Sapporo plays host to events throughout the year that allow all to enjoy the changing of the seasons. From traditional shrine festivals to outdoor Hokkaido food and beer festivals, and even a wintertime favorite where huge snow sculptures decorate the city’s streets, events in Sapporo truly offer something for everyone. Which event do you want to check out?
Endless color sparkles in the white Sapporo winter Odori Park: Nov. 20 – Feb. 28, 2021Sapporo Station Ekimaedori: Nov. 20, 2020 – Feb. 28, 2021Minami 1-jo dori: Nov. 20, 2020 – Mar. 14, 2021Sapporo Kita 3-jo Plaza (Akapla): Nov. 20, 2020 – Mar. 14, 2021JR Sapporo Station South Exit Plaza: Nov. 20, 2020 – Mar....
What started out as a display of six snow sculptures created by local junior and high school students in 1950 has become the Sapporo Snow Festival, the largest winter event in Sapporo that attracts more than two million visitors from both Japan and abroad every year.
Yukitouro (Snow Candle Way) is a snow candle event that’s held at the Jozankei Shrine. The grounds are illuminated by 2,000 candles. A free shuttle bus runs during the event period between the Jozankei Onsen town and the shrine. Be sure to check it out.
The "Sapporo Autumn Fest" is where local gourmet, special products and wines from all over Hokkaido, which you do not usually get the chance to enjoy in Sapporo, come together in Sapporo's Odori Park. Stalls fill Odori Park, and from morning till night it is bustling with Sapporo residents and tourists enjoying the season.
A typical scene of summer in Japan—dazzling fireworks blossoming in the sky of Sapporo ●Hokkaido Makomanai Music Fireworks Festival／Due to the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, it will be canceled. Please check the official website for more details.●Doshin UHB Fireworks Festival／Due to the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, it will be canceled. Please check the official website...
A Summertime Treat for Both Locals and Tourists July 19–August 16, 2019 Due to the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, it will be canceled.Please check the official website for more details.The Sapporo Summer Festival attracts more than a million visitors to its cavernous beer garden stretching from 5-chome to 11-chome in Odori Park operating for about a month; a Hokkai...
A festival celebrating the workmanship of the chrysanthemum—a symbol of Japanese culture through the ages November 3-5, 2020 Used as the imperial crest, the chrysanthemum has long been loved as a flower that symbolizes Japanese culture. Chrysanthemum festivals are held as autumn events in all of Japan where growers of chrysanthemums proudly present their flowers....
Stage, music, fine arts—a celebration of Sapporo’s art scene. November 1-30, 2020 This autumn art festival started in 2005. Over the course of one month, the streets of Sapporo are vibrant with art such as fine arts, stage performances, and music. Exciting events packed into this period include “Theater Go Round,” which features original stage...
A Month-Long Display of German-Style Christmas Lights November 22– December 25, 2019 The market has been held in Sapporo since 2002, when the city marked the thirtieth anniversary of its sister-city ties with Munich, Germany. Stalls selling Christmas items, hot wine, and German food are set up for about a month at Odori Park. Also on...
