Each February, Sapporo fills with snow and ice sculptures built by artists from Japan and more than 10 other countries. The 2026 festival ran from February 4 to 11, and the 2027 edition runs the same week.
In 2026, more than 2.5 million visitors came to see the sculptures, eat at the food stalls and watch the evening light-ups. This was roughly double Sapporo's usual population.
Quick Summary for Sapporo Snow Festival 2027:
Dates: Feb 4 – Feb 11, 2027
Main Venues: Odori Park, Susukino, Tsudome
Admission: Free
Table of Contents
When is the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027?
Where Exactly is the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027 Held?
Where to Stay for the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027? (Best Hotel Locations)
Getting Around: How to Reach the Snow Festival
Recommended Itinerary: Snow Festival & Hokkaido Winter Tour Packages
Packing Guide: Weather & What to Wear in Sapporo
Essential Travel Tips & FAQ
1. Dates & Timing: When is the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027?
The Sapporo Snow Festival is confirmed to take place from February 4th to 11th, 2027, across three main sites in Sapporo: Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome.
While all venues are open throughout the festival, each site has a different focus.
Visitors can admire large-scale snow sculptures in Odori Park, explore illuminated ice sculptures in the Susukino district, and enjoy hands-on attractions such as giant snow slides and winter activities at Tsudome.
To comfortably experience all three sites and enjoy the daytime and evening displays, we recommend spending at least two to three full days in Sapporo during the Snow Festival.
Related reading: Japan Weather in February
2. Festival Locations: Venue Map & Main Sites
Where Exactly is the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027 Held? The Sapporo Snow Festival takes place across three main sites, each with a different focus.
Odori Park (Illumination is until 10 pm)
Location: from Sapporo TV Tower to Odori Park Nishi 11-chome
Odori Park is the main venue of the Sapporo Snow Festival and is home to the largest snow sculptures, many of which rise several storeys high. From 2 to 7 February 2026, the park hosted the 50th International Snow Sculpture Contest, with teams from Japan and over 10 other countries and regions competing.
Take a look at the highlights of the Tsudome site in the Sapporo Snow Festival!
Event Past Preparation in 2026: Sculptures were produced from 3 to 6 February, and visitors watched as the snow sculptures were created live at the venue from 4 to 6 February. The contest concluded with an awards ceremony at 11:00 on 7 February at Odori Park 10-chome. Alongside the competition, Odori Park offered stage performances, food stalls, and evening illuminations throughout the festival.
Click here to learn more about the largest Odori site at the Sapporo Snow Festival, including details on upcoming activities.
Susukino Site
Location: from Nishi 4-chome(Sapporo Ekimae Street) to Minami 4-jo Street to Minami 6-jo Street
The Susukino site sits in Sapporo's entertainment district and focuses on ice sculptures. At night, the ice pieces are lit from inside and line the streets beside the neighborhood's bars and restaurants. It's busiest after dark, when you can pair the sculptures with dinner and a drink nearby.
Take a look at the highlights of the Susukino site in the Sapporo Snow Festival!
Ice sculptures
Ice sculpture comparison
Human ice sculpture
Ice sculpture and fish
Tsudome site (10 am-4 pm, 4-11 Feb.)
Location: 885-1 Sakaemachi, Higashi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Take a look at the highlights of the Tsudome site in the Sapporo Snow Festival!
Tube slide
Snow raft
Snow sculptures
Gourmet
Glide
Winter scenery
The Tsudome site is designed with families and active travellers in mind, offering hands-on snow activities rather than large-scale sculptures. Visitors can enjoy giant snow tube slides and snow rafting, as well as open spaces for children to play, making it the most family-friendly of the three venues.
In addition to the outdoor venues, which are open regardless of the weather, you can enjoy indoor attractions such as giant slides and soft toys at the Tsudome indoor arenas. Furthermore, food stalls offer steaming hot delicacies from Sapporo and the wider Hokkaido region.
See the official Sapporo Snow Festival website for the full list of Tsudome activities and hours.
3. Where to Stay for the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027? (Best Hotel Locations)
Finding the right accommodation during the Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the biggest challenges for winter travelers. Rooms for February 2027 are expected to sell out 6 to 9 months in advance, with hotel rates surging significantly across the city.
Where you stay matters: rooms next to the sculptures sell first, while onsen hotels in quieter neighborhoods hold out longer. Here's a breakdown of the best areas, plus the hotels our Japan specialists book most.
Best Areas at a Glance
Odori Park Area: Best for immediate access to the main snow sculptures, food stalls, and illuminations.
