Asahikawa Winter Festival

The Asahikawa Winter Festival was first held in 1947, but was known as the Iyomante. Iyomante means Bear Festival in Ainu and its purpose was to allow the people to enjoy the cold during the coldest month, February. In 1960, the name of the celebration changed to Asahikawa Winter Festival and has become one of the most well- known winter events. The festival is mostly known for having the largest snow sculptures. The giant sculpture of Suwon Castle, a Korean Fortress, in 1994 made it into the Guinness World Records as the largest snow structure built. The festival is held in early February, usually around the same time as the Sapporo Snow Festival. The Asahikawa Winter Festival is more family friendly compared to Sapporo’s event. For example, there is a snowball tournament that kids can enter. The children are also involved in covering the town with the snowmen they make.

The two main areas of the Asahikawa Winter Festival are Tokiwa Park near the Asahibashi Bridge and Heiwa Dori in the Shopping Park. At Tokiwa Park, a ginormous snow sculpture is created and used as a stage for the different performances happening during the five days. The city gets help from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Second Division to build the main snow sculpture. At night some of the giant snow sculptures have a projection mapping performance that is free to enjoy. Around the same area there is a snow maze, 100- meter ice slide and small amusement park rides. The Heiwa Dori is where the Official International Ice Sculpture competition in Japan is held. The sculptures are carved out in the first two days of the winter festival. You can watch the contestants work on their craft and admire the detail that goes into the ice sculptures. Once the sculptures are done, they are illuminated at night for all to enjoy until the end of the festival. As for food and souvenirs, the area called Winter Marché is the place to go.