of Contents
- Don’t Forget to Pack (or Buy) THIS Item!
- Sapporo Snow Festival
- Susukino Ice World Event
- Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
- Asahikawa Winter Festival
- Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival Hyoubaku
- Akan Lake Winter Fireworks Ice Festival
- Otofuke Tokachigawa Swan Festival
- Visit Otaru Canal and Enjoy Panoramic Views from Mt. Tengu
- Grill Up Jingisukan Lamb
- Find Serenity at Hokkaido Shrine
- Slurp Up a Bowl of Soup Curry
- Try Ice Fishing on Akan Lake
- Visit the Abashiri Prison Museum
- Indulge in All-You-Can-Eat Crab
- Final Thoughts
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Don’t Forget to Pack (or Buy) THIS Item!
If there is one item you want to make sure you pack, it’s ice spikes for your shoes! Walking on the slick streets is tricky and dangerous, but a pair of these can help prevent potential falls.
These simple and lightweight spikes can be strapped onto many different sizes and types of shoes. After extensive use, they stretch out, but replacing them is easy.
Find a pair of cheap spikes online or in Hokkaido at local shops like Don Quixote.
Note: It’s best practice to remove your spikes before entering buildings and other establishments to prevent damaging the floor.
Sapporo Snow Festival
The Sapporo Snow Festival spans only 1 week each year, generally in early February. The main event site is located at Odori Park, a sprawling park that covers 12 blocks and is just a 15-minute walk from Sapporo Station.
Enjoy strolling throughout the park, following the designated clockwise flow of traffic. The grounds are filled with snow sculptures made by local groups, international organizations, and professionals alike. At the end of each block stand gigantic art pieces and stages where events take place throughout the day.
Some of the snow sculptures are interactive and include fun elements like slides.
In addition to the sculptures, the park is filled with souvenir booths, food stalls, and a skate rink.
Bonus: In the evening, head up to the top of the Sapporo TV tower for a wonderful view of the Snow Festival stretching into the distance.
If you can take the stairs to descend the tower, I recommend it! From parts of the stairwell, there are unobstructed views of Odori Park and the snow sculptures below.
Admission: Free
Location: Odori Park, 〒060-0042 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Odorinishi, １〜１２丁目
Event website: https://www.snowfes.com/ (JP), https://www.snowfes.com/sites/odori/ (Odori site, JP)
Where to Stay in Sapporo
I stayed at the Sapporo Excel Hotel Tokyu, which was about a 22-minute walk from Odori Park and a 7-minute walk from the Susukino Ice World event.
It was a nice, simple hotel with a decent morning buffet and a good view of the mountains and the city below. (No onsen in the hotel).
The hotel is near Nakajima Park, which is a great place to visit for a peaceful winter walk.
For other hotels that are close to Odori Park and Sapporo Station, check here.
Susukino Ice World Event
The Susukino Ice World Event is part of the larger Sapporo Snow Festival, but takes place in a different area. In the middle of Susukino, you’ll find a few blocks lined with grand ice sculptures, designated for foot traffic only.
The ornate and carefully crafted sculptures here glisten in the light of the street lamps overhead.
This noteworthy piece featured a wall of seafood with real fish, crab, and other creatures frozen into blocks of ice.
Admission: Free
Location: Susukino Street
Event website: https://www.snowfes.com/sites/susukino/ (JP)
Where to Stay Near Susukino
The Sapporo Excel Hotel Tokyu is about a 7-minute walk from the Susukino area. For other hotels near Susukino, see here.
Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
Of all the festivals I visited, the Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival was my favorite!
The festival features towering ice sculptures crafted using water from Lake Shikotsu. They have a distinctive blue tint coined Shikotsu Blue.
There was a *cool* ice cafe, towering ice walls that looked like a crashing waterfall, and themed caves to explore.
The festival takes place in a hot spring area about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Sapporo city.
