Each February, the Sapporo Snow Festival turns the Japanese city of Sapporo into a stage of snow and ice. In 2026 the festival runs from 4th–11th February, drawing more than two million visitors for sculptures, food, nightlife and snow activities. For UK travellers interested in Japan and the splendour of Hokkaido, its northernmost island, it’s a compelling alternative to a winter holiday in Europe or North America.
From student snow statues to global spectacle
The first Sapporo Snow Festival took place in 1950, when local school students built six snow statues in a corner of Odori Park. The display proved popular, and by the mid-1950s the Japanese Self-Defence Forces were helping to construct large sculptures, attracting national attention. Today the event stretches across three main sites: Odori Park in the city centre, the nightlife district of Susukino, and at the Tsudome (Community Dome).
Odori Park hosts the biggest themed sculptures, music stages and rows of food stalls. Susukino focuses on illuminated ice carvings among the district’s bars and small restaurants. Tsudome offers slides, snow-rafting and indoor play areas, making it an obvious choice for families.
Sapporo Snow Festival prices versus London
On the ground, Sapporo is cheaper than London for everyday spending. Using £1 ≈ ¥208 as a working rate, typical costs look like this:
| Item / service | Sapporo price (approx.) | GBP (approx.) | London equivalent |
| Fast-food combo meal | ¥800 – 900 | £3.80 – £4.30 | £7 – £8 |
| Casual restaurant meal | ¥800 – 1,200 | £3.80 – £5.75 | £10 – £15 |
| 0.5L beer in bar | ¥500 – 600 | £2.40 – £2.90 | £5 – £6.50 – £8 |
| Cappuccino in café | ¥500 – 600 | £2.40 – £2.90 | £4 – £4.50 |
| One-day subway pass | ¥830 | ~£4.00 | £8.90 (*Zones 1 – 2 cap) |
| Short taxi ride (2–3km) | ~¥800 -1,000 | ~£3.80-£4.80 | £10 – £15 |
*The London Underground daily pay-as-you-go cap for Zones 1–2 is £8.90.
Even allowing for “festival” pricing, most visitors will find food, drink and local transport cheaper than in the UK capital.
Where cards work – and where cash is still king
Like the rest of urban Japan, Sapporo has become friendlier to mobile payments and international cards. Hotels, department stores, many chain restaurants and major attractions accept Visa and Mastercard. The subway works well with IC transit cards, and a one-day subway pass costs ¥830, with contactless options expanding.
However, the Sapporo Snow Festival still offers many situations where cash is simpler or essential:
- Street-food stalls and temporary vendors selling snacks, hot drinks and souvenirs
- Small neighbourhood bars and izakaya (small bars also serving food) in Susukino
- Older ticket machines, local buses, trams and some day passes
- Coin lockers, vending machines and small entrance fees.
Japan remains a no tipping culture, so you will not need cash for gratuities in bars, taxis or restaurants; service is usually included in the bill. In the rare cases where tipping might be appropriate (where an individual has gone well out of their way to help), place it in a small envelope and give it discreetly with a carefully polite comment.
How much cash to carry for the Sapporo Snow Festival
A realistic daily budget for discretionary spending at the Sapporo Snow Festival might be around ¥5,000–8,000 per adult, or about £24–£38 at current rates. That should cover several snacks at stalls, a sit-down meal, hot drinks or a couple of beers, plus a subway pass and the odd tram or taxi ride. Families and keen nightlife explorers will want to allow more.
Many visitors arrive with enough Yen for two or three days of such spending in hand. For a long weekend focused on the Sapporo Snow Festival, that could mean roughly ¥15,000–20,000 per person as a starting point, with cards covering hotels and long-distance rail
Practical cash tips include:
- Break larger notes early so you have coins and small bills.
- Use cash for stalls and small venues, and cards where acceptance is clear.
- Keep some cash reserved for day trips to markets, onsen (spa) towns or nearby Otaru.
Planning ahead with Money4Travel
For UK travellers, the simplest way to secure this spending money is to organise foreign currency before departure.
Money4Travel operates a hyper-local service, and guarantees the best exchange rate within a 10 minute drive of your postcode. You can search for currency exchangers close to home, reserve currency online and arrange collection, usually the next day and sometimes the same day. You see the rate in advance, avoid airport kiosks and can time your purchase to suit your budget. Their Pips loyalty scheme and buy-back guarantee add value if you return with spare Yen.
Combined with cards for larger items, arriving with a planned cash float makes the Sapporo Snow Festival easier to enjoy – and your winter break in Japan more predictable in cost.
For reference: Sapporo Travel – Sapporo Snow Festival; Sapporo Snow Festival – information and commentary (pdf); Hokkaido Love! – Sapporo Snow Festival / The Pride of Hokkaido; City of Sapporo – Fares and tickets; Japan Travel – Tipping; Numbeo – Sapporo.
Every effort has been made to quote accurate figures, but prices and the exchange rate may change.
By Declan Morton, writer and editor at Money4Travel – the online service for foreign currency sales in the UK. More about the author.
