Winter Ice Scenery Shaped by Lake Shikotsu Blue and Seven Colors of Light
Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2027/01/30 〜 2027/02/23Scheduled
- Season / frequency
- Late January to late February / Every year
- Location
- Lake Shikotsu Onsen
- Area
- Hokkaido・Chitose 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.
- Features
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Official website / social media
- Official website
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival is a winter celebration featuring ice sculptures made from the lake's water. Enjoy blue ice sparkling in the natural light by day and fantastical ice sculptures illuminated at night.
About Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: t-konno File:千歳・支笏湖氷濤まつり2014（Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 2014） - panoramio (1).jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 t-konno https://web.archive.org/web/20161028083950/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/102614816Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: t-konno File:Chitose Banner.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 t-konno https://www.panoramio.com/photo/128012001Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: t-konno File:千歳・支笏湖氷濤まつり2015（Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 2015） - panoramio (4).jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 t-konno https://web.archive.org/web/20161030223624/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/116704863Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival is a winter celebration that uses water from Lake Shikotsu to create ice sculptures and adorn the winter lakeshore.
Made from the lake’s clear water, the sculptures display a transparent blue known as “Lake Shikotsu Blue” during the day and take on a different appearance when illuminated at night.
At Lake Shikotsu Onsen, you can enjoy the beauty of sculptures shaped by nature’s water and the severe winter climate.
Source: 【2027年開催日決定！】千歳･支笏湖氷濤まつり〜氷の美術館〜｜イベント｜ちとせ観光ナビ【公式】北海道千歳エリアの観光・旅行情報サイト / 千歳・支笏湖氷濤まつり〜氷の美術館〜2027年1月30日(土)～2月23日(火・祝) | イベント一覧 | ようこそさっぽろ
Festival highlights
Highlights include ice sculptures glowing blue in the natural daylight and groups of sculptures bathed in seven colors of light from evening onward.
Sculptures of all sizes line the venue, offering a different view by day and by night.
The clarity created by Lake Shikotsu’s pure water and the light reflected off the ice’s uneven surfaces create a distinctive festival landscape.
Source: 知れば知るほど面白い「千歳・支笏湖氷濤まつり」ってどんなおまつり？【2026年版】｜特集｜ちとせ観光ナビ【公式】北海道千歳エリアの観光・旅行情報サイト
Winter Ice Scenery Shaped by Lake Shikotsu Blue and Seven Colors of Light
What to expect
At the venue, visitors walk among ice sculptures of various sizes, made by spraying water from Lake Shikotsu and letting it freeze.
The sculptures appear blue during daylight hours, then the scenery changes to an illuminated nighttime view from 4:30 p.m.
You can also warm up at nearby hot springs or enjoy a meal and shop for souvenirs in the Lake Shikotsu Onsen district.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Lake Shikotsu Onsen (Shikotsuko Onsen, Chitose, Hokkaido).
- Train and bus
JR千歳駅から北海道中央バス「支笏湖」行き（系統番号：空4）に乗車し、終点「支笏湖」で下車します。
It takes about 44 minutes from Chitose Station.
It takes about 55 minutes from New Chitose Airport on the same bus route.
- By car
It takes about 30 minutes from central Chitose via Hokkaido Prefectural Route 16, and about 40 minutes from New Chitose Airport via National Route 36 and Prefectural Route 16.
- Parking
400 spaces.
Parking is free during the winter season, but buses are charged.
Large buses cost 2,000 yen and minibuses cost 1,000 yen; reservations are not required.
Address Shikotsuko Onsen, Chitose, Hokkaido
Dates and season
The festival will be held from January 30 to February 23 in 2027.
It is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the illumination from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
You can see the ice sculptures in natural light during the day and illuminated sculptures from evening onward.
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 / Chitose City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The venue is on the shore of Lake Shikotsu, and it feels even colder on windy days.
For comfort, bring a windproof outer layer such as a down coat, as well as a hat, gloves, scarf, and thick socks.
When walking on snowy or icy roads, use anti-slip footwear, and remove it indoors or when riding in a vehicle.
Traffic congestion is expected on weekend and public holiday evenings.
Source: 【2027年】千歳 · 支笏湖 氷濤まつり｜開催期間 · 料金 · ライトアップ · Access · BLUE LINER 情報～〈丸駒温泉旅館編集部 発信〉
Nearby attractions
Lake Shikotsu Onsen is near the venue, where you can enjoy a day visit to the baths after seeing the ice sculptures.
Nearby attractions include the Yamasen Railway Bridge, Lake Shikotsu Visitor Center, Lake Shikotsu sightseeing boats, Lake Shikotsu, and the Wild Bird Forest.
You can also combine the festival with a visit to the winter scenery along the lake and in the surrounding forest.
サケのふるさと 千歳水族館
北海道千歳市にある水族館
写真：Psjk2106 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
青葉公園
北海道千歳市にある公園
Origins and History of Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
The Ice Festival was first held in January 1979 to attract winter visitors to Lake Shikotsu, which had seen fewer tourists during the winter.
It is said to have been inspired by the Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival, held in Asahikawa.
The character 濤 in the name means “wave,” and the festival was named with the waves of Lake Shikotsu in mind.
From the first event, local hotels and inns, sightseeing boat companies, city hall staff, and others helped create the ice sculptures.
Official information
For the venue, dates, fees, and access information, see the event listing on the Chitose Tourism Navi website.
The 2027 event overview lists the General Incorporated Association, National Park Lake Shikotsu Management Council, as the organizer.
A link to the official website is also provided.
Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival at a Glance
The Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival is a winter event where you can enjoy ice sculptures made from Lake Shikotsu’s water, with a different look by day and by night.
Highlights include clear blue ice during the day and illuminated ice scenery at night.
In 2027, it will be held at Lake Shikotsu Onsen from January 30 to February 23, and can be combined with a visit to the hot springs or sightseeing along the lakeshore.
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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