In Japan, December 31 is known as Omisoka, or New Year’s Eve, and January 1 is called Ganjitsu. The three days from January 1 to 3 are collectively known as Sanganichi.

During this period, most businesses and schools close, and many people spend time with family, partners, and close friends.

In Hokkaido, you’ll find a wide range of seasonal traditions: countdown celebrations on New Year’s Eve, gatherings to watch the first sunrise of the year, New Year’s Eve–specific festivals, and visits to local shrines for the first prayer of the year.

If you’re planning a New Year trip to Hokkaido, you may be wondering about the best way to get around. Thanks to heavy winter snowfall, trains are a reliable and convenient choice. If you’re confident driving in snowy conditions, renting a car offers the most flexibility for exploring.

For more tips on winter travel in Hokkaido and details on useful rail passes, be sure to check out the articles below.

Rusutsu Resort hosts its annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks Festival & Torch Run, one of the most iconic winter night events in Hokkaido. The Torch Run, open only to skiers, is especially captivating. Skiers descend the slope in a single line with torches in hand, creating a glowing stream of light that moves through the darkness with an almost mystical beauty.

The festivities also include free hot drinks (available in limited quantities) and an impressive display of formation skiing by the resort’s instructors. To close out the night, 1,200 fireworks light up the sky in sync with music, sending off 2025 in spectacular style.

The Kita-no-Daimonji is a New Year’s Eve tradition held at Hinode Lavender Park in Kamifurano Town, located about a 15-minute walk from JR Kamifurano Station.

This event commemorates the damage caused by the 1926 eruption of Mt. Tokachi and prays for the region’s safety and continued revitalization. Just before midnight, a departure ceremony takes place for the “igniters,” the individuals who will set the massive character alight, accompanied by a stirring taiko drum performance.

At the stroke of midnight, around 300 iron stakes arranged to form the Chinese character “dai” are set ablaze with sacred fire from Kamifurano Shrine. The character itself is enormous, measuring roughly 70 meters long and 50 meters wide.

Once the flames take shape, fireworks burst overhead. The glow of the giant character combined with the colorful fireworks creates a powerful and inspiring start to the New Year.

In the depths of Sapporo’s winter, nothing hits the spot like a steaming bowl of ramen. It’s the perfect way to warm up after shrine visits or a day of sightseeing.

Miso ramen, which originated in Sapporo, is especially famous and loved by visitors from around the world. Many shops stay open through the year-end and New Year holidays, meaning you can enjoy a bowl on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.

Sapporo ramen typically features a rich miso-based broth paired with medium-thick curly noodles that hold the soup beautifully. Each restaurant has its own signature blend, so part of the fun is trying a few to find your personal favorite.

At Hoshino Resort Tomamu, one of Hokkaido’s leading winter destinations, the Ice Village appears only on winter nights. From December 10, 2025 to March 14, 2026, this 3.2-hectare town of ice and snow comes to life with 11 domes offering creative ways to enjoy the season. The highlight is the Ice Church, rebuilt each year from a single sheet of ice. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, it will also introduce a new Ice Museum showcasing its history, design, and the stories behind its creation.

New domes add fresh ways to experience the cold, including spaces dedicated to food and family activities. The Ice Restaurant serves kelp-based “Ice Ramen” along with warm cheese fondue made from Tomamu milk. At the Ice Sweets Shop, visitors can create chocolate that hardens instantly in the winter air or make a white-chocolate ice bar with a crisp finish. Children can enjoy the new Ice Kids Dome, which features a maze built entirely of ice.

Other popular highlights include the Ice Post, where postcards can be mailed from a frozen postbox. For an especially memorable visit, the Ice Hotel offers an overnight stay for one group per night in a room where everything, including the open-air bath area, is carved from ice.

Spend a magical winter evening in a town of shimmering frost and quiet, clear night air

Sapporo Nijo Market, often called the city’s kitchen, is a lively place packed with fresh seafood from across Hokkaido. It’s also one of the few spots where you can shop and dine throughout the year-end and New Year holidays.

