Marukoma Onsen Co., Ltd. (Chitose City, Hokkaido), which runs the 111-year-old 奥札幌の秘湯 湖畔の宿支笏湖 丸駒温泉旅館 (Marukoma Onsen Ryokan) on the shore of Lake Shikotsu, has opened stay reservations for the period of the 2027 Chitose - Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, running from Saturday, January 30 to Tuesday, February 23 (a national holiday). Large and small ice sculptures made from Lake Shikotsu's own water glow blue in the winter daylight, a phenomenon known as "Lake Shikotsu Blue." From 4:30 PM, colorful illumination begins, giving the festival two distinct looks by day and by night, and making it one of Hokkaido's leading winter events.
After visiting the Ice Festival, guests can head straight to Marukoma Onsen Ryokan on the shore of Lake Shikotsu without leaving the area.
Ice, snow, lake, and hot spring.
The ryokan invites guests to take in scenery found only around Lake Shikotsu in winter, warm up in the hot springs, and unwind for a full day at a quiet lakeside stay.
2027 Chitose - Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival Overview
The 2027 Chitose - Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival will be held from Saturday, January 30 to Tuesday, February 23 (a national holiday), at Lake Shikotsu Onsen in Chitose City, Hokkaido.
The festival runs from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with illumination from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
- Dates: January 30 (Sat) to February 23 (Tue, national holiday), 2027
- Hours: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Illumination: 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM
- Venue: Lake Shikotsu Onsen, Chitose City, Hokkaido
- Admission: ¥1,000 on weekdays / ¥3,000 on weekends and holidays
- Free for elementary school students and younger
By Day, “Lake Shikotsu Blue” — By Night, a Fantastical Illumination
One of the Ice Festival's biggest draws is the ice sculptures made from Lake Shikotsu's own water.
When the clear winter daylight passes through the ice, the sculptures take on a distinctive blue tint, creating the transparent world of "Lake Shikotsu Blue." Then, from 4:30 PM, the illumination begins.
The sculptures shift from a blue ice world lit by daylight to a fantastical nighttime scene wrapped in colorful lights. Seeing the same ice sculptures take on completely different appearances by day and by night is one of the festival's defining charms.
The illumination runs until 8:00 PM, but the last hotel shuttle bus departing Lake Shikotsu Onsen leaves at 5:30 PM. Guests who want to see the illumination through to the end should plan to travel by their own car.
Beyond a Day Visit — Staying to Enjoy Winter at Lake Shikotsu
Rather than just visiting the Ice Festival for the day, a stay on the shore of Lake Shikotsu is also a great way to take in winter at the lake itself. After enjoying the colorful illumination, guests can warm their chilled bodies in the hot springs.
Marukoma Onsen Ryokan sits on the shore of Lake Shikotsu. Soaking in the hot springs while looking out over the lake, and spending unhurried time in the warm interior, offers a different side of winter at Lake Shikotsu than the bustle of the Ice Festival. Guests can spend time watching the snow-covered courtyard and lake beyond the windows, and the fire of the pellet stove.
Rather than "seeing the Ice Festival and leaving," Marukoma Onsen Ryokan proposes a winter trip built around a full night at Lake Shikotsu.
About 65 Minutes from New Chitose Airport — the “氷濤 BLUE LINER” Also in Service
During the 2027 Ice Festival, a reservation-only bus called the "氷濤 BLUE LINER" will also connect New Chitose Airport, JR Chitose Station, and Lake Shikotsu Onsen. Since it runs directly from New Chitose Airport to Lake Shikotsu Onsen with no transfers, it is convenient for travelers who are not renting a car or who would rather avoid driving on winter roads.
- Operating period: January 30 (Sat) to February 23 (Tue, national holiday), 2027
- Route: New Chitose Airport ⇄ JR Chitose Station ⇄ Lake Shikotsu Onsen "Ice Festival"
- Junior high school students and older: ¥2,000
- Elementary school students: ¥2,000
- Preschool children: Free
- Reservations: Advance reservation required (by 8:30 PM the previous day)
2027 Also Brings a Winter Trip Pairing the Ice Festival with North Snowland
The 2027 Ice Festival also includes a collaboration with "North Snowland in Chitose," a winter play area in the Rankoshi area of Chitose City. Lake Shikotsu offers an ice world to enjoy, while Chitose offers snow play.
Combining the two winter spots lets visitors spend a full day enjoying everything winter in the Chitose area has to offer.
Guests who hold an Ice Festival admission ticket also receive a benefit of half-price admission to North Snowland in Chitose.
An “Ice Museum” Built Alongside Lake Shikotsu's Nature
The Ice Festival is not simply a winter event.
It is held with consideration for the local environment, making ice from Lake Shikotsu's water and using thinned wood generated from the forestry work that sustains Lake Shikotsu's forests. Timber produced in the course of maintaining healthy forests is put to use as building material for the ice sculptures, so the beautiful ice sculptures continue to be made in harmony with Lake Shikotsu's natural surroundings.
Scenery found only in winter, produced by Lake Shikotsu's water and forests. As a hot spring inn rooted in the local community, Marukoma Onsen Ryokan will continue sharing the appeal of winter at Lake Shikotsu together with the Ice Festival.
111 Years in Business — Marukoma Onsen Ryokan Supports Winter Travel on the Shore of Lake Shikotsu
Marukoma Onsen Ryokan was founded in 1915 (Taisho 4). It is a hot spring ryokan with 111 years of history, standing on the shore of Lake Shikotsu in Hokkaido.
It operates as an inn where guests can experience Lake Shikotsu's nature and hot spring culture firsthand, with an open-air bath overlooking Lake Shikotsu and a rare natural open-air hot spring connected directly to the lake. After enjoying the fantastical ice world of the Ice Festival, guests can warm their bodies in the lakeside hot springs. Come experience "winter at Lake Shikotsu" — something only available in 2027 — at Marukoma Onsen Ryokan, an inn with 111 years of history.
Stay Reservations at Marukoma Onsen Ryokan
Stay reservations for the period of the 2027 Chitose - Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival are now open.
For guests who want to take their time enjoying the daytime "Lake Shikotsu Blue," the nighttime illumination of the Ice Festival, and the quiet lakeside hours of winter at Lake Shikotsu, a stay is recommended.
Stay reservations: Marukoma Onsen Ryokan official website
https://reserve.489ban.net/client/marukoma/0/plan
Facility Overview
Facility name: 奥札幌の秘湯 湖畔の宿支笏湖 丸駒温泉旅館 (Marukoma Onsen Ryokan)
Address: 7 Horobinai, Chitose City, Hokkaido 066-0287
Phone: 0123-25-2341
Founded: 1915 (Taisho 4)
Rooms: 55
Check-in: from 3:00 PM
Check-out: until 10:00 AM
Room rate: From ¥22,000 per person (based on double occupancy, one room for two guests; tax and service charge included)
Official website: https://www.marukoma.co.jp/
