The Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri) is a popular snow and ice festival in Hokkaido, held from February 4–11, 2023, at Sapporo's Odori Park. One of this delightful festival's charms is getting to enjoy the many strikingly detailed snow sculptures that are exhibited.
Here we'll share what the festival is all about, and how you can enjoy it to the fullest, too!
Book now! Hotels in Hokkaido for the Sapporo Snow Festival
What is the Sapporo Snow Festival?
Since its start in 1950, the Sapporo Snow Festival has been an annually celebrated winter tradition. This year, it's scheduled to be held for the 72nd time. The main attraction at this event is the various-sized snow sculptures.
Welcoming up to five meters of snow yearly, Sapporo is in a region with hefty snowfall. Each year, 30,000 tons of snow are gathered to make impressive snow sculptures using heavy machinery.
Here you can find of range of sculptures with different themes. Some of these include sculptures inspired by famous buildings and World Heritage sites such as Japanese castles, sculptures that use Japanese and Hokkaido Prefecture’s culture as a motif, and sculptures inspired by Japanese subcultures centering around sports, movies, manga, anime, and gaming.
Many people from all around the world come to see these sculptures! In 2019, the total number of guests who visited the event was said to be approximately 2.73 million. It’s a special festival where you can enjoy the snow, cold weather, and Hokkaido’s charm.
The 73rd Sapporo Snow Festival will be held at the Odori and Susukino venues for the first time in three years.
The festival will feature five giant snow sculptures, which are the main attraction, as well as small and medium-sized snow sculptures, snow sculptures made by citizens' groups, and winter attractions.
While product sales and PR booths will be set up as usual, the International Snow Sculpture Competition and food and drink stalls will be suspended as a health and safety measure and other factors.
Event Details
・Held from February 4–11, 2023
・Venues:
– Odori (Nishi 1-chome to Nishi 10-chome) and Susukino (Ekimae-dori from Minami 4-jo Dori to Minami 7-jo Dori)
*The Tsudome venue will not be held.
Venue Configuration (tentative)
・1-Chome: Winter attractions, etc.
・2-Chome: Small and medium-sized snow sculptures, snow sculptures made by citizens' groups, etc.
・3-Chome: Small and medium snow sculptures, snow sculptures made by citizens' groups, etc.
・4-Chome: Large snow sculpture
・5-Chome: Large snow…