Susukino & Nakajima Park Area: Ideal for enjoying the night ice sculptures, dining, and relaxing in spacious natural hot spring (onsen) hotels away from the festival crowds.
Sapporo Station Area: Convenient for train transfers to Otaru, Asahikawa, and New Chitose Airport.
Featured Hotel Pick: HOTEL MYSTAYS Premier Sapporo Park
For travelers who want more space and an onsen during the busiest week of winter, our specialists usually book HOTEL MYSTAYS Premier Sapporo Park.
Why Our Experts Love It:
On-Site Natural Onsen: Full indoor and outdoor natural hot spring baths (Kamokawa Onsen), a good way to warm up after a day on the ice.
Spacious & Family-Friendly Rooms: Larger rooms than most downtown Japanese hotels, which suits families and small groups.
Prime Location: Situated right next to Nakajima Park, just minutes by subway or private car to both Odori Park and Susukino festival sites.
Included in Our Exclusive Tour: HOTEL MYSTAYS Premier Sapporo Park is one of our handpicked partner hotels featured in our signature Hokkaido Snow Festival Tour.
Skip the Hotel Rush: Experience Sapporo with UME Travel
Instead of stressing over sold-out hotels, price surges, and navigating icy streets with heavy luggage, let UME Travel handle every detail of your 2027 winter journey.
With our bespoke travel service, you get:
Tailor-Made Itineraries: Crafted 1-on-1 by dedicated Japan travel specialists based on your pacing, preferences, and dining tastes.
Guaranteed Premium Accommodations: Secured hotel stays at prime locations like HOTEL MYSTAYS Premier Sapporo Park.
Private Vehicle & Driver-Guide: A private car and driver so you don't wait for taxis or subways in freezing weather.
Explore Our Signature Winter Package
Want to skip the planning? Our Hokkaido Snow Festival Tour includes airport transfers, a private guide, pre-booked hotels, and winter excursions across Sapporo, Otaru, and Hakodate.
6 Days Sapporo - Noboribetsu Tour
6 days | From $ 3580
Contact a UME Travel Specialist Today to reserve your 2027 customized itinerary before peak season availability fills up!
4. Getting Around: How to Reach the Snow Festival
Most international travellers reach the Sapporo Snow Festival via New Chitose Airport, the main gateway to Hokkaido. Central Sapporo is easily accessible from the airport in about 40–45 minutes by JR rapid train, which runs frequently and connects directly to Sapporo Station. Airport limousine buses are also available, providing convenient access to major hotels in the city centre.
Once in Sapporo, the festival sites are well connected by JR trains and the subway system, so public transport is a practical choice during the event. Odori Park and Susukino are located along central subway lines, and the Tsudome site is accessed via a shuttle bus during the festival.
For family travellers seeking greater comfort and flexibility, especially in winter conditions, Ume Travel's private car services with an experienced local driver can help to streamline transfers and reduce waiting time during peak hours.
Let us know if you need our Japan travel experts to help you arrange private transportation and ideal accommodations.
Winter travel for seniors in Sapporo requires extra planning. Snow-covered roads, icy pavements, and heavy visitor traffic can slow movement between sites, particularly in the evening. Staying at a centrally located hotel near Odori Park or Sapporo Station can significantly improve your experience, and a well-planned itinerary will help you make the most of your time at one of Japan's busiest winter events.
5. Highlighted Winter Itinerary: Sapporo Snow Festival tour package, winter tour in Hokkaido
Hokkaido has more to see beyond the festival itself. UME Travel has crafted a preliminary 6-day Hokkaido Snow Festival Tour to help you make the most of your trip. In addition to spending a day at the Sapporo Snow Festival, plus a few other stops worth the trip.
Two full days at the Sapporo Snow Festival
Our Sapporo Snow Festival tour package includes two full days in Sapporo, where you get the chance to experience the festival at a relaxed pace. You will have time to visit all three festival sites and enjoy the sculptures during the day and after dark, when the illuminations transform the city.
UME Travel will handle hotels, winter transportation, and daily scheduling, so you can focus on enjoying the festival rather than managing logistics.
Travel tip:
The Sapporo Snow Festival takes place in early February, when centrally located hotels are in extremely high demand. Booking early with us is strongly recommended if you plan to travel during the festival.
Noboribetsu Onsen & Volcanic Landscapes
Winter is the best time to experience Hokkaido's hot springs. Heavy snowfall and crisp temperatures make outdoor bathing especially enjoyable during this season. A highlight beyond Sapporo is Noboribetsu Onsen, one of Hokkaido's most famous hot spring areas.
Take the ropeway directly to Noboribetsu Bear Park.
