Obihiro Ice Festival 2027: Dates (Jan 29–31), Venue, Highlights, and Parking When Driving from Tokachi-Obihiro Airport

In 2027, the Obihiro Ice Festival runs for three days, from January 29 (Fri) to 31 (Sun). The venue is the Midorigaoka Park area in Obihiro. According to the Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association page, the site is open 10:00–20:00, with the illumination lasting until 22:00 (Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association, checked 2026-10-07). Admission is free.

The dates and admission fee are published officially, but no 2027 parking information has been posted yet. Part of the parking section on the same page still carries the weekdays from the previous year. This article keeps the 2026 results and the 2027 plans separate, and also covers what campervan travelers need to decide first: how to get there, where to park, and how cold the nights are.

When is the Obihiro Ice Festival 2027? Three days, January 29 (Fri) to 31 (Sun)

The Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association page gives the festival period as “January 29 (Fri) – January 31 (Sun), 2027.” January 29 is a Friday, so it is a Friday-to-Sunday, three-day format. In 2026, the official site’s stage schedule ran January 30 (Fri), 31 (Sat), and February 1 (Sun), so the weekend was shifted by one day (Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association, Obihiro Ice Festival official site, checked 2026-10-07).

	2026 (held)	2027 (planned)
Dates	Jan 30 (Fri) – Feb 1 (Sun)	Jan 29 (Fri) – 31 (Sun)
Venue	Midorigaoka Park	Midorigaoka Park area
Hours	Fri and Sat 10:00–20:00; Sun 10:00–17:00	10:00–20:00, illumination until 22:00 (no day-by-day differences listed)
Admission	Not listed	Free
Inquiries	Obihiro Festival Promotion Committee	Obihiro Festival Promotion Committee 0155-22-8600

January 29, 2027 is the day after Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan opens (January 28 to March 14, 2027). That lets you pair two Tokachi ice festivals in the same week. A list is in the date calendar of 14 Hokkaido winter events.

What are the hours and where is the venue? Midorigaoka Park; in 2026 only Sunday closed at 17:00

For 2027, the official page lists the hours as “10:00–20:00, illumination until 22:00.” It does not mention any difference between days (Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association, checked 2026-10-07).

In 2026, hours differed by day. According to the official site’s stage schedule, the festival closed at 20:00 on Friday and Saturday, and at 17:00 on Sunday (Obihiro Ice Festival official site, checked 2026-10-07). Sunday may close early in 2027 as well, so if you plan to go on the last day, check the official site just before you leave.

Winter days in Tokachi end early. According to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan calendar, sunset in Nemuro, in eastern Hokkaido, is at 16:25 on January 29, 2027. Obihiro is west of Nemuro, so sunset is somewhat later there. Even so, assume it will be nearly dark by the time you reach the venue, and plan to arrive while it is still daylight (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, sunrise and sunset (Nemuro, January 2027), checked 2026-10-07).

What can you see? Ice slides, ice sculptures, citizens’ snow and ice statues, fireworks

For 2027, the official page lists the following main events (Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association, checked 2026-10-07).

• Ice slide and ice relief displays
• Rotating sled and tube slider
• Snow field
• Citizens’ Snow and Ice Statue Contest
• National Ice Sculpture Exhibition, Obihiro Winter Competition
• Paper-bag lanterns, ice masks, and other displays
• Fireworks display
• Ice Marché

At the ice sculpture competition, the 20th edition, whose results are on the official site, drew 20 works. The Hokkaido Governor’s Award (Grand Prize) went to “Amazon” by Koji Kareki of Okayama Prefecture, and the official list gives each work’s title and creator (Results of the National Ice Sculpture Exhibition, Obihiro Winter Competition, checked 2026-10-07). Entries for 2027 will be announced officially.

The snow statues are made by citizens and groups. At the 63rd festival in 2026, the Obihiro Mayor’s Prize in the Citizens’ Snow and Ice Statue Contest went to “The Ice Capital’s Champion Swallows the Silver and Returns to the Sky: The Last Scoop of the 10th Year” by the Minamimaku Snow Sculpture Production Association. Many titles are playful, including “Bear Sightings from North and South: Be Careful” and “WaGyuReady?” (Citizens’ Snow and Ice Statue Contest judging results (official PDF), checked 2026-10-07).

