Hokkaido Winter Festivals 2026: Dates, Venues & Planning Guide

Hokkaido Winter Festivals 2026: The Calendar at a Glance

Hokkaido's winter festival season runs from late January through mid-March, with the peak window in early-to-mid February when several major events overlap. All of the festivals below are free to attend — no tickets required — but accommodation in Sapporo and Asahikawa books out months in advance during the Snow Festival period.

Festival	Dates (2026)	Location	From Sapporo
Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival	Late Jan – mid Mar	Sounkyo, Daisetsuzan	3+ hours (bus via Asahikawa)
Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival	Late Jan – mid Feb	Lake Shikotsu	1.5 hours (bus)
Sapporo Snow Festival	Feb 4-11	Sapporo (Odori, Susukino, Tsudome)	You're here
Asahikawa Winter Festival	Feb 6-8	Asahikawa Station area	1.5 hours (JR)
Otaru Snow Light Path	Feb 7-14	Otaru Canal area	30 min (JR)

Dates are based on early 2026 announcements from official festival sites. Confirm closer to your trip, as schedules can shift by a few days. For a broader view of Hokkaido snow festivals, see our Hokkaido snow festival hub and our guide to ice and snow festivals across Japan.

Sapporo Snow Festival (February 4-11)

The Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり) is Japan's largest winter event, drawing over 2 million visitors across its three sites. According to the official Sapporo Snow Festival site, the main Odori Park site features massive snow and ice sculptures illuminated from 9:00 to 20:00 daily. The Susukino site showcases detailed ice sculptures along the entertainment district. The Tsudome community site offers snow activities for families.

All sites are free. The Odori and Susukino sites are walking distance from Sapporo Station and connected by subway. The Tsudome site requires a shuttle bus.

For a detailed venue-by-venue guide, see our Sapporo Snow Festival 2026 guide.

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival (February 7-14)

The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival (小樽雪あかりの路) is the most romantic of Hokkaido's winter events. According to the official site, the festival runs from 17:00 to 21:00 nightly, with hundreds of hand-carved snow lanterns and candles lining the historic Otaru Canal and surrounding streets.

The atmosphere is intimate and quiet — a deliberate contrast to Sapporo's massive sculptures. Volunteers light each candle individually at dusk, and the warm glow reflected in the canal water creates scenes that photographs cannot fully capture.

Otaru is just 30 minutes from Sapporo by JR Rapid train (¥640 / ~$4), making it an easy evening trip during the Sapporo Snow Festival. The overlap period (February 7-11) is when most visitors combine both. Free admission.

Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival (Late January - Mid March)

The Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival (層雲峡氷瀑まつり) takes place in a gorge within Daisetsuzan National Park, where natural waterfalls freeze into massive ice formations that are illuminated at night in shifting colors. According to the Sounkyo Onsen official site, the festival runs from late January through mid-March, with illumination from 16:00 to 21:00 daily.

This is the least touristed of Hokkaido's major winter festivals. The frozen waterfall formations are natural — not sculpted — and the gorge setting gives the event a wild, dramatic character that man-made festivals cannot replicate. An ice bar on-site serves drinks in ice glasses (from ¥500).

Sounkyo is 3+ hours from Sapporo by bus or train. Most visitors base in Asahikawa (1 hour by bus from Sounkyo) and combine the Ice Fall Festival with the Asahikawa Winter Festival. Sounkyo Onsen has ryokans and hotels for overnight stays — soaking in an outdoor onsen after viewing frozen waterfalls is one of Hokkaido's quintessential winter experiences.

Asahikawa Winter Festival and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

Asahikawa Winter Festival (February 6-8)

The Asahikawa Winter Festival (旭川冬まつり) runs for a shorter period than Sapporo but features ice sculptures that rival the capital's in quality, with significantly fewer crowds. According to the official site, the festival takes place in central Asahikawa near the station.

Asahikawa is 1.5 hours from Sapporo by JR Limited Express (approximately ¥5,000 / ~$33). The city is also the gateway to Sounkyo and the Daisetsuzan area, making it a practical base for combining two festivals.

Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival (Late January - Mid February)

Lake Shikotsu (支笏湖) is a caldera lake about 1.5 hours south of Sapporo by bus. The ice festival features sculptures made from the lake's famously clear water, lit from within to create translucent blue and green illuminations. Activities include ice slides, hot springs, and evening light shows. Free admission.

Lake Shikotsu is the closest festival to New Chitose Airport, making it a practical first or last stop on a Hokkaido trip.

Planning a Multi-Festival Hokkaido Trip

Suggested 5-Day Itinerary

Day	Location	Festival
1	Arrive Sapporo	Sapporo Snow Festival (evening, Odori + Susukino)
2	Sapporo	Sapporo Snow Festival (day, Tsudome family site)
3	Otaru (evening return to Sapporo)	Otaru Snow Light Path (17:00-21:00)
4	Asahikawa + Sounkyo (stay Sounkyo)	Asahikawa Winter Festival + Sounkyo Ice Fall
5	Sounkyo → Sapporo → Depart	Morning onsen, return to Sapporo or airport

This itinerary works if you visit during the overlap period (approximately February 7-8, 2026) when Sapporo, Otaru, and Asahikawa festivals all run simultaneously.

Getting Between Festivals in Winter

Route	Mode	Time	Cost
Sapporo → Otaru	JR Rapid	30 min	¥640 (~$4)
Sapporo → Asahikawa	JR Limited Express	1.5 hours	~¥5,000 (~$33)
Asahikawa → Sounkyo	Bus	1 hour	~¥2,000 (~$13)
Sapporo → Lake Shikotsu	Bus	1.5 hours	~¥1,000 (~$7)

The JR Hokkaido Rail Pass is good value if you plan multiple train trips. Snow delays are common — build buffer time into your schedule and avoid booking tight connections on the same day.

For families with children, Takino Snow World near Sapporo is an excellent daytime addition with snow tubing and play areas.