The average temperature in Asahikawa in February is below zero (the temperature at which ice forms), and the city is enveloped in severe cold. Asahikawa Winter Festival is held in early February, the beginning of spring on the calendar.

Asahikawa, an area of heavy snowfall, is known for its "snow on the doorstep! It is not uncommon to be surprised at the amount of snow that accumulates overnight. The idea was to create a snow sculpture that would give children and adults dreams and hopes, instead of "Oh, no! Since 1960, the festival has become one of the major winter events in Hokkaido, with the world's largest snow sculpture (main snow sculpture 140m wide x 20m high) and other snow sculptures created by citizens.

The 65th Asahikawa Winter Festival
Winter for Everyone" with Friends ~Next Stage!

Considering the impact of the new coronavirus infection, "Winter for Everyone" was held mainly as an online event with citizen participation. After "Winter for Everyone", the Asahikawa Winter Festival was able to be held for the first time in three years by citizens and related parties. This year's Asahikawa Winter Festival hopes to move on to the "Next Stage!" with the support of many such people (friends). We hope to move forward to the "Next Stage!" with the support of many such people (friends), and we have chosen this wish and attitude as our theme.

Ice Sculpture World Convention 2024
The Ice Sculpture World Convention 2024 will be held at the same time as the 65th Asahikawa Winter Festival. It is the only international ice sculpture competition held in Japan. For the first time in four years, both individual and team competitions will be held. Participants are selected from regional headquarters throughout Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south, as well as from overseas.

The competition consists of carving a work of art using eight icicles (1m x 53cm x 26cm, weighing approximately 135kg) in a production time of 38 to 40 hours. After the competition, they are lit up and displayed until the 12th, the final day of the festival. In front of the station, a large ice sculpture using 40 icicles will be created by Mr. Nakamura, honorary master of the Japan Ice Sculpture Association.

In front of the food terrace on 5jo Street, there will be ice sculptures made by students of Hokkaido University of Education Asahikawa.
Please come and enjoy the process of making ice sculptures in the extreme cold of Asahikawa!

Please be sure to check the official website of the organizer for information on the status of the event.