Stretching along the main avenue in the heart of Sapporo, giant snow sculptures are on full display. Bulldozers and diggers work in the days leading up to the festival, building sculptures such as the ice Taj Mahal, which can reach 15 metres in height. Snow is trucked in from various locations in Sapporo and, in less snowy winters, from the surrounding hills. These large sculptures have, in recent years, depicted characters from Japanese cartoons, stars from Wallace and Gromit, Samurai castles and Japanese wildlife. They’re intricate and detailed works of art, always in perfect proportions.

Sapporo locals bring a high standard of artistry to the smaller ice sculptures around Odori Park. At night, these sculptures (and the larger ones around Odori Park) are lit up, so make a visit during the day and the night for different perspectives.

As part of an annual snow sculpture contest, three-person teams from all over the world have four days to turn a pile of snow into a work of art. This contest was launched in 1974 to give it an international flavour. Previous sculptures have included giant ocean waves, swimming golden fish, a depiction of Oregon’s Multnomah Falls, Thai fighting cocks, and the head of Medusa.

Sapporo’s festival is more than a spectators’ experience. In recent years an outdoor ice rink and cross-country skiing course has joined the offering. Visitors can also watch displays by snowboarders and see performances by pop stars and musicians. There’s a food park for the famished featuring local delicacies. Between late-January and mid-February at Tsudome – a sports centre ten kilometres away – slides and interactive games are on offer, including heading down a 100-metre slide while sitting in a rubber ring. Children can try smaller slides or skis made from bamboo. Make your own snowman or angel shapes in the snow, hide in an igloo or get lost in a snow maze. Foodies: try the stall that sells authentic Hokkaido cuisine and local produce.

The nearby Susukino district hosts another 60 or so sculptures each year, most made of ice. On the first day sculptors attack huge blocks of ice with chainsaws and power tools. By the end of the evening each block is transformed into a crystalline masterpiece. Some feature real crabs, fish and other sea creatures embedded in the ice. Here, you can buy drinks at bars made from ice, and drinks within an ice cup. Neon lights flash across buildings and through the sculptures.