Written by Aarohi Narain
Head over for a lively winter festival on frozen Lake Akan, Hokkaido’s Ainu heartland.
What happens?
The Lake Akan Ice Festival transforms the frozen landscape of Hokkaido’s Lake Akan into a breathtaking winter event.
Each night, fireworks displays light up the icy expanse, reflecting off the frozen lake.
Schedule 2026
Evenings kick off with a welcome ceremony at 7:45 p.m., followed by a fireworks show at 8 p.m.
There will also be projection mapping on the Marimu-kan Building, running nightly from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. until February 28.
From March 2 to 15, the fireworks will continue, though ice access will be restricted.
How to get there
From Tokyo, fly to Kushiro Airport (approximately 1 hour 40 minutes). From the airport, take the Akan Airport Liner highway bus, which departs in sync with arriving flights and takes around 75 minutes to reach Lake Akan.
Alternatively, you can take a train from Tokyo to Kushiro Station via the JR Hokkaido Line (with a transfer in Sapporo, approximately 8–9 hours). From Kushiro Station, a bus to Lake Akan takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
