Asahikawa Winter Festival
Hokkaido's second-biggest snow fest pairs colossal stage-sized snow sculptures by the Ishikari River with an international ice-carving championship.
When · Where
- When
- 2027/02/05 – 2027/02/08
- Where
- Asahibashi riverside site & Heiwa-dori shopping park（Asahibashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido）
- City
- Sapporo
- Getting there
- Shuttle/bus from JR Asahikawa Station
- Price
- Free
- Organizer
- Asahikawa Winter Festival Executive Committee
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- Shuttle/bus from JR Asahikawa Station Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- families, groups of friends
Highlights
- Gigantic snow sculpture used as a live stage
- Ice Sculpture World Championship
- Snow slides, sleigh rides, ice bar
Background & story
Held since 1960, the festival once built the Guinness-record largest snow sculpture and remains a Hokkaido winter highlight.
Good to know
Pair it with the Sapporo Snow Festival in early February — they overlap most years. Confirm 2027 dates on the official site.