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Asahikawa Winter Festival Tours

The Asahikawa Winter Festival is the second largest snow festival in Hokkaido and is famous for having the largest snow sculptures.

The Asahikawa Winter Festival (旭 川 冬まつり) 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. In 1960, the name of the celebration changed to Asahikawa Winter Festival and has become one of the 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 into 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 the 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.

Please see below for tours that include Asahikawa Winter Festival:

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Charms of Hokkaido Tour: Hokkaido Winter Festivals

Group Tour | Deluxe          Book Now & Save $100

Group Tour | Deluxe    Book Now & Save $100

Charms of Hokkaido Tour: Hokkaido Winter Festivals
Charms of Hokkaido Tour: Hokkaido Winter Festivals
15 reviews
15 reviews

9 Days 8 Nights | from US $3798.00

Shiraoi / Lake Shikotsu / Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Kitami / Abashiri / Lake Tofutsu / Lake Akan / Kushiro
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9 Days 8 Nights | from US $3798.00

Shiraoi / Lake Shikotsu / Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Kitami / Abashiri / Lake Tofutsu / Lake Akan / Kushiro
See the Sapporo Snow Festival, as well as three other main Winter Festivals in Hokkaido.
Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Compare Status
Sun. Feb 4, 2024 Mon. Feb 12, 2024 US $3798.00 Sapporo Kushiro Deluxe Save this tour Book Now  
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Blossoms & Snow Monkeys

Group Tour | Deluxe          Book Now & Save $100

Group Tour | Deluxe    Book Now & Save $100

Hokkaido & Beyond: Winter Festivals, Kawazu Cherry Blossoms & Snow Monkeys
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13 Days 12 Nights | from US $5298.00

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Experience the incredible Snow Festivals of Hokkaido, followed by an extension which includes Kawazu Cherry Blossoms and adorable snow monkeys!

13 Days 12 Nights | from US $5298.00

Shiraoi / Lake Shikotsu / Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Kitami / Abashiri / Lake Tofutsu / Lake Akan / Kushiro/ Yokohama / Kawazu / Mt Fuji / Matsumoto / Yudanaka / Obuse / Nagano
Experience the incredible Snow Festivals of Hokkaido, followed by an extension which includes Kawazu Cherry Blossoms and adorable snow monkeys!
Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Compare Status
Sun. Feb 4, 2024 Fri. Feb 16, 2024 US $5298.00 Sapporo Tokyo Deluxe Save this tour Book Now  
Sun. Feb 2, 2025 Fri. Feb 14, 2025 US $5298.00 Sapporo Tokyo Deluxe Save this tour Book Now  
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Group Tour | Deluxe          Book Now & Save $100

Group Tour | Deluxe    Book Now & Save $100

Best of Honshu & Hokkaido: Snow Monkeys & Hokkaido Winter Festival Tour
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Explore the two main winter attractions of Japan - Snow Monkeys and Hokkaido Winter Festivals.
Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Compare Status
Sun. Jan 28, 2024 Mon. Feb 12, 2024 US $6398.00 Tokyo Kushiro Deluxe Save this tour Sold Out
Sun. Jan 26, 2025 Mon. Feb 10, 2025 US $6398.00 Tokyo Kushiro Deluxe Save this tour Book Now  
Japan Winter Highlights: Winter Festivals, Kawazu Cherry 
Blossoms & Snow Monkeys

Group Tour | Deluxe          Book Now & Save $100

Group Tour | Deluxe    Book Now & Save $100

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21 Days 20 Nights | from US $8698.00

Shiraoi / Lake Shikotsu / Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Kitami / Abashiri / Lake Tofutsu / Lake Akan / Kushiro / Tokyo / Hakone / Kawazu / Lake Kawaguchi / Matsumoto / Yudanaka / Takayama / Shirakawa-go / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Nara / Osaka / Himeji / Kurashiki / Hiroshima / Shimanami Kaido / Oobokekyo Gorge / Kotohira / Takamatsu / Kobe
Discover the unmissable Winter Highlights of Japan on a 21-day itinerary, with exciting Hokkaido Winter Festivals, the Snow Monkeys of Yudanaka, and the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival.

21 Days 20 Nights | from US $8698.00

Shiraoi / Lake Shikotsu / Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Kitami / Abashiri / Lake Tofutsu / Lake Akan / Kushiro / Tokyo / Hakone / Kawazu / Lake Kawaguchi / Matsumoto / Yudanaka / Takayama / Shirakawa-go / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Nara / Osaka / Himeji / Kurashiki / Hiroshima / Shimanami Kaido / Oobokekyo Gorge / Kotohira / Takamatsu / Kobe
Discover the unmissable Winter Highlights of Japan on a 21-day itinerary, with exciting Hokkaido Winter Festivals, the Snow Monkeys of Yudanaka, and the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival.
Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Compare Status
Sun. Feb 4, 2024 Sat. Feb 24, 2024 US $8698.00 Sapporo Osaka Deluxe Save this tour Sold Out
Sun. Feb 2, 2025 Sat. Feb 22, 2025 US $8698.00 Sapporo Osaka Deluxe Save this tour Book Now  

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