10 Magical Winter Festivals in Japan You Have to Experience

Japan is famous for amazing food, beautiful temples, and neon-lit cityscapes, but did you know that it’s also home to some of the most magical winter celebrations in the world? When the temperatures drop, parts of the country transform into a snowy wonderland filled with glowing lanterns, massive ice sculptures, and cozy traditions that’ll make you fall in love with winter all over again. From wandering through candle-lit canals in Otaru to stepping inside a snow hut in Yokote or watching fireworks light up the sky in Chichibu, each festival brings its own kind of magic. Here are some winter festivals across Japan you definitely won’t want to miss.

The Meaning Behind Japan’s Winter Festivals

Japan’s winter festivals are more than just beautiful displays of snow and light; they’re rooted in age-old traditions that celebrate nature, community, and resilience. Long ago, many of these events began as ways for locals to pray for a good harvest and give thanks to the deities that watched over them through the cold months. In snowy regions like Hokkaido and Akita, people found joy in the season by building snow huts, lighting candles, and gathering together to turn winter’s chill into something magical.

Over time, those small, heartfelt traditions grew into the dazzling celebrations we know today. Some, like Yokote’s Kamakura Festival, still hold onto their spiritual roots, while others, like the Sapporo Snow Festival, were born more recently as a way to bring people together and spread cheer. No matter where you go, each winter festival in Japan carries the same spirit: finding warmth, light, and connection in the heart of winter.

Winter Festivals You Can’t Miss

Chichibu Night Festival

An annual festival held on the 2nd and 3rd of December in Chichibu, Saitama prefecture, the Chichibu Night Festival is celebrated for its massive yatai and kasaboko floats, along with a stunning fireworks display that lights up the winter sky. It has a history of over 300 years and is considered one of Japan’s three greatest float festivals, even earning recognition as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event. The floats turn into moving stages for traditional Shinto music, dance, and performances as locals pull them through the streets and up a steep hill, showcasing incredible teamwork and community spirit. Rooted in folklore, the festival’s rituals are said to tell the love story between the deity Myōken and the dragon god of Mt. Bukō, with ceremonies at Suwa Shrine honoring their mythical connection.

Dates: December 2nd – December 3rd

Location: Chichibu

Website: https://www.chichibu-matsuri.jp/

Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Fire Festival

Every January, the peaceful hot spring town of Nozawa Onsen lights up – literally. The Dosojin Fire Festival is one of Japan’s most famous winter events, held to honor the guardian gods who protect the village and bring good fortune. Locals spend days building a massive wooden shrine, which becomes the center of the celebration. At night, the scene turns electric as villagers try to set it on fire while others defend it, creating a fiery spectacle against the snow. When the flames finally rise, it’s said to bring warmth, renewal, and luck for the year ahead.

Dates: January 15th

Location: Nozawa Onsen

Website: https://www.nozawakanko.jp/

Kawaguchiko Winter Fireworks

Located right at the base of Mount Fuji, Kawaguchiko feels like stepping into a postcard, especially in winter. From late January to mid-February, the town turns into a dreamy winter spot during the Kawaguchiko Winter Fireworks. On a clear day, you get that perfect view of Mount Fuji towering over the snowy landscape, and honestly, it is one of those moments that does not feel real until you are standing there. On select nights, fireworks sparkle over the lake with Fuji in the background, and it truly feels like a scene from a movie. With warm drinks, tasty local food stalls, and cozy bonfires to gather around, it is the kind of place where you can slow down, take in the view, and enjoy winter at its most peaceful.

Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday from January 24th – February 22nd, with an additional day on Monday, February 23rd

Location: Lake Kawaguchi

Website: https://fujisan.ne.jp/en/pages/403/

Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival

The Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival has been running for more than 40 years, and it takes place in Sounkyo Onsen in Hokkaido from late January to early March. The festival features illuminated ice sculptures, an ice climbing experience, and an icefall shrine, among other things. At Hyobaku Shrine, visitors often press coins into the icy walls as a wish for success and good fortune. If the coin stays in place, it is believed your luck will too! Another highlight of the event is walking through the 100-meter (328-foot) ice tunnel, an impressive frozen passage that feels like stepping inside a glacier, or even another world.