During this period, the market is bustling with locals picking up ingredients for traditional New Year dishes and visitors enjoying seafood bowls and other specialties. (Note that opening hours vary by shop.)

If you’re looking for great seafood during the holiday season, Sapporo Nijo Market is an excellent choice.

Cape Erimo sits at the southern tip of the Hidaka Mountains, often called the backbone of Hokkaido. The area is known as Pirika Noka (“beautiful shape” in Ainu) and is designated as a national scenic spot. From the observation deck on a 60-meter cliff, you can enjoy a wide view of the Pacific Ocean.

On New Year’s Day, many visitors come to see the first sunrise as it rises over the horizon. Cape Erimo is one of the windiest places in Japan, with strong winds of 10 meters per second or more on over 260 days each year. Warm clothing that protects you from the cold wind is essential.

The Kaze no Yakata (Wind Pavilion) usually closes during winter but opens temporarily on New Year’s Day for indoor sunrise viewing.

(Expected sunrise time: around 6:55 AM. Pavilion hours: 5 AM to 8 AM. Admission: Adults and university students 300 yen. Elementary, junior high and high school students 200 yen.)

Public transportation is not available in the early morning, so you will need to visit by car. It takes about 40 minutes to reach Cape Erimo from JR Samani Station.

Hokkaido Shrine has been revered since Hokkaido’s pioneering period as a guardian shrine for the region. Four deities are enshrined here. Three are the guardian gods of Hokkaido’s pioneering and development, and one is Emperor Meiji. In Shinto tradition, deities are counted as “pillars,” which is why they are described in this way.

Hokkaido Shrine is one of the most popular places for the first shrine visit of the New Year. The grounds fill with worshipers as soon as the gates open at midnight on January 1. The shrine office also sells limited-edition good-luck charms, including hamaya (arrows that ward off evil), kumade (lucky rakes), and bells decorated with the animal of the zodiac year.

The shrine becomes extremely crowded during the first three days of January. If you prefer a quieter visit, it is better to go after this period.

At Noboribetsu Date Historic Village, one of Noboribetsu’s most popular theme parks, the New Year Edo Festival takes place every year from January 1 to 3. The village recreates the streets of the Edo period, allowing you to experience a traditional Japanese New Year in an old-fashioned setting.

Near the entrance gate, visitors are welcomed with “sake for everyone,” and sacred miki is offered free of charge. Warm amazake, a sweet and very low-alcohol drink made from fermented rice, is also available for children and drivers. Supplies of both drinks are limited.

Inside Hakuhagido, you can try tosenkyo, a traditional tatami room game where you toss a fan at a target on a stand and compete for points. It is a fun activity to enjoy with family or friends.

A lion dance also takes place somewhere inside the village. In Japan, it is traditional to let the dancing lion bite your head to ward off evil, so if you spot it, be sure to take part in the custom.

On New Year’s Day, many shopping centers hold their First Sale of the Year, offering excellent deals. Shoppers of all ages look forward to this period because they can find major discounts and purchase Lucky Bags packed with surprise items.

Mitsui Outlet Park Sapporo Kitahiroshima, which has more than 160 stores and is reachable by direct bus from Sapporo Station, remains open throughout the New Year holiday period. Lucky Bags are sold every year on January 1, and seasonal sales take place during the year-end and New Year season.

Niseko is one of Japan’s most famous snow resorts and is known for its high-quality powder snow. Several major ski areas, including Niseko Village Ski Resort, Niseko HANAZONO Resort and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resort, remain open during the year-end and New Year holidays. You can start the year on the slopes and enjoy skiing on New Year’s Day.

Each resort also hosts special seasonal events. Niseko Village Ski Resort offers a countdown fireworks display on New Year’s Eve, and on New Year’s Day you can ride the gondola up the mountain to watch the first sunrise. Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resort also presents a countdown fireworks display on New Year’s Eve.

Begin the year with a refreshing ski or snowboard run on some of the finest snow in the world.