Everything You Need to Know About the 2024 Sapporo Snow Festival

In its first years as a community-organized event, the Sapporo Snow Festival was only two days long and catered to local school students. Many of these students were looking to kill time during the bleak winter season but were also inspired by snow events elsewhere in the country.

In the fourth-ever event, one of the participating schools (Fushimi High School) created the first of what were to be called “giant snow sculptures”; their “Ascension” piece stood at a towering 15 meters tall. By its 10th edition, this informal gathering had snowballed into a nationally recognized event with over half a million visitors at Odori Park. Now, with its 74th iteration coming up in 2024, not only are there even more artists trying their hand at the frosty form, but the standards of the artworks have also risen.

The 2024 Sapporo Snow Festival runs across three main sites: Odori, Susukino, and Tsudome. Each site features different artworks and activities, so it’s worth slowing down and spending time at each site rather than rushing through all of them in a single morning or afternoon.

Stretching for over 12 blocks (around 0.8 mi / 1.2 km) is the main Odori site; this venue was also the original location of the first glacial gathering. The Odori site takes over the central Odori Park. Each chome (street block) has various interactive points or sights. If you wish to see what it looked like in 2023, the past activities are archived and shared on the festival’s website. Some of the highlights included snow sculptures from local artists and Sapporo citizens, curling experiences, and ice instruments that lit up the Sapporo TV tower.

Second is the Susukino site, which hosted the Susukino Ice World 2023 event earlier this year. One of the main events of the Susukino venue is the Ice Sculpture Contest, where budding ice artists compete to create captivating caricatures. In the evening, the site transforms as organizers illuminate it with neon lights to bring the sculptures to life.

Last but not least is the Tsudome Site. Historically, it boasts the most family-friendly activities and games, and the 2024 edition of the Sapporo Snow Festival aims to recreate this concept. Presently, little is known about what the site will have, but the organizers have teased a large tube slide and snow rafts — activities that are fun for all.

Accessing Sapporo from Tokyo or other major cities is relatively easy.

New Chitose Airport is 55 minutes away by train from Sapporo Station. From Haneda Airport, the flight is only an hour and a half, so you could be at your next hotel within three hours of leaving from a Tokyo-based airport. Rather than taking a train, you can also take the Airport Limousine Bus or grab a taxi to take you and your travel buddies with you into the city.

Not a fan of flying? You can take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station and then transfer to the Hokuto Limited Express to get to Sapporo Station. In many cases, this is often more expensive and more time-consuming than flying. However, if you’re already in northern Japan or have a JR East-South Hokkaido Pass, the Shinkansen may be a more convenient and adventurous way of exploring.

Within the city, there are three main methods of transport: buses, subways, and trams. Buses are the easiest way of getting from various locations within the city and can be paid with either exact cash or by IC Card (such as Pasmo, Suica, or Kitaca). On the topic of subways, three subway lines traverse the city, but in areas where subway stations are far between, there is a looping streetcar that serves the city's downtown area. Google Maps is your friend here, and if you’re still lost, ask your hotel concierge for some more detailed assistance.

In between your snowy escapades to the various festival sites, you’re going to want to rest.
As such, we’ve compiled three different Sapporo hotels in anticipation of the varying needs and wants of you and your group.

With a view overlooking Odori Park, Hotel Resol Trinity Sapporo has all the amenities and conveniences you’d want from a hotel. With walking distance of subway stations, trendy eateries, and sightseeing spots, Hotel Resol Trinity Sapporo is one of our top recommendations for travelers looking to book a place to stay without having to stress about the small details.

Close to the Susukino Site of the festival, Mercure Sapporo is our choice for people who want a touch of luxury while balancing affordability and location. The downtown Susukino area is known for its bars and restaurants, and Mercure Sapporo makes it easy for festivalgoers to either start or end the day with a meal near their accommodation (since there are plenty of food options at the festival to keep you filled during the day). It also comes equipped with a gym, so if you’re looking to burn some calories before visiting the festival, Mercure Sapporo is the place to stay.

Last but not least is Hotel Ten to Ten. This designer hostel is a great spot for adventurers and group travelers looking to save a little bit on their accommodation without sacrificing comfort and cleanliness. Ten to Ten is a 10-minute walk from Sapporo Station and the ideal choice for people looking to make friends, socialize, and have a more informal experience outside festival hours.

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