About this location: Sapporo Snow Festival
Held in early February in Odori Park, the Sapporo Snow Festival is Japan's largest ice-and-snow event. Massive 15m+ snow sculptures, citizen-built sculptures, ice carvings, and nighttime illumination draw over 2 million visitors each year.
Key features
- Odori Site (JSDF Sculptures) — over 15 m tall, taking the Self-Defense Forces about a month to build, modeled on famous landmarks worldwide
- International Snow Sculpture Contest — 11 countries and regions compete, completing sculptures in three days
- Evening Projection Mapping — 18:00–22:00, with dynamic light and music projected onto the giant sculptures
- Tsudome Venue — interactive snow festival with slides and blizzard experiences, popular with families
- Susukino Ice Festival — finely crafted ice sculptures by international artists, magically illuminated at night
