Question 1

What is the "Fake Sapporo Snow Festival Package Booking Sites" scam in Sapporo?

Accepted Answer

During the run-up to the Sapporo Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri, held in February), fraudulent booking websites appear advertising bundled hotel and event packages at significant discounts. These sites mimic the visual style of legitimate travel agencies and collect full payment online before becoming unreachable. Demand for accommodation during the festival far exceeds supply, creating ideal conditions for advance-payment fraud. Book Snow Festival accommodation through established Japanese travel agencies such as JTB or HIS, or directly through hotel websites. Be highly suspicious of any package promising accommodation during Snow Festival week at prices lower than what major platforms show — scarcity is genuine and discounts are not.

Question 2

What is the "Phishing Links Disguised as Hokkaido Ski Pass Purchase Pages" scam in Sapporo?

Accepted Answer

Sapporo is the gateway to Hokkaido's major ski resorts including Niseko, Rusutsu, and Furano. Fake websites targeting ski tourists advertise discounted lift passes or Hokkaido ski area combo passes, collect payment, and deliver nothing. Social media ads with professional resort photography are a common delivery mechanism for these links. Purchase ski lift passes only at resort ticket windows on arrival, or through official resort websites (Niseko United, Furano Ski Area, Rusutsu Resort). Do not follow social media ad links to purchase passes — type the resort name directly into your browser and navigate to the official site.

Online Scams in Sapporo

Fake Sapporo Snow Festival Package Booking Sites

Phishing Links Disguised as Hokkaido Ski Pass Purchase Pages

Experienced a scam here?