Top 5 Cultural Events in Sapporo, Hokkaido

The Sapporo Snow Festival happens in early February each year, transforming the town of Sapporo into a unforgettable winter wonderland of snow and ice sculptures, skating rinks, giant snow slides, zip lines, snow domes and ice bars, and night time illuminations, all presided over by of course, the Ice Queen! There's a myriad of sculptures to see and events to enjoy across three sites in Sapporo and it's not surprising that this event is internationally renowned for its scale, variety, and sheer amount of fun available for all visitors.

This event, held every year from late November to the middle of the following February, is centered on the illumination decorating Sapporo's Odori Park, Ekimae Dori, and Minami-ichijo Dori. Since it began in 1981, it has become emblematic of the winter season. The scale and contents have been expanded with every year, and since becoming sister cities with Munich, Germany in 2002, an event called "Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo" is also held every year. There are stores not only from Germany, but also Russia, Lithuania, and India, giving the event a rich international flavor. The collaborative song released every year is also a hot topic.

Lilacs were first introduced to Sapporo by the Christian missionary and teacher Sara C. Smith in the late 19th century, and thereafter became a favorite of local citizens, with the first Sapporo Lilac Festival held in 1959. In a vote by citizens in the following year, the lilac was selected as the official tree of Sapporo. Today, it is held every year at the end of May to celebrate the end of the long winter and the coming of spring, with many events held among the blooming lilacs at the venues in Odori Park and Kawashimo Park, including outdoor concerts, a wine garden, and open-air tea ceremonies where participants enjoy tea surrounded by nature.

This festival, held every year from June 14th to 16th, has a history going back over 100 years. At the "Mikoshi Togyo," over 1,000 participants gather dressed in garments reminiscent of Heian Period picture scrolls and parade through the city carrying four portable shrines from Hokkaido Jingu and eight festival floats. A dedication ceremony is held at Hokkaido Jingu where food stalls enliven the shrine grounds, while people also gather at nearby Nakashima Park for entertainment including more food stalls and a haunted house.

The Yosakoi Soran Matsuri is a folk festival dance celebration adopted by Sapporo, in Hokkaido. Featuring troupes of up to 1,000 strong, the festival dancers are known for their brightly colored and outrageous costumes, extreme makeup, and vigorous routines, which they perform along the streets of Odori park throughout the day, and on a main stage in the evening. The dances, which combine traditional elements like the naruko clappers and the original "Soran Bushi" folk song, are often made more contemporary and vibrant, to attract and invigorate crowds.