The coldest time of the year is the perfect time to enjoy a festival in the snow! The Asahikawa Winter Festival is held every year amid the harsh cold, with average temperatures in February falling below freezing. Unique to one of Hokkaido's snowiest regions, the powerful main snow sculpture is said to be one of the world's largest and is truly a sight to behold.

©Asahikawa City

This year marks the 65th festival, themed "'Everyone's Winter' is with Friends ~Next Stage!~," and in an exciting first, it will feature Dragon Quest! Don't miss the Dragon Quest-themed attractions appearing throughout the venue.

Popular Characters from the Dragon Quest Series Appear in the Main Snow Sculpture!

©ARMOR PROJECT/BIRD STUDIO/SQUARE ENIX

The main snow sculpture, one of the largest in the world, measures 140 meters wide and 20 meters high. Against the backdrop of a snow castle expressing the world of Square Enix's masterpiece "Dragon Quest," popular characters from the series like Slime, Dracky, and the Dragonlord will appear alongside Asahikawa's city mascot, Asappy. There will also be a giant snow maze featuring Dragon Quest.

Thrilling Fun! A 100-Meter-Long Giant Slide and Plenty of Activities

A giant ice slide, where you can glide down from the top of the massive snow sculpture, is set up at the venue and is a huge hit every year! There are plenty of other activities too, including snow rafting, snow tubing, mini snowman decorating, a zip line, and kinetic machine gymnastics, as well as fun stage events. You'll want to stay and play for hours. Since the venue is outdoors, make sure to bundle up warmly before you go.

A Show of Light and Sound Illuminates the Winter Sky at Night

*Photo is from last year.

Every day during the festival from 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM, you can enjoy a spectacular fireworks display synchronized with a show on the main snow sculpture's special stage. The powerful snow sculptures and the fireworks coloring the clear winter night sky create a magical, festive atmosphere.

Beat the Cold with Warm Gourmet Food and Local Sake!

The "Winter Marche" (10:00 AM - 8:00 PM) will also be held at the venue, featuring over 30 stalls selling authentic Asahikawa ramen, representative local gourmet dishes, regional cuisine made with carefully selected ingredients, and original festival menu items. As official Dragon Quest gourmet food, "Slime Bun" meat buns and custard buns will also be on sale! For those who enjoy a drink, the "Northern Hokkaido Sake Bar in Asahikawa Winter Festival" (12:00 PM - 8:00 PM), where you can enjoy a variety of local sake from the Northern Hokkaido area, is also recommended.

Don't Miss the Official Shop Selling Dragon Quest Merchandise!

The official Asahikawa Winter Festival shop (9:00 AM - 8:00 PM) will be open at the venue. It will sell official merchandise like the "Asappy x Yukirin Pin Badge" and the "Dragon Quest Slime Pin Badge" featuring a special winter festival version of Slime, as well as other official Dragon Quest goods and various souvenirs. Be sure to check it out!

After the Festival, Enjoy the Illuminations in Central Asahikawa

On Heiwa Dori Kaimono Koen, which extends from JR Asahikawa Station, works from the Ice Sculpture World Championship will be on display and fantastically lit up at night. Why not stop by before or after visiting the festival?

The Asahikawa Winter Festival takes full advantage of the harsh cold and snow to let you thoroughly enjoy the charms of winter. So dress warmly and come join the fun.

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