The Sapporo Snow Festival
Sapporo Snow Festival
There are many reasons to visit Japan. Giant snow sculptures, mouth-watering food vendors, and an atmosphere that rivals that of Lapland. The Sapporo Snow Festival is something that anyone traveling to Japan during winter does not want to miss. It is worth the detour, and it can be easily combined with winter sports activities in one of the world’s best snow resorts, Niseko.
In this article, you will be shown the wonders of the snow festival and what kind of treats you should expect when you visit.
Where is the Sapporo Snow Festival Held
The Sapporo Snow Festival is held every year in Odori Park, Sapporo, which is also a scenic place all year round for anyone who visits no matter what the season is. Since Sapporo has large quantities of snowfall every winter, it is no wonder that they decided to host the festival in their city for almost 70 years.
So, don your coats and prepare for a night of wonder and fun at the festival. The festival is filled with many sculptures from countries from all around the world, showing their artistic talent and their own culture in a snowy twist.
Background
The Snow Festival is held as a historic tradition and has been going on since 1950. Unbelievably, the tradition was started by six High School students from Hokkaido. Over the years, many people and companies have joined in this tradition with snow sculptures even built by military personnel at whopping heights.
Any eagle-eyed visitors will be able to make out the themes of each ice sculpture, ranging from historical figures and cute animals to massive sprawling buildings made entirely out of ice!
What to Do and See?
Usually, at Snow Festivals, the first things you think of are sculptures and food. Sapporo is no stranger to this with stalls all over, but as well as this, performances are happening all day on a massive stage for your entertainment!
Dancing, singing, and comedy acts can be viewed at any time on the stage, making it perfect for those that just want a break from all the snow. Adults will have a great time at this festival with cocktail bars and drinks stalls all over the place with many different wondrous types of drinks, including blue beer!
The evening is said to be one of the best times to go for adults, with photo-mapped lighting, light shows, and ongoing performances, it is the best time for a romantic night out with your partner. The festival is also fun for children with smaller rides, food stalls, and many sculptures that will easily catch their attention.
Included in all this action are an ice skating rink, ski jumps, slides, and many other novel things to do either as a family, solo, or with a partner.
What to Buy at the Sapporo Snow Festival?
Whilst wandering around the snow festival, it is a given that you will end up hungry. And luckily for you, the festival site is full of food and drink from all around the globe. If waiting in queues isn’t your speed, Sapporo also has many different food and drink vending machines dotted around the city selling soups, coffee, and various other hot produce.
Sapporo also has many restaurants only a few minutes from Odori Park to serve those who have a need for somewhere warm to sit. The Sapporo Snow Festival also has many souvenir stands where you can purchase small trinkets or large items for any occasion including keyrings, badges, shirts, and much, much more.
When is the Sapporo Snow Festival Held?
If you’re interested in this festival and want to see about booking your trip around this time, the festival is held for one week at the beginning of February and is definitely something you don’t want to miss if you like nights out watching performances or art.
The festival is perfect for large groups of friends, families, or even just a romantic night out so if you arrive in Japan during this time, make sure to check out the wonders of the snow festival and what they have to offer during your magical time in Japan.
