[Photo from welcome.city.sapporo.jp]

Making Sapporo’s Winter Nights Sparkle

Breathtaking Contrast of White Snow and Colorful Lights

End of November, 2014 – Middle of February, 2015

While wintertime illumination events are now held in cities around Japan, it was in Sapporo that the tradition originated in 1981. Some 400,000 light bulbs are used at Odori Park to illuminate objects centered on cosmic and Christmas themes, illuminating Sapporo’s winter nights with breathtaking artistry. Draped with strings of lights, the trees along Sapporo Ekimae dori and Minami 1-jo dori are transformed into luminous, street-side curtains. Viewing the Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo (held from late November to late December) at Odori Park 2-chome is an added attraction that is popular with couples during the Christmas season, when the illumination continues until midnight.

Place: Odori Park Ekimae dori (Kita 4-jo Nishi 3 & 4-chome ~ Minami 4-jo Nishi 3 & 4-chome)

Minami:1-jo dori (Minami 1-jo Nishi 1-chome ~ 3-chome)

Telephone:011-281-6400 (Sapporo White Illumination Executive Committee)

Website:white-illumination.jp