Written by Lily Crossley-Baxter
Researched by Aarohi Narain
Tadami is a tiny town in the rugged mountainous region in the western part of Fukushima Prefecture. It is known mainly for this annual festival.
What happens?
Due to its geography, Tadami gets an abundance of snow, from which participants carve giant monuments and statues. Giving sculptors just 20 days to craft a masterpiece, the festival has a central piece not too dissimilar in size to those of Sapporo.
The festival features local music performances, comedy sketches, games, a magic show, traditional performances and more. There’s also a market featuring local shops. Alongside Tadami’s own vendors, you’ll find stalls from Kashiwa City (Chiba Prefecture) and Sanjo City (Niigata Prefecture), Tadami’s sister cities.
To add to the spectacle, past years have also featured a fireworks display.
How to get there
To reach Tadami Station from Tokyo you can catch the bullet train to Echigo-Yuzawa Station. Then, transfer to the Jōetsu Line to Koide Station, where you can catch the Tadami Line.
This costs just over ¥9,000 one way and would be fully covered by the JR Pass, as well as some regional passes.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
