Asahikawa Winter Festival 2027 Confirmed

旭川冬まつり — Asahikawa, Hokkaido (Hokkaido)

Last updated: Sun, October 11, 2026

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The Asahikawa Winter Festival builds one of the world's largest snow sculptures, a main sculpture 140 m wide and 20 m high, beside the Ishikari River near Asahibashi Bridge. Around it are snow sculptures made by local teams and high-school students, a stage, a food market and, in recent years, winter fireworks, all in one of Japan's coldest cities. Entry is free. The 68th festival runs February 6–11, 2027, in the same early-February window as the Sapporo Snow Festival.

Background

Asahikawa's snow-festival roots go back to 1946, when the city was struggling with piles of cleared snow; a "Hokkai Winter Festival" followed in 1947. The current Asahikawa Winter Festival began in February 1960, from a wish to turn heavy snow into sculptures full of hope for children and adults. It has run for more than 60 years under the theme "a festival of snow, ice and light", in early February around Risshun, the traditional first day of spring, when Asahikawa's average temperature is below freezing. The main sculpture has been built with help from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's 2nd Division.

Getting there

Asahikawa Station is about 1 h 25 min from Sapporo by JR limited express, and Asahikawa Airport has direct flights from Tokyo. The main venue is on the riverbank by Asahibashi Bridge, next to Tokiwa Park; the Heiwa-dori Kaimono Koen shopping street, a minute's walk from Asahikawa Station, is also a festival venue. There is no parking at the venue and no shuttle bus, so take a local bus (Asahikawa Denki Kido or Dohoku Bus) or a taxi from the station; there is a taxi drop-off point at the venue.

Tips

• The 2027 dates are fixed (February 6–11); the programme is announced on the official site over the winter. In 2026 the venue and food market were open 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
• In 2026 fireworks were set off on three evenings (February 7, 8 and 11, from 7:30 or 7:40 PM), expanded from one night thanks to crowdfunding. The February 6 show was moved because of a blizzard, so check the official site on the day.
• Beyond the main sculpture, walk the rows of smaller ones: a mid-size sculpture contest for local teams and a high-school snow sculpture contest, with prizes. In 2026 the entries ranged from Pokémon to a thoroughbred racehorse and an Asahiyama Zoo penguin.
• The main stage is in front of the big sculpture. In 2026 the headline show with guest artists was on the first Saturday afternoon, with smaller stage programmes every day.
• The Fuyu Marche food market had 42 stalls in 2026. A heated rest area, the "Hotto Lounge", sits on the Asahibashi side of the venue for eating and warming up, and the Tokiwakan building and Central Library in neighbouring Tokiwa Park also let festival visitors use their toilets.
• Asahikawa is much colder than Sapporo. Dress for well below freezing, especially if you stay for the evening fireworks.
• Do not climb on or touch the snow and ice sculptures, and do not put children on your shoulders to watch the stage or fireworks; both are banned.
• Combine the trip with the Asahiyama Zoo, whose king penguins walk through the snow in winter, usually from late December to mid-March, often twice a day. The start date and times are posted on the zoo's website.

Maintained by Tetsu Yamamoto · Last verified against the official source: Sun, October 11, 2026