| Admission | ¥500 |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 20:00 |
| Dates | January 27 - February 25 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0123-23-8288 |
| Notes | Parking available, cold so wear warm clothes |
| Location / Getting There | The lake is a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Sapporo or an hour drive from Chitose. Alternatively, for ¥1050 there are buses from New Chitose Airport to Lake Shikotsu. Click here for more information on the bus timetable. |
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. The main feature of the festival are giant ice mounds that rise four metres into the air. These are formed by water (from the lake) sprayed up into the air like a fountain. The water freezes over making these interesting sculptures which are illuminated at night.
This monolithic sculptures of ice are fantastic to walk around at night which is the best time to go and visit. It gets dark in winter from 4:00pm so this is a good time to get down there. There are small restaurants and a museum hall there to stay warm after walking around the festival. There are ice steps leading to an observation deck overlooking the festival. There is also an ice hut plus large open spaces encircled with ice. This festival isn only ¥500 to enter so it is worth it. Getting to the lake itself is more difficult as you need your own transport. There are buses to and from the lake which can be accessed at the New Chitose Airport.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Contact | 011-1251-0438 https://odori-park.jp/ |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot, paid parking underground, festivals throughout the year (see below), toilets at park |
| Location / Getting There | Odori Park runs horizontally right through the middle of Sapporo. It is a 10 minute walk from Sapporo Station. It is also directly above Odori Subway station. The park can be easily accessed from 3 subway stations along the Tozai Line (subway orange line). 7 Chome Odorinishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0042 |
Odori Park is the most famous park in Sapporo, if not Hokkaido. It runs through the heart of Sapporo and is home to the some of the biggest festivals throughout the year. The park runs for twelve blocks and separates the city into north and south. At the eastern most end you can find the iconic TV Tower which has great views overlooking the park. The park was originally constructed as a large street, which also served as a firebreak in 1871. In 1872, the street was named ‘Shiribeshi Dōri’ but this name was not popular so it was renamed ‘Odōri’ in June 1881. Odori meaning ‘large street’ in English. The park itself didn’t become a park until 1909.
Annual Events at Odori Park
| February (2nd week) | Sapporo Snow Festival |
| May (middle of the month) | Lilac Festival. |
| June (2nd week) | Yosakoi Soran Festival |
| July (from mid July) | Sapporo Beer Garden Jazz Festival |
| August (to mid August) | Sapporo Beer Garden |
| September | Sapporo Autumn Festival |
| November (end of month) | Sapporo White Illumination |
The park is hugely popular especially during the warmer months. There are benches that line the park, and the grass areas throughout the park are a great spot to sit and have lunch, or a drink, and relax. There are numerous fountains to admire and to dip your feet in the hotter months. Swings, slides, a stage for performances, and beautiful flower gardens can be found throughout the park. On the western most block are the rose gardens and the Sapporo City Museum. Big events are held at Odori Park. The biggest being the Summer Beer Garden and the Snow Festival are at this park.
| Admission | Free |
| Dates | Mid August around the 13th - 15th 3 days |
| Contact | - |
| Starting times | All day |
| Location / Getting There | Various locations throughout every city. |
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). This festive dance was originally a folk dance to welcome the spirits of the dead. The dance takes place around a high wooden scaffold called a ‘yagura’. Musicians, playing a Japanese drum (taiko), and singers sit at the top of this yagura to perform for the line of dancers below.
These small festivals are held throughout each city in various places and districts. If you are in Sapporo, the main Bon Festival is held in Odori Park. Plus, there is another in front of the Park Hotel. At these Bon dances, there are stalls selling food and drink and this goes all day. In the evening the lanterns come to life and the music starts. Anybody is welcome to join the line dance that circles the yagura. This is a great way to get involved with centuries of Japanese culture and make for a great spot to get some video or photos.
| Dates | Last weekend of July |
| Opening Hours | Fireworks start from 19:30 until 20:30 |
| Contact | - |
| Location / Getting There | Held near the Toyohira River Minami Bridge in Sapporo. It's a 10 minute walk from Nakajima Koen subway station or Horohira-Bashi subway station 64064-0809 1 Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
The Doshin/UHB Fireworks Festival (better known as the Toyohira River Fireworks) is part of the Sapporo summer fireworks schedule. It is located along the banks of Toyohira River, and it os one of the three large firework displays in Sapporo. The festival is held on the last Friday of July. Due to its easy access from central Sapporo (about a 10 minute walk from Susukino or Odori), this firework festival is one of the most popular events for the summer. Over the hour, approximately 4,000 fireworks light up the night sky over Sapporo creating a beautiful effect against the city’s skyline.
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The event is on during the Sapporo Beer Garden , so why not go to both? The fireworks start at 19:30 and go for an hour. This event does get very busy, so its a good idea to get there early and find a spot! Bring a mat, something to drink and enjoy the warm evening. If you are lucky enough to know someone living along the river, the views from the apartment building are the best. Many of the locals are in their yukatas (summer kimono), so you can get some good photos of the crowds.The fireworks are on every year, and in the case of persistent heavy rain, they are rescheduled to a later date.
| Dates | First weekend of July |
| Opening Hours | All day |
| Contact | - |
| Location / Getting There | Located in West Sapporo in the suburb of Maruyama. It runs down 6 blocks adjacent to Maruyama subway station. Minami 1 Jo-dori Ave, 25-chōme-2 Minami 1 Jōnishi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0801 |
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. This festival runs all day and can be found running the length of one of the main streets in the suburb of Maruyama, West Sapporo. It is on on the same day as the Sapporo Craft Beer Forest, which is not too far away. It’s a great idea to check out the Craft Beer Forest event and then finish the rest of the day at the Omotesando Street Festival!
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The day is a real family affair. There is a lot to see and do. Lining both sides of the streets, there are plenty of food stalls. It is here you can grab some local food and enjoy it with a beer, wine or non alcoholic drinks. Local food includes oysters, BBQ chicken, edamame (steamed beans), and shellfish, just to name a few. For the kids, there are magic shows, and game stalls to win a price. The cafes, bars, and restaurants are also open along this street, so its all happening here! On a beautiful sunny day, you can’t beat the street festival.
| Dates | First weekend of August (3 days) |
| Opening Hours | 18:00 - 22:00 |
| Contact | 011-518-2005 |
| Location / Getting There | In Sapporo, get off at Susukino subway station and the festival is directly in front, on the main straight. 〒064-0804 Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Minami 4 Jōnishi, 4 Chome |
Shrines carried down the main street
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Beer flowing and BBQ sizzling
The final day sees a fitting end to the festival with portable shrines (Mikoshi) being carried down the main street by hundreds of locals. The traditional music and the chanting is a true spectacle and is a great opportunity to get some great photos. While all this is going on, the local bars and restaurants open up stall on the side streets. It is here you can enjoy some beer and some grilled food cooked up by the local owners. It does get crowded here and along the main street, so an early start is advised!
