Sapporo Snow Festival 2020 Guide

Sapporo Snow Festival tickets fly fast, so it’s advised to get your tickets and accommodation booked as soon as possible in order to score them at a reasonable price. If you can arrive a few days before the festival begins, tickets won’t be quite as pricey. Likewise, leaving a few days after the Sapporo Snow Festival closing ceremony will mean you save on your tickets. The dazzling crystal-like sculptures are at their most beautiful at the beginning of the week; so make sure to see them in the early February days. 

During the Sapporo Snow Festival Hokkaido, the climate is very cold with occasional heavy snowfall. It’s important to get bundled up by wearing at least three layers of clothing. Typically this means wearing a thermal first layer, a jumper or fleece, and a thick waterproof coat or winter ski jacket. Take a knitted hat, scarf, ear-warmers and gloves. Wear winter boots or shoes with ribbed soles to prevent slipping and sliding on the icy paths. Alternatively attach ice cleats, spikes with rubber bands that are attachable, under the soles of your shoes. In Japan, disposable hand warmers which are air activated are commonly used during the colder months. They can last up to 24 hours and can be bought in subway stations and shops. 

The Sapporo Snow Festival food scene is not to be missed. The Hokkaido region is well known for its agriculture, and supplies many parts of Japan with fresh vegetables, dairy products, meat and seafood. Sapporo’s impeccable culinary world is accessible and available year-round so you won’t miss out in February. The Hokkaido capital has plenty to offer your taste buds, through Sapporo street food, cheap eats and Michelin star restaurants; you will never be bored of dining out in this delicious city. When exploring the festival’s Susukino site, head to Ramen Alley for world class ramen. Ebisoba Ichigen, meaning "One vision for Shrimp Ramen”, can be found here. The restaurant serves up one of the most unique types of ramen in Hokkaido, and with three soup flavors to try from: salt based, soy sauce based and miso based being their most popular. Alternatively, head to Sushiya no Yamada in the Susukino district for a truly local sushi dining experience. As well as specializing in the fish and seafood of Hokkaido, the menu also features edible wild plants in springtime, autumn mushrooms, homegrown local tomatoes and shiitake mushrooms from Otaki-mura. There are plenty of street food options on all of the snow festival sites to enjoy the best of Japanese cuisine.