Sapporo fills Odori Park with snow sculptures while Susukino hosts ice sculptures. Choose these central sites for an art-focused walk; allow a separate trip to Tsudome if snow activities are your priority.
Sapporo Snow Festival dates
February 4–11, 2027
Upcoming confirmed edition
Dates and times use JST. The recorded dates apply only to the stated edition. Read the organiser’s programme for start times, tickets, postponements and cancellations.
Where to watch
Sapporo · 札幌
Odori Park, Susukino and Tsudome
大通公園・すすきの・つどーむ
Odori Park, Susukino and Tsudome are separate festival sites. Check the current edition’s venue map before choosing where to go; snow sculptures, ice sculptures and snow activities are not all in one place.
The directions below use one representative location, not every venue entrance or the complete procession route. Use the official venue map for your ticket or programme.
Getting there by train or bus
Take the Namboku subway from Sapporo Station to Odori. The Tozai and Toho lines also serve Odori. Tsudome is outside the central festival area; use the shuttle and access information for your edition.
Planning your visit
Daylight helps you see the carved details; evening lighting changes the look of the sculptures. Group Odori and Susukino together rather than repeatedly travelling between the centre and Tsudome.
This is an editorial travel suggestion, not a claim of a personal visit or a guarantee of the programme. When travelling from Canada, use your Japan arrival date to select the festival day.
What to look for
- Large snow sculptures
- Susukino ice carvings
- Snow play at Tsudome
History and traditions
The festival began in 1950 when local students built six snow sculptures in Odori Park.
Photo: U.S. Navy photo by William J. Turnbull, Naval Air Facility Misawa Safety Officer. · Public domain. Original or supplied reduced image; no additional edits. See the original file for its date and context.
Nearby places to consider
Sapporo Clock Tower · 札幌市時計台
A wooden landmark with exhibits about Sapporo Agricultural College.
Visit during the day before returning to Odori's illuminated sculptures.
The description and suggested visit refer to the first attraction listed. Other links are separate nearby options; festival traffic and opening hours may affect your plans.
Sapporo Snow Festival questions
When is Sapporo Snow Festival?
February 4–11, 2027. These dates belong only to the stated edition; they do not confirm a later year.
How do I reach Sapporo Snow Festival by public transport?
Take the Namboku subway from Sapporo Station to Odori. The Tozai and Toho lines also serve Odori. Tsudome is outside the central festival area; use the shuttle and access information for your edition.
Are the sculptures and snow activities at the same site?
Large snow sculptures are at Odori Park and ice sculptures at Susukino. Snow activities are at Tsudome, a separate site outside central Sapporo.
Official programme and sources
- Official reference · www.sapporo.travel ↗
- Official reference · www.snowfes.com ↗
- Official reference · www.visit-hokkaido.jp ↗
- Official reference · www.snowfes.com ↗
- Official reference · visit.sapporo.travel ↗
Shared source records reviewed October 3, 2026. Some official pages are in Japanese. JapanLiveNow’s English guide is independently edited; the organiser’s latest announcement takes precedence.