The 73rd Sapporo Snow & Ice Festival
4 February to 11 February, 2023
The 73rd Sapporo Snow Festival is going ahead, with larger than life snow sculptures lining Odori Park in central Sapporo over 8 days this winter. The event will go ahead on the 4th of February and run until the 11th of February.
The event is known for having enormous snow and ice sculptures carved with intricate details throughout the design. This year there will be five main sculptures with a number of small sculptures at either end of the park. The park itself stretches out over many blocks, with the iconic Sapporo TV Tower at the east end.
A second site in Susukino – about 15 minutes walk from the Odori site – will also be going ahead this year. In downtown Susukino, smaller but very intricate ice sculptures line the streets, surrounded by restaurants and bars. The Tsudome site will not be going head this year.
Visitors will be asked to wear masks, and food and drink stalls will not be present during the event. Souvenir stalls will however be open, so that visitors can take home a piece of memorabilia for themselves.
This is truly an event not to miss while visiting Hokkaido this winter. It’s possible to catch a train from Kutchan Station to Sapporo station, and then walk about 15 minutes to the event in Odori Park. Rental cars are another option as there are many parking lots in Sapporo close to the event.
