Hokkaido – Asahikawa Winter Festival

Asahikawa Winter Festival, also known as the Asahikawa Snow Festival, is a major annual winter event held in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. The festival began in 1947, making it one of the oldest snow festivals in Japan. It was created to bring cheer and attract visitors during the harsh winter months. Over the decades, the festival has grown in size and popularity, now drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world. The festival is renowned for its large and intricate snow sculptures. These can range from smaller, detailed pieces to massive structures often depicting famous characters, scenes from popular culture, historical events, or local folklore. In addition, the festival features beautiful ice sculptures that are particularly striking when illuminated at night. 

The main festival site is usually around the Asahibashi Bridge area, where the largest snow sculptures are displayed. This area hosts a large number of ice sculptures and is a popular spot for visitors to take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the winter art. The Asahikawa Winter Festival offers a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of winter through artistic and cultural displays, and is a must-visit event for anyone travelling to Hokkaido during the winter months.