Obihiro’s winter, featuring ice and snow art, winter activities, and the flavors of Tokachi
Obihiro Ice Festival
The 2026 edition of Obihiro Ice Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/01/30 〜 2026/02/01Ended
- Season / frequency
- Winter / Held annually
- Location
- Midorigaoka Park area
- Area
- Hokkaido・Obihiro City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 30 min–2 h · flight time only)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.
- Participation fee
- Some areas require paid admission.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Obihiro Ice Festival is a winter celebration centered on ice, a symbol of the harsh winter in Tokachi and Obihiro, with ice and snow sculptures, ice sculptures, snow play, and participatory programs. The venue features an ice slide, spinning sleds, a snow maze, and more. Visitors can also enjoy fireworks, the glow of paper-bag lanterns, and Tokachi cuisine.
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: pakku File:氷のアベニュー（Avenue on ice） - panoramio.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 pakku https://web.archive.org/web/20161109212150/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/47269293Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.About Obihiro Ice Festival
The Obihiro Ice Festival is a winter celebration centered on ice, a symbol of the harsh winter cold in Tokachi and Obihiro.
Alongside ice and snow sculptures and other artworks, the festival offers participatory programs such as an ice slide, spinning sleds, and a snow maze.
The Ice Marche, with its cluster of food stalls, is also set up as part of Tokachi-style hospitality, so visitors can enjoy winter activities and local flavors together.
Source: おびひろ氷まつり公式ホームページ
Festival highlights
Highlights include the beautiful, finely detailed ice sculptures and ice and snow sculptures that adorn the venue.
Attractions made from snow and ice, including a giant ice slide, spinning sleds, and a snow maze, are also set up.
At night, fireworks and the glow of paper-bag lanterns create a scene different from the daytime view.
Events that showcase competing works are also held, including the Citizens’ Ice and Snow Sculpture Contest and the Winter Obihiro Ice Sculpture Exhibition.
Source: おびひろ氷まつり｜イベント｜【公式】北海道の観光・旅行情報サイト HOKKAIDO LOVE!
Obihiro’s winter, featuring ice and snow art, winter activities, and the flavors of Tokachi
What to expect
At the venue, visitors can enjoy hands-on activities involving snow and ice, including an ice slide, spinning sleds, a snow maze, and a snow field.
You can also walk around and see exhibits such as ice masks made by elementary school students, citizens’ ice and snow sculptures, and the ice sculpture exhibition.
Between activities and exhibits, visitors can sample Tokachi cuisine at the food stalls in the Ice Marche.
Source: おびひろ氷まつり｜ 帯広市ホームページ 十勝
How to take part
参加費：一部有料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Midorigaoka Park area, 2 Midorigaoka, Obihiro, Hokkaido
- Train and bus
Free shuttle buses operate from inside Obihiro Racecourse, the east side of Tokachi Plaza, and Aeon Obihiro
- By car
About 10 minutes from JR Obihiro Station
徒歩：JR帯広駅から約30分
- Parking
None
Source: おびひろ氷まつり公式ホームページ
Address 2 Midorigaoka, Obihiro, Hokkaido
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 event information said the festival was scheduled to run from January 30 (Friday) to February 1 (Sunday).
The event is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and until 5 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 Hokkaido / Obihiro City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The 2026 information advises visitors to dress warmly for this outdoor winter event.
The program may change depending on snowfall conditions.
Parking congestion is expected around the venue, and free shuttle bus service is announced.
Source: 令和8年1月16日 市長記者会見｜ 帯広市ホームページ 十勝
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include Midorigaoka Park, the Hokkaido Obihiro Museum of Art, the Obihiro Centennial City Museum, Naomichi Uemura Memorial Museum “House of Ice and Snow,” and Obihiro Zoo.
Pork rice bowls are also mentioned as a local food option.
Origins and History of Obihiro Ice Festival
The Obihiro Ice Festival celebrated its 63rd edition in 2026.
Obihiro City describes it as an event that residents have helped organize and take part in, and that has been cherished for many years.
The information said that the 2026 ice sculpture exhibition would be a national competition, with more works on display than usual.
Ice and snow sculptures created by residents and ice masks made by elementary school students are also features that have come to define the long-running festival.
Official information
The organizer is the Obihiro Festival Promotion Committee.
Official information is available on the Obihiro Ice Festival official website and the Obihiro City website.
The contact is the Obihiro Festival Promotion Committee.
Obihiro Ice Festival at a Glance
The Obihiro Ice Festival is a celebration where you can admire ice and snow sculptures, enjoy winter activities such as an ice slide and spinning sleds, and sample Tokachi cuisine at the Ice Marche.
The nighttime scene, enhanced by fireworks and the glow of paper-bag lanterns, is another distinctive feature.
The 2026 event information listed the dates as January 30 to February 1.
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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