Sapporo Snow Festival

About

The Sapporo Snow Festival turns Odori Park into a corridor of massive snow sculptures, some carved to the size of small buildings. Crews spend weeks building the largest ones, often recreating famous landmarks and characters in blocks of packed snow. Walking the park at night is different from walking it by day - the sculptures get lit up after dark, and the cold air carries steam from food stalls selling grilled seafood and hot ramen along the way. A separate district a short trip away fills with detailed ice sculptures instead of snow. Families gravitate toward the snow slides and tubing runs set up outside the main sculpture displays, while photographers linger at the biggest carvings well past sunset chasing the best light.