Sapporo Snow Festival 2027: A Winter Hokkaido Itinerary, and Staying Connected in the Cold
Every February, Sapporo fills its city-centre park with snow sculptures the size of buildings: palaces, anime characters and famous landmarks, all lit up at night.
The 77th Sapporo Snow Festival runs from 4 to 11 February 2027. Lunar New Year (6 February) falls in the middle of the festival, so expect extra crowds from across Asia, and book flights and hotels early.
The festival sites
- Odori Park: the main site, a long stretch of the city centre lined with huge snow sculptures. Go at night, when they are illuminated.
- Susukino: Sapporo's nightlife district, with dozens of intricate ice sculptures along the main street.
A week in winter Hokkaido
Days 1–3: Sapporo. See the festival day and night, warm up with miso ramen in Ramen Yokocho, and visit the Sapporo Beer Museum.
Day 4: Otaru. Less than an hour by train, with a canal, glassworks and old warehouses. The Otaru Snow Light Path festival, with candlelit snow lanterns along the canal, usually runs in February. Check this year's dates.
Days 5–7: Niseko or Furano. Hokkaido's powder snow is world-famous. Niseko is about two to three hours from Sapporo by road and is the best-known resort. For more on skiing, see our ski season eSIM guide.
Staying connected in Hokkaido
Your HOAM eSIM connects to NTT Docomo and SoftBank, with strong coverage in Sapporo, Otaru, the ski resorts and along the main train lines. Google Maps' train directions are excellent in Japan, so it's the most important app you'll use.
The cold is hard on your phone
Daytime temperatures in Sapporo in February are usually below freezing, and colder at night. Batteries drain fast in the cold.
- Keep your phone in an inside pocket between photos.
- Bring a power bank and keep it warm too.
- Get touchscreen gloves, or you'll be taking yours off every few minutes.
- Download offline maps so your phone isn't searching for signal and draining the battery.
Adding South Korea
Many winter Japan trips include a few days in Seoul. Add it to the same plan: Japan + South Korea. A multi-country plan costs the same as the more expensive country, not the sum.
Before you fly
Install your HOAM eSIM at home on Wi-Fi. Your plan starts on first use in Japan, not on installation. Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line when you land at New Chitose Airport.
Planning Hokkaido? See plan sizes and prices on the Japan eSIM page.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027?
The 77th Sapporo Snow Festival runs from 4 to 11 February 2027, with its main sites in Odori Park and the Susukino entertainment district.
Which networks does a HOAM eSIM use in Japan?
NTT Docomo and SoftBank, two of Japan's largest networks, with excellent coverage in Sapporo and across Hokkaido's towns and ski resorts.
Can I add South Korea to my Japan plan?
Yes. Choose both countries when you buy. The price is that of the more expensive of the two, not the sum.
