73rd Sapporo Snow Festival 2023
It has been almost three years since the last Sapporo Snow Festival was held in 2020. There was no Snow Festival held the past three years due to covid-19 pandemic. I went there on the first day, and the event may be packed with a lot of people, so please wear mask to prevent the spread of covid-19!
- Date: 2023, February 4th ~ February 11th
- Place: Odori Park Nishi 10 Chome ~ Nishi 1 Chome
- Entrance Fee: FREE
- ACCESS: Nishi 11-chome Station (Tozai Line)
(PRO TIPS: it is better to start from this station, so you can be more time-efficient; you can go finish in Nishi 1-chome, then go straight to Susukino Ice Festival!)
Even though I took a lot of pictures from the festival, I put only some of them to not spoil them. You should go there by yourself specially if you are in Sapporo! Do not forget to visit Susukino Ice Festival after you finish enjoying the snow festival! Wants to explore Hokkaido with guided private tour? book here!
10 Chome ~ 7 Chome
This festival is held outdoor, so make sure you wear enough clothes to keep yourself warm in a freezing weather! From 10 chome to 7 chome, there are a few roofed heated rest area in which you can take a break from the freezing weather! There are a fixed path in which you need to follow; so please do not walk against the designated walking path! If you like Hatsune Miku, make sure to check some of the small merchandise shops along the path!
6 Chome
In this section you can enjoy some light projection show. The light simulation show is held twice every 10-minutes, make sure you line up to get a nice view on the show! Houhei Palace in the pictures below are built by Japanese Self-Defence Force (JSDF) themselves! There is also rest area belonged to JSDF in which you can keep yourself warm and watch video on how they built this amazing sculpture!
5 Chome
If you like horse racing, make sure to also watch light projection show on horse-racing sculpture built by Japan Racing Association (JRA). The light projection show is also held twice every 10-minutes!
4 Chome
If you like dinosaurs, make sure to see another giant dinosaur sculpture in this section. Also, if you are Hokkaido University Student, make sure to also check Hokkaido University shop/rest area!
3~1 Chome
This is the section close to the TV Tower! There is a smoking area in this section, so if you are a smoker, please only smoke in this designated area. There is also some merchandise shops and few other smaller snow sculptures. Under the TV Tower, there will be more shops in which you can do some fun activities! After exploring snow festival from 10 chome to 1 chome, you can proceed directly to Susukino Ice Festival from here!
Susukino Ice Festival 2023
Not only snow sculptures, but you can also see some nicely-built ice sculpture in Susukino Area! Main road in Susukino will be closed from car access to make room for this ice exhibition! Not only from some local sculptors, some local business also participate by showing ice sculptures that relates to their business! (Make sure to check also the 73rd Snow Festival)
- Date: 2023, February 4th ~ February 11th
- Place: Susukino
- Entrance Fee: FREE
- ACCESS: Susukino Station (Namboku Line)
direction from 73rd Sapporo Snow Festival (13 minutes walk)
Photos shown below are only few. Make sure to go there yourself to see all of the amazing sculptures!
(Photo Credits to Mako M. & Satomi M.)
BONUS: Daylight Photos
If you want to enjoy Sapporo Snow Festival to the maximum, it is highly recommended to come during nighttime, since the light up will make the sculptures look way more beautiful! here are some daylight photos from the festival!
(Photo Credits to Mako M. & Satomi M.)