Admission: 1,000 yen, elementary school age and under are free
Location: Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
Event website: https://hyoutou-special.asia/ (JP)
Where to Stay by Lake Shikotsu
This festival takes place by Lake Shikotsu, a popular hot spring resort area. Although I didn’t stay overnight when I visited, there are several high-end hotels nearby, including: Shikotsu Lake Tsuruga Resort Spa Mizunouta, Lakeside Villa Suimeikaku Onsen, and Shikotsuko Daiichi Hotel Suizantei.
Asahikawa Winter Festival
The Asahikawa Winter Festival takes place just under a 2-hour drive from Sapporo in Asahikawa.
Compared to the festivals mentioned above, this one is much smaller and less crowded.
Here, you’ll also find various snow sculptures, banana boat rides, a zip line, snowmobile rides, a large ice slide, a huge stage made of snow, and rows of colorful, felt-decorated snowmen.
There are also food stalls.
Admission: Free
Location: Asahikawa Winter Festival Venue (〒070-0044 Hokkaido, Asahikawa, Tokiwakoen, ３丁目)
Event website: https://asahikawa-winterfes.jp/ (JP)
Where to Stay in Asahikawa
I didn’t spend the night in Asahikawa but had lunch at the popular ART HOTEL Asahikawa, which is slightly more than a 10-minute walk from the festival.
Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival Hyoubaku
The Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival Hyoubaku takes place in the Daisetsuzan National Park from late January to early March.
Large ice caves and sculptures are lit in the evening for a colorful, fantastical experience. When I visited, it was nail-bitingly cold and extremely windy, so I ran from each structure to the next, taking shelter within the icy walls.
There were many cave-like rooms with large sculptures carved inside. One place had a bar made of ice!
Make sure to bundle up if you plan to visit this area!
Admission: 1,000 yen
Location: Sounkyo Onsen Ice Festival (Sounkyo, Kamikawa, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido 078-1701)
Event website: https://sounkyo.net/hyoubaku/ (JP)
Where to Stay in Sounkyo Onsen
I stayed at Sounkyo Onsen Choyo Resort Hotel, just up the street from the Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival. It’s close enough to walk, but if the weather is cold and blustery, it can be uncomfortable and dangerous. This hotel had a public onsen and private baths available for rent.
Akan Lake Winter Fireworks Ice Festival
Held on the frozen waters of Lake Akan is a small ice festival that has snowmobile and banana boat rides, as well as evening fireworks.
It’s much smaller in scale compared to other festivals I went to, but seeing fireworks in the winter that illuminated the frozen lake was a neat sight. (The fireworks show is short – only 5 minutes)
Bonus: Near the lake is Ainu Kotan, one of the largest Ainu settlements in Hokkaido. Here, indigenous culture can be experienced through restaurants, shops, and performances.
Another thing you can do on Akan Lake is ice fishing! See below for more on this activity.
Admission: Free
Location: Akan Lake Onsen
Event website: https://www.tsurugagroup.com/plans/fuyu_hanabi/ (JP)
Where to Stay in Akan Lake Onsen
I spent the night at the New Akan Hotel, which was located right by the festival along the edge of the frozen lake.
The hotel was very popular and had a bustling dinner buffet that was full of a wide variety of local delicacies. This is a large hotel that caters more to large groups rather than intimate stays.
There was a public onsen bath as well as a pool on the top floor.
Akan Tsuruga Besso Hinanoza and Forest of Akan Tsuruga Resort HANAYUUKA are other highly rated hotels in the same area.
Otofuke Tokachigawa Swan Festival
The Otofuke Tokachigawa Swan Festival was a small event in Tokachigawa Onsen that featured colorful lights on a slope, music, projected illuminations, and snow tubing experiences.
There were small food stalls and a cafe. I didn’t feel like the event was interesting enough to go out of one’s way to attend.
Admission: 500 yen, middle school age and under are free
Location: Tokachigawa Park, 14 Chome-1 Tokachigawaonsenkita, Otofuke, Kato District, Hokkaido 080-0262
Event website: https://www.tokachigawa.net/event/sairinka.html (JP)
Where to Stay in Tokachigawa
Tokachigawa is located about a 3-hour drive from Sapporo and is known for its moor (plant-derived) hot springs.
