Sapporo Snow Festival | Introducing the attractions and precautions of the Snow Festival (Hokkaido)　★★☆

What is Sapporo Snow Festival?

The Sapporo Snow Festival is a snow and ice festival that has been held in Sapporo since 1950.

During the period of early February every year, the main venue, Odori Park, is filled with snow sculptures.

We will introduce the highlights of such a snow festival and precautions when going.

What will be held in 2021?

In 2021, it was held online due to the influence of Corona.

"You make this year's Sapporo Snow Festival!"

As you can see in the catch phrase, a photo contest of the old Snow Festival and a video that looks back on history will be delivered.

Sapporo Snow Festival 2021 ｜ Official Website

The charm of the snow festival

At the Sapporo Snow Festival, more than 100 snow sculptures, from large to small, will be on display.

There is no admission fee and you can watch it at any time during the period.

The Self-Defense Forces are cooperating in the production of the heavy snow statue, which is as high as 15m, under the name of "field fortification training".
It's much more meaningful than training in an empty space.

Then, I will introduce the work immediately. (It's from 2019)

This is also a fairly large snow sculpture, and is a work based on a freight train.

It is a vehicle called "RED BEAR" that carries ingredients from Hokkaido, and is about the same size as the real thing.

NISSIN FOODS sponsors every year and always makes huge cup noodles.

This is also about 6m high, and for some reason the right side is a slide.

There are many events

During the Snow Festival, there are stage events day and night.

Above all, projection mapping at night is a must-see. (Maybe there are no years)

Projection mapping has become widespread all over the country, but there are few events that have achieved such quality.

Projection mapping video

It is a projection mapping projected on a snow sculpture with a height of 15m and a width of 22m.

Hatsune Miku is on the right, and Kasumi Toyama (smartphone game: BanG Dream! Character) is on the left.

Projection mapping to uneven modeling should be difficult, but it was projected beautifully and the spirit of the person who made it was conveyed.

Jump ramp

During the Snow Festival, you can usually make a jumping platform in a flat park.

At night events, the players will show you various techniques.

Citizen volunteers also participate

About 80 to 100 citizen snow sculptures are made every year.

All of them are of high quality, as they have exceeded the winning ratio of 5 to 6 times.

I saw many snow sculptures modeled after the people who became a hot topic that year.

This is Naomi Osaka, who ranked first in the world of tennis.

If you think about it, it seems that some people are making what they want to make.

The choice is astringent.

There are also works that are very particular about the details.

It was a pity that it was a little snowy.

International competition is also held

Since 1974, an international competition has also been held.

About 10 countries will participate and the best works of the year will be selected.

As expected, it represents each country, and the quality is outstanding.

This is a Macau work, ranked second.

Macau is a hot area and it shouldn't snow much, but where are you practicing?

Hatsune Miku's birthplace

The developer of "Hatsune Miku" (Crypton Future Media Co., Ltd.), which is famous as a virtual idol, is a company in Hokkaido.

For this reason, we have created a character called "SNOW MIKU" that supports Hokkaido, and every year we liven up the Sapporo Snow Festival.

We also sell collaboration goods, and I bought this WAON card because I was attracted to the words "Snow Miku 10th Anniversary Limited Collaboration!"

When I think about it later, WAON already had one with a credit card, so this is sleeping in the drawer.

The momentum is scary.

There is also a Susukino venue

Ice sculptures are on display at the Susukino venue.

But honestly, it's not very beautiful.

The boundaries of the ice blocks are clearly visible, and the neon lights around them add to the difficulty of seeing. (I'm sorry to those involved)

If you put at least a wall behind the ice sculpture, it will look completely different.

It is a regrettable venue.

The other "Tsudomu venue" is a place where you can play with your family, mainly on slides, so I think you shouldn't force yourself.It's far.

Precautions for the Snow Festival

Here are four things to keep in mind when participating.

XNUMX. XNUMX.Go immediately after the event

It will be held for about 10 days, but let's go as soon as possible.

