In Japan, December 31 is called Omisoka in Japanese and means New Year's Eve; January 1 is called Ganjitsu. The three days from January 1 through 3 are called Sanganichi.

During these times, most businesses and schools are closed, and this is a special time when many spend it with family, lovers, and friends.

Every year in Hokkaido, there are many events, such as a countdown event on New Year's Eve, an event to see the year's first sunrise, festivals unique to New Year's Eve, and visits to shrines.

When planning your New Year trip to Hokkaido, you may wonder what the best way to get around is. Given the volume of snow the island receives in winter, you may wish to travel around by rail. If you feel comfortable driving in the snow, renting a car gives you the most freedom to get around.

Please check out the following articles for more information on traveling around Hokkaido in winter and convenient rail passes.

At Rusutsu Resort, the New Year's Eve Fireworks Festival & Torch Run is held annually. The Torch Run, which only skiers can participate in, is a must-see. The appearance of skiers coming down the slope in a single line holding a torch in one hand, the flames moving in the dark, has a mystical quality.

In addition to this event, free hot drinks (limited quantity) are provided, and there is a demonstration of high-level formation skiing by school instructors. Furthermore, at the end of the event, 1,200 fireworks are launched to the accompaniment of music. Fireworks and music on a grand scale will celebrate the end of the year 2024!

The Kita no Daimonji is a New Year's Eve event held at Hinode Lavender Park in Kamifurano Town. Hinode Lavender Park is a 15-minute walk from JR Kamifurano Station.

This is an event to remember the damage caused by the eruption of Mt. Tokachi in 1926 and to pray for the safety and revitalization of the area. Immediately before the beginning of the New Year, the departure ceremony of the "igniter," the individuals who ignite the large letter, is held. There is also a taiko drums performance.

When the New Year arrives, about 300 iron stakes placed to create the Chinese character "dai" will be lit by the sacred fire from Kamifurano Shrine. This gigantic letter is an impressive 70 meters long and 50 meters wide.

Once the fire has been lit, fireworks are set off. The lights of the giant character, together with the colorful explosion of light from the fireworks, herald the start of what will hopefully be a great year.

When in Sapporo in the winter, nothing beats a hot bowl of ramen. It's the perfect meal to warm yourself up after visits to shrines and sightseeing.

Miso ramen, which originated in Sapporo, is especially popular and a must-have dish loved by many tourists. Some shops are open during the year-end and New Year holidays, so you can eat it on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.

Sapporo ramen is generally made with rich miso-flavored soup and medium-thick curly noodles that mix well with the soup. Each shop prides itself on its own soups and noodles, so many enjoy trying out different kinds to find one that best suits their tastes.

At Hoshino Resort Tomamu, one of the largest stay-type snow resorts in Hokkaido, the Ice Village is limited to winter nights. There are ice domes within the Ice Town, offering various experiences.

In 2024, the Ice Plaza, a relaxing spot in the Ice City, and the new symbol, the Ice Temperature Tower, will make their debut. There will also be an Ice Parlor offering interesting textured food items and cocktails, Ice Ramen with both cold soup and ingredients, ice cocktails, and a shop featuring goods themed around ice and snow.

In addition, from January 20 to February 28, 2025 (tentative), the Ice Hotel, where everything from the guest rooms to the outdoor baths is made of ice, will open! One group per day will have the exclusive opportunity to experience an overnight stay.

Spend a special night in the fantastic city of ice!

Sapporo Nijo Market, affectionately known as the kitchen for Sapporo citizens, is a lively market containing fresh seafood from all over Hokkaido and is a spot where you can shop during the year-end and New Year holidays.

During the year-end and New Year holidays, it is crowded with locals who buy ingredients for New Year's dishes and tourists enjoying seafood bowls and other delicious dishes. (Opening hours during the year-end and New Year holidays vary depending on the store.)

If you want to eat delicious seafood during the New Year holidays, we recommend that you visit Sapporo Nijo Market.

