Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

Frozen wonderland vibes with glowing sculptures, ice slides, and winter fun at Hokkaido’s Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival.

What happens?

Each winter, Hokkaido’s Lake Shikotsu hosts the Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, featuring illuminated ice sculptures set against a snowy backdrop. Visitors can enjoy ice slides, skating, and evening fireworks. Warm up with local food and drinks from the festival stalls, or relax at the nearby hot springs.

Lake Shikotsu itself is a natural marvel, a caldera lake created by volcanic activity over 30,000 years ago, and the second deepest in Japan. Its mineral-rich onsen waters, found along the northeastern shore, are said to leave the skin feeling smooth and refreshed, making a post-festival soak well worth your time.

Schedule

The Ice Festival takes place from February 1 to 24, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The illuminations will start at 4:30 p.m. and end at 8 p.m.

Tickets

Admission costs ¥1,000 per person (junior high school and above). Free for elementary school students and below. Tickets are available at the venue.

How to get there

Lake Shikotsu is around 40 minutes from New Chitose Airport by taxi (approximately ¥7,000). Alternatively, hop on the Lake Shikotsu Line bus from the airport for a more Cheapo-friendly option at ¥1,260 and a travel time of about 55 minutes.