Odori Park (大通公園) is not only the symbol of Sapporo but also home to the famous Clock Tower, ‘Tokeidai’. It divides Sapporo’s central area into north and south sections. The city’s main area is designed in a grid pattern, making it easy for travelers to navigate. Positioned at the heart of this grid is Odori Park, where various festivals like the Sapporo Snow Festival and Yosakoi Soran are held.
It’s a 15-minute walk from Odori Park to Sapporo Station and just 10 minutes to Susukino. You can reach both areas via underground shopping arcades known as Pole Town, Aurora Town, and Chikaho, which run beneath Odori Park.
From late November to the end of December, during Christmas and just before the Sapporo Snow Festival, Odori Park hosts the Sapporo White Illumination. This dazzling display of lights enchants visitors during the winter nights.
Access
Odori Station (Nanboku Line/Tozai Line/Toho Line)
Map
Sapporo Snow Festival
The festival is held from the beginning of February to the next week every year. The times are the coldest season through the winter so that snow sculptures are kept in good condition. And furthermore, we have much fresh snow every day which makes sculptures more white beautiful. That’s why we have the festival in such a frozen days. By the way, if you make snow sculpture with soiled snow, the sculpture will melt easier and it can’t be kept more than a week.
Corns Come After Snow
The end of April, The corn wagon appears in the park. This is one of the most famous specialty in Sapporo. see details…
Yosakoi Sōran Festival
The biggest festival in summer is held in the park. It starts from the beginning of Jun to the next week. More than 270 teams participate in the festival. The roots of Yosakoi Sōran is derived from ‘Yosakoi’ festival in Kochi prefecture which started 60 years ago and has spread across the country. see more detail about ‘Yosakoi’ in Kochi. Yosakoi is a kind of dance festival as well as Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. There is no decorative illumination and it’s scale cannot be compared with that of Rio, but enthusiasms of participants are the same. Hot summer comes in Ōdōri Park after Yosakoi Sōran.
