Hokkaido Event Guide

Events in Sapporo & Hokkaido

A short English guide to what is happening across Hokkaido right now — winter illuminations, ice festivals and small local concerts that are rarely listed in English. Updated by hand; dates come from our Japanese database, so they stay current.

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Hiroo Santa Land Illumination 2026–2027 Free

Oct 24, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027

Daimaruyama Forest Park, Hiroo (Eastern Hokkaido)

Hiroo is officially recognised as a Santa Land by Norway. The hillside park is lit up through the winter. Free.

Yukinowa Asahikawa (Winter Illumination) Free

Oct 30, 2026 – Mar 22, 2027 , 16:30–23:00

Central Asahikawa, around Heiwa-dori Kaimono Koen (Northern Hokkaido)

Asahikawa's main shopping street and nearby avenues are lit from 16:30 to 23:00 every evening. Free.

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Lake Toya Onsen Illumination Tunnel 2026–2027 Free

Nov 1, 2026 – Apr 27, 2027

Nigiwai Hiroba, Toyako Onsen (Central Hokkaido)

A tunnel of lights beside the hot-spring resort on Lake Toya. Free, and open all winter.

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Ainu Culture Experience Day Free

Nov 8, 2026 , 10:30–15:00

Sapporo Pirka Kotan, Ainu Culture Promotion Center, Sapporo

Traditional Ainu dance, paper-cutting of Ainu patterns, tasting of Ainu dishes and hands-on tonkori (a traditional stringed instrument). Free, no booking needed.

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Sapporo White Illumination Free

Nov 20, 2026 – Dec 25, 2026

Odori Park and six other sites in central Sapporo

Hokkaido's largest winter illumination, running from late November to Christmas across central Sapporo. Free.

Classical Music in Everyday Life 2026 — Nishiokoppe Concert Free

Nov 20, 2026 , 18:30–20:00

Plum Hall, Nishiokoppe Village Community Centre (Eastern Hokkaido)

A classical concert held in a village of about 1,000 people. Free.

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Music Cruise Vol.4 — Naie Music Harvest Festival

Nov 23, 2026 , 12:00–19:30

Naie Town Cultural Hall (Central Hokkaido)

A day-long music festival in a small farming town, 12:00–19:30. Paid.

Concerts to Listen to With Your Children Vol.6 Free

Dec 19, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026 , 10:30–14:00

Wisteria Hall, Sapporo

A classical concert planned for families with small children. Free.

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Obihiro Ice Festival Free

Jan 29, 2027 – Jan 31, 2027 , 10:00–20:00

Midorigaoka Park, Obihiro (Eastern Hokkaido)

Ice sculptures and winter attractions in the park, over three days at the end of January. Free.

Chitose–Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 2027

Jan 30, 2027 – Feb 23, 2027

Shikotsuko Onsen special site, Chitose (Central Hokkaido)

Ice objects built by spraying lake water, lit up in blue at night. About an hour from New Chitose Airport. Paid.

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Asahikawa Winter Festival 2027 Free

Feb 6, 2027 – Feb 11, 2027

Tokiwa Park and the Ishikari River Asahibashi site, Asahikawa

One of Hokkaido's two largest winter festivals, known for its huge snow sculptures. Free.

Event pages are in Japanese.

Each link above opens the full listing on our Japanese site, with a map, address and the organiser's own page. Chrome, Safari and Edge will offer to translate it automatically — see how to translate this website.