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Event Guide · Hokkaido

Sapporo Autumn Fest

September–OctoberSapporo2026: Sep 11 – Oct 3 (currently underway)
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Overview

Overview

One of Hokkaido's largest food festivals, launched in 2008, with about 300 vendors setting up in Odori Park in central Sapporo. Each block has its own theme, and you can taste Sapporo specialties, regional dishes from all over Hokkaido, Hokkaido beer and wine, and more.

When
Usually early to late September, or into early October (about 3 weeks)
Confirmed dates: 2026: Sep 11 – Oct 3 (currently underway)
Venue
Odori Park, 4–8 chome, 10 chome, and 11 chome
Official website
https://www.sapporo.travel/autumnfest/
Highlights

Highlights

Each site has a different theme — a street-food area at 4 chome, the "Hokkaido Market" gathering flavors from across Hokkaido at 8 chome, meat dishes at 10 chome, and a terrace of chef-made dishes and beer at 11 chome — so you can hop between them sampling Hokkaido's autumn flavors (2026 site layout).

Times

Times

Hours10:00–20:30

Last order 20:00. 2026 information

Times can change from year to year. Check the official website for the latest information.

Tips

Tips for travelers

  • ✓The sites are split between 4–8 chome and 10–11 chome of Odori Park (9 chome is not a site). If you want to see them all, it's efficient to eat your way westward
  • ✓Table seating fills up at lunch and dinner times. Aim for right after opening on weekdays (the 10:00 hour) or around 15:00
  • ✓Some sites serve Hokkaido craft beer and wine, but drinking under the age of 20 is prohibited in Japan
  • ✓It gets cold quickly from evening onward, so bring a jacket if you plan to stay into the night
  • ✓It gets crowded near the final day, so if your schedule allows, weekdays in the first half to middle of the festival are recommended
Access

Getting there

Nearest stations
  • Odori Station (Subway Namboku, Tozai, and Toho Lines)Right outsideClosest to the 4–8 chome sites
  • Nishi 11-chome Station (Subway Tozai Line)Right outsideClosest to the 10 and 11 chome sites
From major stations
  • Sapporo Station: Subway Namboku Line to Odori Station (1 stop), or walk through the underground walkway (About 2 min by subway / about 10 min on foot)
  • New Chitose Airport: JR Rapid Airport to Sapporo Station, then transfer to the Subway Namboku Line (About 45–50 min)
Extra buses & shuttles
None (there is no parking at the venue either, so use public transport)
IC cards (Suica etc.)
Transport IC cards such as Kitaca and Suica can be used on the Sapporo Municipal Subway and JR
Getting back
  • Odori Station gets crowded around the 20:30 closing time. Susukino and Sapporo Station are within walking distance
  • There is no parking at the venue, so avoid coming by car
Open in Google Maps ↗
Crowds

Crowds & best timing

Busiest times
Midday on weekends and holidays (11:00–14:00), and evenings (after 17:00) including weekdays
Quieter times
Right after opening on weekdays (the 10:00 hour) or around 15:00
Time needed
30 min–1 hour per site, or 2–3 hours to visit all sites
Weather

Weather & what to wear

Evening temperatures
Sapporo's normal low is in the low 10s °C in late September and around 10°C in early October (a reference value based on JMA normals). Nights are much colder than the daytime
What to wear
On many days a single long-sleeved layer is enough during the day, but a jacket or light down is a good idea for the evening
Rain, snow & typhoons
As the venue is outdoors, hours may change or the event may be suspended in severe weather
Where to check for cancellations
Sapporo Autumn Fest official website (https://www.sapporo.travel/autumnfest/), official X (@welcomesapporo)
☁ Hokkaido weather in September →☁ Hokkaido weather in October →
Etiquette

Local rules & etiquette

  • !Sort your trash at the waste stations on site
  • !Drinking under the age of 20 is prohibited by law. Never drive after drinking
  • !Do not step onto the lawns or flower beds in Odori Park
  • !Smoking while walking in crowded aisles is prohibited (central Sapporo has no-smoking-on-the-street zones)
  • !Avoid occupying seats for long periods, and share when it's crowded
  • !Public trash bins are rare in Japan. Bring a small bag and take your trash with you.
Facilities

Facilities

Toilets
In addition to temporary toilets on site, you can use public toilets around Odori Park and toilets in the underground shopping areas
Lockers & luggage
Coin lockers are available at Odori and Sapporo stations. It's best to leave suitcases at Sapporo Station or your hotel before coming
Paying at food stalls
Some vendors accept cashless payment, but others are cash only, so bring cash too
ATMs
Convenience store ATMs (Seven Bank, etc.) around Odori Station and in the underground shopping areas
Seven Bank ATMs (inside 7-Eleven stores) usually accept cards issued overseas.
Wheelchairs & strollers
Odori Park is flat and easy to get around with a wheelchair or stroller, but aisles get narrow at busy times
Food

Food

Local favorites
Jingisukan (grilled lamb)Seafood (scallops, salmon roe, crab, etc.)Soup curry and ramenHokkaido craft beer and wineRegional dishes from all over Hokkaido
Vegetarian & halal
Vegetarian and halal labels are rare, so check with each vendor
Tours & tickets for this eventPR
Where to Stay · Agoda

Places to Stay near Sapporo Autumn FestPR

PRSee more places to stay near Sapporo Autumn Fest on Agoda →

Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.

