The Sapporo Snow Festival 2026
I had always wanted to visit the Sapporo Snow Festival at least once, and this year my wish finally came true. Since I work in Sapporo, I stayed at a hotel for one night and was able to enjoy both the daytime exhibits and the beautifully illuminated displays at night.
The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of Japan’s most iconic winter events, held every February in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Large snow sculptures featuring characters from anime, games, and movies are displayed along the city’s main streets, alongside stunning ice carvings. At night, the sculptures are brought to life with colorful illuminations and projection mapping, creating a magical and unforgettable atmosphere.
Sapporo is one of the snowiest regions in the world, and the festival makes excellent use of this abundant snow to create incredible works of art. Below are some representative highlights by category:
1. Snow sculptures of characters from anime and games, which are especially popular with visitors
I personally love the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, so the snow sculpture of Kyojuro Rengoku and the other characters known as the Hashira was especially exciting and moving for me.
2. Beautiful and intricate ice sculptures displayed throughout the city
3. Massive castle snow sculptures built by the Japan Self-Defense Forces
This year, the Japan Self-Defense Forces created a giant snow sculpture of Tsuruga Castle in Fukushima Prefecture.
4. Illuminations and projection mapping that transform the sculptures at night
If you are planning to visit the Sapporo Snow Festival, here are a few tips. Hotel prices are quite high during the event, so I recommend booking early if you want to stay somewhere affordable. Also, February in Sapporo is well below freezing, so be sure to dress warmly to avoid catching a cold. The ground is often covered with snow and can be very slippery, so please watch your step—I slipped and fell several times myself!
Finally, when you visit, be sure to enjoy the local cuisine of Hokkaido. Conveyor-belt sushi restaurants are especially popular and often have long lines every day—but that’s because the sushi is incredibly fresh and delicious.
