The Sapporo Snow Festival, one of Japan's largest winter events, is attracting a growing number of visitors from Japan and abroad. Over two million people came to the annual event last year to see the hundreds of beautiful snow statues and ice sculptures which lined Odori Park , the main street in Susukino and Satorando .

The figures, large and small, turn Sapporo into a winter dreamland of crystal and white for seven days every February.

The festival began in 1950 when senior high school students of the city made six snow statues in Odori Park.

In 1955, the Self Defense Force joined in and built massive snow statues as well. The Festival has grown from these humble beginnings to become the biggest and most well-known of Hokkaido's winter events and a snow festival of international caliber.

The festival is now carried out in the three places, Odori Site, Susukino Site, and　Satorando Site.