Attractions

Attractions in Sapporo

Zoo

Sapporo Maruyama Zoo

Hokkaido ・ Sapporo / Maruyama

Opened in 1951, this is Hokkaido's oldest zoo and is run by the City of Sapporo. Set next to Maruyama Park, its grounds cover about 22 hectares and are home to around 140 species of animals.

Aquarium

AOAO SAPPORO

Hokkaido ・ Sapporo / Tanukikoji

An urban aquarium on the 4th to 6th floors of moyuk SAPPORO, a shopping complex facing the Tanukikoji shopping arcade. Built around the concept "The Wonder of Life: Seeing the Unseen," it serves as a gateway to nature in the middle of the city and stays open until 22:00.

☂ Mostly indoors · rain-friendly
Experience

Shiroi Koibito Park

Hokkaido ・ Sapporo

A confectionery theme park attached to the factory of Ishiya, the maker of Shiroi Koibito, a classic Hokkaido souvenir. It offers production line tours, sweets-making experiences, cafés, and shops, and the shops and rose garden can be used without an admission ticket. It's about a 5-minute walk from Miyanosawa Station on the Tozai subway line, making it easy to reach from central Sapporo.

Experience

HOKKAIDO BALLPARK F VILLAGE

Hokkaido ・ Kitahiroshima

A ballpark centered on ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO, home of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, open 365 days a year. On non-game days, you can enter the stadium's outfield area for free and enjoy stadium tours, hot springs, kids' facilities, and restaurants. It's about 17 minutes from Sapporo Station to Kitahiroshima Station on the JR Rapid Airport, then about 5 minutes by shuttle bus from the station.

See all attractions →
Events

Events & festivals in Hokkaido

February

Sapporo Snow Festival

Hokkaido ・ Sapporo

Usually early February (about one week)

2027 (77th): Feb 4 (Thu) – Feb 11 (Thu, holiday), 8 days

February

Otaru Snow Light Path

Hokkaido ・ Otaru

Usually about one week in early to mid-February (around the same time as the Sapporo Snow Festival)

2027: Feb 6 – Feb 13

February

Asahikawa Winter Festival

Hokkaido ・ Asahikawa & Biei

Usually about 6 days in early to mid-February (around the same time as the Sapporo Snow Festival)

2027 (68th): Feb 6 – Feb 11

April–October

Lake Toyako Long Run Fireworks Display

Hokkaido ・ Noboribetsu & Lake Toya

Usually every night from late April to October 31 (about 20 minutes from 20:45)

2026: Apr 28 – Oct 31 (held nightly; currently underway)

May

Sapporo Lilac Festival

Hokkaido ・ Sapporo

Usually mid- to late May (about 10 days at the Odori Site, and 2 days on the final weekend at the Kawashimo Site)

June

YOSAKOI Soran Festival

Hokkaido ・ Sapporo

Usually Wednesday to Sunday (5 days) in early to mid-June

2027 (36th): Jun 9 (Wed) – Jun 13 (Sun), 5 days

July–August

Sapporo Summer Festival

Hokkaido ・ Sapporo

Usually late July to mid-August (the beer gardens run for about 4 weeks; Hokkai Bon Odori is held during Obon, and the Susukino Festival for 3 days in early August)

July

Otaru Ushio Festival

Hokkaido ・ Otaru

Usually Friday to Sunday in late July (3 days, with a grand fireworks display on the final night)

August

Hakodate Port Festival

Hokkaido ・ Hakodate

Usually August 1–5 (fireworks on the first day, parades on the 2nd and 3rd)

November–March

Sapporo White Illumination

Hokkaido ・ Sapporo

Usually late November to mid-March of the following year (the Odori Site runs from late November to December 25)

2026: Opens Nov 20 (Odori Site until Dec 25; Ekimae-dori Site until Feb 11, 2027; Minami 1-jo-dori, Kita 3-jo Plaza, and Sapporo Station South Exit until Mar 14, 2027)

December–March

Asahiyama Zoo Penguin Walk

Hokkaido ・ Asahikawa & Biei

Usually held daily from mid- to late December (once there is enough snow) until around mid-March

December

Hakodate Christmas Fantasy

Hokkaido ・ Hakodate

Usually starts in late November to early December and runs until December 25

2026: Dec 1 (Tue) – Dec 25 (Fri)

See all events →

Dates, times and access are based on official and other primary sources. Only dates confirmed by official sources are shown as “Confirmed dates”; otherwise the usual timing is given.

Last checked: 2026-09-30

PRKlookSapporo TV Tower Ticket / Observation Deck TicketTake in the whole of Odori Park, the festival venue, from the observation deck of the TV Tower at the park's east endView