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:
