I actually went a few days before it started and left on the second day because it was a lot cheaper to do it that way. I suggest doing it this way not only because it is cheaper, but also because most of the big ones are (almost) done anyway and you can also see how they are made.

Of course it seems whenever I go to Hokkaido I am really unlucky with the weather because on the first day I was it it was so warm that it was raining and almost ruined a lot of the sculptures. The main part of the snow festival is in Odori Park but there 2 other places to check out, Sato Land and Susukino. I have a different post about the ice sculptures and ice bars in Susukino.

At the Odori Park site, the big sculptures a lot of times are used as stages for different perfomances throughrout the festival. As you can see below, they even built a (not so) small jump for skiers and snowboarders to do some tricks.

On a side note, if you are looking for something else to do because maybe you are arriving before the Sapporo Snow Festival starts or staying after it ends, you may want to check out the smaller and lesser known Chitose Ice Festival.

Check out more photos after the jump or check out a video of some performances and other happenings at the Sapporo Snow Festival.

To be honest, it should also be known as “usually too cloudy to see but still beautiful lake,” because most of the time it is really cloudy and you can only catch glimpses of the ever changing lake. I was there for about 4 hours and could actually “see” the shy lake for a total of about 3 minutes maybe and these are by “see”  I kind of mean catch a glimpse.  I am not sure if there is really anyway to find out what the weather is like before going, because I went twice on sunny days but Okamako is so high up on Mount Zao that on a sunny day it was cloudy there (see the very bottom photo). On the other hand, the other photos, taken by Laura Kumataka, were taken on a cloudy and a little rainy day, but again, Okamako is so high up she got above the clouds.  Maybe the secret is going on a rainy day and just hope you can get above the clouds.

Anyway, if you are close by, Okamako and Mt. Zao are great places for hiking in the summer, spring and fall and skiing or snowboarding in the winter and of course nice place to photograph all year long but the best time is during the fall; however, in the winter, Zao is famous for trees getting covered and frozen in snow and having the appearance of “snow monsters,” which make for some interesting photos.  Below is another photo of Okamako to give you an idea how cloudy it can be…when the sun is shining everywhere else!

Tōhoku retains a reputation as a remote region, offering breathtaking scenery but a harsh climate. Tōhoku, like most of Japan, is hilly or mountainous, with the Ou Mountains forming running north-south. Also public transportation is not as abundant as other regions but more so than Hokkaido. In Japan, Tohoku receives the fewest foreign visitors a year, but that does not mean it is not worth traveling to. Actually this area is really beautiful , especially in the Fall. Also if you like nature or want to escape the city, but can’t or don’t want to make the trip to Hokkaido, Tohoku is a very nice place to visit/photograph. Be prepared though, a lot of the good places are spread out. If you like hot springs, Tohoku has many famous ones and in the winter there are many good places to ski/snowboard. Here are a few places that are worth considering going to as a photographer/traveler:

–Matsuhisma–one of the “3 most scenic views” of Japan.
–Zao Mountain–
–Hachimantai–
For more information about the Tohoku Region, see Japan-Guide.com or the Official Tohoku Travel Guide.

If you are going to visit any other areas other than Sapporo, I HIGHLY recommend considering renting a car. Not only are a lot of places in Hokkaido spread out, once you get to your destination, public transportation and getting around can start to become very infrequent and inconvenient.

Some places worth considering going to in Hokkaido are:

• Sapporo–Japan’s 5th largest city.
• Hakodate–Famous for it’s spectacular night view.
• Onuma Koen–Quasi National Park close to Hakodate.
• Lake Toya–Famous hotsprings and Japan’s most recent active volcano.
• Furano and Biei–Famous for rolling hills, fields and flowers.
• Rebun and Rishiri–Japan’s northern most islands, both national parks.
• Daisetsuzan–Large national park.
• Shiretoko–Considering to be the last unspoiled are of Japan.
• Akan–Large national park.

Access

From Tokyo it is about 1.5 hour flight (and is one of the world’s busiest flight routes) and one way ticket can cost anywhere from about $150-300.