Hanana’s Winter Food Trip: Christmas in Snowy Sapporo

2026年11月12日

This guide is based on official information and our own research, checked on November 12, 2026. Dates and hours may change, so please check the official website before you go.

Written by Hanana, with photo notes from Hanakiki

Hi, I’m Hanana! If you dream of a white Christmas, Sapporo is the place to go in Japan. The city in Hokkaido gets real snow by December, and its long central park fills with glowing light sculptures and a German Christmas market. After a cold walk, there’s nothing better than a hot bowl of soup curry.

At a glance

Where: Odori Park, Sapporo Station area, and downtown Sapporo (Hokkaido)
When: Late November to Christmas at Odori Park; some venues stay lit until March
Access: About 1.5 hours from Tokyo by plane to New Chitose Airport, then about 40 minutes by train to Sapporo Station

What to eat & try

Soup curry

Soup curry was born in Sapporo in the 1970s and became a local favorite in the 1990s. Instead of a thick curry sauce, it is a spicy, fragrant broth with large pieces of chicken and colorful vegetables, served with rice on the side.

Try it: Take a spoonful of rice and dip it into the soup, or pour a little soup over the rice. Many shops let you choose your spice level, so start mild if you are not sure.

Jingisukan (grilled lamb)

Jingisukan is Hokkaido’s famous lamb barbecue. Thin slices of lamb and vegetables are grilled on a dome-shaped iron pan. The meat cooks on the top, and the juices run down to flavor the vegetables around the edge.

Grill it yourself: Most restaurants let you cook at your table. Put the vegetables on the edge first, then the meat on top. Staff are happy to show you.
Tip: Restaurants often lend you an apron or a bag for your coat, because the smoke is strong.

At the Christmas market

The Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo is held thanks to the sister-city friendship between Sapporo and Munich, Germany. Wooden huts sell German ornaments, snow globes, hot wine (and non-alcoholic drinks), sausages, and pretzels. Holding a warm cup in the snow is a special feeling. The legal drinking age in Japan is 20.

What to see

Sapporo White Illumination

Sapporo White Illumination began in 1981 in Odori Park with about 1,000 light bulbs, and it is said to be one of the first illumination events in Japan. Today, it lights up several venues downtown, including Odori Park, Sapporo Ekimae-dori, and Minami 1-jo-dori. New for 2026 are the former Hokkaido Government Office (the “Red Brick” building) and Nakajima Park.

Sapporo TV Tower and Odori Park

The TV Tower stands at the east end of Odori Park. From its observation deck, you can see the whole line of lights stretching through the snowy park.

Sapporo TV Tower in the snow (Photo: Pexels)

Hanakiki’s photo spot

Hanakiki’s camera note: Go to the observation deck of the Sapporo TV Tower just after dark and shoot toward the west. The lit-up park looks like a river of light through the snow. Down on the street, try a low angle with snow in the foreground. And keep a spare battery in your inside pocket; batteries drain fast in the cold!

Event info

Dates below are based on official announcements as of November 12, 2026.

Event	Dates	Hours	Nearest stations
46th Sapporo White Illumination (Odori Park)	Nov 20 – Dec 25, 2026	4:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (until midnight Dec 23–25)	Odori
Sapporo White Illumination (other venues)	Ekimae-dori until Feb 11, 2027; Red Brick building until Feb 28; Minami 1-jo-dori, Kita 3-jo Plaza (Akapla), and Sapporo Station South Exit until Mar 14; Nakajima Park Jan 9 – 28, 2027	Mostly 4:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Nakajima Park 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.)	Sapporo, Odori, Nakajima-koen
Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo	Nov 20 – Dec 25, 2026	11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.	Odori

Official websites

Sapporo White Illumination, Odori Park venue (dates and hours): https://www.sapporo.travel/white-illumination/event/illumination/odori/
Sapporo White Illumination (all venues): https://www.sapporo.travel/white-illumination/

Please check the official website for the latest information before you go.

Travel tips

Real winter clothes: Sapporo nights in December are often below freezing, around 20–30°F (−6 to −1°C). Wear a heavy coat, hat, gloves, and warm socks.
Shoes for snow and ice: Sidewalks can be icy. Wear boots with good grip, or buy slip-on shoe spikes at a convenience store.
Use the underground walkways: A long underground passage connects Sapporo Station and Odori, so you can warm up between stops.
Crowds: Weekend evenings and the days just before Christmas are busiest at the market.