1 Popular Shops Galore! The Best Tastes of Japan Gather in Sapporo at "The 137th National Delicious Food Fair"

Image courtesy of: Marui Imai Sapporo Main Store

This is one of Hokkaido's largest gourmet festivals, bringing together popular shops, long-established businesses, and exciting new brands from all over Japan. You'll find a wide variety of exquisite dishes, from juicy regional bento boxes and seafood delicacies to live cooking demonstrations where you can enjoy freshly made food, and sweets that are guaranteed to have a line.

First-time exhibitor mindeulle's "Ttungcaron" - 454 yen each

Live cooking from Yonezawa Kohakudo: "Yonezawa Beef Steak, Sukiyaki & Yakiniku Bento" - 2,997 yen

The event features sweets making their debut, such as candy apples, ttungcaron (Korean-style fat macarons), and French crullers, as well as popular savory items like takoyaki and menchi-katsu (minced meat cutlets). You can also find bento boxes with juicy meats and fresh seafood, along with regional specialties and famous confections. Some stores will change between Part 1 and Part 2 of the event, making it an event you'll want to visit again and again.

2 Experience Winter Fun and Bonfires in the Heart of Sapporo: "PLACE1 Vol. 2: Live Wildly in the Heart of the City!"

This hands-on event takes place on the former site of the NHK Sapporo Broadcasting Station, right next to the Sapporo TV Tower. It offers a wide range of content, including a large snow slide, a free-play snow area, horse-drawn sleigh rides, sauna experiences, and live music. You can also try activities not usually available in the city, such as starting a fire in the snow, tasting delicious food cooked over a bonfire, and wood chopping.

3 An Interactive Art Exhibition for Ages 0 and Up at Sapporo Art Park: "Art Forest for Ages 0 and Up"

This popular event at Sapporo Art Park, created to provide a place for parents and children to have fun even during the snowy season, is back for the first time in about seven years. Centered around the collection cultivated by the Art Park, this exhibition allows families to experience art without worry, with displays tailored to a child's perspective and spaces where you can lie down to view the art.

Exhibition view

There are also plenty of features to get you moving, including a hands-on space with the balance ball toy "RODY," which helps build core strength while you ride and bounce, and a special exhibit in collaboration with the TV Hokkaido program "Puupuu Pa!". Another highlight is the chance to engage with authentic works of art, including pieces from the museum's collection like those by Fernando Botero.