1 Beer Gardens and Bon Odori! Sapporo Becomes a City of Summer Festivals with the 73rd Sapporo Summer Festival (Sapporo)

The Sapporo Summer Festival is held from July to August. July kicks off with the Sapporo Odori Beer Garden, one of Japan's largest beer garden events, which takes over Odori Park from 5-chome to 11-chome. The Tanuki Matsuri (Tanuki Festival), which decorates the shopping arcade for about a month, also begins. In August, the Hokkai Bon Odori, a representative event of Hokkaido, and the Susukino Festival, bustling with an Oiran (courtesan) procession and food stalls, take place. Central Sapporo is filled with a unique summer energy, making this a signature summer event where you can enjoy gourmet food, traditional culture, and a festive atmosphere all at once.

2 Enjoy Music, Amusement, and Gourmet Food at the Major Outdoor Fest JOIN ALIVE 2026 (Iwamizawa)

This is one of Hokkaido's premier outdoor festivals, combining music, amusement, and nature. Across five indoor and outdoor stages, a diverse lineup of artists spanning generations and genres will deliver electrifying live performances. The venue, Iwamizawa Park, is adjacent to an amusement park with over 40 attractions. There's also a great selection of food featuring ingredients from local Iwamizawa and the Minami-Sorachi area, allowing you to savor the unique charms of Hokkaido along with the music.

3 Enjoy 4,000 Fireworks from the Toyohira Riverbed at the Doshin & UHB Fireworks Festival 2026 (Sapporo)

A popular fireworks festival that fills the summer night sky of Sapporo. Set against the backdrop of the Toyohira Riverbed, about 4,000 fireworks, including starmines and aerial shells, will vividly color the night sky. It's a beloved summer tradition in Sapporo, easily accessible from the city center and attracting large crowds.

4 The 60th Otaru Ushio Festival Heats Up the City with Traditional Dances and Fireworks (Otaru)

This is a major event that represents summer in Otaru. The entire city of Otaru is enveloped in a festival atmosphere, starting with the "Ushio Furekomi" to announce the festival's beginning, followed by the "Ushio Nerikomi" where citizens dance together, and a powerful mikoshi (portable shrine) parade. The main venue features stage shows, gourmet food, festival stalls, and food trucks. On the final day, fireworks are launched, lighting up the summer night against the beautiful scenery of the port town.

5 Sapporo's Largest Fireworks Show: 22,000 Shells Synced with Music at the T×TGARAGE 14th Makomanai Fireworks Festival 2026 (Sapporo)

A signature fireworks event of Sapporo's summer. With a dynamic production that synchronizes fireworks, music, lighting, and flames, approximately 22,000 shells—one of the largest displays in Sapporo—will light up the Makomanai night sky. In addition to a powerful program by some of Japan's leading pyrotechnicians, you can also enjoy popular gourmet food mainly from within Hokkaido, making it the perfect fireworks festival for creating summer memories.

6 Illuminated Lavender Fields Create a Magical Scene at Lavender Festa Kamifurano 2026 (Kamifurano)

This annual summer event in Kamifurano allows you to enjoy a magical lavender field that's completely different from its daytime appearance. The vast lavender fields of Hinode Park are lit up for a limited time, offering a beautiful view of the purple-dyed flower beds interwoven with light. On the first day, there will be a countdown to the light-up and a mini fireworks display, adding a brilliant touch to summer in Kamifurano.

7 Lasers Weave a Fantastical Space Unique to the Foggy City at KUSHIRO KIRI FESTIVAL 2026 (Kushiro)

An outdoor festival that utilizes Kushiro's natural symbol, the "sea fog." At night, you can enjoy a fantastical space where colorful lasers and music intertwine in the fog-enveloped venue. In addition to a live stage, there's the "Kairo Ichiba" market with gourmet food using seasonal ingredients and a variety of other content, allowing you to fully experience the unique charm of Kushiro.

8 Central Sapporo Buzzes with Festival Stalls, Gourmet Food, and Stage Performances at the Yobangai Matsuri (Sapporo)

An annual event where Sapporo Ekimae-dori in Odori becomes a pedestrian paradise, bustling with many people each year. The city center comes alive with a variety of events, including stage performances at the 4-chome scramble crossing, the procession of the "Yobangai Hanjo Mikoshi" (4th Avenue Prosperity Shrine), amateur wrestling, "Niginigi Roten" stalls for a festive atmosphere, and a food court with kitchen cars.

