Every June, the Sapporo Festival brings a splash of color to the city's early summer. While locals affectionately call it the "Sapporo Festival," its official name is the "Hokkaido Jingu Reisai." With a history spanning over 100 years, this festival is held annually from June 14 to 16, filling Nakajima Park with countless stalls, a haunted house, and other attractions. Here's a look at what to expect this year, along with scenes from last year's event!

The weather was great over the weekend, drawing large crowds of people.

One of the main draws of the Sapporo Festival is the vast array of stalls and attractions that fill Nakajima Park. In 2024, there were about 270 stalls, featuring popular attractions like the haunted house, shooting galleries, and goldfish scooping, offering fun for everyone from families to couples. The stalls and attractions in Nakajima Park will be open from Saturday, June 14 to Monday, June 16, from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. (Closing times may vary by stall on the final day.)

A look at Nakajima Park in 2025! Here's the haunted house.

Zombie Village

Plenty of nostalgic games too! Katanuki (candy mold cutting).

Pitching game

Magic House

Goldfish scooping

A stall with popular Chiikawa merchandise.

There was also a stall with long-tailed tit (Shima Enaga) goods.

Mikoshi (portable shrines) and dashi (floats) parade through Sapporo.

In 2025, the festival starts on a Saturday and Sunday, drawing large crowds.

The "Mikoshi Togyo" parade, filled with the sounds of flutes and drums (*Photo from a past event).

The highlight of the Sapporo Festival is the "Mikoshi Togyo" (portable shrine parade) held on the 16th. Approximately 1,200 citizens dressed in costumes reminiscent of the Heian period parade through the city with four mikoshi (portable shrines) and eight dashi (festival floats). In the afternoon, as the parade passes through central Sapporo, including Odori, there is a special presentation of the mikoshi and dashi, enveloping the entire city in a festive atmosphere. The Mikoshi Togyo will take place on Monday, June 16, from 9:30 AM to 4:50 PM.

Route map for the 2025 Sapporo Festival "Mikoshi Togyo" parade.

Dedication events feature a wide range of performances, from hero shows to Sanjo Kagura music (*Photo from a past event).

Hokkaido Jingu Shrine also hosts numerous stalls where you can enjoy delicious food and souvenirs while soaking in the atmosphere of the historic shrine. The events at Hokkaido Jingu will be held from Saturday, June 14 to Monday, June 16, from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (until 5:00 PM on the final day). Additionally, dedication events featuring a diverse program of puppet theater, traditional Japanese dance, jazz concerts, and more will take place on the 14th from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and on the 15th from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Venue map and schedule for the 2025 Sapporo Festival "Dedication Events".

You can also enjoy a leisurely boat ride on the lake in Nakajima Park.

Nakajima Park can get particularly crowded, especially in the evenings, so be sure to allow plenty of time for your visit. The Sapporo Festival is an event steeped in history and tradition. We hope you'll join in the various activities and enjoy the Sapporo summer.

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