6 Best Hokkaido Snow Festivals 2020 Hokkaido is arguably the best travel destination in Japan for winter. The beautiful northern wonderland is covered in white snow during winter, and filled with fascinating winter attractions such as skiing, hot spring Onsen baths, stunning snowscapes and delicious local specialties. And one thing you shouldn’t definitely miss out in Hokkaido in winter is snow and ice events held across the land. Not only the world famous Sapporo Snow Festival, but there are more spectacular winter festivals that are worth visiting! 1. Sapporo Snow Festival Sapporo Snow Festival or Sapporo Yuki Matsuri (さっぽろ雪まつり) is a winter festival held annually in the capital city of Hokkaido, Sapporo for 7 days in February. It’s the biggest winter festival in Japan which invites about 2 million visitors from Japan and around the world. The festival takes place at three venues in Sapporo City and displays hundreds of spectacular snow statues and ice sculptures in various sizes and shapes. There are also snow attractions like snow slides and snow rafting which are suitable for families with kids. Date: 4 to 11 February 2020 Hours: all day (Tsu Dome Site 9:00 to 17:00) Fee: Free 2. Asahikawa Winter Festival Asahikawa Winter Festival or Asahikawa Fuyu Matsuri (旭川冬まつり) is held at Asahikawa City in the central area of Hokkaido. The festival attracts over 1 million visitors every year, and this is the second largest snow festival in Hokkaido after Sapporo Snow Festival, which is held around the same period of the year in February. The festival features magnificent snow statues and ice sculptures. At Asahikawa Winter Festival, visitors can enjoy gigantic sized snow sculptures which the festival focuses and put efforts most. In fact, they hold a Guinness World Record for the largest snow sculpture-a 30 m tall replica of Korean fortress which was made in 1994. The night time illumination, special events, shows, playgrounds and fireworks also can be enjoyed during th...