Hokkaido in Winter 2026–27: Snow Festival, Drift Ice, Powder Snow and a 7-Day Itinerary

Hokkaido in winter is one of the most beautiful places in Japan, and one of the most different. Japan’s northern island gets deep, dry snow from December to March, and the season is full of things you can’t do anywhere else in the country: the Sapporo Snow Festival, drift ice along the Sea of Okhotsk, some of the best powder skiing in the world, and hot springs with snow falling around you. Here’s when to go, what’s on in the 2026–27 season, a 7-day route, and what to expect from the cold.

Sapporo Snow Festival 2027

The 77th Sapporo Snow Festival is set for 4 to 11 February 2027. The main site runs along Odori Park in the city center, with large snow sculptures lit up in the evening, and there are two more sites: ice sculptures in Susukino and a family area with snow slides at Tsudome. It’s the busiest week of the Hokkaido winter, so book hotels in Sapporo early. If you’d like a quieter week, go before or after and still see the city under snow.

Drift ice on the Sea of Okhotsk

Each winter, sea ice drifts down from the north and reaches Hokkaido’s northeast coast around Abashiri and Monbetsu. The season usually runs from late January to mid-March, and early February to early March is the best time to see it. In 2026, Abashiri recorded its first drift ice on 22 January. Icebreaker cruises, the Aurora from Abashiri and the Garinko from Monbetsu, take you out among the floes, but they depend on where the wind has pushed the ice that day, so build a spare day into your plans.

Skiing and powder snow

Niseko, about two hours from Sapporo, is famous for light, dry powder. For the 2026–27 season, the Niseko United resorts plan to open on 28 November 2026, with Annupuri and Grand Hirafu running until early May. January and February usually have the deepest snow. Furano and Rusutsu are good alternatives, and quieter.

A 7-day Hokkaido winter itinerary

Days 1 and 2, Sapporo. See Odori Park, the Sapporo Beer Museum, and the city’s famous miso ramen and crab. If you’re there during the Snow Festival, give it an evening when the sculptures are lit.

Day 3, Otaru. This old port town, about 40 minutes from Sapporo by train, has a canal lined with stone warehouses and glass workshops that look lovely under snow.

Day 4, Asahikawa and the Asahiyama Zoo. In winter, usually from late December to mid-March and depending on the snow, the zoo’s king penguins go for a walk through the grounds. Continue to a hot-spring ryokan for the night.

Days 5 and 6, the drift-ice coast. Head east to Abashiri for an icebreaker cruise, or, if you’d rather ski, swap these days for Niseko.

Day 7, back to Sapporo, or fly home from Memanbetsu airport near Abashiri.

Our Hokkaido Wilderness, Wildlife and Thermal Hot Springs tour shows another way to see the island, and our Hokkaido page has more.

How cold is it, and what to pack

Very cold by most American standards. In Sapporo, daytime highs hover around freezing in January and February, and inland and on the northeast coast it’s colder still, with strong wind on the drift-ice cruises. Pack thermal layers, a warm waterproof coat, a hat and gloves, and boots with good grip, because sidewalks are often icy. Indoors, trains, shops and hotels are well heated, so layers you can take off are better than one heavy sweater.

Getting there and around

Most people fly from Tokyo to New Chitose Airport near Sapporo, about an hour and a half. The shinkansen reaches southern Hokkaido at Hakodate, but the extension to Sapporo isn’t now expected until around 2039. In winter, trains are reliable on the main lines, but heavy snow can delay them and close roads, so a private driver who knows winter roads is a real help on the longer legs.

When to go

December brings the first heavy snow and Christmas lights. January is the coldest month, with the deepest powder. February has the Snow Festival and the drift ice. By March the days are longer and the snow starts to soften. For one trip that covers the festival and the ice, go in the first half of February. Our best time to visit Japan page covers the rest of the year.

Planning it with Absolute Asia Tours

Absolute Asia Tours has planned private trips in Asia since 1989. In Hokkaido in winter, that means a private guide and driver for the snowy roads, ryokan with hot springs, and icebreaker tickets and festival hotels booked early. We’re rated 4.8 out of 5 across about 900 traveler reviews. Have a look at our Japan tours or tell us your dates.

Sources (read in Japanese): Hokkaido Shimbun and Sapporo City on the 2027 Snow Festival; Abashiri City on the 2026 drift ice; Niseko United on the 2026–27 season; Asahikawa City and Japanese travel guides on the penguin walk; Hokkaido Shimbun on the shinkansen extension. Last checked October 2026.

Photo: Eckhard Pecher, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5.

Hokkaido in winter: FAQ

When is the Sapporo Snow Festival in 2027?

From 4 to 11 February 2027, at Odori Park, Susukino and the Tsudome site.

When is the best time to see drift ice in Hokkaido?

Usually early February to early March, along the coast around Abashiri and Monbetsu. The ice arrives in late January in a typical year.

Is Hokkaido worth visiting in winter?

Yes. Winter is Hokkaido’s most distinctive season, with the Snow Festival, drift ice, powder skiing and hot springs in the snow.

How cold is Hokkaido in January?

In Sapporo, daytime highs hover around freezing in January, and inland areas and the northeast coast are colder. Bring thermal layers, a waterproof coat and boots with good grip.

When does the ski season start in Niseko?

The Niseko United resorts plan to open on 28 November 2026 for the 2026–27 season, with the best snow usually in January and February.