Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival in Sapporo, Japan
Sapporo, Japan

Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival

Outty Ranking 44 3.3 · 7 traveler reviews5 hoursFrom ¥9,200
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Outty Ranking

44/100

Worth a Look. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

3.3/5

Based on 7 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival worth booking?

Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival is a 5-hour experience in Sapporo, Japan, from ¥9,200 per person. It scores 44 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.3/5 rating across 7 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
44 / 100
Rating
3.3/5 (7)
Duration
5 hours
From
¥9,200 per person

Discover a magical winter wonderland at the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, one of Hokkaido's most spectacular winter events! Marvel at magnificent ice sculptures created from the crystal-clear waters of Lake Shikotsu, beautifully illuminated in vibrant colors after sunset. Walk through a breathtaking world of sparkling ice formations and capture unforgettable photos in this enchanting winter setting. Enjoy approximately two hours of free time to explore the festival at your own pace. Admission is included in the tour price, making your experience easy and convenient. With comfortable round-trip transportation from Sapporo, this unforgettable evening tour is the perfect way to experience the beauty and magic of Hokkaido's winter!

What you get

  • Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival admission fee
  • In-vehicle air conditioning

About this experience

Discover a magical winter wonderland at the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, one of Hokkaido's most spectacular winter events! Marvel at magnificent ice sculptures created from the crystal-clear waters of Lake Shikotsu, beautifully illuminated in vibrant colors after sunset. Walk through a breathtaking world of sparkling ice formations and capture unforgettable photos in this enchanting winter setting. Enjoy approximately two hours of free time to explore the festival at your own pace. Admission is included in the tour price, making your experience easy and convenient. With comfortable round-trip transportation from Sapporo, this unforgettable evening tour is the perfect way to experience the beauty and magic of Hokkaido's winter!

What's included

Included

  • Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival admission fee
  • In-vehicle air conditioning

What you'll see and do

  1. Chitose Shikotsu Lake Hyoto Matsuri

    Experience the magical beauty of the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, one of Hokkaido’s most spectacular winter attractions! Magnificent ice sculptures created from the crystal-clear waters of Lake Shikotsu are illuminated in vibrant colors, transforming the festival grounds into a breathtaking winter wonderland. Explore towering ice formations, admire the dazzling lights, and capture unforgettable photos in this enchanting world of ice and snow. A truly magical winter experience you won't want to miss!

    120 minutes here · Admission included

Where it starts and ends

Meeting point

Sapporo

1st floor lobby

Hotel pickup

No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

Ends at

Returns to the starting point

Before you book

Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Languages
ja
Ticket
Mobile Only
Runs on
Every day
Group size
Up to 10 travelers per booking
Operated by
Tour&Charter International

Know before you go

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • The venue is very slippery so please take caution when walking.
  • Lake Shikotsu is extremely cold so be sure to dress in warm clothes.
  • Buses may be delayed due to traffic congestion and adverse weather, so please allow ample time for transfer to other means of transportation.
  • Return time is around 21:00
  • There will be no sightseeing explanations during the tour. If you require English assistance during the tour, we will use simple language or an interpreter.
  • If you are visiting Sapporo, Hokkaido, please refrain from participating on the final day of your trip. (Please note that no compensation will be provided in the event of a bus delay.)

Photos

Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival in Sapporo, photo 2Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival in Sapporo, photo 3Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival in Sapporo, photo 4Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival in Sapporo, photo 5Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival in Sapporo, photo 6

What travelers are saying

Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 7 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

The guide

5 mentions

Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

Traveler reviews

7 verified traveler reviews for Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

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Martin_B · February 2025

Fake non-tour. Just buy a bus ticket

You should absolutely see the Shikotsu Ice Festival, HOWEVER this is NOT a guided tour! Don't buy this! It is just a resold and marked up bus ticket and festival entry. There were no other stops either. The bus manager had no idea about this tour or who I was and did not speak English. You can just buy any bus ticket to Shikotsu and pay 1000 yen to enter the ice festival. That is all you are getting here.

Response from the operator: There is no direct bus from Sapporo Station to Lake Shikotsu, so you have to take a train and then a local bus. It's also crowded, and you'll probably be standing for over an hour. That's why this tour provides a charter bus, which goes directly to the lake and always has a seat. Of course, an admission ticket is included. That's why the price is a little higher.

via Viator

maegana904 · February 2025

Lovey experience :)

Super sweet tour guide! While the tour is mostly in Japanese, he will have signs in English to translate the important details (time to get back, etc.). You get two hours to go around and it was plenty of time to see everything!

