Sapporo White Illumination 2026: Odori Venue from November 20; Dates and Lighting Hours for the 46th Edition

The Odori venue of the “Sapporo White Illumination,” Sapporo’s winter light event, will be lit from Friday, November 20 to Friday, December 25, 2026. Hours are 16:30 to 22:00, extended to 24:00 only from December 23 to 25. The event is organized by the Sapporo White Illumination Executive Committee (secretariat: Sapporo Tourism Association), and according to the official website this is its 46th edition. Venues such as Ekimae-dori and Minami 1-jo-dori continue into 2027, and a Nakajima Park venue joins this year.

A light event that began with 1,048 bulbs in 1981

According to the “History” page on the official website, the White Illumination began on December 12, 1981, when 1,048 bulbs were lit on a symbol object in the plaza at Odori Nishi 2-chome. At the time, tourism centered on the summer, and the aim was to create a new tourist event for winter. Incorporating ideas such as New York’s Christmas tree, the display combined white light, sculptural forms and music.

The scale grew year by year. In 1982, the second edition, the number of bulbs rose to 41,088, and venues were added at Odori 3-chome and 4-chome. In 1986, the Ekimae-dori venue (Minami-Odori to Minami 4-jo) was added. The event received an Urban Landscape Award from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Sapporo City in 1985 and was certified as one of “Japan’s Three Great Illuminations” in 2017. The organizer describes it as an event that began as the first illumination in Japan.

The official website says that the event has grown in scale and content each year to become one of Japan’s leading events. Started to create winter tourism, it now lights up the city until March of the following year at some venues. The previous (45th) edition in 2025 used about 770,000 LEDs (according to materials from the Sapporo mayor’s press conference on November 14, 2025). As of October 19, the number of bulbs for 2026 had not been announced.

Venues, dates and lighting hours for 2026

According to the official website, this year’s event is held at seven venues, with the new Red Brick Office and Nakajima Park venues. Dates and lighting hours are as follows; lighting hours may change without notice.

• Odori venue (Odori Park): Friday, November 20 – Friday, December 25, 2026, 16:30–22:00 (until 24:00 only from December 23 to 25)

• Ekimae-dori venue (from JR Sapporo Station to Susukino, about 1.5 km): Friday, November 20, 2026 – Thursday, February 11, 2027, 16:30–22:00

• Sapporo Kita 3-jo Plaza (Akapla) venue: Friday, November 20, 2026 – Sunday, March 14, 2027, 16:30–22:00 (start time adjusted to sunset)

• Sapporo Station South Exit Plaza venue: Friday, November 20, 2026 – Sunday, March 14, 2027, 16:30–24:00 (same)

• Minami 1-jo-dori venue (Minami 1-jo Nishi 1–3 chome): Friday, November 20, 2026 – Sunday, March 14, 2027, 16:30–22:00

• Former Hokkaido Government Office (Red Brick Office) venue (new): Friday, November 20, 2026 – Sunday, February 28, 2027, 16:30–22:00

• Nakajima Park venue (new, supervised by Sapporo International Art Festival): Saturday, January 9 – Thursday, January 28, 2027, 10:00–20:00

• In addition, the official guidebook says the Ekimae-dori venue is lit until 24:00 from December 23 to 25 and the Minami 1-jo-dori venue from December 20 to 25

Last year, the Ekimae-dori venue decorated the trees in the median strip with about 220,000 LEDs, and the Minami 1-jo-dori venue decorated 46 ginkgo trees with about 70,000 LEDs. The Akapla venue depicted an urban aurora on the theme “City Aurora,” and at the Sapporo Station South Exit the sound-and-light show changed four times during the season (according to Sapporo City materials).

What can be seen at the Odori venue? Last year’s 1-chome to 5-chome

As of October 19, details of the works at the 2026 Odori venue had not been announced. For reference, here is last year’s (2025) lineup, based on Sapporo City materials.

• 1-chome, “Wish Birds”: gold-toned objects modeled on the cuckoo, Sapporo’s city bird. A new effect changed the color of the feather objects when someone stood in front of them.

• 2-chome, “Gift of Snow”: a display running since fiscal 2018, linking the air above the booths of the Munich Christmas Market with rope lights.

• 3-chome, “Winter Blossoms”: a lilac symbol object combined with lilies of the valley and rugosa roses, changing its appearance with light in five colors.

• 4-chome, “Snow Fantasia”: a walk-through tunnel of light inspired by snow crystals. From December 5 to 7, a special light show using moving lights, “Hopeful Lights,” was held.

• 5-chome, “Cosmic Square”: an interactive plaza themed on stars and space. The light inside a dome responded to people’s movements, and “More Stars,” objects that change color with temperature and humidity, were also installed.

The Munich Christmas Market at the same time

The “Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo” is also held in Odori Park, from Friday, November 20 to Friday, December 25, 2026, from 11:00 to 21:00. Launched in 2002, the event conveys the atmosphere of the Christmas market in Munich, Germany, Sapporo’s sister city. Stalls offer mulled wine, Christmas food, goods and more.

Access

The official website asks visitors to use public transportation such as the subway and buses. The nearest station to the Odori venue is Odori Station on the subway (Tozai, Namboku and Toho Lines): Exit 27 is closest to 1-chome, Exits 6 and 8 to 3-chome (Exit 8 has an elevator), Exit 5 to 4-chome and Exit 2 to 5-chome.

The Akapla venue is a 2-minute walk from Sapporo Station on the subway, JR Sapporo Station and Odori Station on the subway. The nearest stations to the new Nakajima Park venue are Nakajima-koen Station and Horohirabashi Station on the subway Namboku Line. Winter light events across Japan are introduced in our roundup of projection mapping and light events across Japan, and events starting in November in our November 2026 art event calendar.

Frequently asked questions

Which venues can be seen the longest?

The Akapla venue, the Sapporo Station South Exit Plaza venue and the Minami 1-jo-dori venue run until Sunday, March 14, 2027. The Ekimae-dori venue continues until Thursday, February 11. The Odori venue ends on Friday, December 25.

Where can I see the lights late at night?

The Sapporo Station South Exit Plaza venue is lit until 24:00. The Odori and Ekimae-dori venues are lit until 24:00 from December 23 to 25, and the Minami 1-jo-dori venue from December 20 to 25 (official guidebook).

What can be seen at the Nakajima Park venue?

It is a new venue supervised by Sapporo International Art Festival. According to the official guidebook, it is open from Saturday, January 9 to Thursday, January 28, 2027, from 10:00 to 20:00.

Overview

Name: Sapporo White Illumination
Dates: Odori venue, Friday, November 20 – Friday, December 25, 2026. Ekimae-dori venue until Thursday, February 11, 2027; Akapla, Sapporo Station South Exit Plaza and Minami 1-jo-dori venues until Sunday, March 14, 2027
Hours: 16:30–22:00 (Odori venue until 24:00 only from December 23 to 25; Sapporo Station South Exit Plaza venue until 24:00)
Venues: Odori venue (Odori Park, Chuo-ku, Sapporo) and others
Organizer: Sapporo White Illumination Executive Committee (secretariat: Sapporo Tourism Association)
Official website: https://www.sapporo.travel/white-illumination/
*Information as of October 19, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: Sapporo White Illumination, November 2016 (photo: Sorah Fukumori, CC BY 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on information on the official website of the Sapporo White Illumination Executive Committee (as of October 19, 2026) and materials released by Sapporo City (November 14, 2025).

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team