Hokkaido's two big Christmas events are the Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo (November 20 – December 25, 2026) and the Hakodate Christmas Fantasy (December 1–25, 2026). Add the Sapporo White Illumination, the first weeks of the ski season and snow that, in an average year, already covers the ground by Christmas, and December is one of the most festive times to visit.
Christmas 2026 at a glance
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| Event | Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo | November 20 – December 25, 11:00–21:00 (last orders 20:45) | Odori Park, Sapporo |
| Sapporo White Illumination | November 20, 2026 – March 14, 2027 (each site has its own period) | Central Sapporo |
| Hakodate Christmas Fantasy | December 1–25; fireworks at 18:00 every evening; free entry | Red Brick Warehouses, Hakodate |
| Tomamu Ice Village | From December 20, 2026 (to March 10, 2027) | Hoshino Resorts Tomamu |
From the Sapporo Tourism Association's Christmas Market and White Illumination pages, the Hokkaido Tourism Organization's Hakodate Christmas Fantasy listing and Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, checked 12–19 October 2026.
Sapporo: the Christmas Market and the lights
The venue schedules checked on October 24 distinguish Akapla (until March 14, 2027) from the red-brick government building (until February 28). Nakajima Park is January 9–28 only, so it is not a Christmas or Snow Festival stop. Odori lights finish December 25. The official Christmas Market is at Odori Park 1–2 chome, with last orders at 20:45 before the 21:00 close. See the venue-by-venue illumination schedule to choose the sites operating on your travel dates.
The Munich Christmas Market, inspired by the Christmas market of Sapporo's sister city Munich, runs in Odori Park from November 20 to December 25, 2026, 11:00–21:00. The White Illumination lights Odori Park, Ekimae-dori, Minami 1-jo-dori, Akapla and the Sapporo Station south exit, with the red-brick government building and Nakajima Park added for 2026–27. Our Sapporo White Illumination guide and Sapporo in winter have the details.
Hakodate: the Christmas Fantasy
From December 1 to 25, 2026, the Christmas Fantasy is held on the water in front of Hakodate's Red Brick Warehouses. Fireworks go up at 18:00 every evening as the tree is relit, and the "Premium Red Tree" glows red for 15 minutes at 18:30, 19:30 and 20:30. Entry is free. See our Hakodate in winter guide.
Will there be snow at Christmas?
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| Station | Lasting snow cover begins (average) | December high / low |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | December 6 | 2.0 / -4.0°C |
| Asahikawa | November 24 | -0.8 / -8.0°C |
| Kutchan (Niseko area) | November 21 | 0.0 / -6.8°C |
| Hakodate | December 19 | 3.2 / -3.6°C |
Snow-cover dates are the Japan Meteorological Agency Sapporo Regional Headquarters' averages for August 1990 to July 2020; temperatures are JMA 1991–2020 normals. In an average year the snow that lasts all winter has settled in all four places before December 25, though individual years vary. Days are short: in Sapporo the sun sets at about 16:00 in mid-December (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan), so the lights are on from early evening.
Skiing at Christmas
By Christmas the season is under way: Sapporo Kokusai, Sapporo Teine, the four Niseko United areas and Furano all plan to have opened by November 28, 2026. Niseko's Peak Season lift pass prices start on December 24. See our ski season guide.
Planning a Christmas trip
These are our suggestions, not official advice.
- Book early. The days around Christmas and New Year are a busy time for hotels and ski resorts.
- Choose one city per evening. Sapporo and Hakodate are about 3½–4 hours apart by limited express, so give each its own night; see Sapporo to Hakodate.
- Dress for standing outdoors after dark. See our winter weather guide and winter packing list.
- Check New Year closures. Some attractions close over the New Year, for example Asahiyama Zoo from December 30 to January 1.
For the whole month, see Hokkaido in December.
Two nights, three days: choose Sapporo or Hakodate
With two nights, we suggest one city rather than both. These are our suggested itineraries. Two nights in Sapporo let you keep your luggage at the same base. Give one evening to the Christmas Market (November 20 – December 25) and another to the White Illumination, whose period differs by site, and keep the daytime flexible. Compare areas in where to stay in Sapporo.
Two nights in Hakodate give you one evening for the Christmas Fantasy (December 1–25) and another for dinner, adding the night view if visibility and operating conditions allow. Choose a base near the station or the bay according to where you head the next day. See Hakodate in winter and the Hakodate food guide.
Four nights, five days: both cities
Our editorial example is two nights in Sapporo, then two in Hakodate, moving on Day 3. Treat the middle day as a transfer day: arriving in Hakodate in time for the 18:00 fireworks is not guaranteed, so keep the Christmas Fantasy for the following evening. Work backward from the train or flight you can actually book, your check-in time and dinner; see Sapporo to Hakodate. To see both events, plan your Christmas Market evening in Sapporo between November 20 and December 25, and your Christmas Fantasy evening in Hakodate between December 1 and 25.
When comparing hotels, add up the total for all four nights in both cities rather than the per-night prices shown, then add the trip between the cities, luggage and meals. Our trip budget guide helps with the sum.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Christmas market in Hokkaido? Yes. The Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo runs in Odori Park from November 20 to December 25, 2026, 11:00–21:00.
When is the Hakodate Christmas Fantasy 2026? December 1–25, 2026, in front of the Red Brick Warehouses, with fireworks at 18:00 every evening.
Will it snow at Christmas in Hokkaido? In an average year, lasting snow cover begins on December 6 in Sapporo and December 19 in Hakodate (JMA averages), so snow is usually on the ground by Christmas.
Can I ski in Hokkaido at Christmas? Yes. The main ski areas plan to open by November 28, 2026; Niseko's Peak Season prices start on December 24.
Sources: Sapporo Tourism Association (Munich Christmas Market, White Illumination); Hokkaido Tourism Organization (Hakodate Christmas Fantasy); Hoshino Resorts Tomamu; ski area official pages as listed in our ski season guide; Asahiyama Zoo event calendar; Japan Meteorological Agency climate normals and Sapporo Regional Headquarters snow-date normals; National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. Checked 12–20 October 2026. Planning suggestions are our editorial judgement.
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Northern Land Hokkaido Team — Sapporo, Japan