1 Ice art and illumination created by the extreme cold at the 51st Sounkyo Onsen Ice Waterfall Festival (Kamikawa Town)

This is one of Hokkaido's three major winter festivals, held at Sounkyo Onsen in Daisetsuzan National Park. The large venue is lined with around 20 ice sculptures of various sizes, created to take advantage of the frigid natural environment, and at night they are lit up to create a fantastical sight. A fireworks display is also held during the festival, with lights and sounds echoing through the gorge in the crisp air. After viewing the fireworks, we recommend warming up your body in the nearby hot springs.

2 Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan, a phantom village that appears only in midwinter on Lake Shikaribetsu (Shikaoi Town)

A "phantom village" appears on Lake Shikaribetsu only during the winter. Igloos and experience facilities are built on the lake using snow that has fallen on the lake and transparent ice created from the clear waters. The space, decorated with more than 10,000 snow blocks and natural ice cut from the lake, is a fantastical world in harmony with nature. There are a variety of programs that can only be experienced here, including an ice bar with a beautiful ice interior, an open-air ice bath overlooking the snowy fields, and ice glass making.

3 The 63rd Obihiro Ice Festival, a winter festival packed with hands-on content (Obihiro City)

This is Obihiro's signature winter event. Everyone from children to adults can enjoy the many booths where you can experience playing with snow and ice, including ice slides, rotating sleds, and snow bike test rides. The venue is lined with ice masks made by elementary school students, impressive ice sculptures, and ice carvings, and at night, fireworks light up the cold sky. There will also be an ice market where you can sample Tokachi cuisine. This is the perfect winter outing event where you can enjoy both fun and gourmet food all at once.

4 Enjoy winter night activities surrounded by lights at Furano Kankanmura Village (Furano City)

This winter-only night activity is held at a location adjacent to the New Furano Prince Hotel. Approximately 70,000 lights decorate the venue, creating a fantastic atmosphere of snow and light. There are plenty of experiences you can only get in Hokkaido's winter, including a snow globe made entirely of ice, snow tubing, dog sledding, and snow rafting. Enjoy skiing and sightseeing during the day, and spend a special time at the illuminated Kankan Village at night.

5 The finale to 15 years of lights enveloping Jozankei: "Snow Light Road 2026 FINAL" (Sapporo City)

The "Yukitouro" winter art festival is held at Jozankei Shrine. The fantastical scenery of around 1,000 handmade snow candles has been illuminating Jozankei's winters for 15 years. 2026 will be the last time the "Snow Candle Snow Lantern" will be held in its current format. In addition to the candle area bathed in warm light and the "Forest of Prayer" where nature and digital come together, last year's popular "Yukitouro CAMP Festival - A Bonfire Where Everyone Gathers" will also be held. You can fully enjoy a winter night enveloped in light and warmth while chopping firewood, enjoying a bonfire, experiencing a tent sauna, and eating and drinking hot food.

6 Honbetsu Mamemaka Night (Hombetsu Town) is a lively event filled with demons throwing beans.

This annual New Year's event is unique to Honbetsu, "Japan's No. 1 bean town." During the "Geki Mamemaki" (Geki Bean Throwing), a succession of demons appear, and tons of beans fly towards the demons, bringing the excitement to a fever pitch. In addition to unique experiences such as bean prayers and bean showers, there are plenty of exciting events, including food trucks, stage acts, and a bean-throwing raffle.

7 Experience extraordinary activities on a frozen dam lake: "Winter Fun at Daisetsu Dam" (Kamikawa Town)

This activity event is held on a normally inaccessible dam lake, allowing you to experience the thrills and extraordinary winter scenery. The frozen Daisetsu Dam Lake is the venue, and there are plenty of free experiences available, including one of Japan's largest canyon sliders, measuring approximately 300 meters in length, as well as ice fishing, playing in the snow, and a warm tent experience. For an additional fee, you can also take part in the "Unexplored Lands Cruise to View the Mysterious Snow Cornice and Lake Ice," which takes you deep into the frozen lake, and enjoy other activities such as an ice carousel that rotates on the ice, as well as fat biking and snowshoeing.

8 A fantastic winter show of light and sound, "Otofuke Tokachi River Swan Festival <Sairinka®>" (Otofuke Town)

This fantastical winter entertainment, featuring sound and light, is held in sub-zero temperatures at Tokachigawa Onsen. The venue is filled with the light of approximately 600 large and small triangular pyramid objects made from agricultural insulation material, which sparkle rhythmically in time with the music. The dynamic lighting illuminating the snow and forest from the observation deck is a spectacular sight. There are also plenty of other features to make your nighttime stroll even more enjoyable, such as snow rafting and a rest area where you can enjoy a warm meal or drink.

9 Fireworks and ice art sparkling in the clear winter sky at the 52nd Higashikawa Ice Festival (Higashikawa Town)

This annual winter event is a symbol of Higashikawa Town. At the venue, an ice sculpture contest is held, with participants competing to see who can create the most impressive ice sculptures within a limited 24-hour timeframe, and impressive ice sculptures are lined up in rows. Other highlights include the snow sculptures made by groups, and the mini snowmen and ice lanterns that are displayed around the venue. A fireworks display is also held on the first night, and the spectacle against the clear winter sky is a must-see.

10 Start the year with a full-speed sprint at the ESCON "2026 ESCON Field Katsuo, Katsume, and Katsu-katsu Race" (Kitahiroshima City)

Hokkaido Ballpark F Village is holding a special New Year's event for the first time. Participants will race along a special 400m course set up at ground level at Escon Field HOKKAIDO, aiming for Escon Shrine. There are three divisions: men's, women's, and 5th and 6th grade elementary school students. The winner of each race will receive a special prize, including the right to make the first pitch.