The reason is that the snow sculpture melts and snow accumulates.

In particular, some small snow sculptures made by citizens have lost their shape in the latter half of the exhibition period.

XNUMX.Go to night as much as possible

You can see the snow sculpture at any time during the period, but it is cool at night because the shadows are clearer.

Even with the same snow sculpture, I think the impression will change considerably.

If you don't have time, go sightseeing in the city during the day and visit at night.

XNUMX. XNUMX.About clothes

Needless to say, it's very cold in Hokkaido in the middle of winter.

The level at which pigeons become dumplings in places where the wind does not come.

Especially at night, it gets cold, so take all possible measures to protect yourself from the cold.

The highest temperature in 2019 when I visited-11 ℃There were days when it didn't make sense.

I participated in a suspicious person style that covers everything except the eyes, but it was okay because there are many such people.

Sapporo has a well-developed underpass, and it is helpful to be able to evacuate from anywhere at the Snow Festival venue.

Sapporo Station-Susukino Station (about 1.5km) is connected by an underpass.

I also prepared thorns to attach to my shoes, but I didn't use them.

If you follow the basic rules of snowy roads, I think outdoor shoes will suffice.
(Small stride length as much as possible. Be careful when stopping or turning around)

If you only have slippery soles, buy winter boots or learn figure skating.

XNUMX.Hotel charges are high

During the Snow Festival, hotel prices will jump.

Reasonably priced hotels fill up quickly, so it's best to book at least half a year in advance.

One of the strategies is to make the hotel as far away from the venue as possible.

If you stay at an inn along the "Namboku Line" or "Odori Line" of the subway, you can easily access the venue and keep costs down.

Nearby tourist spots

Introducing sightseeing spots that are easy to reach together with the Sapporo Snow Festival.

Sapporo TV Tower

There is a Sapporo TV Tower in Odori Park, the venue.

There is also an observatory, so if you have time, visit it.

The time zone is still recommended at night.

You can see the illuminated snow sculptures from above.

When I went, I was going down the stairs from the observatory.

Of course it is participation.

The observatory itself is not so high, so the cold was not much different from the ground.

Or I am paralyzed by the cold.

On the way down, there is a small hole for photography like this.

It may be good for people who want to take beautiful pictures instead of through the glass.

Sapporo City Museum

At the end of the Snow Festival venue, there is the "Sapporo Archives Museum" with a Western-style appearance.

The building of the Sapporo Archives Museum (now the High Court) built in 1926 is diverted.

In fiction, it looks like you're likely to get involved in an incident because you can't get in touch with the outside world due to bad weather.

"Butter corn ramen" from Ezokko Paseo

During the Snow Festival, restaurants are more crowded than usual.

I would like to introduce a restaurant that was reasonably vacant and delicious.

It is an "Ezokko Paseo store" directly connected to Sapporo station.

The specialty is butter corn ramen, and I was wondering, "Aside from corn, does butter go well?", But it was a perfect match.

It also comes with a spoon just for eating without leaving corn.

I saw this for the first time.

Although it is near the station, it is not so crowded and it is delicious, so I recommend it.
(Personally, it's higher than the famous restaurants that I ate side by side)

Kinotoya cheese tart

When you come to Hokkaido, let's eat Kinotoya cheese tart.

Recently, I feel that the number of cheese tart shops has increased nationwide, but this "Kinotoya" can only be bought in Hokkaido.

There are stores not only in Sapporo but also at New Chitose Airport, and you can buy even one, so let's eat it.

Access

The main venue, Odori Park, is one subway stop from Sapporo Station.

However, if you go about 900m from Sapporo station to the underground mall, you will reach the venue, so it is faster to walk.

Finally

I couldn't participate in the Sapporo Snow Festival because it was held for a short period of time, but I went there and it was a great answer.

During the Snow Festival, there are many events in other areas as well, so you can fully enjoy the charm of the snowy country, so please visit once.

Recommended events at the same time as the Snow Festival