Enjoy the festival in the snow

When snow covers Japan in winter, the country hosts a series of wonderful festivals that turn the cold temperatures into opportunities for art and celebration. From energetic snow sculpture competitions to ancient fire rituals, Japan’s northern regions have found plenty of ways to keep warmth and community spirit alive, even in icy weather. Read on to learn about the most magical winter festivals across Japan, including Otaru’s poetic candlelit alleys and the gentle beauty of traditional festivals Kamakura Snow houses, the fascinating history behind Nozawa’s Great Fire Festival, and more.

Sapporo Snow Festival
(Hokkaido Prefecture)

world famous ice sculpture

The Sapporo Snow Festival is undoubtedly one of Japan’s most famous winter events, attracting millions of visitors every year in early February. What began in 1950 as a handful of high school students making a few snow sculptures has grown over the decades into a spectacle of epic proportions, known for its massive, intricately carved snow and ice sculptures displayed in multiple locations. The centerpiece is Odori Park, home to towering sculptures, some reaching the size of multi-story buildings, carved with incredible detail.

The sculptures often depict famous landmarks, pop culture icons and elaborate fantasy scenes, and are illuminated by colored lights at night, transforming the park into a magical, glowing wonderland. Across Odori Park, nearby Susukino Ruins Featuring beautiful clear ice sculptures, including an ice bar. Tsuruba offers fun family-friendly activities: giant snow slides, snow rafting, and more.

Dates and transportation

when: Week in early February; check Official website This year’s date.
Rights of use: Odori Park is a 15-minute walk from Sapporo Station and a 2-minute subway ride.

Otaru Snow Light Road Festival
(Hokkaido Prefecture)

Romantic Candlelight Retreat

The Otaru Snow Light Road Festival is held in the charming port city of Otaru, forming a romantic and nostalgic contrast with the grand Sapporo Snow Festival. For 10 days in February, Otaru’s unique masonry architecture is bathed in exquisite light, and its pathways are decorated with thousands of candles and handmade snow lanterns. Locals place lanterns in front of their shops and homes to create a fairytale atmosphere.

Two main illuminated paths include the iconic Otaru Canal, where candles float gently on the water next to illuminated gas lamps, and the historic former Temiya Railway Line, which is transformed into a tranquil pedestrian tunnel lined with lanterns and snow sculptures.

Dates and transportation

when: Early February; see Official website Learn more.
Rights of use: From Sapporo, take the train to Otaru along the JR Hakodate Main Line. Lighted areas are all within walking distance.

Yokote Kamakura Festival
(Akita Prefecture)

Warm up in a cozy igloo

The Yokote Kamakura Festival is a spiritual and heartwarming event with a history that dates back more than 450 years. The focus of the festival is the construction of hundreds of kamakura – traditional igloo-style snow houses – across the city. Historically, Kamakura had an altar dedicated to the water god to pray for an adequate supply of water. Today they are a central symbol of local winter identity.

Visitors can even enter these cozy igloos to enjoy once Upon a time (a traditional sweet drink) and Shaobing (Grilled rice cake) from the hibachi. In return, visitors can leave tributes on the altar. In addition to the large igloos, there are hundreds of mini-Kamakuras lit with candles along the Yokote River, forming a sea of ​​lights. The festival area extends all the way to Yokote Castle, which opens an observation deck during the festival where you can enjoy an ethereal view of the illuminated city.

Dates and transportation

when: the second Friday and the following Saturday in February. examine Yokote travel website Exact date confirmed – 2026, to be held on February 13th and 14th.
Rights of use: From Tokyo Station, take the Akita Shinkansen to Omagari Station, then take the JR Ou Line to Yokote.

Provided by Tohoku Tourism Bureau

Tokamachi Ice and Snow Festival
(Niigata Prefecture)

Community-wide snow art event

The Tokamachi Snow Festival is known as the “birthplace of the modern snow festival” in Japan. It was originally organized by local residents in the 1950s, adhering to the lovely concept of “befriending the snow”. Unlike many festivals that have evolved from ancient rituals, simply put, this event is a conscious effort to bring some joy and light into the long, harsh winter. Tokamachi is one of the snowiest areas in Japan, with more than two meters of snow regularly falling in the coldest months.

You’ll see snow art made by local residents, which gives the festival a cozy neighborhood feel, displayed in different locations square Squares throughout the city offering food, drinks and fun activities. Many sculptures were entered into the competition, some featuring characters from popular animations.

