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Where to Stay in Sapporo for the Snow Festival 2027: Areas, Dates and When to Book

By Casey, Gently Yonder editor

The 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival runs from 4 to 11 February at Odori, Susukino and Tsudome. Four areas by what you can walk to, 10 hotels, Sapporo's new hotel tax, and one hotel that closes after the festival.

Last updated · 10 min read

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In this guide10 sections
  1. The short answer
  2. The 2027 festival: dates, sites and hours
  3. Odori: the sculptures outside the door
  4. Sapporo Station: the airport train and a covered walk
  5. Susukino: the ice sculptures and late nights
  6. Nakajima Park: a quieter base
  7. How to book festival week
  8. All 10 at a glance
  9. What to pack, and getting around
  10. Frequently asked questions

The 77th Sapporo Snow Festival runs from 4 to 11 February 2027, the dates its organisers announced in July 2026, at three sites: Odori Park, Susukino and the Tsudome dome in the east of the city. In 2026 the Odori and Tsudome sites drew 2.539 million visits between them, 212,000 more than the year before. It all happens in the coldest month: by the Japan Meteorological Agency’s normals, a February day in Sapporo peaks at 0.4°C and drops to −6.2°C at night.

Unlike cherry blossom, the dates are fixed, so you can book now and know you will be there. This guide covers the sites and their hours, four areas matched to what you can walk to from each, ten hotels, and Sapporo’s new hotel tax. The hotels are researched picks, chosen for location, what each property publishes and consistent guest feedback, and each was checked as operating at the start of October 2026. No hotel pays to appear here.

The short answer

If you want… Stay in Within reach
the snow sculptures outside the door Odori The Odori site, along Odori Park from West 1 to West 11
the airport train, and a covered walk to Odori Sapporo Station Trains to New Chitose Airport in 33 minutes at the fastest
the ice sculptures, and late nights Susukino The Susukino site on Ekimae-dori, lit until 11pm
a quieter base Nakajima Park Susukino one subway stop away
Snow-covered rooftops of central Sapporo at dusk, with straight streets running toward snowy mountains
Sapporo from above on a winter evening. Photo: jason hu / Pexels

The 2027 festival: dates, sites and hours

All three sites open from Thursday 4 February to Thursday 11 February 2027, a national holiday, eight days in all:

Site Where Hours Getting there
Odori Odori Park, from West 1 to West 11 Lit until 10pm Odori Station, where all three subway lines meet
Susukino Ekimae-dori, from South 4 to South 6 Lit until 11pm Susukino Station (Namboku line)
Tsudome The Tsudome sports dome, Higashi-ku 10am to 4pm Sakaemachi Station (Toho line), then a 15-minute walk or the shuttle bus

The Odori site has the five large snow sculptures, at West 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10, with smaller ones between them and the International Snow Sculpture Contest at West 11. Tsudome is the family site, with slides and snow rafting, and has no public parking. The organisers say the full 2027 programme will be posted from mid-December 2026.

Odori: the sculptures outside the door

The red-and-white Sapporo TV Tower above snow-covered ground and bare trees, with a glass office building on the right, on an overcast day
The Sapporo TV Tower, at the east end of Odori Park, in winter. Photo: Maxine Xin / Pexels

The Odori site fills the park from West 1, below the TV Tower, to West 11. Stay here and you can walk the sculptures early or late, and be back in your room in minutes when the cold gets to you. The Sapporo Ekimae-dori underground walkway runs north from Odori to Sapporo Station, so the trains are a walk away without going outside.

Where to stay at Odori

How the hotel links work: a hotel’s name goes to its own website. “Check rates” opens it on Booking.com through our partner Stay22, which pays us a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

Sapporo Station: the airport train and a covered walk

Sapporo Station has the JR trains to New Chitose Airport: the fastest take 33 minutes, and in the middle of the day six an hour run between them. The underground walkway runs south to Odori. If you are flying in and out around the festival, this is the base that keeps the cold walks short. The area around the station is being redeveloped, so expect building works.

