Every June, the Sapporo Festival brings a splash of color to the city's early summer. While locals affectionately call it the "Sapporo Matsuri," its official name is the "Hokkaido Jingu Reisai" (Hokkaido Jingu Shrine Annual Festival). With over a century of history, this festival is held annually from June 14th to 16th, filling Nakajima Park with countless stalls, haunted houses, and other attractions. Here's a look back at last year's event and a sneak peek at this year's venue!

▼ (Updated June 14, 2026) Report from the first day of the festival! Check out the exciting attractions and food stalls here.

Nakajima Park as of June 10, 2026. Preparations for the stalls are still underway.

The area where the haunted house and other attractions are set up each year is also just getting started. But do we spot a familiar-looking hut...!?

One of the main draws of the Sapporo Festival is the vast array of stalls and attractions that fill Nakajima Park. In 2025, there were about 300 stalls, including popular favorites 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 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, June 14th (Sun) to 16th (Tue). (Closing times may vary by stall on the final day.)

From here, let's take a look at Nakajima Park in 2025! This is the haunted house.

Zombie Village

Plenty of nostalgic games too! This one is Katanuki (candy-stamping game).

Pitching game

Magic House

Goldfish scooping

A stall with popular Chiikawa merchandise.

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

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

In 2025, the festival coincided with 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) 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 Park, there is a special presentation of the mikoshi and dashi, immersing the entire city in a festive atmosphere. The Mikoshi Togyo will take place on June 16th (Tue) from 8:30 AM to 4:50 PM.

Route map for the 2026 Sapporo Festival "Mikoshi Togyo" Parade.

Dedicatory performances range widely from hero shows to Sanjo Kagura music (*photo from a past event*).

Hokkaido Jingu Shrine also features numerous stalls where you can enjoy delicious food and souvenirs while soaking in the atmosphere of the historic shrine. The festival at Hokkaido Jingu runs from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM from June 14th (Sun) to 16th (Tue) (closing at 5:00 PM on the final day). Additionally, a variety of dedicatory performances, including puppet theater, traditional Japanese dance, and jazz concerts, will be held on the 14th from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and on the 15th from 11:00 AM to 7:25 PM.

Venue map and timetable for the 2026 Sapporo Festival "Dedicatory Performances".

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 steeped in history and tradition. We hope you'll join in the various activities and enjoy the start of summer in Sapporo.