A winter tradition that colors the city, alongside the snow.

Sapporo White Illumination 2015

The Odori Park display runs through Christmas, covering Blocks 1 through 5. Each block has its own symbolic art piece, and this year, Block 1, in front of the TV Tower, debuted a new "Love Tree," replacing the previous "Tree of Love." A glowing white gate stands alongside it, drawing crowds eager for photos. Block 2 hosts the Munich Christmas Market simultaneously, with stalls selling goods and food surrounding a tower-like art piece titled "Territory of the Universe." Santa makes an appearance here too, creating a special corner brimming with Christmas spirit, as if you'd wandered into a theme park.

Block 3 features the newly renewed "Crystal River" and "Glittering Bridge." As the name suggests, a bridge spans a river of light — another prime photo spot. Block 4's symbolic art piece is the "Spark Fountain," a fountain of light dressed up for winter. Block 5 becomes the "Hot Square," lined with food stalls, and also hosts workshops for making eco-friendly trees out of plastic bottles.
Odori Park's illumination display ends December 25, but the Ekimae-dori display continues through February 11, just before Valentine's Day, and the Minami 1-jo-dori display runs through March 14, White Day. It's a cold time of year, but if you skip the underground walkway and walk the street above instead, looking up, you might just make a discovery of your own.