Sapporo Snow Festival 2026: Dates, Venues & Visitor Guide

2026 Sapporo Snow Festival: Dates and What to Expect

The 2026 Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり, Sapporo Yuki Matsuri) runs from February 4 to 11, 2026, marking the 76th edition of Japan's largest winter celebration. According to the Sapporo Tourism website, all three venues — Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome — operate on the same dates.

The festival draws over 2 million visitors each year to see roughly 200 snow and ice sculptures spread across the three sites. The largest snow sculptures at Odori Park exceed 15 meters (49 feet) in height, created by professional teams from Japan and abroad over the course of weeks. Admission to all venues is free.

This is Sapporo's busiest week by far. Hotels fill up weeks in advance, temperatures hover around -5°C to -10°C (23°F to 14°F), and the city transforms into an open-air winter gallery. For context on all Hokkaido snow and winter festivals or a look at other winter festivals across Hokkaido in 2026, see our dedicated guides.

The Three Venues: Odori, Susukino, and Tsudome

Odori Park: Giant Snow Sculptures and Night Illuminations

Odori Park (大通公園) is the festival's main venue, stretching 1.5 km through the center of Sapporo. This is where the giant snow sculptures — some as tall as a five-story building — line both sides of the park. Sculptures are visible 24 hours a day, but the real draw comes after dark when illuminations light up the works until 22:00.

The park is directly accessible from Odori Station on the Namboku, Tozai, and Toho subway lines. You can also walk from Sapporo Station in about 10 minutes. The sculptures span from 1-Chome to 12-Chome along the park, with different sections featuring international team competitions, citizen-made sculptures, and sponsored works.

J:COM Square at Odori offers ashiyu (足湯) — outdoor foot baths fed by hot spring water — where you can warm your feet while watching the sculptures. Food and merchandise stalls line the park as well.

Susukino: Ice Sculptures in the Nightlife District

Susukino (すすきの) is Sapporo's entertainment and nightlife district, and during the festival it becomes an outdoor gallery of ice sculptures (氷像, kori-zo). The clear ice carvings here are a distinct art form from the packed-snow sculptures at Odori — more delicate, more translucent, and particularly striking when backlit at night.

Susukino is one subway stop south of Odori on the Namboku Line, or about a 10-minute walk. Evening visits are recommended, as the ice sculptures catch the neon lights of the surrounding entertainment district.

Tsudome: Family Activities and Snow Play

Tsudome (つどーむ), officially the Community Dome Site, is the festival's family-focused venue. It features snow slides, a snow maze, snow rafting, snowman-building areas, and indoor attractions. Hours run approximately 10:00-16:00 daily, though some sources list 9:00-17:00 — check the official site for confirmed times before visiting.

Tsudome is a 15-minute subway ride from Odori, making it the only venue that requires transit planning. Because it closes in the late afternoon, visit Tsudome first if you plan to see all three venues in one day. For additional family winter activities near Sapporo, see Takino Snow World for families.

What to See and Do at the Festival

Snow and Ice Sculptures Up Close

The sculptures are the heart of the festival. At Odori, professional teams spend weeks carving enormous works from packed snow — past subjects have included famous buildings, anime characters, and historical scenes. International teams compete alongside Japanese teams, and the quality of detail at this scale is genuinely impressive.

At Susukino, the ice sculptures are smaller but showcase a different craft. The transparency of the ice allows light to pass through, creating effects that snow cannot achieve. For more on the history and cultural significance of the Yuki Matsuri, see our dedicated guide.

The best time to view sculptures at Odori is early morning (before 10:00) for daylight without crowds, or early evening (17:00-18:00) just as illuminations begin but before the peak crowd arrives around 18:00-20:00.

Food Courts and Hokkaido Specialties

Food stalls at Odori Park serve Hokkaido specialties — miso ramen, soup curry, grilled scallops, Jingisukan (lamb barbecue), and crab. Most items cost ¥500-1,000 (~$3-7). The stalls are one of the best parts of the festival experience, though lines can be long during peak evening hours. Eating hot ramen outdoors at -7°C is memorable in a way that no indoor restaurant can replicate.

Ice Rink and Interactive Experiences

The Ice Rink at Sapporo Smile Square (3-Chome, Odori Site) opens as early as January 28 and runs through February 11, meaning it is available before the festival officially starts. Additional interactive experiences include snowboard simulators at J:COM Square and the snow village experience at related venues.

Staying Warm: Cold-Weather Tips for February

Sapporo in early February averages -5°C to -10°C (23°F to 14°F), and you will be outdoors for hours. Dressing properly is not optional — it is the difference between enjoying the festival and cutting your visit short.

What to wear:

• Thermal base layers (merino wool or synthetic, not cotton)
• Insulated mid-layer (fleece or down)
• Waterproof, windproof outer jacket
• Snow boots with proper grip — sidewalks and paths are icy
• Insulated gloves, warm hat covering ears, neck gaiter or scarf
• Disposable hand warmers (kairo) — sold at every convenience store in Sapporo for about ¥100 (~$0.70) per pair

Practical tips:

• Phone batteries drain fast in extreme cold. Keep your phone in an inner pocket close to your body.
• Subway stations and indoor areas at Tsudome offer warming breaks. Plan your route to include indoor stops every 45-60 minutes.
• The ashiyu foot baths at Odori's J:COM Square are free and a genuine lifesaver for cold feet.

Getting to Sapporo and Moving Between Venues

From New Chitose Airport to Central Sapporo

New Chitose Airport is the main gateway to Sapporo, with direct flights from Tokyo (1.5 hours), Osaka, and other major cities. The JR Rapid Airport train from New Chitose to Sapporo Station takes about 37 minutes and costs approximately ¥1,150 (~$8). Airport buses are an alternative, taking about 70-80 minutes and costing around ¥1,100 (~$7).

Getting Between the Three Festival Venues

Odori and Susukino are close together — one subway stop apart on the Namboku Line or a 10-minute walk. You can easily visit both in a single evening.

Tsudome requires more planning. It is a 15-minute subway ride from Odori (Toho Line to Sakaemachi Station, then a shuttle bus or 10-minute walk). Because Tsudome closes in the late afternoon (around 16:00-17:00), the most efficient approach is:

Order	Venue	Time	Notes
1	Tsudome	Morning-early afternoon	Closes 16:00-17:00
2	Odori Park	Afternoon-evening	24/7; illuminations until 22:00
3	Susukino	Evening	Best after dark

All venues are free to enter. The only transit cost is subway fare — a 1-day subway pass costs ¥830 (~$6) and covers unlimited rides.

Where to Stay: Booking Strategy for Festival Week

Sapporo hotels sell out fast during the Snow Festival. Book at least 4-6 weeks before the festival to secure a central location. Waiting until January often means either inflated prices or staying far from the city center.

Best areas to stay:

• Near Odori/Susukino: Walking distance to two of the three venues. The most convenient and most expensive option during festival week.
• Near Sapporo Station: 10-minute walk to Odori Park, good subway connections. Slightly more availability than Odori area.
• Otaru (40 minutes by train): A charming canal town that serves as an overflow option when Sapporo is fully booked. Otaru holds its own candle festival in early February.
• Near New Chitose Airport: Budget backup. The 37-minute train to Sapporo Station is manageable for a day visit.

Consider booking refundable rates early and adjusting later if plans change. Business hotels (Toyoko Inn, Dormy Inn, Route Inn) in the Sapporo Station area often have the best value-to-location ratio during the festival.