As one of the hottest winter event representing the winter season celebrations in Hokkaido, huge ice sculptures of nature's figurative beauty are made by jetting the clear blue water of Lake Shikotsu with sprinklers.

During the festival, you are welcomed with a variety of events including fireworks, weddings on the ice, and many other entertainments. You can also enjoy a variety of hot meals available at stores within the festival site and warm your chilled body in the bubbling hot springs by the lake.

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Renowned as one of the five largest Snow Festivals in the Michinoku (Tohoku area), the Hirosaki Castle Snow-made Lantern Festival is held every year during which up to 500 lanterns of various sizes are arranged in the park.

The spectacular sight of the castle tower and old pine trees topped with snow and beautifully illuminated along with 300 candlelit kamakuras (snow caves) will immerse you into a dreamlike world offering you a warm escape through harsh winter nights.

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As a world-class event, The Sapporo Snow Festival is the most charming sight of winter in Hokkaido which attracts each year about more than two million people from all over the world!

Held among three places: Odori, Satorando and Susukino, this festival offers not only the renowned spectacular sculptures erected from pure white snow and crystal clear ice but also play corners such as up to 100 meters snow slides and labyrinth. With everything beautifully illuminated at night, you can be sure to enjoy the charm of Hokkaido in winter to fulfill your heart with warmful sensations.

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With a history of more than 400 years, the "Kamakura" Festival at Yokote is a traditional winter event celebrating the snow country of Akita. The Kamakura Festival is a Lunar New Year's event to honor the god of water in which offerings such as amazake (a sweet mild sake) and rice cakes are served.

Children inside the kamakuras (like Eskimo snow caves) serve people amazake and baked rice cakes. During the festival, more than a 100 kamakuras and countless numbers of small-size snow caves are lined up coloring the city with a magic and colorful delight.

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Extremely popular among children and one of the largest snow festivals and in Northern Tohoku! With fireworks set off into the night sky, you are able to enjoy the magnificent views of lighted walkways around the lake. Beyond the delightful scenery, you can also enjoy live performances of Tsugaru shamisen (local traditional instrument), Nebuta Haneto (dancers hopping at the Nebuta festival), Namahage (men disguised as ogres), and more.

Within the space especially reserved for the festival, an "experience" building activities area is set up each year revealing astonishing charming winter sights of this region. Also, there is a section where you can cook on your own and eat local genuine kiritanpo (traditional Akita food made from mashed rice).

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The world-class "Jyuhyou of Zao" (silver frost pine trees of Zao) in Yamagata is a magnificent artwork of nature, created by the rare and unique climate conditions that you can only find within the Zao mountains range.

The "Zao Jyuhyou Festival" is famous for marking the best time to view the natural ice coating trees: "Jyuhyou". During the festival, events such as the "feast of snow and flame", "Paper-Rock-Scissors competition", special public opening to the "snow-watching outdoor hot springs" and the "Illuminating of Jyuhyou" are organized.

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