Sapporo Snow Festival 2027: dates, the three venues and the airport train
Checked against 8 official sources, most recently on . 3 minute read.
What to know first
The 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival runs from Thursday 4 to Thursday 11 February 2027, across three venues — Odori, Susukino and Tsudome. Odori and Susukino are right beside subway stations. From New Chitose Airport, the Airport train's non-reserved cars need no reservation (you still pay the fare), but a non-reserved ticket does not guarantee a seat; reserved seats go on sale at 10:00 Japan time one month before you travel.
On this page
What is confirmed for 2027
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Item | 2027 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 4 – 11 February 2027 |
| Odori venue | Nishi 1-chome to Nishi 11-chome |
| Susukino venue | Ekimae-dori, between Minami 4-jo and Minami 6-jo |
| Tsudome venue | Sapporo's Tsudome sports facility |
| Large snow sculptures at Odori | Five planned |
Odori's 2027 venue page lists illumination until 22:00. Tsudome's 2027 venue page lists opening hours of 10:00–16:00; attraction entry may close earlier when busy. This guide has not verified Susukino's 2027 lighting hours or the 2027 Tsudome shuttle timetable.
Admission is free at all venues. The Odori 3-chome skating rink and some Tsudome attractions charge a fee.
Sources for this section: Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee · Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee · Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee: Odori venue · Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee: Tsudome venue · Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee
Getting to the venues
- Odori: step out at Odori station on the Namboku, Tozai or Toho subway line.
- Susukino: step out at Susukino station on the Namboku line.
- Tsudome: Shuttle bus from Sakaemachi station on the Toho line (this guide has not verified the 2027 timetable), or about a 15-minute walk.
- Pavements: the organiser warns that roads around the festival are often frozen and recommends winter boots with grooved soles or slip-on shoe grips.
Sources for this section: Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee
From New Chitose Airport to Sapporo
Between 9:00 and 16:00, there are six Airport trains an hour from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo; the fastest takes 33 minutes.
JR Hokkaido's Airport trains have non-reserved cars that need no reservation, and you can pay with an IC card such as Suica between the airport and Sapporo. A non-reserved ticket does not guarantee a seat. In the standard formation, reserved seats are in car 4.
Reserved seats for JR Hokkaido trains go on sale on JR-EAST Train Reservation at 10:00 JST one month before the day you travel. A reserved-seat e-ticket covers the seat only: you also need a basic fare ticket or an IC card that pays the fare.
Sources for this section: Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) · Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido)
Worked example: landing on Saturday 6 February 2027
- Your flight lands at New Chitose during the festival (4 – 11 February).
- One month before, at 10:00 JST on 6 January 2027, reserved seats for 6 February go on sale.
- Book a car-4 seat if you want one guaranteed, and keep your Suica topped up for the fare, because the seat ticket does not include it.
- If you skip the reservation, you can still board the non-reserved cars with Suica, but you may stand.
Sources for this section: Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee · Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) · Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido)
Where to stay
Sapporo's official accommodation directory groups hotels by area, including Sapporo Station, Odori and Susukino. Odori and Susukino are the two areas named after venue stations, so either area is a sensible place to start looking; the distance from any one hotel to the station varies.
Sources for this section: Sapporo Tourist Association · Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee
Which choice fits your trip
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You want to sit on the airport train with luggage | Reserve a car-4 seat from 10:00 JST one month ahead, plus a fare ticket or IC card |
| You are travelling light and flexible | Use the non-reserved cars with Suica; no booking needed |
| You want the snow sculptures | Odori, Nishi 1 to 11-chome, where five large sculptures are planned |
| You are staying near Susukino | The Susukino venue on Ekimae-dori is beside Susukino station |
| You are packing | Grooved-sole winter boots or slip-on grips |
Sources for this section: Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) · Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) · Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee · Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee
Your next step
Put 10:00 JST, one month before your arrival date, in your calendar for the Airport-train seat. Then choose a hotel in the Odori or Susukino area. For how busy Japan gets in early 2027, see the 2027 crowd calendar; for whether a rail pass pays off on a Hokkaido trip, see Japan Rail Pass or individual tickets.
Sources for this section: Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) · Sapporo Tourist Association
Questions about this guide
When is the 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival?
From 4 to 11 February 2027.
Do I need to book the airport train?
Not for the non-reserved cars, but you still pay the fare, for example with Suica. Reserved seats in car 4 need a reserved-seat ticket plus the fare.
When can I book an Airport-train seat for a festival date?
From 10:00 JST one month before the travel date.
Are the 2027 opening hours in this guide?
