A Christmas town has arrived.
13th Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo TEXT/YUSUKE TOKOSHIMA, PHOTO/NAOKO TAKAHASHICentered on Block 2 West of Odori Park, the “Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo” is held here. German regional food stalls and Christmas goods shops line up side by side, drawing large crowds. In 1972 (Showa 47), Sapporo formed a sister-city partnership with Munich, Germany, and this event began in 2002 to mark the 30th anniversary of that partnership. Today, alongside White Illumination and the Snow Festival, it has become firmly established as one of Sapporo’s three great winter events.
In Germany, once the season known as Advent begins, Christmas markets are held in town squares across Munich and every other city, lined with stalls selling Christmas decorations, candles, cookies, grilled sausages, and sweets. It's a tradition observed by the whole city during the four weeks before Christmas, in preparation for the arrival of Christ.
At the Odori Park venue, shops selling Christmas-themed crafts — candles, nutcracker dolls, snow globes — stand side by side with food stalls serving German dishes like sausage, hot wine, and German beer. At the rest facility "Weihnachtspavillon," a stove keeps things warm, so you can take a break inside the heated tent. The tent also hosts various workshops, including Christmas ornament making. Beyond the stalls, an outdoor stage hosts a variety of events, including gospel live performances. With good timing, you might even run into Santa Claus wandering the venue. Sapporo and Munich, 10,000km apart, come together as one, bringing tremendous energy to the lead-up to Christmas.
Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo
[Main Venue]
Block 2, Odori Park, Sapporo
Odori Park Block 2 Venue
[Satellite Venues]
Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway
Dates: Fri, Nov 28–Wed, Dec 24
11:00 AM–9:00 PM
www.sapporo-christmas.com
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