Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 2027 Confirmed
千歳・支笏湖氷濤まつり — Chitose, Hokkaido (Hokkaido)
Staying in Sapporo? See what else is on in Sapporo this season →
Planning a winter trip? See all of Japan's snow and winter festivals →
- Dates
- Sat, Jan 30 – Tue, Feb 23, 2027
- Time
- 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Venue
- Shikotsuko Onsen, Lake Shikotsu (支笏湖温泉)
- Tickets
- ¥1,000 on weekdays, ¥3,000 on weekends and holidays (junior high school age and up).
- Official site
- www.1000sai-chitose.or.jp
The Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival builds a walk-through park of ice sculptures, towers and ice caves from sprayed lake water, which freezes into the pale "Shikotsu blue" of the lake. From 4:30 PM the ice is lit in colour. It is about an hour from New Chitose Airport, which makes it an easy first or last stop on a Hokkaido winter trip. The 2027 festival runs January 30 – February 23.
Background
Lake Shikotsu is a deep caldera lake in Shikotsu-Toya National Park. The festival's ice structures are made by spraying the lake's own water onto frames through the coldest weeks of winter, so the ice takes on the lake's colour.
Getting there
About 60 min by bus from JR Chitose Station to the Shikotsuko stop. There are 400 parking spaces, free in winter.
Getting around Japan
These are affiliate links — booking through them supports this site at no extra cost to you.
Tips
- Open 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM, with the light-up from 4:30 PM. Coming in the late afternoon lets you see the ice in daylight and lit up.
- Weekday entry is ¥1,000, but weekends and holidays cost ¥3,000 — plan a weekday visit if you can.
- Paths are icy; wear shoes with grip or bring slip-on crampons.
- Elementary school children and younger get in at no charge.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 2027?
- Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 2027 runs Sat, Jan 30 – Tue, Feb 23, 2027. It runs from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on event days.
- Where is Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, and how do you get there?
- Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival is held at Shikotsuko Onsen, Lake Shikotsu in Chitose, Hokkaido. About 60 min by bus from JR Chitose Station to the Shikotsuko stop. There are 400 parking spaces, free in winter.
- Do I need a ticket for Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival?
- ¥1,000 on weekdays, ¥3,000 on weekends and holidays (junior high school age and up).
Last verified against the official source: Sat, September 26, 2026
Plan your trip
- 📱 Get a Japan eSIM (Airalo) — install before you fly, connect the moment you land, no SIM swap needed
- 🏨 Search hotels on Trip.com
Some links above are affiliate links — booking through them supports this site at no extra cost to you.