Winter Magic at Lake Shikotsu: Real Life or a Scene from a Movie?

Winter Magic at Lake Shikotsu: Real Life or a Scene from a Movie?

Is this place real… or are we walking through a movie set?

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That was the question my spouse and I kept asking as we stepped into the frozen world of Lake Shikotsu’s winter festival in Hokkaido. Everywhere we looked, snow and ice shimmered under glowing lights, transforming the landscape into something that felt less like reality and more like stepping into a fairy tale carved entirely from winter.

We parked in a lot about five minutes away from the festival grounds and began the walk toward the lake, unaware that even the journey itself would feel magical.

Walking Through Deep Snow Toward the Festival

As we made our way from the parking area, we passed a building nestled among tall trees blanketed in fresh snow. The snowbanks were piled high, nearly swallowing fences and pathways. Footprints marked the trail ahead, showing the steady flow of visitors making their way toward the festival.

The building’s warm interior lights glowed faintly through large windows, offering a cozy contrast to the cold outside. Snow clung to tree branches overhead, and flakes continued drifting down, making the entire scene quiet and peaceful. It felt like walking through a winter postcard.

Despite the negative temperatures, excitement kept everyone moving forward.

Not far along the path, we came across a group of people gathered around an open fire, warming themselves and roasting marshmallows.

Snow fell steadily as visitors leaned closer to the flames, holding sticks with marshmallows slowly browning over the glowing embers. One woman stood closest to the fire wearing grey earmuffs, a black jacket, and a thick white scarf wrapped around her neck. The orange glow lit her face as she carefully turned her marshmallow, waiting for the perfect golden color.

People laughed and chatted while holding their treats over the flames. The warmth from the fire felt incredible against the freezing air, and the smell of toasted marshmallows drifted into the snowy evening.

Moments like this reminded us how winter festivals bring strangers together in shared warmth and joy.

As we continued walking, the path opened into a lively row of food vendors selling Japanese street food. Bright menu boards covered the stalls, displaying everything from croquettes and buttered scallops to grilled skewers and hot drinks.

Warm yellow lights hung overhead while steam rose from grills and fryers. Signs advertised Hokkaido specialties, including potato mochi, scallop butter skewers, creamy soups, and even soft-serve ice cream despite the freezing temperatures.

The smell alone was enough to make anyone hungry. Visitors stood in small groups eating hot food while snowflakes collected on their hats and coats. The food stalls added a festive energy to the night, a perfect prelude to what awaited us at the lake.

Entering the Frozen Festival Grounds

After paying the 1,000-yen admission fee, we stepped fully into the festival grounds — and into what felt like another world.

Towering frozen formations rose all around us, some easily reaching several stories high. Thick layers of ice cascaded downward like frozen waterfalls, glowing from within thanks to colored lights shining through the crystal-clear surfaces.

Blue light illuminated the massive structures, making them appear almost alive in the falling snow. Visitors walked slowly through pathways carved between these frozen giants, stopping constantly to take photos.

In one moment, my spouse stood at just the right angle so it looked like they were lifting a giant glowing ice crystal in the distance — a playful illusion that perfectly captured the fun atmosphere of the festival.

Walking Through Ice Canyons and Crystal Paths

Pathways wound between enormous frozen walls, forming what felt like ice canyons glowing in shades of blue and green. Visitors wandered slowly, cameras in hand, as lights reflected off thick frozen surfaces.

Looking down from higher points revealed people moving carefully through the maze below, their dark winter coats contrasting with glowing ice around them. Snow-covered trees lined the background, completing the fairy-tale scenery.

Every step crunched softly underfoot, and laughter echoed through the frozen corridors.

Hand in hand, bundled against the freezing temperatures in our heated jackets, we wandered through the festival, soaking in every detail — glowing ice, drifting snow, families laughing, and towering frozen sculptures surrounding us.

Standing there beside my spouse, surrounded by softly falling snow and glowing ice walls, I asked once again:

Is this real life… or are we inside a movie?

Lake Shikotsu in winter doesn’t just feel magical — it feels like stepping into a fairy tale built entirely from ice and light.

And yet, there we were, walking through it together in the freezing night, creating memories that will stay warm long after the snow melts.