初詣 / Hatsumoude

初詣（Hatsumōde)是日本的新年傳統的習俗之一，指的是新年一開始要去神社或是寺院參拜的活動。為了是要向神明獻上一年的感謝，以及祈願新的一年的平安順利。一般來說初詣是指在1月1日、2日、3日去新年參拜。參拜的途中都固定會有賣熱甜米酒（無酒精）的店家。也有神社或寺院在除夕當晚就有信眾為了新年參拜而徹夜排隊。

Hatsumoude refers to the first visit to a shrine or temple in the New Year, with this being one of Japanese traditional customs. Commonly, hatsumoude is a word for a visit on January 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. People give thanks for the previous good year and pray for safety, happiness and peace in the coming year. In the first three days of the New Year, there are temporary stands selling snacks or drinks. The most customary is the shop selling amazake, which literally means sweet sake, but is nonalcoholic. At some shrines or temples, people make a line to pray.

札幌Style / Sapporo Style

「札幌Style」是將介紹札幌的魅力的商品以統一的品牌來認證的企劃。都市與自然的融合、從雪中誕生出鮮豔的四季、許多不被傳統束縛誕生出自由思潮的魅力商品被認證。這些商品作為時尚的土產而受歡迎。在JR Tower 展望台的門票販售處前面有這些商品的專賣店。

Sapporo Style is a collective brand for products made in Sapporo. Sapporo Style is actually an official project to verify unique products which introduce the charm of Sapporo. All products of Sapporo Style have to follow the production concepts of harmony between urban and nature, four beautiful seasons - especially with the blessings of snow, and free ethos of the city. Any of these products are good souvenirs, and there is an official shop in front of the ticket counter of JR Tower's Observation Floor. There are also two other shops in the Odori area - Daimaru Fujii Central and Tourist Information in Odori Park.

鏡餅 / Kagami mochi

鏡餅是日本新年的習俗之一。鏡餅是將平坦圓餅狀的年糕大小各一堆疊在一起的形狀，有「重複圓滿的一年」的含義。用來祈願新的一年的健康與幸福，裝飾於室內。約從11月開始超市以外連百元店都可以買得到鏡餅，做為土產購買也是一個不錯的選擇。鏡餅因為是真空包裝所以可以長期保存。

Kagami mochi is a traditional New Year's custom. "Kagami" means mirror and "mochi" means rice cake. As the shape of an ancient mirror was round, Kagami mochi uses two round rice cakes of different sizes, with the smaller one being put on the bigger. During the New Year period, it is displayed in houses. The reason for this is the hope that a house and the people within it have a peaceful and happy year. The round shape literally stands for peaceful in Japanese. From November, you can find Kagami mochi products at supermarkets or 100yen shops. They might be a good souvenirs for travelers, and vacuum-packs allow them to be kept for a good length of time.

第68屆札幌雪祭 / The 68th Sapporo Snow Festival

第68屆札幌雪祭於2017年2月6日到2月12日期間（Tsutomu會場是從2月1日開始）。薄野會場歷年都會展示將將海中生物放入冰中的「魚冰」。但是由於今年在北九州市有溜冰場將魚放入冰中受到眾多批評的新聞報導，今年宣布中止展出「魚冰」。然而也有許多人反應這種處理方式過於矯枉過正。

The 68th Sapporo Snow Festival will be held from February 6th to 12th at Odori Park and Susukino, and from February 1st to 12th at Tsu-Dome. One of the highlights of the Susukino Site is the ice sculpture "Sakana Goori". Sakana Goori, which literally means Fish Ice, uses frozen fish or crabs in transparent ice blocks. It is popular as a sculpture representing an aquarium. However, the Committee announced they won’t make this popular exhibition for at least the 68th festival. This is due to public outcry over an ice-skating rink in KitaKyushu which used fish. The committee has decided that some people may still be too nervous about this for the Sakana Goori to go ahead this time.

石狩 、空知、後志地區 / The districts of Ishikari, Sorachi and Shiribeshi

石狩 、空知、後志地區因為受到日本海上空所形成的雲霧和西北風的影響降雪量很多。雖然岩見沢市周遭是豪雪地區，札幌市也是一年中有數次一天中就可以降雪數十公分。從12月中旬開始雪就不會融化而成為硬的積雪。雖然有除雪車會除雪但也只是將積雪移到道路兩旁，因此道路寬度會變的狹窄。主要道路的積雪會用卡車將積雪載到丟積雪的場所。

The districts of Ishikari, Sorachi and Shiribeshi have a lot of snow in winter from the clouds coming in over the Sea of Japan and northwesterly winds. Iwamizawa City and the surroundings especially are recognized to have huge amounts of snow. Also, Sapporo City sometimes gets heavy snow - tens of centimeters a day. From the middle of December, snow typically doesn't melt on the ground. Bulldozers work to clear the snow, but the snow is left on both sides of roads. As the width of roads gets narrower, drivers should drive carefully. As for main roads, snow on both sides are sometimes cleared by dump trucks.

札幌慕尼黑聖誕節集市 / Myunhen Christmas Market

札幌慕尼黑聖誕節集市是從11月下旬到聖誕節為止在大通公園所舉辦的活動。可以就近感受到札幌的姊妹市-德國的慕尼黑的氛圍。有很多可以飲食的商店，也有販賣很有聖誕節氣氛的雜貨的商店。這個時期，在大通公園內也有舉辦被稱作光之藝術的札幌白色燈樹節。

Myunhen Christmas Market is held in Odori Park from the end of November till Christmas. Myunhen is the Japanese-style pronunciation for Munich. The proper name of this event in English is "German Christmas Market in Sapporo." Munich, in Germany became a sister city to Sapporo in 1972. Visitors can feel as if they are in Germany for the Christmas season. There are temporary shops selling drinks and snacks, such as Germany beer or wines, as well as unique goods related to Christmas. In the same period as this market, Sapporo White Illumination known as “Art of Light” is held in Odori Park, too.

札幌白色燈樹節 / Sapporo White Illumination

札幌白色燈樹節是從1981年時將1048個燈泡裝飾在大通公園2丁目開始的。年年擴大舉辦區域，到現今已成為札幌冬季的主要活動之一。總共有大通公園、站前大道、路面電車行駛的南一條通等三個會場。主會場的大通會場舉辦時期為11月中旬到聖誕節左右為止。

Sapporo White Illumination is a big, symbolic event for winter tourism. When this seasonal event started in 1981, 1048 light bulbs were used, and only in Odori 2-chome, which is the second block of Odori Park. However, the scale of the event became bigger year by year. Now, there are three sites - Odori Park 1-chome to 8-chome, Ekimae Dori (a street connecting Sapporo Station to Odori Park), and Minami 1-jo Dori where the streetcar runs. The Odori Park Site is illuminated from mid November to Christmas week. Ekimae Dori until the end of Snow Festival, and Minami 1-jo Dori until the Mid March.