Put on your warm coats and hats when heading to the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival as it is a cold one! This amazing festival lies on the shores of Lake Shikotsu. This lake boasts some of the cleanest waters in Japan and it is these very waters that are key to the Ice Festival here.

Ever since the days old, there have been festivals and rituals to expel the evil spirits. In Japan, this event is called the ‘Setsubun’ and is held on the 3rd of February. The name, …

Arguably the biggest FESTIVAL / EVENT in Sapporo, the Sapporo Snow festival, according to the snow festivals home page, brings in about 2 million tourists every year. There are 3 main sites …

The OTARU SNOW LIGHT PATH FESTIVAL is an annual festival that runs for 10 days in February and coincides with the SAPPORO WINTER FESTIVAL. The festival started in 1999 and has been running for 17 …

  The Mashike Spring Taste Festival, better known as the ‘Mashike Shrimp Festival’ is held annually on the western coast of Hokkaido. Mashike is a quiet harbor town that prizes its …

From the start of May to the start of June, the small town of Takinoue displays its most famous sightseeing spot, the Takinoue Park Shibazakura. Shibazakura, also known as ‘moss pink’, or …

Shizunai Road is the home to around 3,000 cherry blossom trees, including the vivid Sargant cherry tree. The road looks absolutely fantastic during the cherry blossom season and is one of the top …

The Sapporo Lilac Festival first began in 1959, and the following year the lilac was designated the tree of Sapporo After a long winter many citizens eagerly look forward to this festival where …

  The Hokkaido University Festival, also known as Hokudai-sai, is a three day event that is held at the start of June. It is a popular festival for the locals of Sapporo. The event allows the …

From June until August, the countryside throughout Hokkaido comes alive with myriads of color. The flower season is a must see in while in Hokkaido during these months. If you can’t get out …

The Yosakoi Soran Festival is an energetic dancing event based on the Yosakoi Festival of Kochi Prefecture which was first held back in 1954. The style of dance is highly energetic, combining …

The Hokkaido Shrine Festival, also called the Sapporo Festival, has a history going back over a century. It is also one of the biggest festivals in Hokkaido. The festival runs from the 14th to the …

During the hot summer months there is a lot going on in the city of Sapporo. Every weekend, there seems to be something going on. Tanukikoji is a shopping arcade that runs through the center of Sapporo.

Street festivals in Japan are a fantastic look into Japanese culture and a great way to enjoy a day, taking in the sights, activities, and the local food. The Omotesando Street Festival is one of these festivals.

  As Hokkaido begins to warm up in the summer months, the Sapporo Craft Beer Forest has become an increasingly popular spot to enjoy a huge selection of craft beer from local sellers. There are …

DatesMid July to Mid August (1 month) Opening Hours12:00 - 21:00 (last order is at 20:30) Contact011-281-6400 Location / Getting ThereOdori park. Odori-nishi 5-chome to 11-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 1 …

  The Ebetsu “Yakimonoichi” Ceramic Art Fair is an annual festival held in the heart of Ebetsu. Ebetsu is a town on the outskirts of Sapporo (about a 20 minute drive) and is famous …

Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of ancestors. It has been celebrated in Japan for over 500 years and is known as a time for family. It is a time of family reunion, where the graves of ancestors are visited and cleaned. It also includes a celebration involving a Bon dance (Bon Odori).

  During the summer at the start of August, the annual Susukino Festival can be seen. Starting in the late afternoon and continuing through until late evening, the festival runs for three days. …

DatesFirst weekend of August (3 days) Opening Hours18:00 - 22:00 Contact011-518-2005 Location / Getting ThereIn Sapporo, get off at Susukino subway station and the festival is directly in front, on …

The town of Noboribetsu is famous for its hot spring waters. These waters spring from a rocky, barren, volcanic valley known as “Hell Valley” (Jigokudani) located just north of the …

The Sapporo Autumn Fest is one of the newer festivals in Hokkaido, being held for the first time in 2008. It is the last of the big Sapporo festivals for the year. The 4 big festivals in Sapporo come …

Otaru has many festivals over the year, and the Otaru Shukutsu Festival is one of the last festivals to see fireworks for the summer. The festival starts off at 5pm and attracts many of the locals …

Nakajima Park is an extremely popular park in Sapporo. It one of the main three. The other two being Odori Park, and Maruyama Park. Since 2004, a new festival has started in Sapporo, that being the Autumn Illumination Festival. It is held in Nakajima Park in the evening and is truly stunning.

This is a new brand new festival that started in 2023. The festival is focused on the humble sweet potato, and runs for a week from the end of October to the beginning of November in Nakajima Park. The park at this time of year is particularly beautiful with the autumn leaves. It does get chilly around this time of year.

First held in 1958, the Sapporo Marathon originally started out as a full marathon. From 1986, the race was turned into the half marathon, where it remains as one of the most famous sporting events …

Nakajima Park is an extremely popular park in Sapporo. It one of the main three. The other two being Odori Park, and Maruyama Park. Since 2004, a new festival has started in Sapporo, that being the Autumn Illumination Festival. It is held in Nakajima Park in the evening and is truly stunning.

Sapporo White Illumination is an event held every winter which sees Odori park and the main street through Sapporo draped with hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights. Sapporo was the first city in …

This event started in 2002 to honor the 30th anniversary of its sister city ties with Munich, Germany. Set up in sight of the TV Tower this small village is the perfect spot to take in a white winter …