I stayed at Daiheigen Hotel, which was just a short drive away from the festival. The hotel itself was a bit dated, but I enjoyed a nice course dinner. If you’re lucky, you might be able to spot a red-crowned crane in the fields or small shimaenaga birds flittering in the trees!
Other Winter Activities to Enjoy in Hokkaido
While snow and ice festivals (and skiing) are usually what bring travelers to Hokkaido, there are many other things to do during this season! See below for other winter activities to enjoy around Hokkaido.
Visit Otaru Canal and Enjoy Panoramic Views from Mt. Tengu
Otaru can be reached in about 1 hour from Sapporo, either by public transportation or by car.
The area is known for its beautiful canal, which looks even more lovely with banks that glisten white from the snow.
There is also a fun little shopping street where you can get street food, glass products, and specialty Hokkaido soft serve.
This place has tasty coffee-milk soft serve.
For a great view of the city from above, head to Mt. Tengu, where you can take a ropeway up to the top. The view from Mt. Tengu is considered one of the three best night views in Hokkaido!
Grill Up Jingisukan Lamb
Another Hokkaido specialty food is Jingisukan – lamb and veggies grilled over a domed grill. While this dish isn’t for everyone, it’s a favorite of mine and I make sure to eat it every time I visit Hokkaido!
Find Serenity at Hokkaido Shrine
Enjoy a beautiful moment at Hokkaido Shrine, where powdery snow covers the brown thatched roof, hanging wooden ema, and surrounding trees.
I was surprised to see that even in the brisk cold, food stalls were open, serving up fresh takoyaki, taiyaki, and other snacks to hungry passersby.
Slurp Up a Bowl of Soup Curry
When it’s cold outside, one of the best things you can do is enjoy a bowl of hot and spicy curry paired with fresh vegetables and rice. Unlike most Japanese curry, Hokkaido soup curry is more liquid and served separately from the rice.
Many places sell this dish, especially in Sapporo, so be sure to try it once!
Sapporo Soup Curry BAR Dan comes paired with delicious vegetables. The place is very popular, but if you line up early, you can beat the big rush. Suage+ Soup Curry is another place I have enjoyed!
Try Ice Fishing on Akan Lake
For a truly unique winter experience, grab a fishing pole, some bait, and a good amount of patience for ice fishing at Ice Land on Akan Lake!
Inside the makeshift tents, it’s not as cold as one might expect, but successfully reeling in a swimming smelt is not easy. Even though I ended the activity fish-less, I still had a great time!
Luckily, fishing included a bag of hot and crispy smelt tempura, so even those who come up empty-handed can still enjoy the day’s efforts.
Visit the Abashiri Prison Museum
In the north-east of Hokkaido, close to the Sea of Okhotsk, is the Abashiri Prison Museum. This is an outdoor museum that features buildings (some of which are Nationally Important Cultural Properties) that were used in the original prison and have been preserved since the Meiji Era (1868–1912).
Learn about what life was like for the inmates, including seeing their sleeping quarters, bathhouse, and work stations.
Indulge in All-You-Can-Eat Crab
The region’s abundant fishing waters make it a hotspot for another specialty, crab! One place I particularly enjoyed eating crab at was at the all-you-can-eat restaurant Seafood Buffet NANDA.
Not only are entire crabs available as part of the buffet, but they also serve fresh nigiri, lamb chops, and wagyu beef. It’s a great place to go to try a bit of everything as long are you’re prepared for the bustling atmosphere.
Final Thoughts
A winter trip to Hokkaido is the perfect way to enjoy time surrounded by fantastic scenery and delicious dishes.
While the Sapporo Snow Festival is most likely already on most people’s list, I encourage visitors to venture out of the city to the many other (and much less crowded) festivals in other parts of Hokkaido.
Need internet during your trip? Get an eSIM!
If you are looking for a way to easily access the internet while on your trip, I recommend installing an eSIM. With Airalo, you can buy a Japan eSIM for 7 days -1 GB, 15 days – 2GB, or 30 days – 10 GB. These eSIMs are easy to top up if you run out of data and are generally more affordable than using international roaming.
I have used Airalo myself for various international travels and love the convenience of not having to pick up a physical SIM card.