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Clearer days with still excellent snow conditions, February is an excellent month to experience the magic of Japan’s winter festivals happening in and around Niseko.
In Setsu
Live Music at Setsu
Every Sunday and Monday
Relax and unwind to live music performances every Sunday and Monday, from 16:30 – 18:30, while basking in the warmth of the fireplace right in Setsu’s lobby. Live music will be performed by the various musicians, each presenting their own style of music.
Head on over to Park90 for a glass of wine to accompany the live music playing throughout the night.
Chinese New Year Celebrations at Setsu
16 – 18 February 2026
Join us for another New Year event with our Chinese New Year celebrations. Guests can look forward to various events happening over three days, including the Chinese Lion Parade, live music performances, and the Lion Dance.
In and Around Niseko
Photo Credit: Lake Toya Tourism Association
Lake Toya Fireworks
3 – 12 February 2026
Lake Toya, a popular onsen town an hour away from Niseko, will be holding their very own fireworks show this winter as well. A bright night in Lake Toya will welcome visitors with their stunning illumination tunnel now accompanied by a winter fireworks display for the first two weeks of February.
The fireworks display will start at 20:30 and will last for around 8 minutes.
Photo Credit: Sapporo Tourist Association
Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
31 January – 23 February 2026
Hokkaido’s representative winter festival is happening this February. The famous Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, just less than two hours away from Niseko, is a hotspot during winter where crowds gather to see the breathtaking ice sculptures made from the lake’s water. Known for having some of the cleanest water in Japan, these ice sculptures glow blue during the day and illuminate multicoloured lights at night, making the festival worth visiting at any time of the day.
End your visit at the festival with some warm food and drinks from one of the many food stalls located in the area.
Photo Credit: Sapporo Tourist Association
Sapporo Snow Festival
4 – 11 February 2026
Another famous winter festival is the Sapporo Snow Festival, held annually every February for a week in three different locations right in Sapporo. Odori Park will be the main venue of the festival, featuring snow sculptures of different sizes, including replicas of castles and World Heritage sights. At night, enjoy projection mapping displays, making the festival even more fantastical.
The other two sites will be at Tsudome where families can have fun with snow slides and snow rafts; and Susukino where visitors can admire 60 intricately designed ice sculptures.
Photo Credit: Hokkaido Love
Otaru Snow Light Path
7 – 14 February 2026
A much anticipated event in Otaru, the Snow Light Path is on its 28th year this 2026. Watch as Otaru becomes more romantic at night with the city bathed in warm glowing candlelights. Different parts of the city will be lit up but the most popular spot will be the iconic canals that suddenly become a sea of floating glass-blown candles. Other sites are the former Temiya Railway and Asarigawa hot spring village.
Yukitopia
14 – 15 February 2026
Yukitopia is Kutchan’s local winter festival where the whole community gathers to have fun out in the snow. Enjoy a weekend of snow tubing, snowman building, snow sculptures displays, and an array of local offerings of the food stalls in the area.
Kutchan is the town adjacent to Hirafu and is easily accessible by the buses and shuttles in the area including Setsu Niseko’s Kutchan shuttle.
Photo Credit: Sobetsu Tourism Association
Showa Shinzan Snowball Fight
21 – 22 February 2026
If you loved having snowball fights as a kid, the Showa Shinzan Snowball Fight is an event that you will definitely want to watch. While snowball fighting tournaments are now an international event, it originated from Sobetsu, a town located a little more than an hour’s drive away from Niseko. Today, the Showa Shinzan Snowball Fight is also the biggest in the world.
Watch as professional snowball players coming from all over Japan and the world fight it out in, surprisingly, tension-filled 3-minute matches. Whichever team has the most remaining players after a match, or whoever first steals the opposing team’s flag wins.
Photo Credit: Niseko Tourism
Rhythm Rail Jam
28 February 2026
A very much anticipated showcase, the annual Rhythm Rail Jam is happening on the last day of February. Organised by snowsports specialist, Rhythm, everyone is welcome to watch as snowboarders and skiers display their insane set of rail riding and technical skills, and creativity at the event. Food trucks, DJs, pop-up bars, and raffles will also be happening, making it a night to remember.
Anyone with sufficient snowboarding and skiing skills is welcome to apply to join the event and the participants will be selected among them.
Ongoing Events
Photo Credit: Hanazono Niseko
Fireworks Saturday
Every Saturday
Night skiing in Hanazono just got a little more special this winter. Lighting up the sky every Saturday in February, Hanazono will hold a fireworks display at 19:00 that everyone is welcome to enjoy. Just in time for the night skiing hours to end, the fireworks will be a great way to finish a day of skiing and snowboarding during your Niseko holiday.
The Hanazono ski resort can be reached within a 10-20 min drive from Setsu Niseko. Hanazono shuttle buses are available throughout the winter season with Setsu Niseko as one of their bus stops.
Photo Credit: Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Grand Hirafu Fireworks
Every Friday
End your week on a high note with a fireworks display at Grand Hirafu every evening at 20:00 every Friday. Head on over to the Mountain Centre, slope side, and watch the winter sky light up with numerous fireworks after a day in the mountains.
The fireworks display will be ongoing for the whole month of February.
Snow Light Path (Jozankei)
Until 3 February 2026
On the other side of Lake Toya and just an hour’s drive away from Niseko is Jozankei. Another hot spring town that holds an illumination very much different from Lake Toya’s.
Announced to be the last of its current format, this year’s Snow Light Path will be held from 27 January from 18:00 – 21:00. A conclusion of a 15-year tradition, Jozankei Shrine will be lit up from the ground up with thousands of candles. Visitors can walk within this magical space and peacefully enjoy the warm scenery. Past the Snow Light Path area, one will be greeted by the snow forest, or the “Forest of Prayer”, that is illuminated by colourful lights and images that seamlessly blend into its surroundings.
Sapporo White Illumination
Until 14 March 2026
For the whole month of January, different parts of Sapporo will be illuminated by festive and colourful lights, making the exploration of the city much more exciting. From trees wrapped up in white glowing lights to light and sound performances, combined with Sapporo’s gorgeous snowy landscape, visitors can look forward to experiencing a festive Hokkaido winter wonderland.
Lake Toya Illumination
Until 27 April 2026
An hour’s drive away from Niseko, Lake Toya’s stunning Illumination Tunnel can be visited until April.
While Lake Toya’s Illumination Street is held all year round, the Illumination Tunnel only happens during the winter months, right at the centre of this famous hot spring town. 70 metres long with approximately 400,000 light bulbs, visitors can enjoy strolling through the tunnel, admiring the breathtaking festive glow it provides.
From beginning to end, February is a month filled with festivals anyone can enjoy. Take advantage of our Winter Special Rate with Breakfast this season and don’t miss out on all the fun this coming February.