Dates: late January – Early March (2025 edition was 1/25/25 through 3/9/25, for reference)

Location: Sounkyo Onsen

Website: https://sounkyo.net/hyoubaku/

Sapporo Snow Festival

Located in the famous prefecture of Hokkaido, the Sapporo Snow Festival is Japan’s largest winter event held annually from February 4th to February 11th. It’s known for its giant, life-size snow sculptures, including replicas of famous buildings and castles. Due to their massive size, some sculptures need assistance from the Japanese army to move. The festival takes place at three distinct locations: Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome. Odori Park is known for its enormous snow sculptures and snow-themed booths, with sculptures illuminated at night. Suskino showcases intricate, sparkling ice sculptures. For families with children, Tsudome offers a play site with snow slides and interactive activities.

Dates: February 4th – February 11th

Locations: Odori Park, Susukino, Tsudome

Website: https://www.snowfes.com/?stt_lang=en

Asahikawa Winter Festival

Hokkaido’s second-largest winter celebration, the Asahikawa Winter Festival, runs for about a week in early February, taking place at the same time as the Sapporo Snow Festival. It’s known for its enormous snow sculptures along the Ishikari River and smaller ice sculptures lining Heiwa Dori, where an international ice sculpture competition is held. At night, the displays are beautifully illuminated. Families can enjoy snowball fights, mini sledding hills, workshops, and even an ice bar, while the festival closes with a lively fireworks show. Some of Asahikawa’s past snow sculptures have even earned Guinness World Records for their incredible size and detail.

Dates: February 4th – February 11th

Locations: Ishikari River, Heiwa Dori Shopping Street

Website: https://asahikawa-winterfes.jp/#festival

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is an annual event held in Otaru, Hokkaido prefecture, in early to mid-February. What makes this festival stand out from the Sapporo festival is its main show: hundreds of floating candles and illuminated snow statues along the city’s historic Otaru canal and former railway line. The festival also has ice sculptures. The main sites are Otaru Canal and the former Japan National Railways Temiya Line, but there are also displays at Asarigawa Onsen Village and in other parts of the city.

Dates: February 7th – February 14th

Location: Otaru Canal, Former Japanese National Railways, Temiya Line

Website: http://yukiakarinomichi.org/?page_id=96

Aizu Painted Candle Festival

The Aizu Painted Candle Festival celebrates a long-standing local craft: the art of hand-painted candles that light up Tsurugajo Castle and Oyakuen Garden with a warm, golden glow. Each of the roughly 10,000 candles is carefully decorated with delicate designs and patterns that reflect Aizu’s culture and centuries-old stories. Visitors can even join candle-painting workshops, offering a hands-on way to experience this beloved local tradition and take home a piece of its charm. This festival takes place at Tsurugajo Castle and Oyakuen Garden in Fukushima prefecture on the second Friday and Saturday of February, with the dates for 2026 falling on the 13th and 14th.

Dates: February 13th – February 14th

Location: Tsuruga Castle, Oyaku Garden

Website: https://www.aizu.com/erousoku/

Yokote Kamakura Festival

The Yokote Kamakura Festival has a history of over 450 years. What started as a religious event for locals to pray to the Shinto water deity for a good harvest and to keep the community safe has evolved into a big tourist attraction that features hundreds of kamakura, or snow huts. In every one there is a snow altar that people go to pray to the water deity. If you are looking to explore this amazing tradition further, there are hands-on sessions to make kamakura at Komyoji Park. Come nightfall, there are hundreds of small lanterns lined along the Yokote River, and they are illuminated from 6 pm to 9 pm. This festival is held every year on the 15th and 16th of February in the city of Yokote, located in Akita prefecture.

Dates: February 15th – February 16th

Location: Yokote

Website: https://www.yokotekamakura.com/

Tsunan Snow Festival

Held in Tsunan, Niigata prefecture, the Tsunan Snow Festival, held in early March, is known for the thousands of floating lanterns that are released into the sky. This festival offers something for everyone: snow biking, snow banana boating, live concerts, snowboard jumping competition, fire performances, and local food stalls. The Tsunan Snow Festival is perfect for those looking to enjoy an authentic rural festival.

Dates: March 14th

Location: Tsunan

Website: https://snowfes.info/

Winter in Japan is more than just cold weather. It is a season that transforms the country into a snowy wonderland full of light, color, and tradition. From the towering snow sculptures of Sapporo to the glowing lanterns of Otaru, the fire-lit excitement of Nozawa Onsen, and the serene fireworks displays by Mount Fuji in Kawaguchiko, each festival offers its own special way to celebrate the season. Whether you want to wander through candle-lit canals, step inside a snow hut, or feel the warmth of a bonfire against the snowy sky, Japan’s winter festivals are experiences that stay with you long after the snow melts. So pack your warmest coat, bring your sense of adventure, and get ready to see winter in Japan like never before. Magic is waiting around every corner.

Featured Photo Credit: 7maru

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