A winter snow storm in Sapporo, Hokkaido gave way to exciting opportunities for photography—even for someone who doesn’t do a lot of street photography.
As someone who loves landscapes and nature, street photography is a departure for me. However with the heavy snowfall that came upon us while we were there, I couldn’t help but appreciate the views that I had in front of me.
The following photographs were shot as I walked throughout the downtown Sapporo area one evening through a heavy but beautiful snowfall. Click on the gallery of photos for an enlarged version of them.
Streets of Sapporo
A walk from our Airbnb to Odori Park produced some wonderful street images with the falling snow becoming thicker and thicker as I walked. I used the lights of restaurants to provide pop of colours of their storefront.
A passerby walks by a ramen restaurant. 
A patron comes out of the ramen shop. 
A vending machine in a snow storm.
Street Vendors
There were plenty of street vendors lined along Odori Park, allowing for some interesting photographs, especially with the vendors working inside, and patrons waiting outside.
Street vendor in a snow storm. 
Street vendor in a snow storm. 
Strawberry oshiruko.
Snow Festival
The Sapporo Snow Festival provides for a wonderful backdrop to a snowy street scene as locals and tourists walk the sidewalks admiring the snow sculptures and light shows. By this time the snow had fallen quite heavily providing for a great snowy street scene.
Bystanders covered in snow. 
Covered in snow. 
Taking photos at the Sapporo Winter Festival.
Snow Miku
Snow Miku is the mascot for the Sapporo Snow Festival. She is based off of a virtual character/idol called Hatsune Miku, which was created by a Sapporo-based company and became hugely popular in across Japan. This snow sculpture below pairs Snow Miku with her pet Rabbit Yukine, based on a type of mountain hare. Both characters help to enliven the Snow Festival each year.
Here I’ve put focus on the snow sculpture as a child walks by the bottom of the frame. The snow is highlighted by the spotlights shining on Snow Miku.
It was a lot of fun walking the streets of Sapporo, especially with the snowfall. I hope you enjoyed this little departure from my usual landscapes and nature photography.
If you have any tips for me on street photography, please feel free to comment below!
For more winter photography in Hokkaido, Japan, be sure to read my Hokkaido Winter Adventure series of posts, which goes into a lot more nature and landscape photography from all around Hokkaido, Japan.
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Amazing Taku, thanks for sharing!
“Natsukashi”. I have missed not being able to get back to Japan because of COVID. Your images are so real to my heart. Thank you !
Thank you so much Ruby! I’m so touched by your comment and happy these photos brought back some memories for you! It was brief but I enjoyed every moment of my time in Sapporo, Japan! I hope to go back one day.
Awesome street captures Taku! Japan is on my list of places to visit. I loved your Hokkaido Minimalism series as well!
Awesome! Thanks so much for dropping by Andrew—I really appreciate it! So glad you enjoyed the pictures and series too. I hope one day you can visit Japan too!