1 · The short answer

The Sapporo Snow Festival returns for its 77th edition from 4 to 11 February 2027, according to the organisers. Odori Park fills with large snow sculptures, Susukino with ice sculptures among the bars and neon, and the Tsudome site in the suburbs has snow slides and play areas for families. Entry to the sites is free.

It is one of the busiest weeks of the Hokkaido winter. Hotels in central Sapporo book out, Odori Park is crowded in the evenings when the sculptures are lit, and phones work hard in the cold. Keep a power bank in an inside pocket and maps offline.

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Dates: The 77th Sapporo Snow Festival runs Thursday 4 to Thursday 11 February 2027 at the Odori, Tsudome and Susukino sites. Organiser's page

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2 · The three sites

  • ✓Odori: The main site, a long park through the city centre lined with snow sculptures, including large ones with projection mapping in the evenings in recent years.
  • ✓Susukino: Ice sculptures along the main street of Sapporo's nightlife district, best after dark.
  • ✓Tsudome: A family site with snow slides and snow play, reached by subway and shuttle bus. Check the organiser's site for its hours.

3 · Crowds, cold and your phone

Odori Park in the evening and the Susukino ice street are the densest places, with thousands of phones on the same cells. Messages get through; uploads can stall. Post photos from a café or your hotel.

Cold is the bigger problem. Lithium batteries lose charge fast below freezing, and phones can shut down with battery left. Keep the phone in an inside pocket between photos, carry a power bank, and consider touchscreen gloves. Let the phone warm up slowly when you come indoors.

4 · Getting there and getting around

  • ✓Airport: New Chitose Airport is linked to Sapporo Station by the JR rapid airport train. Snow can delay flights in February; keep your airline's app and booking offline.
  • ✓Subway: Odori station sits under the main site; Susukino station under the ice sculptures. The subway is warm and avoids icy pavements.
  • ✓Underground walkways: A heated pedestrian passage links Sapporo Station, Odori and Susukino, a good way to move between sites.
  • ✓Taxis: Taxi apps such as GO work in Sapporo; demand is high on snowy evenings.

5 · Apps and payments

  • ✓Transit card: Kitaca, Hokkaido's card, and Suica or ICOCA from elsewhere in Japan work on Sapporo trains and the subway.
  • ✓Weather: Check snow and wind warnings before day trips to Otaru or the ski areas.
  • ✓Food: Many stalls at Odori take cash only; carry some yen.

6 · Which plan covers the trip

The Ringo Light plan for Japan covers Sapporo, the ski areas of Hokkaido and the rest of the country on one eSIM with unlimited data at full speed. If you are continuing to Korea or elsewhere in Asia, the Global plan covers the countries on your route.

7 · Around Sapporo in festival week

Easy additions to a Snow Festival trip.

Odori Park, Central Sapporo
Central SapporoOdori ParkThe festival's main site, a park running through the city centre beneath the Sapporo TV Tower.✓Go once by day for the detail and once after dark for the lights.Photo: Nkns, CC BY-SA 3.0
Otaru, Hokkaido
HokkaidoOtaruThe canal port town, under an hour by train from Sapporo, holds its own Snow Light Path festival in February with lanterns along the canal.✓Check the Otaru festival's own dates before you plan the day.Photo: Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Niseko, Hokkaido
HokkaidoNisekoHokkaido's best known ski area, a couple of hours from Sapporo, if you want to combine the festival with powder snow.✓Buses and trains to Niseko book up in peak season; reserve in advance.Photo: T DMY, CC BY 3.0
Noboribetsu, Hokkaido
HokkaidoNoboribetsuA hot spring town with a volcanic valley, a warm escape after days in the snow.✓Many onsen hotels allow day bathing for visitors.Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0

8 · Frequently asked questions

When is the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027?+
The 77th festival runs from 4 to 11 February 2027 at Odori, Susukino and Tsudome, according to the organisers.
Is the Snow Festival free?+
Entry to the sites is free. Some attractions and food stalls charge.
Will the cold affect my phone?+
Yes. Batteries drain fast below freezing. Keep the phone in an inside pocket and carry a power bank.
How do I get from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo?+
The JR rapid airport train runs to Sapporo Station. Buses also run to central hotels.
How do I install Ringo Light?+
It arrives by email and installs in one scan. No app is needed.

9 · Sources

  • Sapporo Snow Festival (official): www.snowfes.com/
  • Sapporo Snow Festival (official, English): www.snowfes.com/en/
  • Ringo Light: prices from the catalogue our checkout charges, on the day you read this.

Read next: best esim for japan · best esim for hokkaido