Fantasy blue light ice city! Hokkaido's "Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival" takes you into the world of ice and snow fairy tales in seconds❄️✨
#5月好去地方2025
Address:
Shikotsu Lake Hot Spring, Chitose City, Hokkaido
(held at Shikotsu Lake from late January to mid-February every year)
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Atmosphere/Facilities:
The entire festival venue is located at the shore of Shikotsu Lake, surrounded by magnificent snow-capped mountains and lake water. The air is fresh and cool, making people feel relaxed and comfortable. There is a large ice sculpture display area, a night light show stage, a warm rest area and hot food stalls, as well as children's favorite slides and ice activity facilities. The atmosphere at night is dreamy, and the lights combined with the ice sculptures reflect a soft blue light, like a dream.
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Features:
• The ice sculpture complex built with the water of Lake Shikotsu is extremely transparent and is known as "the clearest ice sculpture in Japan"
• Different views during the day and night: the magnificent snow scenery and ice sculptures are clearly outlined during the day, and the night is decorated with colorful lights, as if walking into the ice kingdom
• Limited activities: fireworks on weekends, ice mazes, ice lovers' photo spots, "Ice Shrine" for seeking marriage, etc.
• Convenient transportation: It can be reached by bus from New Chitose Airport in one hour, suitable for parents and children and couples
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Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
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Experience:
If you ask me what activities in Hokkaido in winter cannot be missed, I will answer without hesitation: "Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival is definitely the first choice!" This annual winter-limited ice and snow event has become the most romantic and shocking travel memory in my heart.
The day I visited was close to dusk, the sky was still a light blue-purple, the Shikotsu Lake in the distance was as calm as a mirror, and the entire venue was covered with snow. It was like walking into a fairy tale world. The most amazing thing is the huge ice sculptures made of the water of Shikotsu Lake - whether it is the ice palace, ice cave, or corridor, every detail is so detailed that it takes your breath away. The purity of the lake water itself makes the ice sculptures present a transparent and clear luster, which is completely different from ordinary ice blocks, as if every ice building has a soul.
After nightfall, the lights of the entire venue are turned on, and the ice sculptures are washed by soft blue, purple, and pink lights layer by layer, making the originally magnificent landscape even more romantic. Walking into the "Ice Church", I really have the urge to hold a wedding in it immediately! There are also many couples around taking photos in front of the "Ice Lovers" installation, and the atmosphere is warm and dreamy.
I also recommend the "Ice Shrine" on site. Although it is a mini shrine built with ice, the atmosphere is solemn and mysterious. It is said that praying for marriage here is particularly effective. Of course, many tourists come here to write ema and hang wishing boards.
In addition to the visual enjoyment, there are also many supply points in the venue, such as hot cocoa, corn soup, grilled squid, potatoes, etc. Eating hot food while admiring ice sculptures is the ultimate enjoyment of winter travel. And every weekend, there will be fireworks performances on site. Looking up at the dazzling fireworks in the ice and snow is really an indescribable sense of happiness.
Overall, the Shikotsu Lake Ice Wave Festival is not only an ice sculpture exhibition, but also a winter festival with all five senses. Whether you are visiting Hokkaido for the first time or have been there several times, it is worth arranging time to experience it here once. This is not just a tourist attraction, but it will leave you with touching memories of "Ah, this is the miracle of winter."
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