Sapporo Snow Festival: Dates, Location & Travel

Large snow sculptures fill Odori Park, while Susukino displays ice sculptures. Choose the downtown sites for a sculpture walk; Tsudome is a separate trip for snow activities.

Sapporo Snow Festival: Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, (Feb. 4, 2003) -- One of several snow and ice sculptures is lit up for night time viewers at the 54th Annual International Sapporo Snow Festival. An average of 2 million visitors travel to the main island's Prefecture capital to see the artistry of snow and ice carved by teams from several countries, which includes teams from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and U.S. Sailors from Naval Air Facility (NAF) Misawa. U.S. Navy photo by William J. Turnbull, Naval Air Facility Misawa Safety Officer. (RELEASED). Archive or venue photo, not a view of the current edition.
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. Original or supplied resized image; no additional editing.

Sapporo Snow Festival dates

February 4–11, 2027

Upcoming confirmed edition

Event dates and times use Japan Standard Time (JST). Usual annual dates are not a confirmed booking schedule for the next edition. Check the organizer’s notices for daily times, admission and weather-related changes.

Where to watch

Sapporo · 札幌

Odori Park, Susukino and Tsudome
大通公園・すすきの・つどーむ

The map marks one reference point, not the entire route or every entrance. For village rites or moving processions, use the organizer’s venue map.

View reference location on Google Maps ↗

Getting there by train or bus

From Sapporo Station, take the Namboku subway line to Odori. Check the current festival transport guide for Tsudome rather than assuming it is within walking distance of downtown.

History and traditions

The festival began in 1950 with six snow sculptures made by local junior high and high school students.

Nearby places to consider

These sights can help you plan the rest of your visit. Check each location’s opening hours and access separately; festival road closures may affect the journey.

Sapporo Clock Tower

札幌市時計台

Sapporo Clock Tower: official visitor information ↗Find Sapporo Clock Tower on Google Maps ↗

Before you visit Sapporo Snow Festival

When is Sapporo Snow Festival?

February 4–11, 2027. The year shown belongs to this specific edition, not an automatically repeated future booking date. Check the linked organizer for times and changes.

How do I get to Sapporo Snow Festival by public transportation?

From Sapporo Station, take the Namboku subway line to Odori. Check the current festival transport guide for Tsudome rather than assuming it is within walking distance of downtown.

What should I plan before visiting Sapporo Snow Festival?

Visit Odori in daylight to study the carving or after dark for illuminated sculptures. Decide whether you want snow activities before adding the more distant Tsudome site.

These planning suggestions are JapanLiveNow’s editorial advice. Admission and operating arrangements follow the organizer’s current program.

Official program and visitor information

This guide uses the shared festival source register reviewed on October 3, 2026. Official notices take priority over archive photos and previous editions.