NoMaps 2023, a multi-venue festival held at over 20 locations throughout Sapporo, will take place from Wednesday, September 13 to Sunday, September 17, 2023. NoMaps features a wide variety of events related to tech, entertainment, and creativity, all happening simultaneously. Here's a simple guide to the highlights and how you can join in on the fun!

NoMaps is a multi-venue festival that has been held annually in Sapporo since 2016. Talks, live performances, exhibitions, and more take place at various locations throughout the city. A key feature of the festival is that it brings together new ideas and creative works for the future, featuring talks by famous guests and presentations and exhibits incorporating the latest technology and concepts.

NoMaps 2023 will be held for five days from Wednesday, September 13 to Sunday, September 17. As it coincides with the Sapporo Autumn Fest, a food-focused event in Odori Park, you can enjoy exploring the pleasant autumn streets of Sapporo.

NoMaps 2023 Venue Map

The events at NoMaps 2023 are broadly divided into six categories.

Many venues have free-entry areas, while some are paid. To fully enjoy all areas, including the paid ones, purchasing a NoMaps Passport is recommended.

There are two main types of NoMaps Passports: the "CONFERENCE PASSPORT," which allows free entry to the main hall and all paid venues for the NoMaps Conference, and the "PLATINUM PASSPORT," which includes everything in the CONFERENCE PASSPORT plus access to all "NoMaps Meeeeeeeet!!" networking programs held during the festival.

Additionally, there is a "Student Passport" that allows free entry to all conferences, as well as individual tickets for paid venues. Please choose the passport or ticket that best suits your plans.

The Conference features talk sessions where you can find hints for understanding the society of the future and meet the guests. Topics range from the latest trends like generative AI to solving social issues, international business, and the future of education. The conference is divided into various categories, such as "BIZ," focusing on business-related sessions, and "SOCIAL," centered on discussions about solving social issues.

Main Venue with 5 Sessions Over 2 Days: MAIN HALL

The main venue for the conference is the "MAIN HALL." It will be held for two days on Thursday, September 14 and Friday, September 15 at Asty Hall on the 4th floor of Asty 45, which is directly connected to Sapporo Station via an underground walkway. A total of five sessions will be held over the two days, based on the overall conference theme "The Human Counterattack." This is a NoMaps Passport-required area.

Focus on Business-Related Sessions: BIZ

BIZ will feature sessions on must-know trends and technologies, such as generative AI and reskilling. It will be held for two days on Thursday, September 14 and Friday, September 15 at "D-LIFEPARK" on the B1 floor of the new "D-LIFEPLACE" building, completed in 2023 along Sapporo Ekimae-dori (directly connected to Chikaho). Admission to this venue is free.

Many Themes on Solving Social Issues: SOCIAL

SOCIAL will feature sessions with top runners in solving social issues. It will be held for two days on Thursday, September 14 and Friday, September 15 at the "SCARTS Court" on the 1st floor and the "SCARTS Studio" on the 2nd floor of the Sapporo Cultural Arts Community Center SCARTS. While this area requires a NoMaps Passport or an individual ticket, the "NoMaps SOCIAL Marche," a market with shops related to various social issues, will be held in the 1st-floor "SCARTS Mall" with free admission.

Considering the Future of Education: EDU

EDU brings together people from various backgrounds, including teachers, for sessions on the future of education. It will be held for two days on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17 at the "SCARTS Court" on the 1st floor and the "SCARTS Studio" on the 2nd floor of the Sapporo Cultural Arts Community Center SCARTS. A NoMaps Passport or an individual ticket is required for entry.

The Cutting Edge of the Space Business: SPACE

A session on the space business, "Hokkaido Likers presents Space Conference @ NoMaps," will be held on Wednesday, September 13 at the "SCARTS Court" on the 1st floor of the Sapporo Cultural Arts Community Center SCARTS. Guests related to space, including Takahiro Inagawa, CEO of Interstellar Technologies Inc. based in Taiki, Hokkaido, and founder Takafumi Horie, will gather for this event. Admission is free.

