HOKKAIDO WINTER FESTIVALS 2017
1:19 AM
One
of the best times to visit Hokkaido is in the peak of winter, when you can
enjoy several snow and ice festivals throughout the island. The most popular is
the Sapporo Snow Festival, which features amazing snow and ice sculptures and
attracts millions of visitors.
The
northern island of Japan Hokkaido can be accessed by plane through Asahikawa
Airport or Chitose Airport. Chitose Airport is closer to Sapporo, which is
about 40 minutes by train. Asahikawa Airport on the other hand is about 2 ½
hours away from Sapporo. You can also reach Sapporo via the JR Hokkaido
Shinkansen, which will take you from Tokyo to Hakodate (about 4 hours) and then
take the train from Hakodate to Sapporo, which will take you another 4 hours.
Unfortunately, they discontinued the sleeper trains to Hokkaido. If taking the
Shinkansen, make sure to leave the latest 3 PM at the last train leaving Tokyo
to reach Sapporo in time before the trains shutdown for the night at midnight.
This
year’s Winter Season Festivals:
HOKKAIDO WINTER FESTIVALS
OTARU SNOW STORY
Dates: November 12, 2016 –
February 2, 2017
Website: http://www.otarusnowstory.com/
Otaru
Snow Story is an early winter festival where you can enjoy events and the snow
in Otaru. Must see is the Nikka Distillery at night where you can enjoy the
Yoichi Snow Light of the Road (Jan 14
& Jan 28).
OTARU SNOW
LIGHTING PATH FESTIVAL (“Otaru Yuki Akari
No Michi”)
Dates: February 3-12, 2017
Illumination/Light Up: 5:00PM -9:00 PM
Sites: 2 main sites (Otaru Canal
& Temiya)
Access: OTARU STATION. Both sites
are within 15 minutes walk from Otaru Station. You can also take the Otaru
Stroller Bus (Blue Line) to reach the Otaru Canal (Y220).
LAKE SHIKOTSU
ICE FESTIVAL
Dates:
January 27- February 19, 2017
Hours
of Operation: 9:00 AM– 10:00 PM
Illumination/Light
Up: 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Sites:
Lake Shikotsu
Access:
LAKE SHIKOTSU via Bus or via taxi or private vehicle.
Website:
http://hyoutou-special.asia/
SAPPORO
ILLUMINATION
Dates: November 18, 2016 – Feb 12,
2017 (Sapporo Ekimae Dori Site (Sapporo
Station Street); Nov.18,2016 - Mar.14,2017 (Minami 1-Jo Street Site)
Illumination/Light Up: 4:30PM to 10:00 PM
Sites: Sapporo Ekimae Dori Site & Minami-1-Jo
Street Site (Odori Site is closed by now)
Website:
http://white-illumination.jp/en-us/
SAPPORO SNOW
FESTIVAL (“Yuki Matsuri”)
Dates: Feb 1 – 12, 2017 (Tsudome
Site); Feb 6-12 (Odori Park Site) ;
Susukino Site
Hours of Operation: 9:00PM
-5:00 PM (Tsudome Site)
Illumination/Light Up: Sunset (around 4:30 PM) to 10:00 PM / Susukino Site Sunset until 11 PM
Sites: Odori Park (Main Site) Tsudome Park, Susukino area
Access: Odori Park (Odori Station); Tsudome Park ( Station)
or take bus from Odori Site ; Susukino Site (Susukino
Website:
http://www.snowfes.com/english/
ASAHIKAWA WINTER FESTIVAL (“Asahikawa Fuyu Matsuri”)
Dates: February 7-12, 2017
Hours of Operation: 9:00 AM -9:00 PM
Illumination/Light Up: Sunset to 9:00 PM
Sites: Asahibashi Riverside Site & Heiwa Dori Site
Access: Asahikawa Station
Website:
http://honyaku.j-server.com/LUCAKC/ns/tl.cgi/http://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/awf/index.html?SLANG=ja&TLANG=en&XMODE=0&XCHARSET=utf-8&XJSID=0
SOUNKYO ICE
WATERFALL FESTIVAL
Theme: Wild Ice World
Dates: Jan 25 – March 20,2017
Hours of Operation: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Illumination/Light Up: Sunset to 10:00 PM
Sites: Sounkyo Onsen
Access: Bus from Asahikawa - Kamikawa to Sounkyo Please
get on the bus bound for JR Kamikawa station from the north bus "Terrace
Bus Touch by Kamikawa Mori". Walk 5 minutes to Sounkyo Onsen. (Y2100
Sounkyo to Asahikawa (1 hr 55 mins) ; Y1260 Kamikawa to Asahikawa (1hr 15mins) ;
Y870 Kamikawa to Sounkyo – 30 mins)
Bus Timetable:
http://www.sounkyo.net/hyoubaku/img/access/16w-kamikawa.pdf
Entrance
is free. But a Y300 donation gives you a postcard, hot drink worth Y100 and a
souvenir cooperation ticket
OTHER
USEFUL WEBSITES:
JR HOKKAIDO TRAIN:
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/
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