Why You MUST Visit Sapporo in the Winter: Snow Festival and Beyond

① Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo, a popular winter travel destination in Japan, is known for its heavy snowfall, even by Japanese standards. Located in central Hokkaido, Sapporo hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972 and the Winter Asian Games in 1986, 1990, and 2017.

In Sapporo, snow begins to fall from mid-November and December, and the city remains covered in snow until March. The coldest period from January to February coincides with the ‘Sapporo Snow Festival’, attracting numerous tourists to the city.

The Sapporo Snow Festival, ranked among the world’s three major festivals alongside Rio Carnival in Brazil and Oktoberfest in Germany, attracts over 2 million domestic and international tourists when it takes place on early February each year.

When the festival begins, Odori Park transforms into a snow festival venue. Enormous snow and ice sculptures are displayed, and the festival is so significant in Japan that even the Self-Defense Forces are mobilized for it. The large-scale sculptures exhibited throughout the streets are so impressive that they are hard to believe.

The festival is held at Odori Park, Susukino venue, and Tsudome venue. The largest festival takes place at Odori Park, which stretches about 0.93 miles, and it takes approximately 30 minutes to tour the entire park. During this period, visitors can appreciate various ice sculptures, and from sunset until 10 PM, the park is illuminated with dazzling lights.

This year’s Sapporo Snow Festival will be held from February 4th to 11th.

② A Must-Do in Winter: Biei Tour

Most tourists visiting Sapporo in winter take a tour of Biei. When winter comes, the Biei Furano area is covered with white snow, presenting a picturesque landscape. Most people opt for a one-day tour because it’s difficult to visit without a car. This allows you to conveniently enjoy a day trip.

If you take a Biei tour, you will visit Patchwork Road. This place is filled with snowfields, and your feet will sink into the snow with each step. In Sapporo, even this becomes a romantic experience.

The most famous course on the Biei tour is the Christmas Tree. During winter, you often see travel photos taken in front of the Christmas Tree on social media. It’s a popular photo spot among Korean tourists.
The Christmas Tree is a tree standing alone on a white snowfield. The sight of the solitary tree against the white background is impressive.

One of the stops on the Biei tour is the White Beard Waterfall. Here, you can see a waterfall that looks like it’s painted in emerald green. Despite the harsh winter, the waterfall doesn’t freeze, and the water splashes in multiple streams, reminiscent of a white beard. The mystical landscape captivates the eyes of tourists.

Most Biei tours in Sapporo end at Ninguru Terrace. This place, known as the ‘Village of Little Fairies’, is a tourist spot. Ninguru Terrace, with its quaint atmosphere, has 15 log houses. These houses serve as artists’ workshops and sell various artworks. Just walking around immerses you in a romantic atmosphere.

③ Skiing at Natural Ski Resorts

Sapporo has natural ski resorts made entirely of natural snow. A 30-minute to 1.5-hour car ride from the city center will take you to the ski resort. Many tourists visit as it’s possible to enjoy skiing on a day trip.

Sapporo International Ski Resort can be reached by taking a bus from JR Sapporo Station for about 1.5 hours. It consists of courses that beginners can use for advanced skiers. There are a total of 7 courses, not only for skiing but also for sledding. It also features a board park equipped with jumps.

Bankei Ski Resort can be reached by bus from Maruyama Park Station in about 13 minutes. Even if you visit without any preparation, you can rent equipment and enjoy skiing. Its accessibility makes it a popular ski resort among tourists. Bankei Ski Resort has a total of 17 courses and a Kid’s Park that is great for sledding.

Skiing at Sapporo’s natural ski resorts offers a different experience from ordinary ski resorts. If you are a tourist looking to enjoy winter activities, it would be a good idea to visit a ski resort along with city sightseeing.

By. Mia Han