As for crowd size, the official page says “62nd Obihiro Ice Festival attendance (fiscal 2024): 170,000 people.” The 2027 turnout can’t be predicted, but read alongside the official warning about crowded parking near the venue (see the later section), it is a good reason to decide how you will move your vehicle in advance (Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association, checked 2026-10-07).

How much does it cost? Free admission. Food is on the official site’s food menu

Admission is free. The 2027 official page says “Admission: Free” (Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association, checked 2026-10-07). Plan on buying food and drinks separately.

The 2026 food menu is listed by vendor on the official site. The Obihiro Bussan Association booth had surf clam curry, pork rice bowl (butadon), simmered skewers of Tokachi wagyu, muddy-pork menchi-katsu, and beef sausage, while the food trucks offered wagyu kebab, green onion and salt pork bowl, baked sweet potato brûlée, and more. There were also stalls selling ramen, yakisoba, and french fries. Vendors for 2027 will be announced officially (Obihiro Ice Festival official food menu, checked 2026-10-07).

For items with no price listed, check the price on site before choosing. The official page does not say whether cashless payment is accepted.

How cold is it and what should you wear? Late-January lows in Obihiro average −13.4°C

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency’s normals (1991–2020), the late-January daily high in Obihiro is −1.5°C and the daily low is −13.4°C. The January monthly mean is −6.9°C, and the normal maximum snow depth is 57 cm. These are typical-year guides, not a forecast for the day (Japan Meteorological Agency, 10-day values and monthly values, checked 2026-10-07).

The festival is outdoors and continues into the evening with fireworks and illumination. After dark, temperatures approach the normal daily low. You will spend a long time standing at the venue, so protect your feet from the cold first.

• Thick, non-slip shoes. The ice is slippery even in the daytime
• Layer your socks so your toes do not get cold
• Two pairs of gloves, a hat that covers your ears, and a neck warmer
• A coat long enough to cover your knees. Arrange things so you can get back in the vehicle right after leaving the venue

Our thinking on gear is collected in the article on Hokkaido winter temperatures.

What is there at night? In 2026, fireworks on Friday and Saturday, and the Snow Night Show on Saturday

For 2027, the official page only lists “Fireworks display” among the main events, with no date or time. The 2026 results appear in the official site’s stage schedule (Obihiro Ice Festival official site, checked 2026-10-07).

Day	Time	Program (2026 results)
Fri	18:00	Opening ceremony
Fri	18:15	Kachimai Winter Fireworks (Tokachi Mainichi Shimbun)
Fri	18:30	Street performance by Performer SYO!
Sat	12:00	Citizens’ Snow and Ice Statue Contest awards ceremony
Sat	17:15	Snow Night Show of Light and Fire
Sat	18:00	Second night of Kachimai Winter Fireworks (15 minutes)
Sat	18:30	Ice Planet
Sun	10:00–17:00	Mainly stage programs. Closes at 17:00

In 2026 the fireworks took place at 18:15 on Friday and 18:00 on Saturday, and the Saturday show is listed as 15 minutes long. The length of the Friday show is not listed. The 2027 format may not be the same, so wait for the official announcement before finalizing your evening plans.

On the way back at night, snowbanks from plowing reduce visibility. After the 20:00 closing, all the cars move at once. Leaving at a different time, or parking at a distant lot instead of near the venue and taking a bus both ways, makes things easier.

How do you get there from Tokachi-Obihiro Airport or Obihiro Station? By car, about 26 km and 30 minutes from the airport

If you are coming from outside Hokkaido, your entry point is Tokachi-Obihiro Airport. By car, it is about 25.9 km and about 30 minutes from the airport to Midorigaoka Park (calculated with OSRM, snow-free conditions, no breaks, coordinates approximated via map search, calculated 2026-10-07). From Obihiro Station it is about 2.8 km and about 5 minutes. For how to rent a campervan at the airport, see 3 companies where you can rent a campervan in Obihiro and Tokachi.

Starting point	Distance to Midorigaoka Park	Time (no snow, no breaks)
Obihiro Station	About 2.8 km	About 5 min
Tokachi-Obihiro Airport	About 25.9 km	About 30 min
Moving Inn Tokachi Kitanomori (Taiki Town)	About 59.8 km	About 54 min
New Chitose Airport	About 159.9 km	About 1 hr 58 min

From New Chitose Airport it is about 160 km, which falls within this site’s guideline of “200 km and 9 hours of driving per day” (not an official standard). However, these figures assume no snow. In winter, packed snow, ice, and early sunsets stretch the time for the same distance. Avoid itineraries that arrive in the evening, and plan to arrive while the sun is still high. You can check which roads close in winter in Hokkaido roads that become impassable in winter.

