Sapporo snow festival - part 1

On 11th and 12th February, hubby and I had been to Sapporo to see the annual snow festival. Sapporo snow festival is one of Japan's largest winter events which attracts about two million people from Japan and abroad every year. The festival is held for seven days in February and visitors can see hundreds of beautiful snow statues and ice sculptures at the three main festival sites, namely, Odori Park, Tsudome, and Susukino. The snow festival began in 1950 in Odori Park with only six snow statues made by local high school students. This year the festival was held from February 7th to 13th.

On 11th February, our flight left Akita airport at 15.20 pm and reached Shin-Chitose airport in Hokkaido within an hour. From Shin-Chitose airport, we took a train and within ten minutes reached Chitose railway station. From the station, we walked for about five minutes and reached a hotel named Hotel Wing International where we stayed for two nights. After checking in and keeping our baggage at the hotel room, we left the hotel and went to see the snow festival. It took about one hour of train ride to reach Sapporo railway station. From there we took a subway train and reached Odori Park site of the snow festival.

Hotel Wing International, Chitose

Sapporo railway station

It was about 7 pm and already dark when we reached Odori Park. So we enjoyed seeing the snow festival at nighttime. The park is divided into many Chome (Japanese address system) and we decided to visit the festival site in increasing order of Chome. Just near the entrance of the festival site, there was Sapporo Television Tower which was brightly lit in blue color.

Sapporo Television Tower

Another view of Sapporo Television Tower

Near the entrance there were a few cute ice sculptures. There was an ice sculpture of the Emperor and the Empress hina dolls as hinamatsuri festival was just around the corner.

Entrance of the snow festival site at Odori Park

Cute sparkling ice sculpture

Ice hina dolls

Doshin Ice Square at 2-Chome had many medium sized ice sculptures of dinosaurs. There was also a large ice sculpture named Ice Museum - World of Dinosaurs. The sculpted dinosaurs roamed the earth during the Triassic period 230 million years ago. It was also the age when the ancestors of mammals had to face fierce competition for survival. The statues on display are known to be some of the oldest species; ‘Frenguellisaurus ischigualastensis’ discovered in Argentina, and ‘Exaeretodon frenguelli’ known to be one of the ancestors of mammals. There was a dazzling colored illumination of the statues and sound effects were wonderful. We also enjoyed a musical event held at Doshin Ice Square and I compiled a video of the event.

Medium sized ice sculpture of an extinct species

Medium sized ice sculpture of another extinct species

Medium sized ice sculpture of a dinosaur

Large ice sculpture named Ice Museum - World of Dinosaurs with pink light illumination

Ice Museum - World of Dinosaurs with green light illumination

A compiled video of a musical event held at Doshin Ice Square

HTB Park Air Square at 3-Chome had a snowboard jumping platform. It was already closed for the day and so we could not watch any shows by the snowboarders. At this area there were several medium sized snow sculptures; one of them was a cute sculpture of polar bears.

I am standing in front of snowboard jumping platform

Medium sized snow sculpture of polar bears

I am standing next to a cute sculpture

STV Yomiuri Square at 4-Chome had a large snow sculpture named Hokkaido - a Tourist Wonderland. Hokkaido is a popular tourist destination because of its pristine environment and the creatures living in it. With the aim of expanding tourism, STV Yomiuri Square hosted a wonderful display of snow sculptures that included a Blakiston’s fish owl as well as Ezo red fox and her young kits, the animals that have come to symbolize Hokkaido. The former Hokkaido Government Office Building, built in 1888 and having significant historical importance, was also sculpted. The square also featured sculptures of the Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing, as well as the Great Wall of China, both listed as World Heritage. Various colored lights illuminated the snow sculpture at the festival site. A dance event was held on a snow stage erected in front of this large snow sculpture. Hubby and I enjoyed the dance event very much and I compiled a video of the event.

Large snow sculpture named Hokkaido - a Tourist Wonderland

Hokkaido - a Tourist Wonderland

Ezo red fox

Blakiston’s fish owl

Dance performers on a snow stage in front of the snow sculpture

A compiled video of a dance event

Environment Square at 5-Chome had a large snow sculpture named The Lion King. Japanese version of Disney’s musical The Lion King will open at Hokkaido Shiki Theater on March 27, 2011. Set in the magical land of African savanna known as Pride Land, this musical tells the adventures and growth story of a lion cub named Simba. The large snow sculpture at the festival site depicted several famous characters from the musical such as Timon - the meerkat, Pumbaa - the warthog, Zazu - the hornbill, and the symbol of the Lion King.

Large snow sculpture named The Lion King

Symbol of The Lion King

Snow sculpture of Timon

Snow sculpture of Pumbaa

At 5-Chome, hubby and I had snacks of fried chicken and French fries. We also had hot chicken soup. We were feeling very cold and so we warmed ourselves in front of a fireplace at the snack shop. Afterwards as we started walking in the park area again, we saw a medium sized snow statue of Yuki Saito, a popular rookie of the local professional baseball team Nippon Ham Fighters.

Hubby warming his hands in front of a fireplace at a snack shop

Medium sized snow statue of Yuki Saito

Snow statue of Yuki Saito from another angle

Mainichi Newspapers Ice Square at 5-Chome had a large ice sculpture named Daejeon Metropolitan City. Daejeon Metropolitan City is the 5th largest region within the Republic of Korea. Yuseong District in this city was recognized as the research and development region after the establishment of Daedeok Science Town and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in 1973. Along with Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute and the above-mentioned institutes, the region holds over a hundred public and government research institutes focusing on studies such as nuclear engineering, space technology, and biotechnology. Sapporo city has signed a sister city agreement with Daejeon on October 22nd, 2010, and both cities pledged to have exchanges in various fields along with sustaining and building a friendly relationship among each other. At the festival site, beautiful colored lights dazzled the sculpted Daejeon Metropolitan City, which looked so exquisite.

