Hokkaido will once again have a rich and dense annual events and festivals schedule despite the great year. It’s time to draw out your calendar and take a look at events and festivals. For this guide, I picked the most popular Hokkaido events and festivals that are interesting for kids and adults.
Table of Contents
Hokkaido Spring
Hokkaido Cherry Blossom Festivals [Click Here]
March
Karurusu Onsen Winter Festival カルルス温泉冬まつり
| Date | Early March | Location | Noboribetsu |
April
Shiretoko Snow Wall Walk 知床雪壁ウォーク
| Date | April | Location | Shiretoko |
Niseko Freestyle Session スーパーバンプスニセコカップ
| Date | Mid-April | Location | Kutchan |
Hokuto Sakura Kairou 北斗桜回廊
| Date | Late April – Mid-May | Location | Hokuto |
Onuma Kohan Ekiden Tournament 大沼湖畔駅伝競走大会
| Date | Late April | Location | Onuma |
May
Saraki Cape Tulips Fair サラキ岬チューリップフェア
| Date | Early May – Mid-May | Location | Kikonai |
Hokuto Jinya Sakura Festival 北斗陣屋桜まつり
| Date | Early May | Location | Hokuto |
Sapporo Lilac Festival さっぽろライラックまつり
| Date | Mid May – Early June | Location | Sapporo |
Hakodate Goryokaku Festival 箱館五稜郭祭
| Date | Mid May | Location | Hakodate |
 | (Read More) |
Kumaisi Abalone Festival 熊石あわびの里フェスティバル
| Date | Mid May | Location | Yakumo |
Mashike Shrimp Festival 増毛えびまつり
| Date | Mid May | Location | Mashike |
Hokkaido Summer
Hokkaido Firework Festivals [Click Here]
June
Hokkaido University Festival (Hokudai-sai) 北大祭
| Date | Early June | Location | Sapporo |
Otaru Shukuzushi Kuki Festival おたる祝津群来祭り
| Date | Early June | Location | Otaru |
YOSAKOI Soran Fesitival YOSAKOIソーラン祭り
| Date | Early June – Mid June | Location | Sapporo |
Niseko Classic ニセコクラシック
| Date | Mid-June | Location | Niseko |
Hokkaido Shrine Festival 北海道神宮例祭
| Date | Mid-June | Location | Sapporo |
Shakotan Soran Festival 積丹ソーラン味覚祭り
| Date | Late June | Location | Shakotan |
Shiretoko Festival 知床開き
| Date | Early June | Location | Shiretoko |
July
Hakodate Marathon 函館マラソン
| Date | Early July | Location | Hakodate |
 | (Read More) |
Oshamambe Hairy Crab Festival おしゃまんべ毛がにまつり
| Date | Early July | Location | Oshamambe |
Yakumo Dashi Gyouretsu 八雲山車行列
| Date | Early July | Location | Yakumo |
Sapporo City Jazz サッポロ・シティ・ジャズ
| Date | Early July – Late August | Location | Sapporo |
Pacific Music Festival パシフィック・ミュージック・フェスティバル
| Date | Mid-July – Early August | Location | Sapporo |
Sapporo Summer Festival (Beer Fes) さっぽろ夏まつり (ビアガーデン)
| Date | Mid-July – Mid August | Location | Sapporo |
Otaru Ushio Matsuri おたる潮まつり
| Date | Late July | Location | Otaru |
Onuma Lake Water Festival 大沼湖水まつり
| Date | Late July | Location | Onuma |
Hokuto City Summer Festival 北斗市夏まつり
| Date | Late July | Location | Hokuto |
Tanukikoji Festival 狸まつり
| Date | Late July | Location | Sapporo |
August
Hokkaido Hot Air Balloon Festival 北海道バルーンフェスティバル
| Date | Early August | Location | Kamishihoro |
Bon Festival お盆
| Date | Mid August (Lunar Calendar) | Japanese Event |
Kikonai Kanrinmaru Festival きこない咸臨丸まつり
| Date | Mid August | Location | Kikonai |
Obihiro Heigen Matsuri おびひろ平原まつり
| Date | Mid August | Location | Obihiro |
Hokkaido Marathon 北海道マラソン
| Date | Late August | Location | Sapporo |
Noboribetsu Jigoku Matsuri 登別地獄まつり
| Date | Late August | Location | Jigokudani (Hell Valley) |
Nemuro Crab Festival 根室かに祭り
| Date | Late August – Early September | Location | Nemuro |
Hokkaido Autumn
September
Dai Don Den だい・どん・でん
| Date | Early September | Location | Sapporo |
Hakodate Gourmet Circus はこだてグルメサーカス
| Date | Early September | Location | Hakodate |
 | (Read More) |
Sapporo Autumn Festival さっぽろオータムフェスト
| Date | Mid-September – Early October | Location | Sapporo |
North Harvest Festival Wine Carnival 北の収穫祭 ワインカーニバル
