Japan In Winter: Must See Japanese Snow Festivals

In Japan winter is known of extravagant Snow Festivals. IndoJapanPulse brings you best 10 places to visit this winter. People who like snow should definitely visit a snow festival. These festivals are held annually in snowy areas.

1. Hokkaido: Sapporo Snow Festival

In Hokkaido, snow starts to fall around the end of October and early November.

As the northernmost region of Japan, it sees the earliest snowfall in the country. Sapporo, Hokkaido’s center of government, is host to the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, Japan’s largest snow festival, which takes place in February.

2. Hokkaido: Asahikawa Winter Festival

The Asahikawa Snow Festival is also held in Hokkaido in Asahikawa. The city is located slightly north of Sapporo, so its snow season starts somewhat earlier.

Asahikawa is known for its Asahikawa Zoo, a famous and very popular spot. However the standout of the snow festival is the Guinness World Record-holding giant snow sculptures, which is an extraordinary scene only visible in winter.

3. Aomori: Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival

In the Tohoku region, snow starts to fall in Aomori prefecture at the start of November.

Once the winter comes and the snow starts to pile up, Aomori becomes a world of pure white. The prefecture is the host of the annual Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festivalheld in Hirosaki Park, a national historical landmark.

4. Aomori: Aomori Yukiakari Matsuri

Photo courtesy of: Aomori City Economy Dept. Tourism Division

The Aomori Yukiakari Matsuri (Snow Light Festival) is a week-long festival celebrated by the citizens of Aomori city, with handmade snow lanterns and candles. It’s very conveniently located too, in the Nebuta House Warasse West Plaza, just a minute’s walk from JR Aomori Station.

The sight of the carefully made lanterns illuminated by candle light is fantastic, and one of the highlights of this festival. During this event, there is also a Wish Candle, where if you draw a wish on the candle holder, your wish may come true.

5. Iwate: Iwate Snow Festival

Photo courtesy of: Iwate Tourism Association

At the Iwate Snow Festival you can try something a little different too. Here you can enjoy one of Hokkaido and the Tohoku region’s signature dishes, Genghis Khan (grilled lamb) inside a kamakura (snow hut)! You can try this at the Koiwai Farm venue.
In the Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, you can relax in a bath with a snow view, and at Shizukuishi Ski Resort, you can go sledding and take a snowy cruise. Plus, at the Morioka Handmade Crafts Village, you can purchase special regional handicrafts, or at the Takizawa Nature Information Center, you can go snowshoe trekking or try other snowy experiences too.

Information about this festival is frequently updated on their official website, so please make sure to check it often to learn more.

6. Akita: Yokote Snow Festival

From: Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival In Akita – A Fantastic Winter Landscape!

The first snow falls in Akita in early November. But in Yokote city, the Yokote Snow Festival takes place each year from January to February.

During the Yokote Snow Festival, you can not only relax inside kamakura (snow huts), but also see dedications of bonden, a special implement used by Shinto priests as well.

To learn more about the festival itself, check out Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival In Akita – A Fantastic Winter Landscape!

7. Akita: Inukko Festival

Photo courtesy of: Akita Tourism Federation

The Inukko Matsuri is a festival that has taken place in the Yuzawa district of Akita prefecture for about 400 years. At the main venue you will find statues of puppies made from rice flour standing guard; these dogs protect each house from burglary and are where the festival starts from.

This festival takes place in and around the Yuzawa City Athletics Gym, which is a 20 minute walk from JR Yuzawa Station. Other highlights of this festival include a fireworks display, and projection mapping, huge snow statues of dogs, and a special prayer for dogs event, where the health and happiness of dogs is prayed for.

Dog owners from across Japan and around the world come to take part in this irresistible, historical event for dog lovers.

8. Yamagata: Yamagata Snow Festival

Photo courtesy of: Yamagata Tourism Culture And Sports Dept. Tourism & Hospitality Promotion Section

The Yamagata Snow Festival is an event-filled celebration that began in 2015. It is held at the Mogamigawa Furusato Park, which is a ten minute drive from JR Sagae Station.

With a large snow sculpture as its symbol, here you can enjoy illuminations and fireworks at night in a charming, romantic atmosphere.

There are also food stalls selling gourmet treats from Yamagata and events where you can experience the life and culture of a “snow country”. There are even spots where you can make your own mini snow sculptures too, so there is plenty to enjoy both day and night at this festival.

9. Niigata: Tokamachi Snow Festival

Photo courtesy of: Tokamachi Snow Festival Executive Committee Office

The concepts behind the Tokamachi Snow Festival, which draws huge crowds every year, are “friendship with snow” and “enjoying the snow.”

It is known as one of Japan’s three great snow festivals along with the Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido and the Minami Uonu

Article source: MATCHA

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