A winter festival where snow lanterns and lights envelop Hirosaki Park
Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival
The 2026 edition of Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/02/06 〜 2026/02/11Ended
- Season / frequency
- Around mid-February each year / Every year
- Location
- Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle ruins)
- Area
- Aomori Prefecture・Hirosaki City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h–3 h 30 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Free admission
- Age restrictions
- Varies by activity. The Chanbara Battle is for ages 5 and up; SONDO is for elementary school students in Grade 4 through age 60.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A winter festival that brings Hirosaki Park to life with the glow of snow lanterns and mini kamakura, giant snow sculptures and snow play.
About Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: くろふね File:弘前城 - panoramio (1).jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 くろふね https://web.archive.org/web/20161025023118/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/85935240Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Feri88 File:Hirosaki Snow Festival - panoramio.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 Feri88 https://web.archive.org/web/20161111020921/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/47937046Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: くろふね File:弘前城 - panoramio (5).jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 くろふね https://web.archive.org/web/20161025023208/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/85935246Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival is a winter festival held in Hirosaki Park.
Snow lanterns and snow sculptures handmade by local residents and groups line the park, while mini kamakura with candles inside are set up around the lotus pond.
The snow-covered Hirosaki Castle keep and park scenery emerge in the light, offering a chance to enjoy a winter tradition of Hirosaki that makes the most of snow and light.
It began in 1977 and is also counted as one of the Five Great Snow Festivals of Michinoku.
Source: 弘前城雪燈籠まつり｜弘前市観光情報サイト きてみて、ひろさき。ここみて、弘前 / 第50回 弘前城雪燈籠まつり開催(2026.1.26) - いいかも！！弘前 ～弘前シティプロモーションサイト～
Festival highlights
Highlights include around 150 snow lanterns and snow sculptures, and around 300 mini kamakura lit by candles.
The Fourth Bailey features a giant snow sculpture shaped like a historic building or other landmark, along with a large slide. At night, projection effects are shown on the giant snow sculpture and slide.
At the Tsugaru Nishiki-e Gallery near the Second Bailey, visitors can enjoy displays in the winter park that evoke the summer Neputa Festival through Neputa paintings and festival music.
A winter festival where snow lanterns and lights envelop Hirosaki Park
What to expect
At the venue, visitors can stroll around the park admiring snow lanterns, snow sculptures and mini kamakura, and stop by the stalls and stage events in the Fourth Bailey.
There are also a large slide, a medium-sized slide reserved for sledding, and a snow-play area for children.
At the Snowman Challenge, visitors can make snowmen in the Civic Plaza. On some days, hands-on activities such as mock sword battles and SONDO, which uses water guns, are also held.
How to take part
You can view the snow lanterns and sculptures and see the illuminations around the park.
In 2026, visitors could take part in activities such as the Snowman Challenge and Chanbara Battle.
Information says you can take part in the Chanbara Battle on your own. The snow activities and stage events are suitable for families, including children.
You can visit the venue to see the snow lanterns and sculptures and enjoy the illuminations.
You can take part in the Snowman Challenge at the Civic Plaza during the designated hours. Candle lights are available to borrow in limited quantities.
The Chanbara Battle has a capacity of 100 participants per session, and applications were accepted through February 10 in 2026, with a dedicated application page set up.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle ruins), 1 Shirogane-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori
- Train and bus
From Hirosaki Station on the JR Ōu Main Line, it is about a 30-minute walk or a 10-minute taxi ride.
If taking the bus, get off at “Shiyakusho-mae” or “Bunka Center-mae”; the venue is about a 5–15-minute walk from either stop.
- By car
There are no traffic restrictions around the venue.
- Parking
There is no dedicated parking lot at the festival venue.
Source: 第50回弘前城雪燈籠まつり（2026） | 【2026】青森「第50回弘前城雪燈籠まつり」150基の雪燈籠＆りんごねぷたが登場！雪だるま作りにも挑戦 | 青森県弘前市 | いこーよとりっぷ
Address 1 Shirogane-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
The 50th Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival was held over 6 days, from February 6 to February 11, in 2026.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and until 8 p.m. on the final day, February 11.
The snow lanterns and snow sculptures are illuminated at night from around 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and until 8 p.m. on the final day.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Aomori Prefecture / Hirosaki City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Snow and ice can make paths slippery in Hirosaki Park in winter. Choose footwear with good traction and take care when walking.
As visitors can enjoy playing in the snow outdoors and nighttime illuminations, it is a good idea to bring warm clothing and gloves.
Pets may not be walked in the park, but entry with pets in a carrier or pet stroller, or carried in your arms, is permitted; assistance dogs are exempt.
Nearby attractions
Hirosaki Park, the festival venue, is a park identified with the Hirosaki Castle ruins.
Highlights within the park include the Hirosaki Castle keep, the Second Bailey, the Fourth Bailey and the Northern Enclosure. Visitors can stroll around and enjoy these sights alongside the festival displays and illuminations.
Around the venue, the “Winter Cherry Blossom Light-Up,” which illuminates the snowy outer moat, and illuminations at locations throughout the city were also held around the same time.
Source: 弘前城雪燈籠まつり | 弘前公園総合情報
堀越城
青森県の城・史跡のスポットです。
写真：MChew / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
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大森勝山遺跡
青森県弘前市にある縄文時代の環状列石を主体とする集落遺跡
写真：MChew / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
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岩木山神社
青森県弘前市にある神社
写真：nnh / Public domain(resized and reformatted)
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弘前れんが倉庫美術館
青森県弘前市にある現代美術館
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
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弘前八幡宮
弘前市にある神社
写真：AT@wiki from Japan / CC BY-SA 2.0(resized and reformatted)
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弘前公園
青森県弘前市にある公園
写真：Feri88 / CC BY 3.0(resized and reformatted)
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弘前市立博物館
青森県弘前市にある博物館
写真：663highland / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
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弘前市立郷土文学館
青森県弘前市にある文学館
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
揚亀園
青森県弘前市の津軽藩ねぷた村にある日本庭園
写真：663highland / CC BY 2.5(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
旧第五十九銀行本店本館
青森県弘前市にある歴史的建造物
写真：Kaburamata / CC0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
津軽藩ねぷた村
青森県弘前市にある観光施設
写真：津軽藩ねぷた村 / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
瑞楽園
青森県の公園・庭園のスポットです。
写真：MChew / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival
The first Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival was held in 1977 (Showa 52).
A distinctive feature of the festival is its snow lanterns, handmade by local residents to make the long, harsh winters of northern Japan more enjoyable.
The festival reached its 30th edition in 2006 and its milestone 50th edition in 2026. An exhibition of panels revisiting past giant snow sculptures and photographs was also held.
Official information
Event information, activities at the venue, and travel and visitor advisories can be found on Hirosaki City’s tourism information site, “Come Visit Hirosaki.
See It Here, Hirosaki.”
The 50th festival’s dates and hours were also posted on Hirosaki City’s city promotion site.
Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival at a Glance
The Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival is a winter festival that brings Hirosaki Park to life with snow lanterns, snow sculptures and the glow of mini kamakura.
In addition to the giant snow sculpture and slides in the Fourth Bailey and the Tsugaru Nishiki-e Gallery, visitors can enjoy hands-on activities such as making snowmen and mock sword battles.
In 2026, the festival was held from February 6 through the 11th. Hirosaki Park was the venue, and admission was listed as free.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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