Just like birds migrate to warmer areas in the south for the winter, major Japanese festivals shift to the north of the country! Visiting the Land of the Rising Sun in winter has not been the preferred time of the year for many but they just don’t know what they’ve been missing out on! The most northern prefectures of Hokkaido and in Tohoku sport the best snow for skiing adventures, known as Jap-pow (Japanese powder snow,) which provides an unforgettable backdrop for many festivals. Taking place from around the end of Jan to the middle of Feb, they make it simple and easy for visitors to take in multiple celebrations in one trip. Some were cancelled this year but will be waiting for us with open arms next time - by which point we will have everything planned!
Ouchi Juku Snow Festival, Fukushima
Experience winter retro style in Fukushima prefecture’s Ouchi Juku, a historical post town with rows of traditional houses from the Edo period (1603-1867). The festival consists of various heritage-inspired events such as a historical costume contest and… a noodle eating competition! Ouchi Juku is famous for a mysterious dish you should definitely try while you’re here: leek buckwheat noodles! It doesn't mean that the noodles are served with leek sauce but that.. you need to use local leeks instead of chopsticks! The ultimate challenge for both beginner and experienced chopstick bearers.
Our top recommendation is a night stroll between rows of thatched houses filled with snow lanterns' warm candlelight, and some local propoerties even offer rooms.The fire ceremony at the start of this festival is a sight to behold, with young men dressed in loincloths manually lighting up all of the candles with flaming torches!
Sapporo Snow Festival, Hokkaido
The event that needs no introductions, Sapporo Snow Festival! It all started in Sapporo’s Odori Park in 1950, but fast forward 70 years and we have Japan’s most well-known celebration of everything winter, white and fluffy! It is held every February for seven days and plays host to incredible snow statues of all sizes created by artists from around the world, as well as illuminations and mouth-watering food! The International Snow Sculpture Contest with about 400 snow and ice statues and is a worthy show of skill and craftsmanship with teams of ice sculptors who begin work up to a month before the event on creations regularly as grand as life-size buildings!
Make sure to see the sculptures both during the day and night - the projection mapping shows are incredible. Grab a hot drink from a bar made entirely out of ice and try the local produce. After all, Hokkaido has everything a hungry traveller could ask for!
Yokote Snow Festival, Akita
The pinnacle of snowscapes, the Yokote Snow Festival in Akita Prefecture is not one to miss. It’s a 400 year old festival that brings people from all over Japan to Yokote for two days every February (usually on the 15th and 16th). The area is filled to the brim with charming igloos, plucked straight from the pages of a storybook! Called ‘kamakura’ in Japanese, you can see igloos fill the horizon with the warm light inviting you to take a seat inside. Every kamakura is equipped with an altar to celebrate the water gods, and pray with sake and rice cake offerings. All you have to do to celebrate like a local is sit down inside an igloo and enjoy some rice cakes and amazake (sweet non-alcoholic sake)!
Otaru Snow Light Path Festival, Hokkaido
Every February for ten days Hokkaido’s port city of Otaru fills with laughter, lights, and small snow statues. As it usually happens at a similar time to the Sapporo Snow Festival they can be both experienced by a keen winter visitor (Otaru is only a 30 min train journey away from Sapporo). It’s a community festival which means that you will be able to find lanterns outside of the main festival areas, in front of shops and restaurants.
The main festival grounds are located by the Otaru Canal which evokes images of a Siberian Venice. The other popular spot is the old Temiya railway line decorated with carved out snow lanterns, and small snow statues. That’s where you can visit one of the 'yatai' street vendors and try the local cuisine! Taking in the romantic evening views while snacking on some delicious hot food is the full festival experience! For those seeking excitement off the beaten path, we recommend the river area in the Asarigawa hot spring village where you can find candles placed on the river’s snowy stones.
Sounkyo Hyobaku Festival, Hokkaido
Sounkyo Hyobaku Festival is one of the best large scale festivals in Hokkaido. The event space takes up 10 thousand square metres with ice sculptures and buildings of various sizes. Transport yourself to an ice kingdom through crystal constructions illuminated with all the colours of the rainbow. The preparations start three months in advance because the structures are created by taking water from the nearby Ishikarigawa, Hokkaido’s longest river, and pouring it over skeleton facades made out of logs! You can visit a magnificent 100 metre long ice tunnel in Hyobaku Shrine, an incredible shrine made of ice which is popular among students looking for luck in exams. If you need some help with that - don’t forget to attach a coin to the shrine’s wall! But we saved the best til last - this particular festival is located by one of Hokkaido’s amazing hot springs – Sounkyo Onsen. After a chilly day out, you can warm yourself up as the thermal waters melt away all the memories of the cold.
Namahage Sedo Festival, Akita
They’re gonna find out who’s naughty or nice…. The folkloric Namahage Sedo Festival on Oga Peninsula northeast from Akita City, makes you feel like you are participating in an event that’s shaping the future of the area! It’s held on the second weekend of February and was designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
People dressed up as demons in straw clothing and hidden behind red (male) and blue (female) masks come to town dancing around houses and looking for naughty children! They also carry wooden knives which are supposed to be used for removing the skin damaged by being idle by the fire for too long! They visit houses down the road and are gifted rice cakes and sake from each family head before leaving the house. Upon leaving each house they promise good health and harvest in the upcoming year. Once they are finished with their important task, Namahage demons give out sesame-flavoured mochi to everyone who joined the event. Don’t forget to try some!
