If you’re looking for pop colours and dying trees, this one might not be for you. Sapporo is known for lavender fields and autumn hues, but this event is on the cooler side. From 31 January to 11 February, the capital of Hokkaido embraces the cold at the Sapporo Snow Festival.

The Sapporo Yuki Matsuri’s (literally Sapporo snow festival) powdery history dates back as far as the 1950s, and since then has become synonymous with Sapporo winter for tourists and locals. The entire city will be at its cosiest, but impossibly pretty things built from snow and ice will be spread across three main sites.

Satisfying snacks, fun contests, and wintery activities — Sapporo Snow Festival is Disneyland for the whole town. And it’s free entry.

Odori Park

Grab your camera (or set your Instagram on boomerang) for a long walk in the park and admire the snow sculptures at Odori Park. Stretching as far as 1.5 kilometres, you’ll have endless food stalls, a skating rink, ski jumping, live entertainment, ice slides for the children, and even an ice bar for some sub-zero booze.

Tsudome

None is better than Tsudome for snow games. While great for children, they have something for older revellers, too. There are gigantic snow slides and a towering snow maze for you to get lost, but also indoor sites with food and drinks.

Susukino

The downtown area of Sapporo is a short walk from Odori Park, and it will definitely cut the ice. Here, most of Sapporo gets ready to watch the ice sculpture contest for who will win the coolest prize of the year. And you’ll get to have physical contact with the icy artworks at the interactive events for some standout photo art. Why should you go Susukino last? The sculptures are the prettiest at night with magical illuminations.

When is it? 31 January – 11 February.
How much are the tickets? Free.
Where can I find more information? Official Sapporo Snow Festival website.