For public transportation, the official site’s access page has directions from Sapporo. JR takes about 2 hours 30 minutes between Sapporo and Obihiro, and the Potato Liner express bus takes about 4 hours. It lists shuttle buses to the venue from three boarding points (inside Obihiro Racecourse, east of Tokachi Plaza, and AEON Obihiro), but the page gives no year, so confirm the 2027 times with the official site (Obihiro Ice Festival official access page, checked 2026-10-07).

What about parking if you drive? The official advice is “use public transportation or the free shuttle bus”

On parking, the Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association page says: “Parking lots around the venue get very crowded, so please use public transportation or the free shuttle bus.” It does not list the number or location of venue parking spaces for 2027 (Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association, checked 2026-10-07).

The same section says that “only on 1/31 (Sat) and 2/1 (Sun),” the Obihiro Kosei Hospital parking lot can be used, with a free shuttle bus from in front of the racecourse. Those weekdays belong to 2026; January 31, 2027 is a Sunday. The page does not say whether the same arrangement will apply in 2027. Please do not read the previous year’s notice as the 2027 one.

A campervan is tall and long. At whichever lot you choose, check the height limit and the size of the spaces at the entrance, and switch to another place if you can’t fit. On snowy days the plowed snowbanks can reduce the number of spaces, so arrive early. Instead of relying on parking at the venue, you can also park around Obihiro Station and take a bus both ways.

Where to stay in Obihiro? RV parks in Tokachi, Kitanomori, and how to find places open in winter

There are no RV parks within Obihiro city. Of the 5 facilities in the wider Tokachi area, two have officially confirmed winter operation: RV Park Tokachi Wakka no Mori (Shimizu Town) and Moving Inn Tokachi Kitanomori (Taiki Town). Distances and power details are in 5 RV parks for overnight stays in Obihiro and Tokachi, and how to use them in winter (checked 2026-09-08 to 14, as stated in that article).

Tokachi Wakka no Mori’s official top page says “the campsites can be used year-round” (Tokachi Wakka no Mori, checked 2026-10-07). Before booking, confirm with the facility whether power and toilets operate in winter.

Kitanomori is in Taiki Town, and the facility guide says it is about 50 minutes by car from Tokachi-Obihiro Airport (checked 2026-08-31). As the table above shows, it is about 60 km and about 54 minutes to Midorigaoka Park. The differences between the lodging units are in the Moving Inn Tokachi Kitanomori facility guide. On festival night, plan on returning to your lodging to rest rather than staying near the venue.

For winter overnight parking, avoid Michi-no-Eki and parking lots that do not state they accept overnight stays, because you could get in the way of night-time snow removal. In subzero temperatures, the remaining fuel is the running time of your FF heater. Do not sleep with the engine running: if snow buries the exhaust pipe, exhaust fumes can flow into the cabin. For an overall view of places open in winter, see 13 RV parks and Michi-no-Eki for winter overnight parking.

What to do before and after the festival? Kotan, Jewelry Ice, and winter activities in Tokachi

The week of January 29 to 31 overlaps with several of Tokachi’s winter highlights. Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan runs from January 28 to March 14, 2027, and the official site says it is 1 hour 30 minutes (about 60 km) from Obihiro Station (Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan official site, checked 2026-10-07). The road between Nukabira and Lake Shikaribetsu is closed in winter, so enter from the Shikaoi Town side. How to plan the activities is in What to Do in Tokachi in Winter: Dog Sledding, Snowshoeing, and the Ice Village.

The Toyokoro Town Tourism Association says Jewelry Ice appears from mid-January to early March. It may not be visible on the same day as the festival. Locations and parking are covered in our Jewelry Ice article.

An example of combining a festival, drift ice, and a snow festival in one trip is in the 10-day winter Hokkaido model route. For the full range of things you can only do in Hokkaido in winter, see 43 things found only in Hokkaido in winter.

Pages to read next

• 14 Hokkaido winter events on a map and date calendar
• What to Do in Tokachi in Winter: Dog Sledding, Snowshoeing, and the Ice Village
• 5 RV parks for overnight stays in Obihiro and Tokachi, and how to use them in winter
• When and where can you see Jewelry Ice?
• The 10-day winter Hokkaido model route