Sapporo Snow Festival
Life in Japan – Issue 014 Special Edition
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This edition focuses on the さっぽろ雪まつり (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri / Sapporo Snow Festival). While this departs from the usual themes of Spiritual Japan Journal (SJJ), such as hidden sanctuaries and ancient history, we would like to share these scenes as a special “Life in Japan” photo feature.
The festival period was marked by heavy snow and severe weather. To capture the sculptures in a quiet setting away from the daytime crowds, the following photographs were taken in the early morning silence.
Overview of the Odori Site
The festival centers around 大通会場 (Odori Kaijo), a park that stretches through the heart of Sapporo. Since it began in 1950 with a few sculptures built by local students, it has grown into a major event involving numerous teams.
大雪像 (Dai-Setsuzo / Large Snow Sculptures): These are constructed by the 自衛隊 (Jieitai / Japan Self-Defense Forces). Using thousands of tons of snow, they elaborately recreate massive buildings and sculptures.
市民雪像 (Shimin Setsuzo / Citizen Snow Sculptures): These are created by local companies, universities, and volunteer teams. The displays feature a wide variety of motifs, including popular anime characters and corporate mascots.
All sculptures are demolished immediately after the festival ends for safety reasons.
会津 鶴ヶ城 (Aizu Tsuruga-jo / Aizu Tsuruga Castle) A snow fortress painstakingly recreated by 3,800 members of the 陸上自衛隊 (Rikujo Jieitai / Japan Ground Self-Defense Force) over a period of 30 days.
The White House A large snow sculpture created by the 在日米国大使館 (Zainichi Beikoku Taishikan / U.S. Embassy Tokyo) to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
中空土偶 (Chuku Dogu / Hollow Clay Figurine) — 愛称：茅空 (Kakku) Standing 13 meters (approximately 43 feet) tall, this massive sculpture was created by the Sapporo Snow Festival Large Snow Sculpture Making Committee.
北海道大学 古河講堂 (Hokkaido University Furukawa Hall) The elegant, historic Western-style building is faithfully recreated as a work of snow art.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu Movie Celebration — The Return of the Silver Star Wars Snow Sculpture A powerful snow sculpture created to celebrate the upcoming film in this immensely popular series in Japan.
Animated Character Snow Sculptures A diverse array of beloved characters brought to life in snow, including ガンダム (Gundam), 呪術廻戦 (Jujutsu Kaisen), Identity V (第五人格), and 煉獄 (Rengoku) from 鬼滅の刃 (Kimetsu no Yaiba / Demon Slayer).
Corporate Snow Sculptures (Kigyo no Setsuzo) Snow sculptures created by various local companies. Each piece reflects the unique identity of its creator through the medium of snow.
2026国際雪像コンクール ( 2026 International Snow Sculpture Contest) Ten teams from around the world gather to compete and foster international friendship. Featured here is the completed work by the team from Portland, Oregon.
We hope you enjoyed this special edition of "Life in Japan." While many of us have made snowmen, the skill required to create such massive and intricate sculptures is truly impressive. If you have the chance to visit Hokkaido in winter, we encourage you to see them for yourself. You may find a different kind of charm compared to the island's natural landscapes—a beauty crafted entirely by hand and snow.
—Written by Sumire