Snow Festivals in Japan

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From January to early March, the snow country of northern Japan holds its winter festivals. Cities build snow and ice sculptures, castle towns light paths of snow lanterns, and frozen lakes become festival grounds. Here are the snow and ice festivals of Hokkaido, Tohoku and the rest of Japan.

Festival

Zao Juhyo Festival

The Zao Juhyo Festival in the Zao Mountains centres on the Snow Monsters, ice and snow formations that coat the trees, illuminated after dark.

27 Dec 2026 – 23 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYamagata

Visual Art

National Ice Sculpture Exhibition at Meiji Jingu

An ice sculpture competition with works by professional carvers, displayed in the grounds of Meiji Jingu, a Tokyo shrine.

17–18 Jan 2027Tokyo

Visual Art

Matsumoto Castle Ice Festival

Matsumoto Castle Ice Sculpture Festival: a championship ice-carving contest and illuminated sculptures set against the National Treasure and the Northern Alps.

23–25 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetMatsumoto · Nagano

Festival

Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival

Hundreds of small snow huts, each holding a candle, light up the riverbed at Yunishigawa Onsen, a mountain hot spring village tied to Heike clan legends.

29 Jan – 28 Feb 2027Nikko · Tochigi

Festival

Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

An ice festival at Lake Shikotsu showcases sculptures created from sprayed water, complemented by performances, fireworks, and nearby hot springs.

31 Jan – 23 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetChitose · Hokkaido

Festival

The 77th Sapporo Snow Festival

Snow and ice sculptures crafted by the Japan Self-Defense Force and local artists fill three Sapporo sites for Japan's most celebrated winter festival.

4–11 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSapporo · Hokkaido

Festival

Hirosaki Castle Yuki-Doro Festival

The Hirosaki Castle Yuki-Doro Festival fills the castle park with illuminated snow lanterns, dome-shaped kamakura huts and intricate sculptures.

6–11 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHirosaki · Aomori

Festival

Snowman Festival

Thousands of handmade snowmen are lit after dark in two mountain towns in winter, with local food vendors selling regional specialties.

6 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHakusan · Ishikawa

Illumination

Otaru Snow Light Path

A winter festival illuminates Otaru's snow-covered streets, canal, and historic sites with handcrafted candles and lanterns created by the community since 1999.

7–14 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOtaru · Hokkaido

Festival

Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival

A two-day winter festival in snowy Yonezawa transforming Matsugasaki Park into a landscape of 300 snow lanterns and 3,000 snow lamps lit by candlelight.

14–15 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYonezawa · Yamagata

Festival

Zao Juhyo Festival

The Zao Juhyo Festival in the Zao Mountains centres on the Snow Monsters, ice and snow formations that coat the trees, illuminated after dark.

27 Dec 2026 – 23 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYamagata

Visual Art

National Ice Sculpture Exhibition at Meiji Jingu

An ice sculpture competition with works by professional carvers, displayed in the grounds of Meiji Jingu, a Tokyo shrine.

17–18 Jan 2027Tokyo

Visual Art

Matsumoto Castle Ice Festival

Matsumoto Castle Ice Sculpture Festival: a championship ice-carving contest and illuminated sculptures set against the National Treasure and the Northern Alps.

23–25 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetMatsumoto · Nagano

Festival

Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival

Hundreds of small snow huts, each holding a candle, light up the riverbed at Yunishigawa Onsen, a mountain hot spring village tied to Heike clan legends.

29 Jan – 28 Feb 2027Nikko · Tochigi

Festival

Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

An ice festival at Lake Shikotsu showcases sculptures created from sprayed water, complemented by performances, fireworks, and nearby hot springs.

31 Jan – 23 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetChitose · Hokkaido

Festival

The 77th Sapporo Snow Festival

Snow and ice sculptures crafted by the Japan Self-Defense Force and local artists fill three Sapporo sites for Japan's most celebrated winter festival.

4–11 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSapporo · Hokkaido

Festival

Hirosaki Castle Yuki-Doro Festival

The Hirosaki Castle Yuki-Doro Festival fills the castle park with illuminated snow lanterns, dome-shaped kamakura huts and intricate sculptures.

6–11 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHirosaki · Aomori

Festival

Snowman Festival

Thousands of handmade snowmen are lit after dark in two mountain towns in winter, with local food vendors selling regional specialties.

6 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHakusan · Ishikawa

Illumination

Otaru Snow Light Path

A winter festival illuminates Otaru's snow-covered streets, canal, and historic sites with handcrafted candles and lanterns created by the community since 1999.

7–14 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOtaru · Hokkaido

Festival

Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival

A two-day winter festival in snowy Yonezawa transforming Matsugasaki Park into a landscape of 300 snow lanterns and 3,000 snow lamps lit by candlelight.

14–15 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYonezawa · Yamagata

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