Gathering of Students Who Will Shape the Future: STUDENTS

STUDENTS will host "MIKAN TECH MEETUP 2023," a networking event for students aiming to become IT engineers and those who have just started their careers as IT engineers. It will be held from 12:30 on Sunday, September 17 at the co-working space "BYYARD" in Sapporo's Nishi 11-chome area. Participation is free.

What is the Current State of Web3?: WEB3

The term "Web3" has become a buzzword, especially in the business world. Guests active in the Web3 space will gather in Sapporo to discuss various topics, including the future of regional revitalization. The event will be held on Saturday, September 16 at the co-working space "BYYARD." A NoMaps Passport or an individual ticket is required for entry.

Held on the Hokkaido University Campus: NoMaps in Hokudai

NoMaps collaborates with Hokkaido University to host talk sessions that delve deep into the university. The event will be held for two days on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17 at the Architecture and Urban Studio Building / Open Lab in the Faculty of Engineering on the Hokkaido University campus. Admission is free.

The Present and Future as Seen by the U35 Generation: U35

"U35-SAPPORO," a platform for gathering and connecting the U35 generation related to Sapporo, will host the U35 session. U35 individuals active in various fields will come together for a completely unscripted talk session. It will be held on Saturday, September 16 at "D-LIFEPARK," the same venue as BIZ. Admission is free.

Exhibition features displays on various themes, primarily in the Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chikaho). Events include "Wellness," a theme on mental and physical health featuring celebrity Barbie, and the "Super Welfare Fashion Expo," where you can try on clothes and have photos taken under the theme of "an everyday life where everyone can enjoy fashion as a matter of course."

Celebrity Barbie to Appear on September 16: Wellness

Wellness will feature an exhibition with tips for "mental and physical health" connected to our daily lives, such as sleep, bathing, diet, and beauty, as well as a talk show with guests like celebrity Barbie. The event runs for three days from Friday, September 15 to Sunday, September 17. The venue is the Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chikaho). Participation is free.

Freedom in Fashion for Everyone: Super Welfare Fashion Expo

The "Super Welfare Exhibition" in Shibuya, Tokyo, which attracted a total of 300,000 visitors, aimed to break down the "mental barriers" towards people with disabilities and welfare itself. The "Super Welfare Fashion Expo" is a spin-off event of that exhibition.

It will feature items that will captivate you with their coolness and cuteness, such as unconventional prosthetic leg covers co-created by artists, designers, and students, and fashion brands created from the perspective and requests of people with physical disabilities, the elderly, and those needing care. The exhibition will be held from Thursday, September 14 to Sunday, September 17 at D-LIFEPARK, directly connected to Chikaho. A talk event will also be held on the weekend, Sunday, September 17, and admission to all events is free.

Collaboration of Underground Passages and Cutting-Edge Art: AR Art Street

As a new way to utilize the underground passages that run through central Sapporo, a city with one of the world's heaviest snowfalls, an exhibition of 3D art (AR art) using AR technology will be held. This creates a space where you can easily enjoy AR art born from the collaboration of cutting-edge technology and art. The event will be held from Tuesday, September 13 to Tuesday, September 19 at the Kita 1-jo Public Underground Walkway, which connects westward from Chikaho. Admission is free.

For Movie, "Ashita no Theater" will be held at Sapporo Art Park. In addition to a new film experience listening through a portable radio, various activities such as costumes, ghost stories, and art experiences will be offered. For music events, check social media as they will be held at various locations in Sapporo during NoMaps 2023!

Sapporo Art Park Shrouded in Fear: Ashita no Geimori

Ashita no Geimori is an outdoor event planned by "Ashita no Theater," which has been screening films in a drive-in theater format during the pandemic. Participants will be given a portable radio and can enjoy the works with their earphones as they please in a quiet forest dotted with video and light effects.

