 Most viewed - HOKKAIDO 北海道 |
Ukimido as seen from Benten island121 views
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Showa-Shinzan is on the left, with Mt. Usu at center.121 views
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Nakajima islands as seen from Toyako Onsen.121 views
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Sculpture: At the Lake, by Akihiko Kurokawa. Perhaps the most humorous sculpture.121 views
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121 views
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Toyako Visitor Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa with G8 Summit welcome sign.121 views
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Sculpture: 秋山沙走武「薫風」121 views
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121 views
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Glycerine is removed from the waste oil.121 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown in front of Sapporo Station.121 views
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The baggage crew worked very quickly. That's my bag rolling off the plane while I was still sitting in my seat waiting to get off.121 views
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The interior of the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building is just as dignified as the exterior. This triple-arch staircase is what you first see when you enter the building.121 views
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Banner on a building urging the shinkansen to reach Sapporo.121 views
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121 views
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The former Temiya Line, Hokkaido's first rail line linking Otaru and Sapporo. It was discontinued in 1985.121 views
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The main sculpture in 2-chome. "Winter Sports Kingdom Hokkaido!"121 views
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Ice figures of winter sports athletes. When the freezing wind blows, your unprotected ears will feel it first. But in Sapporo, warm shelter is always nearby, either below ground or in a building.121 views
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Leaving Oshima.120 views
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Sculpture: Traveling Person, by Yoshiro Mineta 峯田 義郎「旅ひとり」120 views
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Lake Toya sign and the Nakajima islands.120 views
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120 views
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Nakajima islands, Lake Toya120 views
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Actual-size ringside seats are also on display.120 views
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Sculpture in Toyako Enchi Park: Ripple Dance, by 関 正司「漣舞・リップル・ダンス」120 views
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The hiking trail goes along the rim of Ginnuma Crater. Most people don't go that far. 銀沼大火口120 views
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Cherry blossoms and plum tress. They bloom almost at the same time in Hokkaido.120 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown at the former Hokkaido Government Building.120 views
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The second floor has several large rooms. This is the Hokkaido Archives where Hokkaido's historical documents and records are kept.120 views
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Views from Sapporo TV Tower120 views
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JR Otaru Station120 views
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Iolani Palace ice sculpture lit up at night. The sculptures are lit up nightly till 10 pm. Ice sculptures in particular become very beautiful when lit at night due to their translucence.120 views
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Stage event 120 views
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Kraithong by Thailand showing an alligator killer.120 views
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Doraemon snow sculpture/statue120 views
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Hatsune Miku120 views
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Transparent water119 views
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Swan boat and a real swan.119 views
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The sumo ring is not made of real dirt.119 views
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It looks kind of strange without his two attendants, the sword bearer and dew sweeper...119 views
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Date is pronounced "DAH-tay." The city of 37,000 was founded in 1870 by a samurai named Date Kunishige and his vassals and citizens who migrated from Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Thus, you will find occasional references to the samurai in Date. 119 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit potato confection.119 views
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The Sapporo TV Tower was built in 1957. The mid-level deck has gift shops.119 views
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119 views
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Former Takasaburo Natori Store, now the Taisho Glass Shop. 旧名取高三郎商店、大正硝子館119 views
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Kitaichi 北一119 views
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Plaque of Gastown Vancouver, Canada119 views
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Former Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Otaru Branch. It's on the fringe of central Otaru. Admission 300 yen.119 views
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119 views
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In 4-chome was the first giant snow sculpture called "Zoo of the Northland" in STV/Yomiuri Square.119 views
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Mickey and Minnie lit up at night.119 views
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118 views
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118 views
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Sculpture: by Keiko Amamiya, 雨宮 敬子「洞照」118 views
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Entrance to Toyako Visitor Center (free admission, but admission charged for the Volcano Science Museum).118 views
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Aqua-blue water was almost like a tropical ocean...118 views
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Alpine flowers118 views
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The road is too steep to ride a bicycle, but short enough to walk it. You will be sweating though.118 views
