Tsudome Snow Festival: The Sapporo Snow Festival’s Family-Friendly Venue

The Tsudome Snow Festival is one of the three main venues of the famous Sapporo Snow Festival and is especially popular with families traveling with children. While many visitors picture enormous snow sculptures lining Odori Park, this venue offers a very different experience that focuses on play, space, and hands-on winter fun. With wide open grounds, interactive snow attractions, and a relaxed atmosphere, it is an excellent choice for families who want to enjoy Sapporo’s winter without the crowds and photo-focused pace of the central venues.

What Is the Tsudome Snow Festival?

The event takes place at a large community dome that is normally used for sports and local events. Originally, the children’s snow festival was held in Makomanai, but it relocated to the Tsudome area in 2009. Since then, it has become known as the most family-oriented venue of the Sapporo Snow Festival.

The spacious outdoor area features numerous attractions where visitors can freely play with snow, and happily, most of them are free of charge. At the entrance, guests are welcomed by cheerful snow statues, many of which are created by high school students from around Sapporo.

Getting to the Tsudome Snow Festival

The closest station is Sakaemachi Station, about a 15-minute subway ride from Sapporo Station. Located near Okadama Airport, the venue feels more open and spacious than the central festival areas.

During the festival period, shuttle buses operate between Sakaemachi Station and the venue. However, the walk takes only about 15 minutes, so depending on the weather and road conditions, walking can also be a reasonable option.

Tsudome is a small community dome used for various sports throughout the year.

During the Snow Festival season, daytime temperatures are usually around -5°C, and on warmer days they can approach 0°C. Be sure to dress warmly, especially if you plan to spend several hours outdoors.

We visited on a weekday, and even then, there were quite a lot of people. Based on that experience, weekends and holidays are likely to be very crowded.

Sapporo’s Tsudome Snow Festival 

Originally held in Makomanai as a children’s snow festival, it relocated to Tsudome in 2009. The spacious grounds now feature numerous attractions where visitors can enjoy playing in the snow, and most activities are free or very inexpensive.

Snow sculptures made by high school students from around Sapporo greet visitors at the entrance, along with signs welcoming guests to Sakae-machi.

Snow Play at the Tsudome Snow Festival

One of the simplest yet most popular areas is the snowman-building corner. Snow play tools are available to borrow for free, making it easy for children to start playing right away.

Our child spent a long time happily digging, shaping, and building in the snow, and many other children looked just as absorbed. There is truly no shortage of snow here, making it an ideal place for young kids to experience real winter play.

Of course, warm drinks and food stalls are also available throughout the venue, which are very welcome when you need a break from the cold.

Tube Slides at the Tsudome Snow Festival

Among all the attractions, the tube slide was by far the most popular. We waited about an hour to try it, which was admittedly tough for a small child, but the experience itself was worth it.

On particularly busy days, staff use tickets to manage the crowds. After you settle into the tube, an attendant gives you a push, and the icy surface lets the slide build up surprising speed.

I did wonder whether the ride might be scary for children, but there was no need to worry. Our child enjoyed it immensely and wanted to go again.

Snow Rafting 

Another attraction unique to the Tsudome Snow Festival is snow rafting. Here, visitors ride an inflatable raft as a snowmobile pulls them around the venue.

Indoor Activities

The Tsudome Snow Festival also includes indoor areas inside the dome itself. While most indoor attractions require an admission fee, the indoor space is extremely useful as a rest area.

Inside, you will find warm seating areas and food vendors serving Hokkaido cuisine. It is a comfortable place to take a break, warm up, and recharge before heading back outside.

Our Time at the Tsudome Snow Festival

Our child loved the Tsudome Snow Festival, and we ended up spending about three to four hours there. Even as adults, we had a surprisingly good time.

If you are visiting Sapporo in winter with children, or if you simply want a playful, hands-on snow experience, the Tsudome Snow Festival is a fantastic option and well worth including in your itinerary.