The 2024 Sapporo Snow Festival, Hokkaido's premier winter event, will be held for eight days from February 4 (Sun) to 11 (Sun/Holiday)! Here's a guide to the highlights of each site, from massive snow sculptures and beautifully illuminated ice sculptures to attractions for all ages.

The 74th Sapporo Snow Festival will be held from February 4 (Sun) to February 11 (Sun), 2024, for eight days. The Sapporo Snow Festival began in 1950 when local middle and high school students created six snow sculptures in Odori Park. It has since grown into a major winter event, now recognized as one of the world's top three snow festivals, attracting about two million visitors from Japan and abroad.

There are three main venues: the Odori Site, the Susukino Site, and the Tsudome Site. The Odori Site, in the heart of Sapporo, features a variety of snow sculptures, including impressive large ones and others made by local citizens. The Susukino Site is lined with fantastical ice sculptures that are beautifully lit up at night. The Tsudome Site, located in the suburbs of Sapporo, offers attractions for the whole family, such as tube slides and giant snow slides.

At the Odori Site 1-chome, you can try curling and throw official curling stones. Staff will be on hand to assist, so even beginners can feel at ease! On February 10 (Sat) and 11 (Sun/Holiday), there will be a special premium experience with top curling teams.

THE IDOLM@STER™©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.

Organizer: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (supported by DNP Dai Nippon Printing)

A work from "THE IDOLM@STER" series, which started as a social game and has gained popularity through various media mixes, will be made into a snow sculpture for the first time. Idols from Hokkaido—Chinatsu Aikawa, Anastasia, Otoha Umebiki, Chiaki Kurokawa, Chiyo Shirayuki, Anzu Futaba, and Miyuki Yanase—will make a triumphant return to their home prefecture to promote the charms of Hokkaido. The snow sculpture is designed as a snow castle and will feature familiar mascot characters like Pinyakorata and Ringoro. Merchandise and food booths are also planned for the venue.

"Airship Orchestra" by Australian art and technology studio ENESS

The Sapporo International Art Festival (SIAF) is a triennial art event where you can encounter various works of art. SIAF 2024, the first to be held in winter, will be based on the theme "LAST SNOW." It will create "A Future Snow Town" at the Odori Site 2-chome.

"JIKU" by Seiichi Saito of Panoramatiks, a work where three light beams illuminate the sky above the venue

Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd. will install a "MUJI Hut" at the venue

©Satoru Noda/SHUEISHA, GOLDEN KAMUY COMMITTEE

The popular TV anime "Golden Kamuy" will appear as a large snow sculpture. The original work is a hit manga by Satoru Noda, serialized in "Weekly Young Jump." The large snow sculpture is a collaboration with Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park) in Shiraoi, Hokkaido. The creation of this large snow sculpture will be handled by the 11th Artillery Unit, 11th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Unit, and 11th Reconnaissance Troop of the 11th Brigade of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, who have been creating works for the Sapporo Snow Festival for many years. Their experience and masterful techniques will fully express the world of the work in a magnificent white snow sculpture.

©The Hokkaido Shimbun Press

Hokkaido is a major breeding ground for thoroughbreds. Many famous horses have been produced here, raised with love like their own children by producers, owners, trainers, and grooms. This large snow sculpture depicts a thoroughbred galloping at the Sapporo Racecourse, aiming for victory. A projection mapping show will also be held, illustrating thoroughbreds spending the four seasons and racing across the vast land of Hokkaido.

©Studio Dice/SHUEISHA, TV TOKYO, KONAMI

From the anime "Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters," the ace monster of the protagonist's rival, Seto Kaiba, "Blue-Eyes White Dragon," will be summoned as a snow sculpture! This popular monster from the official card game, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, will be born in a powerful form.

Five artists based in Sapporo (Yukari Kawasaki, Fumihide Kumagai, Ikutaro Shimizu, Hiroaki Shimizu, and Yuto Maeda) from the Hongo Shin Memorial Museum of Sculpture, Sapporo, will create snow sculptures. They will create unique works that take advantage of the characteristics of snow to welcome visitors.

©HBC Hokkaido Broadcasting Co., Ltd. 2024

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the German National Tourist Board in Japan, which has deep ties with Sapporo, this sculpture will depict Neuschwanstein Castle, said to be the model for castles in fantasy animations. Built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II of Bavaria with the concept of "the true form of an old German knight's castle," this beautiful castle is located at the end of the Romantic Road in southern Germany. It will be recreated through the skilled techniques of the Sapporo Snow Festival Large Snow Sculpture Production Committee's 3rd Sculpture Production Subcommittee and the enthusiasm of citizen volunteers.

©HTB

The motif for this large snow sculpture is the "Former Sapporo Station Building," a recreation of the third-generation Sapporo Station building completed in 1908 and used until 1952. The station building had a total floor area of 2,765 square meters and was a two-story wooden structure in the Renaissance style, representing the cutting edge of architectural trends at the time. With its symmetrical and balanced design, it became a topic of conversation as one of Sapporo's most stylish and modern buildings.

©Nipponham-m Co., Ltd., ©UHB

At 10-chome, a large snow sculpture of "ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO" and Fighters manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo will appear. In March 2023, HOKKAIDO BALLPARK F VILLAGE, an area including the new stadium for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, was born. Aiming to create a "ballpark the world has never seen before," F VILLAGE has attracted over 3 million visitors from not only Hokkaido but from all over Japan and the world.

This year, a "slide" that anyone can participate in will be installed, evolving the large snow sculpture from something to just "see" to something to "play on." Enjoy it along with the figure of manager Shinjo enjoying Hokkaido's winter sports.

Snow Miku 2024 © Crypton Future Media, INC. www.piapro.net Good Smile Company

The ever-popular "Snow Miku Snow Sculpture" is back again this year. "Snow Miku" is a character that supports Hokkaido, born from the creation of a "pure white 'Hatsune Miku' snow sculpture" at the 2010 Sapporo Snow Festival. Since then, the "SNOW MIKU" festival, starring Snow Miku, has been held in Hokkaido every year. The costume design for Snow Miku is solicited from the public online each year based on various themes, and the theme for 2024 is a "feast" inspired by Hokkaido's winter.

Marking its 15th anniversary, this year's event will also feature various projects to enjoy Hokkaido.

*Photo from a past event

The Susukino Site, centered around Sapporo Ekimae-dori's Minami 4-jo Nishi 3 & 4-chome, will feature fantastical ice sculptures under the theme of "Enjoying and Touching Ice." The large ice sculptures and sculptures with fish frozen inside, illuminated by the neon lights of Susukino, are a fantastic and impressive sight.

The Tsudome Site is packed with attractions for all ages, including snow and ice slides and tube sliders! In addition to the outdoor venue, the all-weather indoor dome also has fun activities and a gourmet court, so you can have a great time even in bad weather.

*All information is current as of December 2023.
*Events may be subject to change or cancellation. Please check the official website for the latest information before attending.

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