What to do and see in Hokkaido, Japan: The Best Cultural Events

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.

Boasting extraordinarily clear waters, Lake Shikotsu is known as the northernmost lake in Japan which does not freeze over in winter. The clear lake water is sprayed through sprinklers to create the unique art objects displayed throughout the venue, including the Lake Bottom Aquarium, Hyoto Shrine, and Ice Slider. The various art objects sparkle a frozen blue during the daytime, and are illuminated in an array of colors at night. Visitors can also enjoy events such as fireworks displays and Japanese drum concerts. The shop inside the venue sells "Hyoto Candies," an original creation for the festival, and there are a number fine hot springs here and there in the area around the venue.

This festival of snow and candles is held every February in Otaru, known as the City of Canals. The historic buildings and townscape are lit here and there by warm candelight, conjuring a magical vision of Japan in the good old days. Since it began in 1999, it has become one of Hokkaido's leading festivals, boasting around 500,000 visitors in recent years. The name of the event is derived from the poetry collection "Yuki Akari no Michi" (meaning "snow light path") written by Sei Ito, a literary figure of the early Showa era closely associated with Otaru.

This festival is held every year on the last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of July in Otaru, a prosperous trade port known for its canals and historic buildings. Highlights include the "Ushio Furikomi" on the first day, in which participants parade in the streets doing a dance called "ushio odori," the "Ushio Nerikomi" on the second day, the main event in which teams both from Otaru and out of town compete in a recital contest, and on the final day, there is a regatta and parade of fishing and pleasure boats through Otaru Harbor. In recent years, fireworks displays are also held on the first and last days of the festival.

The Asahikawa Winter Festival, held in the city of Asahikawa, home of the famous Asahiyama Zoo, has been held since 1960 and is one of the biggest winter events in Hokkaido. The main venue is located on the banks of the grand Ishikari River, best known for its giant snow sculptures. The main snow sculpture in 1987, called "Gulliver's Castle," even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records (updated in 1994 to a sculpture of World Heritage site, Hwaseong Fortress). A varied program distinctive of the snow country is prepared, including giant snow slides and snow sculpture classes, while the Ice Carving World Fair is held at the same time.

This summer festival is held in Furano, famous for its lavender fields and as the setting of the TV drama, Kita no kuni kara (From the North Country). The Hokkaido Heso Festival began based on the idea that "the sign marking the center of the body is the navel (heso)," an extension of a concept in Furano's Citizen's Charter established in 1969, which stated, "We are the citizens of Furano, which stands as a sign marking the center of Hokkaido." One of the highlights is the Heso Odori, a dance performed by dancers with faces painted on their torsos. In the early days of the festival there were not enough dancers, but in recent years it has become a huge event with as many as 4,000 dancers performing for 70,000 spectators. It will next be held on July 28th-29th alongside the festival regularly held at Kitamasa Jinja (popularly referred to as Heso Jinja).

The Bihoro Furusato Festival is held every year for three days, from September 4th through September 6th, in conjunction with the annual autumn festival of Bihoro Shrine. Jinja Dori is lined with a variety of stalls offering homemade foods and drinks from the local people as well as games, and the festival offers a plentiful variety of enjoyable events such as performances of wind instruments and popular ballads on the main stage as well as an enormous maze, resulting in a festival where the warmth of the local people truly makes itself felt.

The annual autumn festival of Kuriyama Temman Shrine, held every September 24th, attracts a great many visitors because it is the last autumn festival of the year in Hokkaido. More than 300 stalls are set up, and the entrance road to the shrine is thronged with visitors. One popular attraction is the plant market, which continues until late at night. On the 25th, a portable shrine is carried on foot through the town streets amid boisterous, rhythmic shouting by the people. The festival also includes events such as a ballad-singing show and dances.

This festival is held in Obihiro every year in January or February. It started in 1964 to pray for a joyful, healthy, and culturally rich life during the harsh winters on the Tokachi Plain. Visitors can experience simulations of life during winter in Obihiro at four locations, including the many stage event at Midorigaoka Park, seeing exhibitions and demonstrations of the production process for ice sculptures in Hirokoji, enjoying curling and Tokachi gourmet foods in Yume no Kita Hiroba, and watching horsedrawn sleigh racing at Obihiro Racecourse, where the unity of horse and rider recalls the pioneer spirit of Hokkaido.

This unique festival in the heart of the Hokkaido winter has been held since 1965. During the two day festival, visitors can be charmed by the heartwarming ice sculptures made by local children and overcome by the professional ice sculptures created by the Hakodate Ice Carving Club. The enormous slide made from ice cut from the frozen surface of Lake Onuma makes those who ride it feel like a child again. The area around Onuma Park Square is lined with shop stalls where visitors can taste hot oden stew or special soups from the town of Nanae. The splendid horsedrawn snow carriages that pass by elegantly on Ekimae Dori are sure to please sightseers.