29 January – 5 March

Sounkyo Ice Festival

Sounkyo Onsen, Hokkaido

Snow and ice sculptures join the natural wonderment of a frozen waterfall in this winter extravaganza.  Colored lights and fireworks add to the magnificent atmosphere in the evenings. 

29 January – 5 March

Sounkyo Ice Festival

Sounkyo Onsen, Hokkaido

Snow and ice sculptures join the natural wonderment of a frozen waterfall in this winter extravaganza.  Colored lights and fireworks add to the magnificent atmosphere in the evenings. 

Early February

Abashiri Okuhotsuki Drift Ice Festival

Abashiri, Hokkaido

This winter festival features ice sculptures and fireworks.

Early to mid February

Mombetsu Drift Ice Festival

Mombetsu, Hokkaido

Includes an endurance competition, bobsled races and a giant slide made from ice.

1-2 February

Hakodate Yukino Saiten

Hakodate, Hokkaido

This festival features winter sports, ice sculptures and illuminations.

Sapporo Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri)

Early February for one week (dates vary, but usually held around 6-12 February)

Sapporo, Hokkaido

This is the biggest snow and ice festival held in Japan, with thousands of visitors from Japan and overseas crowding to see the impressive sculptures.  There are three different sites: Odori Park, which is home to the giant snow sculptures; Satoland, a fun park for children to enjoy various snow related activities; and Susukino, a street lined with magnificent ice sculptures, which are particularly impressive in the evenings.

7-11 February

Asahikawa Winter Festival

Asahikawa, Hokkaido

One of the world’s most prominent ice sculpture competitions, and holds the world record for the biggest snow statue in the world.  Many of the snow sculptures and snow slides are illuminated in the evenings.

18-23 June

Yosakoi Soran Festival

Sapporo, Hokkaido

Approximately 40,000 dancers participate in this spectacular festival that attracts over a million visitors from Japan and international every year.  Dance groups perform in the streets of Sapporo and the Soranbushi (folksong of Hokkaido) inspired music can be heard throughout the city.

21 July – 20 August

Sapporo Summer Festival

Odori Park, Sapporo, Hokkaido

Odori Park and the surrounding streets become a beer garden for this festival.  There are many different types of entertainment and festivities.

26-28 July

Otaru Tide Festival

Otaru Wharf, Otaru City, Hokkaido Prefecture

This is one of the most popular sea festivals in Japan, with thousands of people attending every year.  People line the streets to dance, and paper lanterns decorate the entire city.  Paper lanterns are set adrift at the wharf and numerous boats parade around the bay alongside the lanterns.

Mid-September

Furusato Hyappei Festival

Iwamizawa, Hokkaido

A magnificent sight, this festival features a 200kg pestle being hoisted 13m into the air and then used to pound 60kg of rice in a 4ton, 2.4m wide mortar.  This festival involves prayer for good harvests.

15 November

Shichi-Go-San Festival

Nationwide

Children age three, five and seven years are dressed in kimono and taken to shrines to pray for their future health and good fortune.