Partly. Odori's 2027 venue page lists illumination until 22:00, and Tsudome's lists opening hours of 10:00–16:00. Attraction entry at Tsudome may close earlier when busy. This guide has not verified Susukino's 2027 lighting hours or the 2027 Tsudome shuttle timetable.
Official pages for this guide
The rules in this guide come from the official pages below. Japan, Booked. does not book or submit requests on your behalf.
- Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee
- Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee
- Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee
- Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido)
- Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido)
- Sapporo Tourist Association
- Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee: Odori venue
- Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee: Tsudome venue
Read next
- Japan crowd calendar 2027: dates to avoid and the quietest hours for big sightsGolden Week, Obon and other 2027 dates to avoid, the quietest hours at Sensō-ji, Shibuya Sky, Skytree, Fushimi Inari and Osaka Castle, and a worked plan.
- JR Pass or individual tickets?Check your eligibility, routes, and required journeys.
- How to plan a visit to the Nintendo MuseumFollow the ticket drawing, payment and QR-entry steps, then fit the museum visit into your travel day.
Sources and how this guide was checked
Published · Based on official sources · no affiliate links
Official sources
These official sources explain the rules and conditions used in this guide. Live availability and your own booking, admission or service outcome still need to be confirmed for your trip.
- Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee
What this confirms: What is confirmed for 2027; Worked example: landing on Saturday 6 February 2027; Which choice fits your trip; FAQ
Last checked - Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee
What this confirms: What is confirmed for 2027; FAQ
Last checked - Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee
What this confirms: Getting to the venues, including Sakaemachi and the walk to Tsudome; free venue admission; winter walking advice. FAQ answers without a year do not by themselves confirm 2027 opening hours.
Last checked - Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido)
What this confirms: From New Chitose Airport to Sapporo; Worked example: landing on Saturday 6 February 2027; Which choice fits your trip; FAQ
Last checked - Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido)
What this confirms: From New Chitose Airport to Sapporo; Worked example: landing on Saturday 6 February 2027; Which choice fits your trip; FAQ; Your next step
Last checked - Sapporo Tourist Association
What this confirms: Where to stay; Your next step
Last checked - Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee: Odori venue
What this confirms: The 2027 period block lists 4–11 February and illumination until 22:00. A separate notice marks the following detailed content as the 2026 programme.
Last checked - Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee: Tsudome venue
What this confirms: The 2027 period block lists 4–11 February and 10:00–16:00 opening hours; attraction entry may close earlier when busy. The detailed programme and linked shuttle information below it are from 2026.
Last checked
About this guide
What is confirmed for the 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival, and how can visitors plan airport transport and accommodation locations?
Sources last reviewed: 12 October 2026.
How we checked this
Where this information comes from
What is confirmed for the 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival, and how can visitors plan airport transport and accommodation locations?
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Question | What we found | Last checked |
|---|---|---|
| You want to sit on the airport train with luggage | Reserve a car-4 seat from 10:00 JST one month ahead, plus a fare ticket or IC card | |
| You are travelling light and flexible | Use the non-reserved cars with Suica; no booking needed | |
| You want the snow sculptures | Odori, Nishi 1 to 11-chome, where five large sculptures are planned | |
| You are staying near Susukino | The Susukino venue on Ekimae-dori is beside Susukino station | |
| You are packing | Grooved-sole winter boots or slip-on grips |
Based on official sources, linked below.
Guide updates Reviewed
When this guide was checked and what changed
- First published
- Last checked
- Check again by
- What we checked
- Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee; Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido); Sapporo Tourist Association. Individual source check dates are listed below. Susukino's 2027 lighting hours and the 2027 Tsudome shuttle timetable remain unverified.
- Latest update
- : Added verified 2027 Odori and Tsudome hours, Tsudome access, admission information and Airport-train frequency. Susukino's 2027 lighting hours and the 2027 Tsudome shuttle timetable remain unverified.
The date above reflects when these checks were last run. If an individual source was rechecked later, you’ll see that date next to it below. Other copy edits are listed in the update history.
Who edits this guide
One editor looks after this guide
Japan, Booked. is run and edited from Japan. The same editor checks the Japanese and English sources, writes the traveller-facing guidance and keeps the correction history up to date.
What changed
Update history
- Partial article update
Added verified 2027 Odori and Tsudome hours, Tsudome access, admission information and Airport-train frequency. Susukino's 2027 lighting hours and the 2027 Tsudome shuttle timetable remain unverified.
- First published
What is confirmed for the 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival, and how can visitors plan airport transport and accommodation locations?
If an operator, organiser or product changes in a way that affects the guide, we check it again sooner. Reader reports help us spot what to investigate, and we verify them against current official information before publishing. Read our update and corrections policy. See every guide's review schedule. Suggest an improvement to this guide.