“Sapporo Snow Festival” in Hokkaido
What is sapporo snow festival?
The Sapporo Snow Festival is a celebration of snow and ice held for one week each February. Events are held at three locations in and around Sapporo, the capital and largest city of Hokkaido (the northernmost of Japan’s main islands), and one of the world’s snowiest cities. An average of 485 centimeters of snow falls there every year, and accumulations often reach 80 to 90 centimeters. Each of the three venues has a distinct focus and character.
At Odori Park in central Sapporo, snow sculptures stretch out over 12 city blocks. At nearby Susukino, a restaurant and entertainment district, ice sculptures and nighttime illumination are the main attractions.
About 10 kilometers away is Tsudome, a snow park with both indoor and outdoor activities. Each year the festival features several large snow sculptures on a different theme, including reproductions of famous buildings on an almost life-sized scale. Some require scaffolding and truckloads of snow to create.
There are also several medium-sized sculptures and numerous smaller ones that are hand-formed by Sapporo residents and international teams. The celebration of cultural expression and connection developed by creating snow sculptures as a community, as well as the use of technology to enhance the experience, are hallmarks of the festival. (by Japan Tourist Agency)
Mesmerizing ice sculptures
History
The Sapporo Snow Festival began in the winter of 1950 when a group of middle and high school students built six snow sculptures in the corner of Odori Park under the supervision of their art teachers.
There were also dog races, square dances, snowball fights, and a grand snow battle involving teams and flags. The event was a fun, lighthearted way to enjoy the snow, and about 50,000 people attended the festival. The event continued to grow and has been held annually ever since, with the exception of 2021 and 2022. (by Japan Tourist Agency)
What date is Sapporo Snow Festival?
In 2023, the festival takes place on February 4-11. It is simply beautiful and mesmerizing to see those artistic ice sculptures. They give you such vibrant energy to those who view them. At the same time, you can feel full of each artist's hopes and soul as if they freeze the current chaotic world in ice sculptures.
If you do not want to miss the Sapporo Snow Festival, please book your trip soon as this Snow Festival package is very popular and likely to be sold out.