Under the winter sky, 400,000 stars twinkle.

Sapporo White Illumination

White Illumination began in Showa 56 (1981), aiming to liven up Sapporo during the late autumn to early winter season. That memorable first year featured just a single light installation, made of 1,048 bulbs, set up in the Nishi 2-chome plaza of Odori Park. A tiny scale compared to today, but at the moment the lights first switched on, the venue was reportedly filled with cheers. Since then, the event has expanded to more venues, produced beautiful and unique installations, collaborated with music, and continued to evolve time and again across more than 30 years.

This year too, 400,000 light bulbs illuminate Odori Park, Ekimae-dori, and Minami 1-jo-dori, filling the winter city center with a warm atmosphere. The event has also begun taking steps toward environmental consideration, such as self-generating power using biodiesel fuel, as part of an effort to keep the tradition going for years to come.

A third of the year brings freezing days, and roughly 5 meters of snow falls over the course of a single winter. That this harsh season becomes just a little more enjoyable to look forward to may well be thanks to White Illumination. It will surely continue on as one of Sapporo's winter traditions, gently lighting up the city for years to come.