2026 Hokkaido Snow Festivals Tour #2 Photos

Snow Festivals, Penguin Walks & Winter Fun in Hokkaido

Our 2026 Hokkaido Snow Festivals Tour #2 was filled with snowy sights, local flavors, and winter memories across Japan’s northern island! We explored the sparkling Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, the famous Sapporo Snow Festival, the giant snow sculptures of the Asahikawa Winter Festival, and the glowing Otaru Snow Light Path Festival. Along the way, we enjoyed Hokkaido favorites like fresh seafood, ramen, Royce’ chocolates, and sake tastings, plus fun experiences like making ice cream with fresh Hokkaido milk and watching the popular Penguin Walk at Asahiyama Zoo. Between relaxing onsen stays, shopping stops, and beautiful winter scenery, this chilly adventure was shared with a great group led by Tour Managers Darren Upchurch and Johanna Bugarin.

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Tour Manager Darren Upchurch at Centrair Hotel at the Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya.

Samurai x Ninja display at the airport.

Chubu Centrair International Airport, Nagoya

The next day we flew from Nagoya to Chitose and took a bus ride to our first destination.

Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

The festival is a fantastic world of ice featuring various snow and ice sculptures created from the water of the nearby lake.

We checked into the Noboribetsu Grand Hotel and ate a buffet dinner there.

The Yukijin (demons) by the Noboribetsu Onsen area.

Ready for day 4!

All bundled up and ready for the cold weather.

Lots of snow everywhere in Noboribetsu.

We arrived in Shiraoi to visit the National Ainu Museum UPOPOY.

Our ride around the area.

Walking to the village area.

The museum was created to promote a proper understanding and awareness of Ainu history and culture in Japan and elsewhere out of respect for the dignity of the indigenous Ainu people.

Hanging dried salmon.

We learned a lot about the Ainu people and culture.

After the museum, we visited Koropokkuru to learn how to make ice cream using fresh Hokkaido milk!

Another Yukijin in Noboribetsu.

We transferred to Sapporo where it was snowing!

View from our hotel in Sapporo.

We started day 5 with the Sapporo Snow Festival at Odori Park.

The weather was good and the sculptures were amazing!

The Sapporo TV Tower.

Cup O Noodles character.

The Olympic rings at Odori Park.

Then we checked out the Susukino Ice World, which is close to Odori Park.

The intricate ice sculptures were fantastic.

We then stopped at a local Wholesale Seafood Market.

At Kitanogurume, we picked out giant "live" crabs for a photo.

The live crabs.

After the pics we were served some delicious fresh crab legs!

Our crab legs came with a Kaisen Donburi.

So ono and fresh!

Our last stop was the Royce' Cacao & Chocolate Farm.

We interacted with the displays, made and tasted the delicious chocolate.

Tons of leisure time in Sapporo to explore everything.

Tour members enjoying the evening.

Some took the trains to explore Sapporo.

Odori Park sculptures illuminated at night.

Pole Town is an underground walkway that runs from Odori park to the nightlife district in Susukino.

Tour Manager Darren Upchurch found his Koreisha Mark sticker from Daiso.

Mr Donut x Godiva Chocolates! Yum!

Sapporo Beer Museum

Espresso D Works dessert!

On Superbowl Sunday, some of the group members got together to watch the Superbowl!

Shiroi Koibito Park in Sapporo.

Next up was the Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, Japan.

The zoo allows you to get pretty close to the animals.

The “Penguin Walk,” in which the zoo’s penguins walk along a 500 meter snow covered walkway.

Our night stay at OMO7 Asahikawa by Hoshino Resorts.

Inside the hotel.

The next day we visited one of the most popular winter festivals in Hokkaido, the Asahikawa Winter Festival.

There are food vendors at the festival if you get hungry.

After lunch, we left Asahikawa for Otaru.

Then we stopped by the Otaru Canal for some pics.

We took in the sights at the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival.

The event features thousands of candles illuminating Otaru.

A bit nippy in Otaru.

Tonkatsu dinner in Otaru.

We checked into the Grand Park Otaru.

It's a 4-star luxury hotel in Sapporo.

Coastal views from the hotel.

Views of Otaru.

On our final day of the trip, we stopped by the Tanaka Sake Brewery in Otaru.

And learned a lot about sake.

We took a tour of the brewery.

And learned how sake is made.

After spending the rest of the day shopping, we arrived at New Chitose Airport.

We departed on Japan Airlines for Haneda International Airport.

New airline?

Ready to head back to Hawaii.

Resting before the long flight home.

Tons of new memories and new friendships made, until the next time Hokkaido!

Check out more Hokkaido Snow Festival Land Tours.

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2026 Hokkaido Snow Festivals Tour #2 Photos

Snow Festivals, Penguin Walks & Winter Fun in Hokkaido

Travel Photo Gallery

Explore more adventures in our photo and video galleries below!