With an estimated 300,000 festivals annually, Japan’s cultural vibrancy is unmatched. Among these, the Sapporo Snow Festival (4th-11th February), a global snow sculpting competition, is often cited as one of the country’s best events, drawing in over two million visitors annually.
Last year saw visits increase by over a third, setting the stage for 2025 to be one of the busiest festivals yet. But for those who’ve yet to experience this winter spectacle firsthand - what exactly can they expect, and what else does the region have to offer?
To help visitors make the most of their trip, the experts at JR Pass have crafted an essential guide, packed with insider tips and local knowledge.
An Expert Guide to the Sapporo Snow Festival
The free-to-visit festival invites sculptors to compete in crafting the most impressive snow masterpieces, stemming from a competition established in 1950 between six young students in Odori Park - the main of the festival’s three sites. Last year, the city hosted 196 sculptures; some of the largest being 15-20 meters wide and tall, showcasing lifelike animals, intricately carved palaces, to popular cartoon and anime figures.
Haroun Khan, founder and owner of JR Pass, shares: “The Sapporo Snow Festival has blossomed into one of Japan’s most popular festivals, even seeing global participants, yet it remains deeply rooted in its local heritage. The festival is a huge deal, even requiring military aid to deliver the tens of thousands of tonnes of snow needed to craft the sculptures!”
The frosted spectacles are accompanied by live music, and from sundown to 10 pm visitors can witness the figures brought to life by illuminations. The festivities also offer inner-city winter sports, with ice skating, snow rafting, icy slides and snowball fighting stations crafted just for the occasion at the Tsudome site.
“It’s not just the sheer scale of the sculptures that make the Snow Festival so special, it’s how it brings people together from all around the globe to compete, celebrate, and experience the atmosphere created by this citywide transformation.”
When and where is the festival?
The celebration lasts eight days, this year from the 4th to the 11th of February. The city of Sapporo is located on Hokkaido, Japan’s Northernmost island. The festival has three main sites across the city, Odori Park, home to the most grand sculptures, the Tsudome site, where winter sports activities can be enjoyed, and the bustling entertainment district of Susukino, where hundreds of sculptures are scattered.
Khan shares essential tips for those visiting this February, “The festival itself is easy to navigate, with maps, crowd interpreters, and specially designed AI chatbots to assist visitors. But the snowy and icy conditions make proper footwear a must - not just for comfort, but safety too. Sapporo is one of the coldest cities in Japan, where even the daytime highs often stay below freezing. Dressing in sturdy waterproof boots and warm layered clothing is essential for keeping warm while exploring the festival”.
What to eat in Sapporo?
Shellfish sourced around the island, especially Crab, Urchin, and Oyster, are among Hokkaido's specialities. The island also stands out for dairy produce, often enjoyed as ice cream made with unique local flavors such as lavender and squid ink.
Regional dishes are often oriented around these food groups, and with almost 10,000 restaurants located in the city of Sapporo, visitors are spoilt for choice. One must-try dish is the famously warming Sapporo curry soup - a staple comfort food for locals and visitors, consisting of a soupy, smooth curry packed with spices, meat, and vegetables.
What else is there to experience?
For visitors, the snow festival isn’t the only thing Sapporo offers in February. The Hokkaido region welcomes many visitors around this time of year due to its winter sports scene, bolstered by an impressive annual snowfall of 15 meters. Luckily, exploring other activities won’t be a challenge, as Khan shares:
“Getting to Hokkaido is straightforward, with options including flights from Japan’s major cities or scenic bullet train journeys from the mainland. Once in Sapporo, getting around is no problem thanks to the city’s well-connected transport system of trams, subways, and buses.”
The renowned Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium offers visitors a slice of the area's Olympic history whilst providing panoramic views of the city, perfect for those wanting to enjoy the sportier side of the festivities.
Hokkaido also has the most Onsen locations in Japan, with 251 sites, many situated around an hour out of central Sapporo, ideal for those looking for a relaxing retreat away from the bustle of the city's streets.
Article provided by https://www.jrpass.com/
