A snow sculpture at the Sapporo Snow Festival in Odori Park

Hidden Japan Guide

Donate

Sapporo Snow Festival Guide: Three Sites in February

   

Written by:

Jun

The Sapporo Snow Festival in February: the three venues, the sculpture sites, winter clothing and transport, and what to reconfirm before you book.

Operational details such as opening hours, admission fees, and train times can change. Prefer official pages and reconfirm before you travel (sources checked on 30 October 2026).

Why visit

  • The Sapporo Snow Festival runs for about a week in early February, with snow and ice sculptures across the city centre.
  • It is free to walk, which makes it unusual among Japanese winter events.
  • Odori Park holds the large sculptures; Susukino holds the ice carvings; Tsu dome is the family site outside the centre.

Top places and highlights

A snow sculpture at the Sapporo Snow Festival in Odori Park
Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Fischer · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Snow sculptures lit at night during the Sapporo Snow Festival
Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Fischer · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Odori Park in central Sapporo under winter snow
Photo: ノボホショコロトソ · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Odori Park

The main site, running east to west through the centre of Sapporo. Large snow sculptures line the park and are lit in the evening.

Susukino

The ice carving site along the entertainment district, best after dark when the carvings are lit.

Tsu dome site

A snow play and family site outside the centre with slides and activities. It is a bus or subway ride from Odori.

Food and drink

  • Festival food stalls at Odori and Tsu dome serve hot drinks and local dishes.
  • Restaurants in Susukino and around Sapporo station fill fast at dinner during the festival week.

Getting there and around

  • Odori is on the subway; Susukino is one stop away or a short walk.
  • New Chitose Airport connects to Sapporo station by rapid train; allow extra time in festival week.

Where to stay

  • Hotels near Odori and Sapporo station book out months ahead for the festival dates.
  • Staying a subway stop or two out usually costs less and stays connected.

Best time to visit

  • February is the coldest month, often below freezing all day with snow underfoot.
  • The festival is outside the ski season peak for some resorts, so both can be combined.

Practical tips

  • Wear boots with grip; the pavements are icy and the sculptures sit in snow.
  • Go to Odori in daylight for the shapes and after dark for the lighting.
  • Treat the year’s dates, venue layouts and bus services as things to reconfirm officially.

Suggested day-trip outline

  1. Walk Odori Park from east to west in the late afternoon.
  2. Carry on to Susukino for the ice carvings after dark.
  3. Take the subway to the Tsu dome site the next morning if travelling with children.

Before you go

Timetables, fares, admission fees, and seasonal access rules can change. Check the official tourism and transport sites linked below for the latest information before you travel.

Explore More of Japan

Published guides that pair with this one:

Browse every Hokkaido guide on this site for the rest of the region.

Sources

Leave a Reply