Response from the operator: I'm glad that you were satisfied. Thank you very much.

via Tripadvisor

micheleh265 · February 2020

Ice Festival

Fabulous Superb I really liked this show of ice constructions and lighting It gives an Unreal Mood 🥰The bus trip to get there is nice because everything is snowy and I could see deer in the forest on the side of the road C was fun 💕

Response from the operator: Hi, thank you for contributing the review! So sorry that we do not understand French and tried automatic translation. Sounds like you enjoyed the tour to see the Ice Festival at Lake Shikotsu, when it is still during a cold time of year. We wish you best luck for future travels too!

via Tripadvisor (translated)

bmanutd · February 2020

Return transportation with Japanese guide

This is a return transportation with a Japanese guide from The Hokkaido Chuo Bus located at Esta building right next to the Sapporo Station. For me, it is a great and convenient way to specifically attend the venue which are only had a good view at night. Recommended...👍

Response from the operator: Hi, thank you for the feedback for this tour. As you mentioned this tour mainly covers return transportation to see ice festival during evening. We are glad that you joined with us and got to see another fascinating landscape of Hokkaido's night and probably in the coldest time of year! Thank you for the time and best luck for future travels!

via Tripadvisor

byamashi212 · February 2020

Tour for Japanese speakers

If you’re just looking for bus transport to and from the lake to see the snow festival sights (which are amazing) then this tour does the trick. What they don’t tell you is that the tour is entirely in Japanese. Though several people on the tour only spoke English and were expecting some communication in English, everything was in Japanese. So half the tour participants sat there while the guide went on and on in Japanese. It’s hard not to feel left out when the guide spends 40 mins of an hour long ride talking - and we have no clue what she’s saying. She was able to communicate the basics - when to be back at the bus each time we stopped - so at least we didn’t get left behind physically. However, the fact that this tour is solely in Japanese was mentioned nowhere on the tour listing and should be.

Response from the operator: Hi, thank you for the comment. This tour has Japanese speaking tour guide to accompany with basic explanation of tour schedule. We are very sorry if English communication was not enough or even caused some problem during the trip. Hope you still managed to enjoy the tour to see ice festival and view of Lake Shikotsu in the evening. Thank you for joining us and best luck for future travels!

via Viator

Good to know

Duration
5 hours
Free cancellation
Up to 24h before
Minimum age to book
All ages
Availability
Bookable today
Runs on
Every day
Price range
¥9,200 to ¥11,500
Hotel pickup
No pickup, meet at start point
Booked in 30 days
2
Verdict
Worth a Look

Who runs this experience

Operated by Tour&Charter International, who run 26 experiences we rank across 6 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 58.6.

See everything Tour&Charter International runs

Why this scores 44

The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

Traveler sentiment (30% weight)52
Review evidence (18% weight)39
Booking momentum (14% weight)26
Value for money (12% weight)0
Listing quality (10% weight)91
Local standing (8% weight)5
Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival: questions travelers ask

Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Sapporo.

How much does Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival cost?

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Prices start at ¥9,200 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Sapporo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

How long does Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival take?

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Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Sapporo is not rushed.

Is Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival worth it?

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It holds an Outty Ranking of 44 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.3/5 across 7 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Sapporo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

Can I cancel or reschedule Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival?

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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

Is Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival suitable for kids and families?

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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

How far in advance should I book Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival?

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Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Sapporo can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

What should I bring or wear?

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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Sapporo and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

Where does Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival start and how do I get there?

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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Sapporo within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

What are the best things to do in Sapporo?

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On Outty we rank every Sapporo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Sapporo Bar Hopping Food Tour, Wagashi traditional japanese sweets class, Mondo's most popular No.1!Private experienceThe king of buckwheat noodles making and Japanese food in Sapporo!A plan to enjoy tempura!. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

When is the best time to visit Sapporo?

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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

How many days do you need in Sapporo?

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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

What is included in Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival?

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Included: Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival admission fee; and In-vehicle air conditioning. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

Where is the meeting point for Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival?

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1st floor lobby Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.

What languages is Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival offered in?

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It runs in Japanese. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival?

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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

Is Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival wheelchair or stroller accessible?

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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; and Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

What happens to Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival if the weather is bad?

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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

What do travelers say about Winter Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival?

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Across 7 reviews averaging 3.3 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

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