Sapporo Snow Festival: How to See It All in One Day (1-Day Itinerary)
Last Updated on February 20, 2026 by Kay
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If you’re wondering whether you can see everything the Sapporo Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri) has to offer in a single day, my answer is a resounding “yes”.
I’ve been to the Snow Festival twice over the course of a few years of living in Japan. On my first visit, I was in my early 20s and went with my friends, and we easily saw everything the festival had to offer in a day.
The second time I visited, I went with my family and spread the Yuki Matsuri out over two days.
So, for those of you who don’t have kiddos to lug around, here’s how I suggest experiencing everything the Snow Festival has to offer in a single day so that you can make the most of your time in Sapporo.
Quick Overview of the Three Snow Festival Sites
The Sapporo Snow Festival runs from February 4th to 11th, and is spread across three main sites.
The Odori Site (Odori Park) is the main event. This is where you’ll find the biggest snow sculptures, lots of smaller displays, and the most “festival” atmosphere (plus food stalls and occasional activities). It’s also the easiest site to fit into any schedule because it’s central and accessible.
The Susukino Site is a short walk from Odori and focuses on ice sculptures (often sponsored by local businesses). It’s especially fun after dark, when it’s more interactive and the sculptures are lit up.
The Tsudome Site is the most family-friendly for pure play time. It’s a short train ride from the other two sites and is more about snow activities (think: sliding, tubing, playing with the snow) than strolling through sculpture displays and taking pictures.
How to Experience the Sapporo Snow Festival in a Day
Morning (~ 7-8 AM)
To start off, go to the Odori site at around 7 AM so you can see all the snow sculptures when it’s the least busy.
❄️ Kay’s Tip: If you’re not staying within walking distance of the Odori Site, I highly recommend avoiding taking the train between 8 AM and 9 AM on a weekday, as that’s prime rush hour traffic and the trains will be incredibly packed.
If you can try to enter the Sapporo TV Tower when it opens at 8:30 AM as that’s the least crowded time. From there, you can get a bird’s eye view of the snowy Sapporo landscape, as well as the sculptures at the Odori Site.
Stay at the Odori Site and enjoy the sculptures until at least around 10 AM-11 AM, since this is when the food stalls open. Grab a quick lunch from one of the food stalls. (I suggest scoping out the stalls before they open and deciding what you want so that you can save time and head straight there when it opens.)
Afternoon (~12:00 PM)
When you’re done, preferably before noon, take the train from Odori Station to Sakaemachi Station and then either walk or take the shuttle bus (200 yen) to the Tsudome Site to experience the snow activities. Expect the trip from Odori to the Tsudome Site to take around 30 minutes total.
Many of the activities at Tsudome are aimed at children, so if you don’t have any kiddos like us, you might find it a little boring. Don’t let that stop you from experiencing the large tube slider, though. I did that with my friends when I visited the Snow Festival in my early 20s, and we had a blast! (And yes, I did it again in my 30s and loved it just as much!)
There are also lots of small shops inside the indoor venue at Tsudome selling food and crafts.
Note that the Tsudome site closes at around 4 PM, and some attractions might close early, especially on weekends and holidays when a numbered ticket is required for the tube slider.
I think it’s best to leave Tsudome by mid-to-late afternoon so you have time for Susukino and Odori after dark. (The train will also be less crowded.)
Late Afternoon (~3 PM)
From the Tsudome site, either walk or take the shuttle bus (200 yen for adults) back to Sakaemachi Station. From there, take the train to Susukino Station and walk to COCONOSUSUKINO, which is the start of the Susukino Site’s ice sculptures. This area will be blocked off until 3 PM. After that, it will open to the public, and the sculptures will be lit up in the evening.
It takes less than 30 minutes to see everything the Susukino Site has to offer.
When you’re done, walk to the Odori Site so you can see the snow sculptures lit up. You have until 10 PM to see the light up, so if you want, you can have dinner in Susukino (I recommend eating at COCONOSUSUKINO) or just grab something from a stall at the Odori Site. Be prepared for massive crowds, though.