This year's theme is "ghosts," with a lineup of content enjoyable for both children and adults. The films to be screened are "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" and "The Medium," a short horror program recommended by the Sapporo International Short Film Festival. During the day, an art tour featuring the popular picture book "Maru the Ghost" and the outdoor museum will also be held. Please note that this event is on Saturday, September 30, which is after the main NoMaps 2023 period.

Various genre events are held within NoMaps, but here we introduce the lantern festival in Nakajima Park, which was popular last year, and the snowboarding event "SNOW SMASH" in central Sapporo.

Sapporo's Night Sky Becomes Magical with Lanterns: Sapporo Lantern Fest 2023

At Sapporo Lantern Fest 2023, participants release lanterns carrying their wishes and thoughts into the Sapporo night sky all at once. Kitchen cars will be at the venue, and there will also be activities like drone soccer.

This popular event from 2022 will be held this year on Saturday, September 16. Unfortunately, to release a lantern, you needed to purchase one in advance, and they are already sold out. The launch will take place from 18:45, and viewing is free. During the day, food and drone soccer events will also be held.

Snowboarding in Sapporo in September!?: SNOW SMASH

Snowboarding in Sapporo's Odori area in September!? You might be surprised. At this event, titled "SNOW SMASH," Japan's top riders will gather for the "SNOW SMASH Session" snowboard contest! Riders like Kaito Hamada, who competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, as well as Rikuto Watanabe, Ryoki Ogawa, and Kansuke Otomo, will battle it out with their breathtaking riding techniques.

In addition to the snowboard contest, there will be live music performances by artists such as Riku Nakanishi and Shione. Also, under the theme of "social contribution that starts with fun," there will be a blood donation area and booths where you can learn about bone marrow donor registration.

The "Meet-up" is a place where the day's guests and participants can gather and create new connections on the Sapporo night scene. This year, it will also be held as a collaboration event with the urban aquarium "AOAO SAPPORO," which just opened in July.

New Chemistry Born from Encounters: NoMaps Meeeeeeeet!!

On Thursday, September 14 and Friday, September 15, when the main conferences are held, many guests will participate in the meet-up starting at 18:30. Of course, the general public can also attend. An appearance by musician Marty Friedman and others has been announced for the 14th. A NoMaps Passport or an individual admission ticket is required to participate. Please note that the Conference Passport allows entry on one of the two days, while the Platinum Passport grants access on both days.

Urban Aquarium and NoMaps Collaboration: A Night Where Creatures Gather

On Saturday, September 16, a meet-up event will be held in the magical atmosphere of the urban aquarium "AOAO SAPPORO." The event will feature an acoustic live performance by musician Sawa, as well as a talk event titled "The Current State and Future of the Music Scene," with guests including Sapporo-native music producer Koichi Tsutaya. NoMaps Passport holders can enter, and the general public can also participate with a regular AOAO SAPPORO admission ticket. Please note that food and drink costs at the venue are separate.

The Sapporo Night Doesn't End!: NoMaps 2023 After Meetup and More

NoMaps is packed with evening networking programs! From 20:00 on Thursday, September 14, the "NoMaps 2023 After Meetup" will be held. In addition, other events include "Snack Kotoe" hosted by Kotoe Shinomiya of Jozo Inc., who will be speaking at the BIZ session, and "Snack Haruna" by Haruna Matsumoto, who placed 6th in the women's snowboard halfpipe at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.

Experiment creates a space where you can actually touch, interact, and experiment. You can casually experience the future of daily life and social transformation.

Remote Interaction Demonstration Experiment Between Sapporo and Kushiro Using the "Mado" Telepresence System

Sapporo and Kushiro connect through technology, transcending space! The "NoMaps Meeeeeeeet!!" meetup in Sapporo will be linked with the "Gocha-maze Night!" held at Minatomachi Base 946BANYA inside the Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf, enabling interaction that overcomes spatial constraints. In Sapporo, you can participate in this during the NoMaps Meeeeeeeet!! on Friday, September 15.

During NoMaps 2023, many other events and content beyond what's listed here will pop up all over Sapporo. Come and enjoy five days where you're sure to encounter something new!

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