About the festival
Sapporo Snow Festival fills Odori Park with huge snow sculptures and Susukino with ice carvings. Add Tsudome if snow play is part of your trip.
Who is it for?
Winter art and photography; families interested in snow activities should consider Tsudome.
Photo: U.S. Navy photo by William J. Turnbull, Naval Air Facility Misawa Safety Officer. · Public domain
Original date: Taken on 4 February 2003. Original image or Commons thumbnail; no additional edits.
Dates and times
4–11 February 2027
Upcoming confirmed edition. Times use JST. See the official programme for session times and changes.
Venue and parade route
Sapporo · 札幌
Odori Park's Nishi 1–11 blocks are the 2027 main venue. Susukino's ice displays run along Ekimae-dori between Minami 4-jo and 6-jo. Tsudome, in Higashi Ward, is separate from both downtown venues.
大通公園・すすきの・つどーむ
The map pin marks a reference venue, rather than every entrance or the full parade route.
Getting there by train or bus
- Take the Namboku subway from Sapporo Station to Odori; the Tozai and Toho lines also stop there. Tsudome is a separate trip: use the festival's seasonal transport guide.
What to see
- Large snow sculptures
- Susukino ice carvings
- Snow play at Tsudome
History and origins
The festival began in 1950 when local students built six snow sculptures in Odori Park.
Planning your visit
Our editorial suggestions for planning your trip.
See the carvings by daylight, then return for the evening lighting. Choose Tsudome for snow activities rather than trying to walk between all three venues.
Places to visit nearby
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.
These stops and the suggested order are editorial recommendations. Check each venue's opening hours and festival-day road closures before travelling.
Sapporo Snow Festival: common questions
When is Sapporo Snow Festival?
4–11 February 2027 These dates refer to the stated edition; they do not confirm dates for a later year. Times are Japan Standard Time (JST).
Where does Sapporo Snow Festival take place?
Odori Park's Nishi 1–11 blocks are the 2027 main venue. Susukino's ice displays run along Ekimae-dori between Minami 4-jo and 6-jo. Tsudome, in Higashi Ward, is separate from both downtown venues.
How do I get to Sapporo Snow Festival by public transport?
Take the Namboku subway from Sapporo Station to Odori; the Tozai and Toho lines also stop there. Tsudome is a separate trip: use the festival's seasonal transport guide.
Are all three venues within walking distance?
Odori and Susukino are downtown, but Tsudome is farther away. Plan separate transport for the snow-play venue.
Official sources
- Festival and visitor guide 1 (www.sapporo.travel) ↗
- Festival and visitor guide 2 (www.snowfes.com) ↗
- Festival and visitor guide 3 (www.visit-hokkaido.jp) ↗
Sources reviewed: .