The most central location of the Tokamachi Snow Festival is the community square, only a 10-minute walk from Tokamachi Station. Most other locations are accessible on foot or by the local bus system.

Dates and transportation

when: A weekend in mid-to-late February; check Official website This year’s date.
Rights of use: From Tokyo Station, take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo Yuzu Station, then take the Kitahoku Line to Tokamachi Station.

Sounkyo Hot Spring Ice Falls Festival
(Hokkaido Prefecture)

Explore the Ice Palace of Lights

Also known as the Sounkyo Ice Explosion Festival, this 50-year-old event turns the extreme weather of secluded Sounkyo deep in Daisetsuzan National Park into a beautiful sight. The festival grounds are an elaborate ice kingdom created by strategically freezing the water of the Ishikari River – essentially a massive, walkable structure of ice domes, tunnels and caves. Visitors can explore this surreal temporary structure made entirely of icy water.

The experience is most dramatic after dark, when the building is filled with colorful, ever-changing floodlights. The lights transform the frozen tunnels into a stunning kaleidoscopic environment that contrasts beautifully with the rugged mountain backdrop and biting cold. You can also visit Hyobaku Shrine surrounded by ice walls and enjoy the fireworks that light up the sky every year.

Dates and transportation

when: Late January to mid-March. See Official website Confirm dates for this year.
Rights of use: From Sapporo Station, take the Lilac Kamui Line to Asahikawa Station, then take a direct bus to Sounkyo Onsen.

Provided by Nozawa Onsen

Nozawa Fire Festival
(Nagano Prefecture)

Japan’s Great Fire Ceremony

Believed to date back to the mid-1800s Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival The fire festival is one of the three fire festivals in Japan and is designated as an important intangible folk cultural property. Its core is a kind of pharmacist ——The “unlucky years” in Japanese tradition, including men’s 25 and 42 years old. Therefore, men of this age play an important role in rituals. A few days before the festival, villagers will build a wooden shrine called a “shrine”. shadow.

On the night of the event, it became the stage for a dramatic and carefully choreographed “battle.” Villagers carrying torches rushed to the building, while the 42-year-old man stood on the roof and recited prayers to Dosojin, the god of fertility, marriage and protection. Below them, 25-year-olds defend the base. This ritual has a symbolic meaning: the conflict between fire and body is intended to ward off misfortune for the old medicine boy, bless the newborn and ensure the prosperity of the village.

When the shadow is finally ignited and burned, the ritual is not over. At dawn, locals return to the ashes to cook on the embers, believing this will bring good health for the coming year.

Dates and transportation

when: January 15
Rights of use: From Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama, then take the Nozawa Onsen Liner Bus.

Provided by Chichibu Festival Hall

Chichibu Night Festival
(Saitama Prefecture)

Large floats and winter fireworks near Tokyo

this Chichibu Night Festival The Chichibu Night Festival is one of the most spectacular winter events in the Kanto region and is known as one of the three major float festivals in Japan. The festival dates back at least 350 years and features six large, ornately designed floats (This is and Drunk). Decorated with lanterns, gilded wood carvings and tapestries, these hefty structures flow through the streets to the lively sounds of taiko drums and flutes, attracting revelers who enjoy local sake and specialties.

The climax of the festival occurs on the second night when the float is hauled up the challenging Dango Mountain, triggering massive celebrations once at the top. The Chichibu Night Festival also features several hours of fireworks displays on cold winter nights, lighting up the floats and the surrounding night scene.

Dates and transportation

when: December 2-3
Rights of use: Held in the center of Chichibu, adjacent to Chichibu (Chichibu Railway) Station and Seibu-Chichibu (Seibu Railway) Station.

Yunishikawa Onsen Kamakura Festival
(Tochigi Prefecture)

A sea of ​​miniature lights

The Yunishikawa Onsen Kamakura Festival is famous for its mesmerizing display of hundreds of miniature Kamakura igloos, providing a stunning winter spectacle. At dusk, Kamakura lights up along the Swaguchi Riverbed, which has been declared a night view heritage of Japan, and visitors can take a magical stroll here. Another major venue is Heike-no-Sato, an open-air museum showcasing traditional thatched-roof houses, which also features glittering Kamakura during the festival. In addition to stunning views, the festival lets you enjoy local spa culture and unique dining experiences.

Dates and transportation

when: Late January to early March. See Official website Stay up to date; please note that the light show only takes place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Rights of use: From Shinjuku Station, take the direct express to Kinugawa Onsen, then take the direct bus to Yunishikawa Onsen.

Related posts

Updated on December 11, 2025