❄️ Hokkaido: Where Winter Feels Like a Dream
When the snow falls quietly across Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, time seems to slow.
It settles on rooftops, glows under street lamps, and softens every sound — the world becomes still, except for the gentle crunch beneath your boots.
Many people say that ever since the movie Love Letter came out, winter snow should only be seen in Hokkaido.
“Are you well?” “I’m fine.” — that simple exchange still warms countless hearts.
Here, winter isn’t harsh — it’s tender.
The snow isn’t cold — it’s alive, whispering softly with every step. 
Sapporo: The Heart of the North and the City of Snow
Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, shines brightest in winter.
Each February, the city transforms into a magical ice kingdom for the Sapporo Snow Festival, where massive ice and snow sculptures glitter beneath the lights.
In 2026, the festival will be held from February 4–11, across three main venues — Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome.
From Mount Moiwa, you can see the entire snow-covered city sparkle like stardust against the night sky.
At Shiroi Koibito Park, the air smells of chocolate and happiness — a place that feels like a storybook brought to life.
And when the cold bites, nothing heals faster than a steaming bowl of miso ramen — Sapporo’s most comforting invention, rich and savory enough to warm both hands and heart.
Otaru: The Town of Lights and Love Letters
Otaru is a port town that feels like it’s been dipped in nostalgia.
Its cobblestone streets, old gas lamps, and canal reflections tell stories of time and tenderness.
In winter, the snow turns Otaru into a quiet poem — the kind that lives between memory and dream.
Walk along the Otaru Canal, where flickering lamps reflect off the icy water like amber stars.
Inside the Otaru Music Box Museum, soft melodies echo through the cold air, adding a touch of magic to the silence.
Each February, the town hosts the enchanting Snow Light Path Festival, where lanterns and candles illuminate the streets, turning Otaru into a world made of light and snow.
Climb the Tenguyama viewpoint, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into a scene from Love Letter — quiet, emotional, timeless.
Beyond the Snow: The Soul of Winter
From Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa to the misty shores of Lake Tōya and the glowing nightscape of Hakodate, Hokkaido’s winter reveals that cold can be full of warmth.
The snow doesn’t silence life — it amplifies beauty.
So go to Hokkaido.
See the most beautiful snow in the world.
And let this winter, just once, change the way you see the season forever.
