Sapporo Snow Festival: dates, venue and how to get there
Sapporo · さっぽろ雪まつり
What to expect
Large snow sculptures fill Odori Park, while Susukino displays ice carvings. Tsudome is a separate site for snow activities, so choose your venues before planning the day.
Photo: U.S. Navy photo by William J. Turnbull, Naval Air Facility Misawa Safety Officer. · Public domain
Original date label: Taken on 4 February 2003 · Resized for display; the source file and reuse licence are linked below.
Festival dates and programme
Confirmed upcoming edition
4–11 February 2027
The dates refer to the edition shown, not every future year. Programme times are in JST. Japan is 3 hours 30 minutes ahead of IST. Check the organiser’s latest notices for individual performances, weather changes and tickets.
Where the festival takes place
Sapporo · 札幌
Odori Park, Susukino and Tsudome
大通公園・すすきの・つどーむ
The location below marks one representative venue or route section. It is not the whole procession or every entrance; use the organiser’s venue map for your programme.
Getting there by train or bus
Take the Namboku, Tozai or Toho subway line to Odori for the central displays. Use the current festival transport guide for Tsudome; it is away from the city-centre sites.
Find a public transport route from your starting point ↗History and local traditions
The festival began in 1950 when local school students made six snow sculptures in Odori Park.
Plan your visit
Visit Odori in daylight for sculpture details or after sunset for the illuminated displays. If snow activities matter more than sculptures, allow a separate journey to Tsudome.
Editorial suggestion based on the festival’s venues and viewing format; no personal attendance is claimed.
Sapporo Snow Festival: questions travellers ask
When is Sapporo Snow Festival?
Sapporo Snow Festival: 4–11 February 2027. These dates refer only to the stated edition. Check the organiser’s daily programme and weather notices before travelling.
How do I get to Sapporo Snow Festival by public transport?
Take the Namboku, Tozai or Toho subway line to Odori for the central displays. Use the current festival transport guide for Tsudome; it is away from the city-centre sites.
Are all three Sapporo Snow Festival sites together?
No. Odori and Susukino are in central Sapporo, but Tsudome requires a separate journey. The map marks the central Odori area, not the entrance to every site.
Official programme and sources
- www.sapporo.travel: Official festival and visitor guidance ↗
- www.snowfes.com: Official location, transport or historical reference ↗
- www.visit-hokkaido.jp: Official location, transport or historical reference ↗
Reviewed . Some official pages are in Japanese. Open the source for this edition’s venue, daily programme and access conditions.