Dazzling large ice sculpture named Daejeon Metropolitan City

Hubby and I in front of the sculpture of Daejeon Metropolitan City

Hokkaido Food Fair was held at 6-Chome. Many food stalls were selling various kinds of local delicacies. We skipped this place as we were not hungry that time.

HBC Beijing Square at 7-Chome had a large snow sculpture named The Temple of Heaven - The Hall of Prayers for Good Harvests. 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of Japan’s normalization of diplomatic relations with China. In recognition of this event, the Hall of Prayers for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing was recreated at the festival site. The original location was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1998 and is the world’s largest architectural complex for religious rituals. The Hall of Prayers for Good Harvests is where the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties prayed for favorable crop yields and peaceful reigns in their country. Its unique three tiered circular structure is reminiscent of a series of open umbrellas stacked on top of each other. It has a golden orb in the middle of its pointed roof as a symbol of imperial power. The building stands on a three tiered circular marble terrace called the Altar for Grain Prayers, with the edge of each level featuring white marble balustrades carved (from the top tier downward) in a dragon design (symbolizing the Emperor), a phoenix design (symbolizing the Empress), and a cloud design (a good omen). The building itself is wooden, and measures 38 meters in height (including its terrace) and about 24 meters in diameter. Built without a single nail, it is considered as one of China’s architectural masterpieces. The snow sculpture at the festival site is about half the size of the original. The snow structure looked superb and well illuminated. Hubby and I took a professional photo of us in front of the structure for keepsake, which was taken from afar. Later, we walked up to the snow sculpture and took a few photos from very near which showed the details and intricate designs on the building wall.

Large snow sculpture named The Temple of Heaven - The Hall of Prayers for Good Harvests

Hubby and I standing in front of the Hall of Prayers for Good Harvests

The Hall of Prayers for Good Harvests

Another view of the Hall of Prayers for Good Harvests

Intricate designs on the walls of the sculpted building

Three tiered circular terrace

As we walked further, we saw several food stalls selling various kinds of Hokkaido delicacies. People were enjoying the food under a clear sky although the temperature was about minus 7 degrees Celsius that time.

Food stalls selling various Hokkaido delicacies

People enjoying the food

Moon shining bright on a clear sky

HTB Snow Square at 8-Chome had a large snow sculpture named National Treasure - Hiunkaku of Hongwanji. Hiunkaku of Hongwanji is a national treasure, three-storied building with a shingled roof located on the grounds of Nishi-Hongwanji Temple in Kyoto. The building features a unique shape with a variety of roof styles such as karahafu (Chinese gable roof) and Irimoya (gablet roof), which harmonize with each other in spite of their asymmetric design. The building is one of Kyoto’s three famous pavilions along with the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) and the Silver Pavilion (Ginkakuji), and is said to be a part of Jurakudai built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, which was relocated from its original site. It was designated as a national treasure in 1951. It is closed to the public and can be seen only a few times a year. At the snow festival site, the national treasure was reproduced in almost full size with the cooperation of the Hongwanji sub-sect of Shin Buddhism (Nishi-Hongwanji) and various regiments of Ground Self-Defense Force. The snow structure had a mysterious beauty and various colored lights illuminated the building.

Large snow sculpture named National Treasure - Hiunkaku of Hongwanji

National Treasure - Hiunkaku of Hongwanji

I am standing in front of the sculpture

Hubby standing in front of the sculpture

Citizens’ Square at 9-Chome had a medium sized snow sculpture named Snowman Festival. The sculpture showed several snowmen carrying on their shoulders a pure-white portable Shinto shrine mikoshi created out of snow. The snowmen prayed to the god of snow for another successful snow festival by chanting ‘wasshoi wasshoi’.

Medium sized snow sculpture named Snowman Festival

As we walked further, we saw many more medium sized snow sculptures. There was a statue of a mother comforting her crying child. There was another cute statue with many snow hearts around.

Statue of a mother and child

Statue with many snow hearts

UHB Family Land at 10-Chome had a large snow sculpture named Sazae-san. Sazae-san is a very popular animation airing on Fuji Television Network in the 6.30 pm time slot on Sunday evenings. The original comic strip was first published in April 1946 and celebrates its 65th anniversary this year. This year is also the 42nd year since the animated TV series started broadcasting in 1969. At the festival site there were huge snow statues of Sazae-san accompanied by her family members: father Namihei, mother Fune, husband Masuo, little brother Katsuo, little sister Wakame, son Tara-chan, and the family’s pet cat Tama. Hubby and I took a professional photo of us in front of the huge statues for keepsake.

Large snow sculpture named Sazae-san

Sazae-san along with her sister, cat, brother, son, and mother

Hubby and I standing in front of the large sculpture of Sazae-san and her family

It was getting too cold and so we left the festival site at about 10 pm. We did not visit the Tsudome and Susukino sites of the snow festival as it was rather late in the night. We took a train and returned back to the hotel. At one of the railway stations, hubby had a bowl of miso-butter-corn ramen, a Sapporo specialty, which was delicious.

Bowl of miso-butter-corn ramen

Hubby having ramen

Next day, we again visited Sapporo snow festival site at Odori Park to enjoy the sculptures and the festival mood at daytime. I will write about it in my next post.