The 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival (the 77th) runs for eight days, from Thursday, February 4 to Thursday, February 11, 2027. It uses three sites: Odori Park in the city centre, Susukino's ice sculptures along Ekimae-dori, and the Tsudome sports facility in Higashi Ward. The organisers announced these dates on the official Sapporo Snow Festival website in July 2026.
| Site | What it is | Hours | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odori | Five large snow sculptures, smaller sculptures, the International Snow Sculpture Contest | Lit up until 22:00 | Odori Park, West 1 to West 11 |
| Susukino | Ice sculptures in the entertainment district | Lit up until 23:00 (22:00 on the final day) | Ekimae-dori, between South 4 and South 6 |
| Tsudome | Snow slides and play for families, indoor food booths and rest areas | 10:00–16:00 | Sapporo Community Dome, Higashi Ward |
Dates, hours and the layout above come from the festival's official pages, checked on 12 October 2026. The site pages still describe the 2026 programme in detail and say the 2027 content will be published from mid-December 2026, so check again before you travel.
Odori: the main site
The festival began in 1950, when local junior high and high school students displayed six snow statues in Odori Park. The official site now describes it as a winter event drawing more than two million visitors from Japan and abroad.
For 2027 the organisers plan five large snow sculptures at the centre of the Odori site, set out block by block along the park:
| Block | Planned content |
|---|---|
| West 1 | Winter attractions |
| West 2 | Sapporo International Art Festival 2027 |
| West 3 | Small snow sculptures |
| West 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10 | Large snow sculptures |
| West 6 and 9 | Medium and small snow sculptures |
| West 11 | International Snow Sculpture Contest |
The park runs east to west across eleven city blocks, so walking the whole site is a real outing in winter clothing. The sculptures are lit until 22:00, which is why we suggest seeing Odori twice: once in daylight for the detail, and once after dark.
Susukino: ice sculptures at night
The Susukino site lines Sapporo's main north–south street, Ekimae-dori, from South 4 to South 6, in the middle of the city's dining and nightlife district. It is ice rather than snow, lit until 23:00 (22:00 on the last day). It fits naturally after dinner. The 2027 details are due in mid-December.
Tsudome: the family site, daytime only
Tsudome is the site for snow play: the official page lists slides and snow rafting, plus an indoor space with food booths, rest areas and children's attractions. It is open 10:00–16:00, and some attractions may stop taking riders early when it is crowded. Hats and gloves are required for the attractions.
It is not in the centre. The official access is the Toho subway line to Sakaemachi Station, then a shuttle bus or about a 15-minute walk. Plan Tsudome as a half day of its own rather than something to squeeze in between Odori visits.
How to fit the festival into a trip
These are our planning suggestions, not official advice.
- Two evenings in Sapporo is a comfortable minimum. One for Odori after dark, one for Susukino, with daytime for Odori in daylight, Tsudome if you have children, or a day trip.
- Book your hotel first. The festival brings a lot of visitors into central Sapporo in the same few days. Our where to stay in Sapporo guide compares the Station, Odori and Susukino areas; for the festival, staying near Odori or Susukino keeps the walk back short on icy streets.
- Dress for standing still outside. You will spend long stretches walking slowly and stopping to look. The official site has advice on walking on frozen pavements, which is worth reading before your first winter trip.
- Keep the rest of the trip flexible. Snow sculptures are only up for the festival week, so build the other days around them. Our 7-day winter itinerary without a car pairs Sapporo with Otaru and Niseko, and the Otaru day trip guide works well on a festival week day.
Arriving by air, New Chitose Airport is the usual entry point; our New Chitose to Sapporo guide compares the train and bus into the city. If you land late, see arriving late at New Chitose. For the wider picture of getting around in snow, read our Hokkaido winter transport guide.
After the festival: Sapporo Snow Sports Park
The organisers list one special linked event straight after the festival: Sapporo Snow Sports Park 2027 at the Daiwa House Premist Dome, from Friday, February 12 to Sunday, February 14, 2027. Check its programme once it is published.
Other February events on the same trip
The Asahikawa Winter Festival (the 68th) is scheduled for February 6–11, 2027, overlapping the last days of the Sapporo festival, and the Otaru Snow Light Path runs February 6–13, 2027. Our Hokkaido in winter guide puts all the 2026–27 dates on one page. Drift ice cruises on the Okhotsk coast also run in February; see our Hokkaido drift ice guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027? February 4–11, 2027, for eight days, at the Odori, Tsudome and Susukino sites.
What time are the snow sculptures lit up? Odori is lit until 22:00; Susukino until 23:00, and until 22:00 on the final day.
Which site is best for children? Tsudome, with its slides and snow play, open 10:00–16:00. Odori also has winter attractions in the West 1 block.
When should I book a hotel? As soon as your dates are fixed. We suggest booking the hotel before the rest of the trip.
Sources checked 12 October 2026: official Sapporo Snow Festival website, including the 2027 overview announcement and the Odori, Tsudome and Susukino site pages. Planning suggestions are our editorial judgement.
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Northern Land Hokkaido Team — Sapporo, Japan