| Events | Date and time | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo Lilac Festival | Odori Park May 20–31, 2020Kawashimo Park May 30-31, 2020 | Odori Park 5-chome ~ 7-chome Kawashimo Park (Kawashimo 2651-3-gai, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo) |
| Hokkaido Shrine Festival | June 14–16, 2019 | Hokkaido Shirine, Nakajima Park |
| YOSAKOI Soran Festival | June 5–9, 2019 | Odori Park, Special stages built in various areas in the city |
| Jozankei Nature Luminarie | June 10- October 20, 2020 | From Futami Park to Futami Suspension Bridge, Jozankei Onsen Nishi 4, Minami-ku, Sapporo |
| Sapporo City Jazz | July 4- October 7 2020 | Odori Park, Sapporo City Hall, Outdoor Stage of Sapporo Art Park |
| Fukushi-kyosan Sapporo Odori Beer Garden | July 19–August 14, 2019 | Odori-nishi 5-chome to 11-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo |
| Sapporo Craft Beer Forest | Sapporo Bankei Ski Area, Bankei 410, Chuo-ku, Sapporo | |
| Pacific Music Festival (PMF) | Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara, Sapporo Art Park | |
| Sapporo Summer Festival | July 19–August 16, 2019 | Odori Park, Sapporo Tanukikoji Shopping District, Susukino District |
| The Rising Sun Rock Festival 2019 in Ezo | Stage next to Tarugawa Pier, New Port of Ishikari (Zenibako 5-chome, Otaru) | |
| Hokkaido Marathon | August 25, 2019 | Odori Park and other locations |
| Sapporo Autumn Fest 2019 | September 6 - September 29, 2019 An alternative event is being considered to substitute for the Sapporo Autumn Fest 2020. | Odori Park |
| Kamokamo River Nostalgia | Shinzenkouji Temple (Jodo Sect) (Minami 6-jo Nishi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo) Higashi Honganji Temple (Shinshu Sect Sapporo annex) (Minami 7-jo Nishi 8-chome 290, Chuo-ku, Sapporo) | |
| The Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market | October 10–31, 2020 | Sapporo community plaza |
| Sapporo Marathon | October 6, 2019 | Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena (inside Makomanai Park in Minami-ku, Sapporo) and other locations |
| Sapporo Art Stage | November 1-30, 2020 | Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway, other venues |
| German Christmas Market in Sapporo | November 22– December 25, 2019 | Odori Park 2-chome, Satellite venues—Sapporo Television Tower, Underground walking area in front of Sapporo Station, Sapporo Factory |
| The 39th Sapporo White Illumination | Odori Park: Nov. 20 - Feb. 28, 2021 Sapporo Station Ekimaedori: Nov. 20, 2020 - Feb. 28, 2021 Minami 1-jo dori: Nov. 20, 2020 - Mar. 14, 2021 Sapporo Kita 3-jo Plaza (Akapla): Nov. 20, 2020 - Mar. 14, 2021 JR Sapporo Station South Exit Plaza: Nov. 20, 2020 - Mar. 14, 2021 | Odori Park (1~5-chome) Ekimae dori (Kita 4-jo ~ Minami 4-jo) Minami 1-jo dori (Minami 1-jo Nishi 1-chome ~ 3-chome) Sapporo Kita 3-jo Plaza (Akapla) (Kita 2-jo Nishi 4-chome) JR Sapporo Station South Exit Plaza (Kita 5-jo Nishi 3-chome) |
| Jumbo Christmas Tree at Sapporo Factory | November 3 – December 25, 2020 | Sapporo Factory Atrium Kita 2-jo Higashi 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo |
| Sapporo Chrysanthemum Festival | November 3-5, 2020 | Sapporo Ekimae-dori underground walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho) |
| Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival | February 23 - January 29, 2021 | Lake Shikotsu hot springs, Chitose city |
| Yukitouro (Snow Candle Way) | Feburary 5-11, 2021 | Jozankei Shrine (Jozankei Onsen Higashi 3-chome, Minami-ku, Sapporo) |
| Otaru Snow Light Path | February 12 – 14, 2021 | Otaru canal, the former Temiya railway line, Asarigawa Onsen and other sites in the city |
| Sapporo Snow Festival | Odori and Susukino sites: February 4 – 11, 2020 Tsudome Site: January 31 to February 11, 2020 The 72nd Sapporo Snow Festival, scheduled in 2021, is currently under consideration to be held at a reduced scale and without large snow sculptures. | Odori Park,Community Dome Tsudome (Sakae-machi 885-1, Higashi-ku, Sapporo), Main Street in Susukino, (Area around the station from Minami 4 jo to Minami 7 jo, Chuo-ku, Sapporo) |