9 Enjoy Camping and Gourmet Food at this Festival x Picnic: SORAON 2026 (Bibai)

This outdoor music event, themed "Festival x Picnic = FESNIC," will be held in Bibai this year. The vast venue will feature live performances by a star-studded lineup of artists, as well as a wide range of content including food booths with Bibai's famous yakitori and gourmet dishes from all over Japan, a market, workshops, street performances, and a play area for children. A campsite for overnight stays will also be available, allowing you to spend your time as you wish amidst the great nature of Hokkaido.

10 A Unique Summer Festival Where People Dance with Faces Painted on Their Bellies: The 58th Hokkai Heso Matsuri (Furano)

A unique summer festival held in Furano, located almost in the center of Hokkaido. The highlight of this festival is the "Heso Odori Taikai" (Belly Button Dance Competition), where dancers with faces painted on their bellies, known as "Zubara," parade through the town. Walk-in participation is also possible, so you can not only watch but also join in the fun. The venue also features the "Heso Tokusan-ichi" market with local gourmet food, as well as music and dance stages.

11 A Festival in a Breathtaking Location Surrounded by Cliffs and a Lake: GANKE FES 2026 (Shintoku)

An outdoor festival held in a stunning location surrounded by cliffs called "ganke" and Lake Kuttari. In the midst of magnificent nature, you can enjoy live music as well as outdoor activities like camping, sauna, canoeing, and rafting. There's also an area where you can savor Tokachi gourmet food, making this an event packed with the charms of Shintoku.

12 Fireworks and a Heroic Parade are the Highlights of Muroran's Biggest Summer Festival: The 79th Muroran Port Festival (Muroran)

The Muroran Port Festival is cherished as Muroran's largest summer festival. On the first day, the Noryo Fireworks Display colors the summer night sky with vibrant fireworks against the backdrop of the port town's night view. The second day features the "Shimin Odori" (Citizens' Dance) with about 1,000 participants, and the "Muroran Nerikomi," a heroic parade of mikoshi (portable shrines) and floats. The final day concludes with the "Yosakoi Soran in Muroran," making it a major event representing summer in Muroran, with food stalls and stage events to enjoy throughout the three days.

13 Three Days of Dances, Floats, and Fireworks Lighting Up a Port Town: The 70th Akkeshi Port Festival, 24th Akkeshi Townspeople's Fireworks Display, and 33rd Akkeshi Summer Festival (Akkeshi)

Three of Akkeshi's representative summer events are held simultaneously. Highlights abound, including the "Akkeshi Ondo Shichu Parade," where about 600 people dance through the town to the Akkeshi folk song, the heroic float competition of the historic "Akkeshi Summer Festival," and the "Akkeshi Townspeople's Fireworks Display" launched over the port. There are also festival stalls and food trucks, making it an annual summer event in the port town that the whole family can enjoy.

14 Savor Hokkaido-Grown Wagyu Beef Under the Blue Sky at the 45th Bihoro Tourism Wagyu Festival (Bihoro)

A gourmet event that represents summer in Bihoro. At the annual outdoor barbecue party, you can savor Bihoro's prized Wagyu beef under the blue sky. In addition to stage events like taiko drumming, brass band performances, and comedy shows, there are plenty of activities for children, such as character meet-and-greets, a mini train, and inflatable play structures. It's a summer tradition in Bihoro, also featuring food booths with local gourmet dishes.

15 A Summer Photo Spot Adorned with Japanese Umbrellas and Tanabata Decorations: Hoshi-furu Kairo (Otaru)

A magical, limited-time summer light-up spot appears on Otaru's Sakaimachi Street. Colorful Japanese umbrellas and lights adorn the space overhead, while sparkling lights shimmer underfoot, creating a fantastical atmosphere inspired by Tanabata in the retro townscape. During the day, you can stroll through the historic streets, and at night, it becomes a photo spot you'll be eager to capture. It's a unique summer highlight in Otaru.