Snow Crystal Museum

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 Updated

Ice Corridor

Snow Crystal Museum has permanently closed as of June 30th, 2020.

The Snow Crystal Museum is a charming museum dedicated to the beauty and mystery of snow in Asahikawa City. Built in 1991, the snow museum was built using the European Byzantine style's curved domes and arch for an elegant impression. While Hokkaido's Asahikawa is blessed with beautiful snow fall and lovely snow-themed attractions, the Snow Crystal Museum is often considered one of the top tourists destinations for photos and to enjoy the winter holiday beauty. The European themed designs and recent popularity of the Disney hit movie Frozen draws curious fans into the museum's icy corridors. The museum offers many unique attractions, including the snowy crystal photography exhibits, a performance hall for concerts or weddings, and the ice corridors in addition to souvenir shopping and cafe dining options.

Spiral Staircase

When entering the Snow Crystal Museum, guests are greeted by the gorgeous green and white 64 step spiral staircase leading to the museum grounds. At the base of the stairs is a stunning fountain where guests leave coins from around the world in hopes to get their wishes granted. When looking above at the staircase from the fountain, tourists are quick to notice the hexagon, snow-crystal shape of the staircase's slope. From there guests can explore the beauty of the Snow Crystal Museum exhibits. The Snow Crystal Museum showcases around 200 beautiful snowflake photos magnified on stain glass. The music hall offers wonderful concerts and sometimes hosts weddings, and the "Northern Sky" painting on the ceiling is often lauded as a masterpiece. There's also a picture book corner, resource room, and the monitor area to view winter scenery around Hokkaido.

The Snow Emblem

Before descending the staircase, guests entering the museum are bound to notice the gorgeous white walls and hanging chandeliers. In the center of the entrance way is the "Yuka Ryo" Snow Emblem Tapestry. This tapestry is meant to blend the traditional European and Japanese art styles. Just above the tapestry is a stain-glassed window with a snow crystal shining over the harmonious mix of Japanese and European art.

Showcasing the beauty of Hokkaido's snow, spend your vacation in a winter wonderland along the Asahikawa Snow Crystal Museum. Visit this wonderful destination during a fully guided Hokkaido Tour, or ask your travel agent to arrange a custom tour through Japan's snow covered island and explore this museum with your own private tour guide!