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?
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.
Otaru Snow Light Path is a winter tradition in the port city of Otaru where the streets are decorated with a myriad of snow candles. The main venues are the historic canal and the former Japan National Railways Temiya Line. During the event period, there are also tickets on sale which let you enjoy eating sushi, sweets or noodles inexpensively as you walk around. Enjoy it together with the dreamlike scenery.
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.
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.
Otaru Snow Light Path is a winter tradition in the port city of Otaru where the streets are decorated with a myriad of snow candles. The main venues are the historic canal and the former Japan National Railways Temiya Line. During the event period, there are also tickets on sale which let you enjoy eating sushi, sweets or noodles inexpensively as you walk around. Enjoy it together with the dreamlike scenery.
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.
| Events | Date and time | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo Lilac Festival | Odori Park May 19 - 23, 2021Kawashimo Park May 29 - 30, 2021 | Odori Park 5-chome ~ 7-chome Kawashimo Park (Kawashimo 2651-3-gai, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo) |
| Hokkaido Shrine Festival | June 14 - 16, 2020 | Hokkaido Shirine, Nakajima Park |
| YOSAKOI Soran Festival | Odori Park, Special stages built in various areas in the city | |
| Jozankei Nature Luminarie | July 1 - October 20, 2021 | From Futami Park to Futami Suspension Bridge, Jozankei Onsen Nishi 4, Minami-ku, Sapporo |
| Sapporo City Jazz | July 22 - December 7 2021 | 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) | July 23 - August 1, 2021 | 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 2021 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 2021 | September 30 - October 19, 2021 An alternative event is being considered to substitute for the Sapporo Autumn Fest 2021. | 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 41th Sapporo White Illumination | Odori Park: Nov. 19, 2021 - Dec. 25 Sapporo Station Ekimaedori: Nov. 19, 2021 - Feb. 12, 2021 Minami 1-jo dori: Nov. 19, 2021 - Mar. 14, 2022 Sapporo Kita 3-jo Plaza (Akapla): Nov. 19, 2021 - Mar. 14, 2022 JR Sapporo Station South Exit Plaza: Nov. 19, 2021 - Mar. 14, 2022 | 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, 2021 | Sapporo Factory Atrium Kita 2-jo Higashi 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo |
| Sapporo Chrysanthemum Festival | November 3 - 5, 2021 | Sapporo Ekimae-dori underground walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho) |
| Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival | January 29 - February 23, 2022 | Lake Shikotsu hot springs, Chitose city |
| Yukitouro (Snow Candle Way) | January 29 - February 5, 2022 | Jozankei Shrine (Jozankei Onsen Higashi 3-chome, Minami-ku, Sapporo) |
| Otaru Snow Light Path | February 11 – 13, 2022 | Otaru canal, the former Temiya railway line, Asarigawa Onsen and other sites in the city |
| Sapporo Snow Festival | Odori site: February 5 – 12, 2021 Susukino site: February 4 – 11, 2020 *The 2022 event has been cancelled. Tsudome Site: January 31 to February 11, 2020 *The 2022 event has been cancelled. The 72nd Sapporo Snow Festival scheduled for 2022 will be held at Odori Park and online. | 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) |
