Japan - Hokkaido : Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo - Feb 2016

The reason we wanted to come Sapporo during Feb was for the Sapporo Snow Festival which holds for 1 week every Feb. It is one of Japan's most popular winter events.

Bascially, it started with high school students builts a few snow statues in Odori Park then it slowly developed into large and commercialised event showcasting spectacular snow and ice sculptures.

Today, the Snow Festival is staged on three sites - the Odori Site, Susukino Site and Tsu Dome Site.

Odori Site

Odori Site is at the whole stretch of Odori park which is just right outside the Odori subway station and in front of Sapporo TV Tower. The Sapporo TV Tower offers a good view over the Odori Site however the admission fee costs 720 yen per pax. The snow/ice sculptures are lit daily until 10pm.

There were food stalls section along the park as well.

Then it started to snow! That was the first time I see snow!

Live band

Animation on the snow sculpture

Susukino Site

The Susukino Site is just located only one subway stop south of Odori Park. Hence, we went to Susukino Site on the same night as well. Susukino is Sapporo's largest entertainment district and it exhibits about one hundred ice sculptures.

The ice sculptures are lit up daily until 11pm.

Tsu Dome Site

Tsu Dome Site is located slightly less central as compared to Odori Site and Susukino Site. However, it is more family oriented site as it consists of snow slides, snow rafting and more snow sculptures.

It has a dome where there are many food stands and a stage for events.

The Tsu Dome Site is open daily from 9am to 5pm. 

Must go early in order to play the rides there! 

Odori Site 

Nearest subway station: Odori 

Susukino Site

Nearest subway station: Susukino

Tsu Dome Site

Shuttle buses to the Tsu Dome Site also depart from the Odori Site and from Sapporo Station (210 yen one way, every 15-30 minutes)

OR 

Nearest subway station: Sakaemachi