and another snow festival!

As if we didn't get enough snow last weekend...we felt the need for more! This past Saturday, February 19th we headed south to Tokamachi for their snow festival. The Tokamachi Snow Festival is also celebrating its 62nd birthday but has not grown as large as the Sapporo Snow Festival.

The Tokamachi Snow Festival is spread out throughout the city...which means a long driving course is necessary to see all the sculptures. There is a main event area with some sculptures, the snow stage, a childrens play area and lots of food shops. Here are some pictures from the festival.

We found this sculpture on the drive up...

The first sculpture we say walking to the main stage was this one. It is an "Alice in Wonderland" sculpture. It is really cute. Some of the details were really great too...the cat was adorable and the cards were great. (They might have looked better before the warm days but they still looked good!)

and the cat...

and the cards...

On our walk toward the stage we met many friends. There was an party after the concert we were excited to attend. But before that, we made sure to check out the main snow stage. We caught a terrible Japanese pop group...but the stage was amazing!

After the party we decided to check out a bunch of sculptures before heading home.

The whales...(our car headlights aren't the best spotlights)

The whales and me...

race car!

Something with space...

Some sort of house. I am thinking it was too look like a book.

These two were a pair. The pictures didn't turn out great because we were over taken by some drunk guys who really wanted to help by taking our pictures. They were loud and crazy and totally made my night!

The first one was a samurai

The second one was a house of sorts

Then off to home we drove...icy roads and all! We made it home at about 3am! Slept like a baby!

Sapporo Snow Festival

Over the weekend of February 11-14th we, Christian, Martin and myself, took a trip up nort' to see one of the largest snow festivals in Japan! The Sapporo Snow Festival is celebrating its 62nd year and was full of winter goodies. Here are some pictures from our trip!

Friday February 11th was a holiday so we flew up to Sapporo on Thursday night. It was a long day! After 5 periods of speaking tests, a train ride, a plane ride, a subway ride and another train ride...I was so happy to make it to our hotel shuttle pick up point. Being 11:00 at night, don't we look good?


On Friday the 12th we were ready to explore Sapporo. We took the subway into the city and met up with our friend, Sean at the Starbucks (which did become our breakfast spot for the next 3 days!). We walked down the the first main snow sculpture sight. There was a "dino land" of ice sculptures. Here we all are with the T-rex.


Christian really liked the Jurassic Park raptor.


There was also a "Hina matsuri" (Girl Day/Doll Festival) sculpture. Christian and I have our poses down!


These ice sculptures took up about 2 blocks and we walked through them on our way to the TV tower. We went up inside the tower and got some great views of the city! You can see the long park area behind us where the snow sculptures all were. Here is a picture of Christian and I at the top of the tower...


We decided to climb down the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator! SCARY!


After the never-ending stairs we decided to walk to the station for lunch. On our way we happened upon the clock tower. I really wanted to see it because it was rated in the "top three most disappointing sights in Japan." We were disappointed (you can see it on our faces!)


After lunch we came back to the main snow sculpture area and started further back to see the international snow sculpture competition. Sean had a friend that and helped with the New Zealand team and the wanted to see it.

This one if from Hawaii. It was some tail about seas and spirits...can't remember...


Here is Christian and I in front of another from China...it was about the Chinese festival dragons. I liked it because you could see the little peoples feet at the bottom...so realistic!


This one was my favorite. I believe it was from Switzerland. It was called "imprint."


And with Christian and I...


This one with the hive got first place...I didn't think it was the best of them all but it was nice too!


Hokkaido (the Island Prefecture we visited) is famous for bears and melon (among other things), but if you put them together, you get...MELON BEAR!


Then we found the BIG sculptures! These ones were like 4 stories high! They were awesome! This first one is of Sazae-san. She is a comic book character. The comic book just celebrated its 65th anniversary so they did a large sculpture for her!


And us...


and MORE Japanese characters... (this is Miku. She is the computer display for computer generated music. She "sings" them...concerts and everything.)


A few of the sculptures could have used a cleaning...like this cute pig!


Snowmen carrying a portable Japanese shrine...


The next big one was a Japanese house. I LOVED this one. Here is a picture from the side.


And from the front...


and you would miss us...


After dinner we headed back for the "lights show." Here is another large sculpture lite up. I never really figured out what this one was about. There was a temple, a mountain, the great wall and some animals. The detail was amazing but not totally sure on the concept!


They did a color lights show with music. I wasn't too impressed.


Colorful dinos!



On Saturday February 12th we started or day a little sweet! We headed to the outskirts of town and went to the "chocolate" factory. The factory is called Shiroi Koibito and they make little cookies with chocolate inside. The factory had a Willy Wonka feeling to it. There were three buildings...all with very different looks, a snow slide and a bubble machine!

I, of course, didn't say no to a snow tube ride!


And the bubbles were so cute!


Once inside we, as Christian said "feed the corporate monster."


Christian and I with the cookies...


And the factory line...


At the end of the tour was an antique toy museum. Not sure how it all fit together but these old bugs were cool...


and wooden dolls...


After the tour we ended up at the fist market. Being lunchtime (and after a failed attempt to find "Curry Soup Alley") we decided to head into a fancy, 8* lunch shack next to the tanks.


Me and my crab on rice! (Hokkaido is famous for crab too!) It was delicious!


The tank where my crab came from...


Saturday evening we headed to a neighboring city for their small snow festival. They had many small lanterns and were known for having lanterns floating the in the river.

Christian and I by a cute heart sculpture/lantern... (very cold!)


The lanterns in the river...


and of course, us...


On Sunday the 13th we were getting tired but still had a lot to see! We started our morning by heading to the other site of the festival which was all ice sculptures. Here are some of our favorites...

The "White Bear"!


Lost of dead fish in the house. (they were bloody so it was kinda icky!)


Beautiful Owl


Christian as "Gundam"


Love the fish in the coral!

This one was for you dad...


Dragon!


Some are even meant to play with!


After ice sculptures we went over to "Ramen Alley" for lunch! Here is a view down the alley. There are about 20 different ramen shops all in this one spot.


Here we are having lunch.


My ramen, butter corn (yes a Hokkaido specialty) was amazing!


In the PM we went to a sake brewery for a tour and some drinks. We also went to the beer museum...which sucked. There was no tour or drinks!

Me with the Sapporo beer...


At least the building was beautiful!


After dinner we headed back to the ice scupltures for the "night viewing" but the lighting wasn't so impressive! We also went back to the large snow sculptures to take pictures of the one we missed the day before. I also enjoyed this one.


There was a gospel choir on the snow stage (blocked by our heads)


On Monday the 14th we had a lazy morning before heading out to the outlit mall by the airport. We had a lovely flight home!