A winter festival where ice, fire, and fireworks meet in the depths of winter in Rikubetsu
Rikubetsu Shibare Festival
The 2026 edition of Rikubetsu Shibare Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/02/07 〜 2026/02/08Ended
- Season / frequency
- The coldest time of the year
- Location
- Rikubetsu Town Event Plaza
- Area
- Hokkaido・Rikubetsu Town(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.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/22
This festival was born from the idea of deliberately enjoying the harsh winter in Rikubetsu, a town known for having some of the coldest temperatures in Japan. The cold-resistance experience in an ice igloo, the “Fire of Life,” and fireworks lighting up the winter night sky create a scene unique to Rikubetsu.
About Rikubetsu Shibare Festival
The Rikubetsu Shibare Festival is a winter event held in Rikubetsu, a town known for having some of the coldest temperatures in Japan, during the coldest time of the year.
Since it began in 1982, the festival has been enjoyed as an event born from the counterintuitive idea of deliberately embracing the harsh cold.
The time spent surrounded by clear winter skies and bracing cold is itself an experience unique to Rikubetsu.
Festival highlights
The signature event is the “Human Cold-Resistance Test,” in which participants spend the night in an ice igloo known as the “Balloon Mansion.”
At the center of the venue, a giant bonfire called “The Fire of Life” blazes, bringing warmth to the winter night.
The “Shibare Fireworks” lighting up the night sky and the steam rising from the food stalls also make for striking contrasts with the bitter cold.
A winter festival where ice, fire, and fireworks meet in the depths of winter in Rikubetsu
What to expect
The festival features the “Human Cold-Resistance Test,” in which participants spend the night in an ice igloo called the “Balloon Mansion.”
At night, the “Fire of Life” burns at the center of the venue, lighting up the winter darkness to the sound of crackling firewood.
The “Shibare Fireworks” rise into the night sky, while steam from the food stalls and other sights show how people enjoy the festival in the cold.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Rikubetsu Town Event Plaza / Rikubetsu, Rikubetsu Town, Ashoro District, Hokkaido
- By car
About 50 minutes from Ashoro IC on the Doto Expressway / about 70 minutes from Memanbetsu Airport
- Parking
1,000 spaces, free
Address Rikubetsu, Rikubetsu Town, Ashoro District, Hokkaido
Dates and season
2026 event information (the published dates have passed)
According to the 2026 announcement, the festival was scheduled to run from February 7 to February 8.
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 / Rikubetsu Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include the Ginga no Mori Observatory, Lake Chimikeppu, Lake Onneto, Onneto Yū-no-taki Falls, Mount Meakan, and the Okecraft Center Forest Craft Museum.
Nearby roadside stations include Michi-no-Eki Aurora Town 93 Rikubetsu, Michi-no-Eki Aioi, and Michi-no-Eki Ashoro Ginga Hall 21.
Origins and History of Rikubetsu Shibare Festival
The Rikubetsu Shibare Festival began in 1982.
It is an event born from the counterintuitive idea of deliberately enjoying the harsh cold in a region known for having some of the coldest temperatures in Japan.
It later became known as Japan’s coldest winter festival, with events such as spending the night in an ice igloo, the “Fire of Life,” and the “Shibare Fireworks” among its featured attractions.
Official information
公式サイト：Official website
Rikubetsu Shibare Festival at a Glance
The Rikubetsu Shibare Festival is an event born from the idea of enjoying Rikubetsu Town’s harsh winter.
Highlights include the “Human Cold-Resistance Test,” in which participants spend the night in an ice igloo called the “Balloon Mansion,” as well as the giant bonfire “The Fire of Life” and the “Shibare Fireworks.”
It is introduced as a winter festival unique to Rikubetsu, facing up to the cold, and continuing since it began in 1982.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/22
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