The Sapporo White Illumination has lit up the city center every winter since 1981. For the 2026-2027 season, the lights at all five confirmed venues switch on together on Friday, November 20, 2026.
The tricky part is when they switch off. Some venues go dark on December 25, while others keep glowing into the new year, right up to March 14, 2027.
Because those end dates are scattered across several official pages, I've put each venue's run, lighting hours, and nearest station into one table below.
The 2026-2027 Season at a Glance
Lighting begins at all five venues on the same day: Odori, Ekimae-dori (Station Avenue), Minami 1-jo (South 1st Street), Akapla (Kita 3 Jo Plaza), and Sapporo Station South Plaza.
All five displays are outdoors, along public streets or in parks, and admission is free.
A sixth venue in Nakajima Park is being added, but as of October 23, 2026 its dates and hours are still unannounced (the organizer expects to post details by the end of October). I'll update this article once they're confirmed.
End dates vary by venue. Odori runs only to December 25, Ekimae-dori to February 11, 2027, and the remaining three stay lit until March 14.
Venue-by-Venue Dates and Nearest Stations
The table below lists the dates and nearest station for each confirmed venue. The lighting period lasts from one month to more than three months, depending on the venue.
Venue | Lit period | Lighting hours | Nearest station |
|---|---|---|---|
Odori | Nov 20 – Dec 25, 2026 | 16:30 – 22:00 | Odori (subway) |
Ekimae-dori | Nov 20, 2026 – Feb 11, 2027 | 16:30 – 22:00 | Sapporo, Odori, Susukino, and others |
Minami 1-jo | Nov 20, 2026 – Mar 14, 2027 | 16:30 – 22:00 | Odori (subway) |
Akapla (Kita 3 Jo Plaza) | Nov 20, 2026 – Mar 14, 2027 | approx. | 2-min walk from Sapporo or Odori |
Sapporo Station South Plaza | Nov 20, 2026 – Mar 14, 2027 | approx. | Sapporo Station, West Concourse South Exit |
Note: the "2-minute walk" to Akapla is measured from the exits of the Chi-Ka-Ho underground walkway; from Odori subway station at street level it is about 500 m.
If you are in Sapporo over the new year, the other four venues will still be lit. The one exception is Odori: both the Odori display and the Munich Christmas Market held there close on Friday, December 25.
Lighting Hours and Late Nights
Across the venues, the lights come on around 16:30 and most go dark at 22:00. The one exception is the Sapporo Station South Plaza, which stays lit until 24:00, making it a convenient stop if your train arrives late.
At Akapla and Sapporo Station South Plaza, the start time shifts with the sunset, so it changes from day to day.
For a few days around Christmas, the lights at some venues stay on until 24:00 instead of switching off at 22:00. The organizer announces the exact dates in its final notice, so check the official site if you have a fixed date in mind.
Dressing for a Sub-Zero Night
Most viewing takes place after 16:30. Sapporo's average temperature in December is -0.9°C, with an average daily high of about 2.0°C and an average low of about -4.0°C (Japan Meteorological Agency normals, 1991-2020), so prepare for sub-zero evenings.
Bring a heavy winter coat, gloves, a hat, and a scarf. Choose boots or shoes with non-slip soles for Sapporo's snow-packed and icy sidewalks in December.
The Munich Christmas Market
The Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo is held in the Nishi 2-chome (West 2-chome) section of Odori Park. It celebrates Sapporo's sister-city relationship with Munich, Germany, with stands selling German crafts, food, and drink.
It runs on the same dates as the Odori display, November 20 to December 25, 2026, and is open from 11:00 to 21:00 (last order 20:45).
The lights begin in the evening, but the market opens at midday. You can browse the market stands in daylight, then see the lights after dark.
Walking the Route in the Cold
The venues line Ekimae-dori and the streets around it, a stretch of about 1.5 km running north to south from Sapporo Station down to Susukino. Each venue is close to a station on one of the Namboku, Toho, or Tozai subway lines.
On the coldest days, you can cover this part of the route with less time outside by using the subway or Chi-Ka-Ho, the underground walkway between Sapporo Station and Odori.
Start at Odori: the Odori and Minami 1-jo venues both use Odori subway station, so see those two first.
From there, follow the lit trees north along Ekimae-dori, use the Chi-Ka-Ho walkway to reach Akapla, and finish at Sapporo Station South Plaza. This route covers the downtown venues in sequence without backtracking.
If you are planning a wider Hokkaido winter trip, see Winter at Asahiyama Zoo for another day out in the snow.
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.