Four of Hokkaido's best-known winter festivals have announced their 2027 dates, and all four are on at the same time from February 6 to 11, 2027. The Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival runs longest, from January 30 to February 23; the Sapporo Snow Festival runs February 4–11, the Asahikawa Winter Festival February 6–11 and the Otaru Snow Light Path February 6–13.
2027 dates at a glance
| Festival | 2027 dates | Where | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival | January 30 – February 23 | Lake Shikotsu Onsen, Chitose | About 40 minutes by taxi from New Chitose Airport (festival site) |
| Sapporo Snow Festival (77th) | February 4–11 | Odori, Susukino and Tsudome, Sapporo | Central Sapporo; Tsudome is in Higashi Ward |
| Asahikawa Winter Festival (68th) | February 6–11 | Asahikawa | About 90 minutes from Sapporo by limited express |
| Otaru Snow Light Path | February 6–13 | Otaru | About 30–35 minutes from Sapporo by rapid train |
Dates come from each festival's official site or organiser, checked on 12 October 2026 (Sapporo, Asahikawa, Otaru) and 19 October 2026 (Lake Shikotsu). Travel times are the figures cited in our other guides and are not door to door. Several festivals say more details will follow, so check again before you travel.
Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival: January 30 – February 23
The Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival is held at Lake Shikotsu Onsen in Chitose. For 2027 the official site lists:
- Dates: Saturday, January 30 to Tuesday, February 23, 2027 (a public holiday).
- Hours: 10:00–20:00, lit up from 16:30 to 20:00.
- Admission: ¥1,000 on weekdays and ¥3,000 on weekends and public holidays for junior high school students and older; elementary school children and younger are free.
The festival site gives about 40 minutes by taxi from New Chitose Airport. It also describes a reserved shuttle bus between the airport, JR Chitose Station and Lake Shikotsu Onsen, but the page we checked did not confirm that the shuttle runs in 2027, so check before you rely on it. Because Lake Shikotsu is closer to the airport than to central Sapporo, it is the festival that fits most easily into an arrival or departure day.
Sapporo Snow Festival: February 4–11
The Sapporo Snow Festival uses three sites in 2027: Odori Park with the large snow sculptures (lit until 22:00), Susukino's ice sculptures along Ekimae-dori (lit until 23:00, 22:00 on the final day) and Tsudome in Higashi Ward for snow play (10:00–16:00). Our Sapporo Snow Festival guide covers each site and how to plan the days.
Asahikawa Winter Festival: February 6–11
The 68th Asahikawa Winter Festival is scheduled for February 6–11, 2027. The organisers say more details will be announced. Asahikawa is about 90 minutes from Sapporo by limited express. On February 5–7, 2027, Asahiyama Zoo also plans a special late opening to 20:30; see our Asahiyama Zoo winter guide.
Otaru Snow Light Path: February 6–13
The Otaru Tourism Association lists the Otaru Snow Light Path for February 6–13, 2027, with details to follow. Otaru is about 30–35 minutes from Sapporo by rapid train; our Otaru day trip guide explains how to plan the day and the return.
Combining the festivals
These are our suggestions, not official routes.
- Base yourself in Sapporo for February 6–11. All four festivals are on, and Otaru and Asahikawa are both day trips by train. Book accommodation early, as the festival week is busy in central Sapporo. Our Sapporo accommodation guide compares areas.
- Put Lake Shikotsu on your arrival or departure day. It is near New Chitose Airport and runs from January 30 to February 23, so it works even outside the overlap week. Leave plenty of time before a flight.
- See Otaru after dark. The Otaru Tourism Association describes the Snow Light Path as candle-lit, so plan for the evening and fix your train back to Sapporo before you set out.
- Give Asahikawa a full day or a night. With 90 minutes each way, an overnight stay leaves time for the festival and Asahiyama Zoo.
- Keep the drift ice separate. The icebreaker cruises on the Okhotsk coast run in February too, but they need their own stay; see our drift ice guide.
Festivals not listed yet
Other winter events in Hokkaido announce their dates later in the season. As of 19 October 2026 we had not found 2027 dates from their organisers, so we have not listed them here rather than repeat last season's dates. We will add festivals when their official 2027 dates are published.
For the month as a whole, see Hokkaido in February; for the whole winter, Hokkaido in winter; and for weather and clothing, our winter weather guide and winter packing list.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Hokkaido winter festivals in 2027? Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival January 30 – February 23; Sapporo Snow Festival February 4–11; Asahikawa Winter Festival February 6–11; Otaru Snow Light Path February 6–13.
Which days have the most festivals at once? February 6–11, 2027, when all four are on.
How much is the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival? For junior high school students and older, ¥1,000 on weekdays and ¥3,000 on weekends and public holidays; elementary school children and younger are free.
Is the Sapporo Snow Festival the same as the Sapporo Ice Festival? People search for it under both names. The official name is the Sapporo Snow Festival; its Susukino site is the one with ice sculptures.
Sources: Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival official site (checked 19 October 2026); Sapporo Snow Festival, Asahikawa Winter Festival and Otaru Tourism Association (checked 12 October 2026); Asahiyama Zoo event calendar (checked 16 October 2026). Travel times as cited in our other guides. Planning suggestions are our editorial judgement.
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Northern Land Hokkaido Team — Sapporo, Japan