Shikaribetsuko Kotan: A Village of Snow and Ice

When winter freezes Lake Shikaribetsu in Shikaoi, Hokkaido, a village of snow and ice takes shape on its surface. This is Shikaribetsuko Kotan: a seasonal world of icy buildings and winter experiences that melts away when spring returns.

This article introduces the attractions and event information featured in the original 2016 article. Dates, opening hours, and available activities may differ in other years.

Discover a village built from snow and ice

Ice Bar

Step into a bar surrounded by walls, pillars, and arches of ice. Rebuilt in a different form each winter, the bar had already been part of the event for more than 30 years when the original article was published. Its castle-like interior makes stopping for a drink an experience in itself.

Ice Chapel

Candlelight brings a gentle glow to the chapel’s frozen interior. The 2016 programme included candlelit evenings on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

Ice Hall

The ice hall hosted concerts on weekend evenings, pairing live music with the distinctive atmosphere and acoustics of a space made from snow and ice.

Stargazing

After dark, look up from the frozen lake. On clear winter nights, the star-filled sky adds another kind of wonder to the village.

Open-Air Bath on the Ice

An open-air bath on the frozen lake offered a memorable contrast between warm water and the surrounding winter air. The original article noted that swimwear and bathing garments were permitted, with designated women-only hours. Like the rest of the village, its snow-and-ice surroundings disappeared with the spring thaw.

Ice Lodge

For a different kind of winter stay, the ice lodge offered the chance to experience a night inside a building constructed from ice blocks.

2016 event information

• Dates: January 28–March 21, 2016.
• Event hours: 6:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m., as listed in the original article.
• Location: Lake Shikaribetsu, Shikaoi, Hokkaido.
• Contact: Lake Shikaribetsu Nature Center, 0156-69-8181.
• Website: Lake Shikaribetsu Nature Center.

Getting there

The original article provided the following approximate driving distances and times:

• From JR Shintoku Station: Approximately 40 minutes by car.
• From central Sapporo: Approximately 210 km, or 3 hours, using the Doto Expressway to Tokachi-Shimizu Interchange and continuing via Route 274.
• From Obihiro Airport: Approximately 80 km, or 1.5 hours.
• From central Asahikawa: Approximately 155 km, or 3 hours, via Routes 452 and 38.

These are reference estimates from the original article. Check current routes, winter road conditions, and event information before travelling.