Asahikawa Winter Festival

Asahikawa's winter festival is Sapporo's quieter sibling and is held in the same week. Its centrepiece is one vast snow sculpture on the bank of the Ishikari River by the Asahibashi bridge, a structure so large that it doubles as a stage and once held a world record, surrounded by snow slides, food stalls and a smaller field of sculptures. In the city centre, the pedestrian shopping street of Heiwa-dori Kaimono Koen hosts an international ice sculpture competition whose translucent works are lit at night.

The festival runs for six days in early February, 6 to 11 February 2027 for the 68th edition, overlapping the Sapporo Snow Festival. The riverside site comes into its own after dark, when the giant sculpture is lit and, on set evenings, winter fireworks are launched over the frozen river. Asahikawa is one of the coldest cities in Japan and the evening temperatures reflect it, so plan a short, well-wrapped visit rather than a long wander.

Asahikawa is reached from Sapporo by limited express, and the riverside site is a walk or a short bus from the station. Most visitors pair it with Sapporo and with Asahiyama Zoo, whose winter opening and penguin walk are the city's other winter draw. Expect a smaller, more local crowd than Sapporo, easier hotel bookings and a festival that is really one spectacular object rather than a park full of them.