Cape Erimo is located at the southernmost tip of the Hidaka Mountains, which are also known as the backbone of Hokkaido. Pirika Noka, which means beautiful shape in Ainu, is a nationally designated cultural property scenic spot and from the observation deck on the top of a 60-meter-high cliff you are afforded a superb view of the Pacific Ocean.

Many people visit on New Year's Day to see the beautiful first sunrise come up over the horizon. Cape Erimo is one of the windiest regions in Japan, with winds of 10 meters per hour or more blowing for more than 260 days of the year, so if you go there to see the first sunrise of the year, be sure to wear warm clothes that will protect you from the cold wind.

The Kaze no Yakata (Wind Pavilion), which typically is closed during the winter season, will open temporarily on New Year's Day to allow visitors to view the First Sunrise indoors. (Expected time for the first sunrise: around 6:55 AM. Kaze no Yakata hours: 5 AM – 8 AM. Admission: Adults and university students 300 yen, elementary, junior high, and high school students 200 yen.)

Public transportation is not available during the early morning hours when the first sunrise of the year is seen, so you will need to go to Cape Erimo by car. It takes about 40 minutes to get there from JR Samani Station.

Hokkaido Shrine is a shrine revered by Hokkaido's people since its pioneering period as a general guardian of Hokkaido. Currently, four pillars are enshrined, including the three pillar gods who are the guardian deities of Hokkaido's pioneering and development and one for Emperor Meiji (the word "pillar" is used when referring to the number of gods).

Hokkaido Shrine is a perennial favorite for the first visit to a shrine. The shrine becomes crowded with throngs of worshipers when its gate opens at midnight on New Year's Day. The shrine office sells limited-edition good-luck charms, such as hamaya, arrows that ward off evil, kumade, lucky rakes, and bells having the zodiac sign of the year for their motif, all of which you should check out when you visit.

The shrine is likely to be very crowded during New Year's, so if you are concerned about crowds, we recommend you visit after the first three days of the year.

At Noboribetsu's popular theme park, Noboribetsu Date Historic Village, the New Year Edo Festival is held from January 1 to 3rd every year. You can enjoy an old-fashioned traditional Japanese New Year in a village that recreates street scenes of the Edo period.

"Sake for everyone" is offered near the entrance gate, and miki, sacred sake, is provided free of charge. Warm amazake [a traditional sweet, low-alcohol Japanese drink made from fermented rice] is also available for those who cannot drink alcohol, such as children and those who drive a car (the miki and amazake are of limited quantity).

At Hakuhagido in the village, you can experience a tatami room game called Tosenkyo. This is a game of throwing a fan at a target placed on a stand in which you compete for points. Please enjoy a round with family or friends!

Also, the lion dance is performed somewhere in the village. In Japan, there is a tradition of having the dancing lion bite your head to get rid of evil, so if you see it, be sure to let it bite your head.

On New Year's Day, various commercial facilities offer great deals in their First Sale of the Year. People of all ages enjoy shopping at this time because of the great bargains on goods being offered at reduced prices in the sale and also in the form of Lucky Bags.

The Mitsui Outlet Park Sapporo Kitahiroshima, accessible by a direct bus from Sapporo Station, is a shopping mall featuring over 160 stores. It operates without a break during the New Year holiday period. Every year, lucky bags are sold on New Year's Day, and sales are also held during the year-end and New Year's season. For information on 2025, please check the official website.

Niseko is a popular snow resort where you can enjoy high-quality powder snow. The Niseko Village Ski Resort, Niseko HANAZONO Resort, and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resort in Niseko are open during the year-end and New Year holidays, so you can enjoy skiing on New Year's Day.

Events are also planned at each facility. At Niseko Village Ski Resort there will be a countdown fireworks display on New Year's Eve, and on New Year's Day you can go up the snowy mountains in a gondola to see the first sunrise of the year. A countdown fireworks display will be held at the Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resort on New Year's Eve.

Start the year by enjoying skiing and snowboarding on the finest quality snow!

Text by: Minna no Kotobasha
*This article was published in December 2020 and updated in December 2024. Please refer to official websites for the latest information.