It is not unusual for winter temperatures around Asahikawa to drop well below freezing. However, it’s precisely that cold that makes the snow sparkle! In this frozen wilderness, it’s easy to become captivated by the beautiful snow-capped scenery and sight of the fluffy snow as it falls gracefully in the crisp air.

The Snow Crystal Museum was born from the desire to convey the mystical beauty of a world of snow and ice to as many people as possible throughout the year.

When visiting the Asahikawa Zoo and other sightseeing spots in Asahikawa, this is another spot you really should visit. Let’s take a look inside!

The doors open to reveal a brilliantly white entrance. Bathed in soft light, the space exudes an air of luxury making you feel as though you were being welcomed as a prince or princess!

The luxuriousness of the building and furnishings is evidenced by its reported cost of six billion yen (around US$55 million). While the exterior is gorgeously photogenic, the elegant marble floors inside the building are equally astonishingly beautiful!

As I went deeper into the museum I felt a rising thrill of anticipation.

The main floor is located 18 meters below. To reach it you go down the spiral staircase off the entrance.

The long stairway spirals downwards. Although there are 62 steps, the stairs are broad enough to make the descent surprisingly easy.

At the bottom of the stairs the air feels a bit chilly. One enters the main floor by passing along the Corridor of Ice.

Columns of ice 6 meters tall extend 62 meters on the other side of the windows! These are kept frozen using groundwater that’s sprayed through special nozzles.

The corridor extends deep into a veritable palace. There is a sense of mid-winter exhilaration as you open the doors in the rear leading to the main floor.

Beyond the doors you’ll see a spacious room, the temperature of which is much warmer.

Bright white walls and pillars rise high above your head, and beyond that is a huge blue painting on the ceiling! The ceiling of the main floor is so high and spacious it is hard to believe that it is underground. There is a solemn mood in this space which is perfectly suited to hymns.

This music pavilion is used for wedding ceremonies and concerts. It was designed to create the image of a babbling brook fed by melting snow under a blue, spring sky.

Around the main floor are an exhibition floor, gift shop, and cafe.

Let's first visit the Snow Crystal Museum, an exhibition floor where you can see snow crystals – the very theme of this Hokkaido museum.

Entering the room you find yourself surrounded by glittering snow crystals!

Being in this space, you feel just you have entered a magical fairyland – just like in a movie!

No two crystals are exactly the same. You can either carefully look at each one or pose for a photo in front of the sparkling hexagonal background.

By the way, there are pink snow crystals mixed with blue sparkling snow crystals, and it is said that if you touch here, you will become joined with the person of your dreams!

Towards the back of the Snow Crystal Museum there are also a theater and reference room.

After leaving the Snow Crystal Museum and returning to the main floor, let’s now move on to the Museum Shop.
Here you can buy original goods and sweets with a snowflake motif. Plus if you feel so inclined, you can also experience being a princess!

You can select a gown you like and dress up like a princess!

There are a number of options available.

・Princess Experience (3,240 yen including tax; reservations possible)
Your photo will be taken in a rental gown and then printed on Snow Crystal Museum original paper (2L size) and given to you as a gift.

・Princess Experience Accessories (4,320 yen including tax; reservations possible)
The Princess Experience plus tiara accessory, gloves, bouquet and other small accessories.

・Premium Princess Experience (10,800 yen tax included; reservations required)
After taking the photo, for one hour you can wear the gown and accessories while going around the museum taking selfies! There is also a beautician available to help stylize your hair.

It is also possible to select Japanese-style attire rather than Western.

Once you inquire about the options for the experience at the Snow Crystal Museum Shop, you will be shown to a dressing room in the back where all the gowns are kept.

The music hall or on the spiral staircase are perfect places to have your photo taken! Why not go all out and try the Premium Princess Experience?

For those who decide not to do the Princess Experience, there are also other goods in the museum for taking photos like this.

After you have seen everything and taken lots of photos, enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea at the Cafe Restaurant Snoowna.

You can enjoy lunch made with Hokkaido ingredients and sweets. The shop is charmingly decorated in a European antique style

The afternoon tea is especially recommended (2:00 p.m. ~ 4:00 p.m., L.O. 3:00 p.m., 1,500 yen per person including tax; possible to order for two or more people).

The strawberry jam and mango jam in the glass containers are for putting on the scones in the middle tier. If you look closely, they are in the hexagonal shape of snow crystals!

The bread, scones, and cakes are all homemade. It may look like a light repast, but there is quite a bit to it and the slight salt flavor of the sandwich is perfectly balanced by the sweet desserts! This makes a delightful change for a late lunch.

This room has a separate entrance so it is possible to just come for a meal.

Cafe Restaurant Snoowna
3-1-1 Minamigaoka, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Open: 10:00 a.m. ~ 4:00 p.m. (L.O. 3:45 p.m.) *Afternoon tea is served between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. (L.O. 3:00 p.m.)
Closed: end and start of the year *sometimes closed for group events
0166-73-7017

Hokkaido's Snow Crystal Museum has many beautiful picture-perfect spots! It is a museum that has snow crystals for its theme throughout. Without a doubt, you can take beautiful photos anywhere in it! Why not visit and imagine yourself as a princess?

Text : Nobuhiro Kawashima