Sapporo Snow Festival Sites & Nearby Attractions

Held at three locations - Odori, Susukino, and Tsudome - the Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり, Sapporo Yuki Matsuri) is a spectacular winter event featuring lifelike snow and ice sculptures. From the zodiac signs of the year to world-famous landmarks, from vibrant animation and film characters to a variety of slopes and mazes for snow games, this festival is a must-see on your winter tour to Japan. Below you'll find detailed information on what to do and see at the three Sapporo Snow and Ice Festival sites.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Odori Site: Odori Park

Easy Arrival Center Park With Sculpture Creation Competitions

Famous for its various snow sculptures in huge size, the Odori Site is the main venue of the Sapporo Snow Festival. Nearby the Odori Station on the Tozai Subway Line, it is quite easy to get and find this central park of Sapporo.

About 1.5km long and stretching from areas 1 to 12, with interesting statues and all kinds of snow activities, there is plenty to enjoy at Odori Park.

Such as the 1 chome, is also the site for the Curling Festival, with a curling court for everyone to play. The 3 and 9 chome, citizen's square, are popular areas to see Citizen Snow Sculptures made by local citizens. If you are a Japanese animation or game fan, the 4 and 7 chome is a good place to capture those fancy cartoon scenery.

If you are interested, the 11 chome, where the International Snow Sculpture Contest is held, also offers the opportunity to watch the sculpture-making process and even participate in creating statues with other visitors, which attracts participants from all over the world.

In addition to statue-making, there are also spaces where you can experience skating and walking skis at underground shopping malls and parking lots.

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Susukino Site: Sapporo Ekimae Dori

Site for Ice Masterpieces, Where to Find Delight and Interact with Ice

Susukino is the second main venue of the yuki matsuri, with two nearby stations to get there, Susukino Station and Nakajima Koen Station on the Namboku Line. The theme of the Susukino Site is Enjoy Ice, and as the name suggests, ice sculptures are the centerpiece of the exhibition.

As one of Sapporo's most famous entertainment areas, the Susukino Site boasts numerous restaurants and hotels for you to enjoy and stay at, along with impressive exhibitions of sculptures. Many of these creations were crafted by chefs from nearby hotels, who used their skills in carving ice and vegetables to enhance their culinary presentations.

The ice sculptures under the sunshine that shine like diamonds are gorgeous. But when the evening comes and when Susukino becomes the street of the night, the whole site becomes an ideal pedestrian zone.

You can enjoy drinks at the bar made of ice, and watch the ice sculptures that are lit up colorfully. Some of the ice sculptures are especially unique with many details, such as the ice sculptures with seafood sealed inside.

Tsudome Site: Tsudome

Feel Free With the Snow Activity Paradise

The Sapporo Community Dome, commonly known as Tsudome, is an event venue located in the north of Sapporo, a little away from the city center, but a good place for all kinds of snow activities to fulfill this winter event.

The nearest station is Sakaemachi Station on the Toho Line. There are also shuttle buses operated during the festival period.

Thanks to the location with a wide snow area, Tsudome is a participatory venue where you can actually touch the powdery snow and enjoy many snow activities with fewer restrictions, which makes it popular with families.

Apart from experience making snowmen and snow rafting, don't forget to try the famous activities at the Tsudome Site - the snow slides and mazes, which are a bit more exciting and challenging.

After enjoying the activities, it is also possible to enter the dome to grab some food and use the seats of the dome to rest a little while enjoying some snow sculptures and snowmen displays that can also be seen at Tsudome Site.

Sapporo Winter

Other Attractions You Can Visit During the Sapporo Snow Festival

Hokkaido Shrine

Hokkaido Shrine, also known as Hokkaido Ichinomiya, is one of Sapporo's most popular tourist spots that many tourists visit every year. It is located next to Maruyama Park and Maruyama Zoo in the city center of Sapporo.

It is the guardian of Hokkaido, which enshrines Okunitama no Kami, the deity of Hokkaido's national soul, and Onamuchi no Kami, who is said to have created the country.

In Hokkaido Shrine you can enjoy the scenery of each season. And in winter the precinct will be covered with white snow, which makes it more dignified to look at. You can find people writing down their wishes on Ema, which is a piece of wood you can hang on the rack. Among the wishes, you may also see someone praying for victory in the snow festival.

Mount Moiwa

Mount Moiwa is located almost in the center of Sapporo City, it is a mountain with an altitude of 531m that is rich in nature and covered with forest. You can easily reach the top of the mountain by using the ropeway and mini cable car.

Once you get to the top of the mountain, you can get a 360-degree view of Sapporo. You can see the magnificent view of skyscrapers and trees lined up on the Ishikari Plain, and at night you can enjoy the night view that is said to be as beautiful as the night views of Nagasaki and Kobe.

In winter, when the Moiwa ski resort opens, you will be able to have the most convenient ski experience in Sapporo. You can also enjoy night skiing while admiring the night view of Sapporo until 9 PM.

Jozankei Onsen Hot Spring

Jozankei Onsen is a hot spring resort located in the suburban area of Sapporo, about 40 minutes by car. It is an aged resort that has been open for over 150 years, surrounded by the abundant nature of the valley, so you can enjoy a wonderful snow view during the winter.

Jozankei is an area where you can enjoy hot springs and various sightseeing spots. The hot spring town is dotted with hand and foot baths, and there are also walking paths where you can fully enjoy nature.

In winter, you can also enjoy activities such as dog sledding and snow rafting in Jozankei Onsen town. From the end of January to the beginning of February, streets in Jyozankei Shrine will be lit up with 2000 candles decorating the surroundings into a mysterious snow wonderland.

Enjoy the Snow Festival in Sapporo With Odynovo

As you can see, there is so much more to experience at the Snow Festival in Japan. Whether it is the main course at the three stages of the snow and ice exhibition or the dessert sightseeing options you can try in the white snowy world. Tell Odynovo about your upcoming tour to Japan at [email protected] and we'll start planning your dream wonderland in Sapporo.