| Date | Mid-September | Location | Otaru |
Niseko Autumn Food Festival ニセコオータムフードフェスティバル
| Date | Mid-September | Location | Kutchan |
Hokuto City Tourism Festival 北斗市商工観光まつり
| Date | Late September | Location | Hokuto |
Great Earth みなみ北海道駒ヶ岳一周ライド
| Date | Late September | Location | Nanae |
October
Sapporo Marathon 札幌マラソン
| Date | Early October | Location | Sapporo |
Autumn Wine Festival 秋のワイン祭り
| Date | Early October | Location | Ikeda |
Konpira Festival 金毘羅例大祭
| Date | Early October | Location | Kutchan |
Akkeshi Oyster Festival あっけし牡蠣まつり
| Date | Early October | Location | Akkeshi |
Marimo Festival まりも祭り
| Date | Early October | Location | Akan |
Onuma Great Run and Walk 北海道大沼グレートラン・ウォーク
| Date | Mid-October | Location | Onuma |
Hokuto Kouyou Kairou 北斗紅葉回廊
| Date | Late October – Early November | Location | Hokuto |
Hakodate MOMI-G Festival はこだてMOMI-Gフェスタ
| Date | Late October – Mid-November | Location | Hakodate |
 | (Read More) |
November
Hokuto City Moheji Salmon Festival 北斗市茂辺地さけまつり
| Date | Early November | Location | Hokuto |
Furusato Industry Festival ふるさと産業まつり
| Date | Early November | Location | Kikonai |
Otaru Snow Story 小樽ゆき物語
| Date | Early November – Mid-February | Location | Otaru |
Lake Toya Onsen Illumination Street 洞爺湖温泉イルミネーションストリート
| Date | Early November – Mid-March | Location | Toya |
Otaru Shyako Festival 小樽しゃこ祭
| Date | Mid-November | Location | Otaru |
Sapporo White Illumination さっぽろホワイトイルミネーション
| Date | Late November | Location | Sapporo |
Munich Christmas Market ミュンヘン・クリスマス市 in Sapporo
| Date | Late November – Late December | Location | Sapporo |
Hokkaido Winter
December
Hakodate illumination はこだてイルミネーション
| Date | Early December – Mid-February | Location | Hakodate |
Hakodate Christmas Fantasy はこだてクリスマスファンタジー
| Date | Early December – Late December | Location | Hakodate |
January
Kanchu Misogi Matsuri 寒中みそぎ祭り
| Date | Mid-January | Location | Kikonai |
Diamond Dust Party ダイヤモンドダストパーティー
| Date | Mid-January – Late February | Location | Teshikaga |
Sapporo Snow Festival さっぽろ雪まつり
| Date | Late January – Mid-February | Location | Sapporo |
Obihiro Ice Festival おびひろ氷まつり
| Date | Late January | Location | Obihiro |
Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 支笏湖氷濤まつり
| Date | Late January – Mid-February | Location | Chitose |
Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival 層雲峡温泉 氷瀑まつり
| Date | Late January – Mid-March | Location | Sounkyo |
Furano Ski Festival ふらのスキー祭り
| Date | Late January | Location | Furano |
February
Setsubun Festival 節分の日
| Date | February 2, 3, or 4th | Japanese Event | |
 | (Read More) |
Onuma Hakodate Snow and Ice Festival 大沼函館 雪と氷の祭典
| Date | Early February | Location | Onuma |
Noboribetsu Onsen Festival 登別温泉湯まつり
| Date | Early February | Location | Noboribetsu |
Kushiro Ice Festival くしろ冬まつり
| Date | Early February | Location | Kushiro |
Samuibeya Festival さむいべや祭り
| Date | Early February | Location | Yakumo |
Otaru Snow Light Path Festival 小樽雪あかりの路
| Date | Early February – Mid-February | Location | Otaru |
Asahikawa Winter Festival 旭川冬まつり
| Date | Early February | Location | Asahikawa |
Abashiri Ohotsuku Drift Ice Festival あばしりオホーツク流氷まつり
| Date | Early February | Location | Abashiri |
Red-crowned Crane Festival タンチョウフェスティバル
| Date | Early February – Mid-February | Location | Tsurui Village |
Shiretoko Fantasia 知床ファンタジア
| Date | Early February – Late May | Location | Shiretoko |
Yukitopia Festival 雪トピアフェスティバル
| Date | Mid-February | Location | Kutchan |
Hakodate Food Festival はこだてFOODフェスタ
| Date | Late February | Location | Hakodate |
Hidaka Ski Resort Thank You Festival 日高国際スキー場ありがとうフェスティバル
| Date | Late February – Early March | Location | Hidaka |
