Check out our growing community of students
learning Japanese @ YesJapan.com.

YesJapan.com Japanese Lessons | Japanese Music MP3 Site | Japanese Interpreter



Sapporo Snow Festival

A Must See Event

The Sapporo Snow Festival, one of Japan's largest winter events, teams from many countries gather in Sapporo's Odori Park, the grounds of the Self Defense Force Base in Makomanai and the main street in Susukino to an array of ice sculptures and even ice buildings.

Sinbad
Large snow statues are built by
many international teams.
Tower
The ice sculptures are functional.
There is even an ice stage.


About two million people came to the annual event last year to see the hundreds of beautiful snow statues. For seven days every February these statues and sculptures, both large and small, turn Sapporo into a winter dreamland of crystal-like ice and white snow.

During the festival, you might be lucky to see an up and coming J-pop music group or teeny bop idol give a mini concert. Magic shows, quiz games etc. are also a part of the entertainment.

Ice Sculptures
Ice sculptures line the street.


History

The Festival began in 1950, when some high school students made six snow statues in Odori Park. In 1955 the Self Defense Force joined in and built the very first massive snow statues, for which the Snow Festival has become famous. The Festival has grown from these humble beginnings to become the biggest and most well-known of Hokkaido's winter events and a snow festival of international caliber.

  Roman Ice Buiding
Click on each picture to enlarge.

Ice Stage
Magic shows, mini concerts etc.
are also part of the festival.
Glossary of Terms

Play

yuki snow

Play

koori ice

Play

setsuzou snow statue, sculpture

Play

hyouzou ice statue, sculpture

Play

Sapporo major city on Japan's northern-most island of Hokkaidou

Play

Hokkaidou Japan's northern-most island
©2004-2011 YesJapan Corporation