Sapporo Snow Festival 2025: History, venue, dates and highlights explained!

" Sapporo Snow Festival ” Speaking of, A major event held in Hokkaido in winter !
This time February 4th (Tuesday) to February 11th (Tuesday), 2025 (Reiwa 7) We will be featuring the Sapporo Snow Festival that will be held in .

In the article Sapporo Snow Festival 2025 Easy to understand explanation!
Odori venue, Susukino venue, and Tsudome venue , respectively Features and highlights I will introduce you!

Besides, History and snow sculptures of Sapporo Snow Festival I will also explain.

History of Sapporo Snow Festival

The Sapporo Snow Festival started in 1950 (Showa 25) when local middle and high school students set up six snow sculptures in Odori Park. Did. Snowball fights, snow sculpture exhibitions, and carnivals are also held. It was more popular than expected, with over 50,000 people in attendance. .

From then on, Sapporo It has become a popular winter event among local residents. In 1953, a 15m tall heavy snow statue " Ascension ' was created for the first time.

In 1955, the Self-Defense Forces participated in the creation of a large-scale snow sculpture. In 1959, the 10th festival, 2,500 people participated in the creation of snow sculptures, and the festival was featured on television and in newspapers for the first time. It was done.
From the following year, the number of tourists from Honshu increased and it became a huge success. The Sapporo Snow Festival evolved into Japan's Snow Festival.

Sapporo Snow Festival What are the snow sculptures?

When I heard about the Sapporo Snow Festival, I thought, snow statue I think many people imagine this.

but" How many types of snow sculptures are there? "" Who makes the snow sculptures? ”, many people may not know.

So below, we will explain snow sculptures in an easy-to-understand manner!

heavy snow statue

• Height: about 15m
• Snow amount: Approximately 500 5t trucks
• Creators: Ground Self-Defense Force and Big Snow Sculpture Production Committee

Medium snow statue

• Height: about 10m high
• Snow amount: Approximately 300 5t trucks
• People producing: Mainly citizen groups

small snow statue

• Height: about 2m
• Snow amount: Approximately 2 5t trucks
• People producing: Mainly citizen groups

Sapporo Snow Festival venue: Odori venue

Sapporo The city center of From Nishi 1-chome to Nishi 11-chome in Odori Park A fantastical snowy world appears.

5 large snow sculptures As the main Small and medium-sized snow sculptures or Citizen Snow Sculptures , Snow Activities You can enjoy .

Large Snow Sculpture 1: "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime": STV Square / Odori Site 4-chome

Large snow sculpture from the popular anime "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime" appeared !

This is the first time in the history of the Sapporo Snow Festival that a work based on an alternate world anime has been produced. That's what they say.
Don't miss this superb parallel world reincarnation entertainment piece, depicted through large silver snow sculptures!

Large Snow Sculpture 2 "Thoroughbreds Galloping to Sapporo": Doushin Snow Square/Odori Site 5-chome

Sapporo It is a symbol of Clock Tower from, A large snow sculpture depicting a thoroughbred galloping towards the finish line at Sapporo Racecourse is.

Hokkaido Hokkaido has a long history as a major thoroughbred breeding area since the Meiji era. Approximately 98% of thoroughbreds produced in Japan are born in Hokkaido, and the number exceeds 7,000 every year.

In addition, the snow sculptures projection mapping There will also be a special event, depicting thoroughbreds galloping through Hokkaido's famous sites. Also pay attention to the speedy and three-dimensional visual expression!

Large Snow Sculpture 3: "Former Hokkaido Government Office Building - Red Brick Building": HBC Square / Odori Site 7th Street

Since 1974, the Odori 7-chome site has been used to create large snow sculptures symbolizing international exchange at the Snow Festival. From 2025 (Reiwa 7) A venue for creating "diverse large snow sculptures that respond to changes in the times and environment" Change to .

The first large snow sculpture in 2025 (Reiwa 7) will be " Former Hokkaido Government Office Building - Red Brick Building "!
The red brick building was constructed in 1888 (Meiji 21). It is currently undergoing renovation work. Reopening on July 25, 2025 (Reiwa 7) Prior to the event, a large snow sculpture of the Red Brick Government Building was created. I will.

Large Snow Sculpture 4 "Otaru Ginrinso": Snow HTB Square / Odori Site 8th Street

At the Odori venue 8-chome, the snowy HTB Plaza has Ginrinso " is now available!

Otaru Ginrinso is A herring fisherman's house built in the late Meiji period .
It was originally located in Yoichi Town, but was moved to Otaru City in 1938 (Showa 13). In February 2023 (Reiwa 5) Nationally registered tangible cultural property (buildings) Register It was done.

Why not take a look at the large snow sculpture that recreates Ginrinso, which tells the story of its glorious history, and let your thoughts wander?

Large Snow Sculpture 5 "Monster Hunter Wilds": UHB Family Land / Odori Site 10th Street

The hugely popular game "Monster Hunter" Ahead of the release of the latest installment in the series, New main monster and support character " Archeveld and Palico " appears as a large snow sculpture !

Why not experience the world of "Monster Hunter Wilds" through the impressive snow sculptures?

Sapporo Snow Festival venue: Susukino venue

The theme is “ Enjoy and touch ice ”. Large and medium-sized ice sculptures invite the audience to a fantastic world. .

Ice sculpture with fish or Ice sculpture contest works Also appeared . Photo services , Information , Food and drink booth There are also others.

Sapporo Snow Festival venue: Tsudome venue

At the outdoor venue Big slide or Snow Rafting etc. Snow activities appeared .
Everyone from children to adults can have fun playing here.

In the indoor venue Rest Area In addition, A booth featuring Hokkaido gourmet food Also appeared .
After having fun, You can taste a variety of delicious Hokkaido foods. Yo!

Enjoy the Sapporo Snow Festival 2025!

Sapporo Snow Festival 2025 teeth It's a major winter event that boasts one of the largest scales in the country, so I'm sure there are many people who want to go at least once. .
Each venue has its own personality, Another attraction is the variety of ways to enjoy it. That's right.

At the Sapporo Snow Festival 2025 snow statue or ice sculpture Of course, gourmet or Snow activities where you can play in the snow Also packed with!
Please use this article as a reference and enjoy to your heart's content!

*The content of this article is current as of January 2025.

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