Enjoy the winter views of Lake Kuttara, particularly at sunset.
Visit Jigokudani (Hell Valley), a geothermal valley of steaming vents and sulfur pools.
After a day on the ice, the onsen is a welcome change of pace.
Related reading: Hokkaido Onsen
Hill of the Buddha (Tadao Ando Architecture)
Designed by architect Tadao Ando, the Hill of the Buddha holds a large Buddha statue set into a grass-covered mound. Lavender surrounds it in summer; in winter it sits under fresh snow.
Visitors approach the statue through a long, gently descending concrete tunnel, a hallmark of Ando's architectural style.
The tunnel darkens as you walk down it, then opens onto the statue, its head rising above the hill.
In winter, snow settles over the hill while the concrete lines stay sharp, which makes for quiet photos.
Sapporo Beer Museum Experience: Taste the fresh Sapporo beer
Housed in a historic red-brick building, the Sapporo Beer Museum showcases Japan's oldest beer brand. It walks through the brewing history and pours a free tasting of fresh Sapporo lager in the museum's beer hall.
Learn about Hokkaido's local wheat and brewing traditions.
Discover what makes Sapporo beer unique.
It's a warm, weather-proof activity, ideal for winter travel days!
Date Jidaimura: The Immersion of the Edo-Period Culture in Winter
Date Jidaimura is a historical theme park inspired by Japan's Edo period. It recreates an Edo-period town complete with real streets, samurai and ninja shows, and hands-on activities.
The red buildings show up sharply against the snow.
It is easy to enjoy without heavy walking or long explanations.
It is particularly suitable for families and multigenerational travelers.
View more details about the related winter tour packages that UME Travel recommends for you:
6 Days Sapporo - Noboribetsu Tour
6 days | From $ 3580
7 Days Niseko - Sapporo - Asahiyama Tour
7 days | From $ 3035
8 Days Tokyo - Mt.Fuji - Kyoto - Osaka Tour
8 days | From $ 4668
10 Days Tokyo - Yuzawa - Nagano - Mt.Fuji Tour
10 days | From $ 5383
One day is not enough to experience all that Hokkaido has to offer. Connect with a UME Travel specialist today for a free consultation about your itinerary. We'll help you plan a Snow Festival itinerary at no cost.
6. Weather and What to Wear for the Sapporo Snow Festival
In February, Sapporo's coldest month, daytime temperatures typically range from -5°C to 0°C (23°F to 32°F) during the festival period. Due to wind and snowfall, evenings are colder.
Make sure to stay warm and comfortable (From head to toes)
Warm hat and insulated gloves
Down jacket or insulated winter coat
Thermal base layers
Waterproof, non-slip winter shoes or boots
7. FAQ & Tips for Sapporo Snow Festival 2027
What should I wear to the Sapporo Snow Festival?
Warm, layered clothing is essential for a February visit. A down jacket, thermal underwear, gloves, a hat, and a scarf are strongly recommended. Waterproof, non-slip shoes are also important because pavements and park paths are often snowy or icy during the festival.
Please note that many outdoor activities at the Sapporo Snow Festival require proper winter gear. Be sure to bring warm gloves and a hat, as they are often necessary for safe and comfortable participation.
What is the best time to visit the festival to avoid the crowds?
The festival is busiest in the late afternoon and evening, especially at Odori Park and Susukino, where the snow and ice sculptures are illuminated. To avoid the busiest times, consider visiting earlier in the morning or on weekdays and allow extra travel time between venues.
How much does it cost to go to the Snow Festival in Sapporo?
Admission to all venues is free, and no entry ticket is required. However, a separate ticket is required for some attractions, with prices typically ranging from 500 to 1,500 yen.
Is the Sapporo Snow Festival suitable for families with children?
Yes. The Tsudome site is the most family-friendly of the three, offering open and indoor spaces, giant snow slides, and hands-on winter activities. Families should plan regular indoor breaks to warm up and be aware that pushchairs can be difficult to use on snowy paths. Baby carriers or lightweight sleds are often more practical.
Plan Your Sapporo Snow Festival Trip with UME Travel
The Sapporo Snow Festival is the biggest event on Sapporo's winter calendar. UME Travel runs small-group and fully private winter trips through Sapporo and Hokkaido, with winter-experienced drivers, pre-booked hotels, and itineraries paced to your group.
We take care of the details, such as booking hotels and planning around the weather, so you don't have to worry about a thing. Start planning early and connect with UME Travel to design a personalized Sapporo Snow Festival experience tailored to your preferences with our experienced travel specialists.
