[Sapporo Snow Festival Travel Guide] Snow and Ice Art at Its Best: 5 Can’t-Miss Highlights

From JR Sapporo Station, walk to Sapporo Station on the Namboku Subway Line and board the train bound for Makomanai.
Get off at Odori Station, the next stop, then walk 3 minutes from Exit 8.

You can also walk above ground, but we recommend using the underground walkway “Chi-Ka-Ho.”
“Chi-Ka-Ho” connects JR Sapporo Station to Odori Subway Station, so you can walk there without dealing with snowy roads.

When you think of a Sapporo Snow Festival–style sculpture, it’s the giant snow sculptures towering over 10 meters tall.
Despite their size, they’re meticulously detailed, and you can’t help but be moved by the craftsmanship.

Themes for the large snow sculptures range widely, from symbols of Hokkaido’s history and culture to characters from popular anime.
In 2025, a large snow sculpture of one of Sapporo’s signature attractions, the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building (Red Brick Office), was displayed at the Block 7 area.

Don’t miss the citizen snow sculptures, where you can enjoy unique, wide-ranging works created by volunteer groups in Sapporo.

From sculptures inspired by Hokkaido wildlife like the brown bear and the long-tailed tit (shima-enaga) to anime and manga characters, creative works line up one after another—and just looking at them will make you smile.

Citizen snow sculptures are voted on by visitors, and the top three groups receive benefits such as eligibility to participate in the next festival’s citizen snow sculpture program.

Every piece is surprisingly high quality, but the hand-crafted feel and warmth are part of what makes citizen snow sculptures so special.
Try finding your favorite among them all.

Another must-see is the International Snow Sculpture Contest, which began in 1974.
Teams from around the world compete here to create the most memorable snow sculpture.

In 2025, the schedule is set with the creation period from 2/2 to 2/6, and judging & the awards ceremony on 2/7, making it a highlight to watch artists bring their sculptures to life.

You might expect every piece to feature a motif from its country, but that’s not always the case, which is part of what makes it so interesting.
Some sculptures carry messages wishing for world peace, offering thought-provoking works you can appreciate as serious art.

If you’re visiting with small children, be sure to check out the “playable snow sculptures.”
Snow slides, tube slides, and other attraction-style sculptures are guaranteed to get them excited.

You may even see kids begging their moms, “One more time! One more time!” because it’s so much fun.

There are attractions for adults, too, so check the signs set up around the venue.

Leaving after only enjoying the Sapporo Snow Festival in the daytime would be a shame!
At night, the snow and ice sculptures are lit up, and projection mapping is shown on the snow sculptures, wrapping the venue in a magical atmosphere.

Admission is free and you can come and go as you like, so after enjoying the festival in the daytime, we recommend taking a break at a cafe and then coming back to see the dreamy nighttime scenery.
Be sure to savor the festival’s completely different look by day and by night.

The moment you step into the venue, mouthwatering aromas drift in from somewhere…
Lined-up food stalls offer everything from fresh seafood and piping-hot local dishes to regional specialties you can only try here.

The savory scent of scallops grilled over charcoal and the steam rising from buttery baked potatoes…
Before you know it, your stomach is sure to start rumbling.

There’s also a great selection of hot drinks and soft drinks, plus alcohol like beer and sake.
An ice-cold beer in Hokkaido’s extreme cold is truly a blissful drink!
Be sure to savor Hokkaido gourmet you can only enjoy here.

At official shops set up in several locations around the venue, you’ll find a full lineup of limited-edition items you can only get here.

A top favorite is the official commemorative pin badge, easy to attach to your backpack or hat.

You’ll also find a variety of items such as hand towels and stationery.
Grab a rare item you can only get here and make it a keepsake from your trip.

After enjoying the Sapporo Snow Festival, head to the nearby “Sapporo TV Tower.”
Pay the 1,000-yen admission fee and take the elevator up to the observation deck 90.38 meters above ground, and the festival site below looks like a silver-white art gallery!

In the distance, snow-dusted Hokkaido mountains stretch out, creating a “very Sapporo” panorama where the city and nature meet.
Please experience this view for yourself, where you can see both the Sapporo cityscape and the Snow Festival at a glance.