Where to stay at Sapporo Station

Susukino: the ice sculptures and late nights

A green tram at a snowy crossing at night, under neon signs and trees strung with white lights
A tram at Susukino on a snowy night. Photo: Budi N / Pexels

Susukino is Sapporo’s eating and drinking district, and the festival’s ice sculptures line Ekimae-dori between South 4 and South 6, lit until 11pm. It is one stop south of Odori on the Namboku line, and an easy walk from it.

Where to stay in Susukino

Nakajima Park: a quieter base

South of Susukino, Nakajima Park is quieter, one stop further on the Namboku line, and still a walk from the ice sculptures.

How to book festival week

All 10 at a glance

Hotel Area Tier Best for Watch out for
The Royal Park Canvas Sapporo Odori Park Odori Comfortable The festival’s east end, by the TV Tower 15 minutes to Sapporo Station
Sapporo Grand Hotel Odori Comfortable History, and a covered walk to the trains A walk to the park
JR Inn Sapporo-eki Minamiguchi Between Odori and the station Good value A simple room between the two Mostly singles and twins
JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo Sapporo Station Splurge A hot-spring spa above the station Station works nearby
Hotel Gracery Sapporo Sapporo Station Good value Value at the station Ten minutes to the sculptures
Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo Sapporo Station Comfortable A big hotel near the trains A longer walk to Odori
Cross Hotel Sapporo Sapporo Station Comfortable A large bath after the cold A shared bath
Mercure Sapporo Susukino Comfortable The ice sculptures on foot Late-night noise
OMO3 Sapporo Susukino by Hoshino Resorts Susukino Good value A friendly base for eating out A few blocks to the ice
Sapporo Park Hotel Nakajima Park Comfortable Calm, and a last stay before it closes A ride to the sculptures

What to pack, and getting around

People walking along a snow-covered path between rows of bare trees, with office buildings on both sides
Walking through central Sapporo in snow. Photo: Cotton116 / Pexels

Frequently asked questions

When is the Sapporo Snow Festival in 2027?

From Thursday 4 February to Thursday 11 February 2027, eight days, at all three sites: Odori, Susukino and Tsudome. The organisers announced the dates in July 2026 and say the full programme will be posted from mid-December 2026.

What is the best area to stay in Sapporo for the Snow Festival?

Odori, if you want the snow sculptures outside the door: the Odori site runs along Odori Park from West 1 to West 11, and all three subway lines meet at Odori Station. Sapporo Station suits travellers flying in and out, and Susukino suits the ice sculptures and late nights.

How cold is Sapporo during the Snow Festival?

By the Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normals, a February day in Sapporo peaks at 0.4°C and falls to −6.2°C at night, with 116 cm of snowfall over the month.

What are the Sapporo Snow Festival opening hours?

The Odori site is lit until 10pm and the Susukino site until 11pm. The Tsudome site, in Higashi-ku, is open from 10am to 4pm and is reached from Sakaemachi Station on the Toho line, by a 15-minute walk or the shuttle bus.

Does Sapporo have a hotel tax?

Yes, since 1 April 2026. Sapporo and Hokkaido each charge one, together ¥300 a person a night on rooms under ¥20,000, ¥400 from ¥20,000 and ¥1,000 from ¥50,000. It applies to stays from that date even if you booked earlier.

How do you get from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo?

By JR train to Sapporo Station: the fastest take 33 minutes, and in the middle of the day six run each hour.

Sources & further reading

Festival programmes, hotel rates and taxes change. Every detail here was checked at the start of October 2026; confirm rates, room types and cancellation terms with the hotel before booking. These are researched picks, not reviews. This article contains affiliate links: hotel rates on Booking.com and other booking sites through Stay22, and tours and eSIMs through our partners; if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. No hotel pays to be included.

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