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Panel showing foreign instructors who taught at Sapporo Agricultural College.118 views
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118 views
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Sapporo taxis always leave their door open while waiting for a fare. They probably do this only during the warmer months.118 views
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The flower beds are maintained by nearby companies.118 views
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They should be cheerleaders.118 views
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118 views
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Iolani Palace in snow, lit up at night118 views
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Odori Park is a long, rectangular park divided into numbered blocks called "chome." Next to the TV tower was 1-chome with a skating rink (free of charge) and 2-chome featuring a group of sculptures called Winter Sports Kingdom Hokkaido!118 views
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Lakefront promenade117 views
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Toyako Visitor Center117 views
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Mt. Usu Eruption Memorial Park on the west end of Toyako Onsen has more outdoor sculptures. 有珠山噴火記念公園117 views
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Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: Winter: When Stars Fall, by 小野寺紀子「冬～星降る夜に」. A persistent problem is the bird droppings forming ugly white streaks on the pieces. Someone should clean it.117 views
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View of Showa-Shinzan and ropeway terminal.117 views
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The clock inside the tower is Japan's oldest. The gears and other main parts are also still the original ones. Thanks to excellent care and maintenance, the clock has come this far.117 views
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Inside the Sapporo Clock Tower. The first floor has various display panels and exhibits.117 views
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Former Hokkaido Government Office Building and yaezakura cherry blossoms, Sapporo117 views
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117 views
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In winter, the water fountains are fenced off.117 views
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Sign promoting the shinkansen to be built to Hokkaido.117 views
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The Iolani Palace was built in Feb. 1982 to commemorate direct flights between Sapporo and Honolulu (since discontinued).117 views
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117 views
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Well-placed sculpture at Ukimido: Dream Toya, by Mitsuaki Sora, 空 充秋「夢洞爺」116 views
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Close-up of Nishiyama's first crater formed during the March 2000 eruption.116 views
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Swan boats. You can pedal pretty far out in these things, but not to the Nakajima islands.116 views
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The water is very transparent.116 views
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Through a chemical process, the waste oil is converted to biodiesel fuel.116 views
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Former Dai-Hyakujusan National bank, Otaru Branch, now a gift shop. 旧第百十三国立銀行小樽支店116 views
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Hawaii needs more tourists to visit, especially the Japanese market. Why isn't HVB here promoting Hawaii with Iolani Palace in ice? This was a golden opportunity to promote Hawaii and NOBODY was doing it.116 views
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Nandaro (What's this?), sculpture made by a local English school. It's a dog with a hammer head. Whoever thought of this must have been a crazy guy. 116 views
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Figure skater. The weather was mostly cloudy with occasional light snowfall during most of the festival week. The temperature was around freezing, so wearing a ski cap or jacket hood kept my ears warm.116 views
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Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters pro baseball team is based in Sapporo. This sculpture depicts their victory parade.116 views
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My YouTube video of the Sapporo Snow Matsuri in 2010.116 views
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Sculpture: I was…I will, by Masaru Bando 坂東 優「I was（過去）…I will（未来）」115 views
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Swan boats again.115 views
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Wrecked car on display. The main attraction is the Mt. Usu Volcanic Eruption Theater which shows an engrossing film about Usuzan's eruptions. 火山科学館115 views
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Above is an actual tournament champion giant portrait which once hung in the Kokugikan.115 views
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Cherry blossoms and sculpture115 views
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Sculpture: 中井延也「シグナル」115 views
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Sculpture: 秋山沙走武「薫風」115 views
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Ticket office inside JR Toya Station with G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit flags.115 views
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Toyako Onsen Spa tourist information office with a G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign.115 views
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The Usuzan Ropeway terminal has gift shops selling a variety of G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise. T-shirts, bags, candy, etc.115 views
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Inside New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza, G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown.115 views
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The roof has chimney-like ventilation outlets.115 views
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Portraits of past Hokkaido governors. The bottom row are the most recent governors.115 views
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Odori Station115 views
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View from Sapporo TV Tower.115 views
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The Iolani Palace is Hawaii's most famous building in Honolulu, Oahu. It is America's one and only former royal palace. Built in 1882 by King David Kalakaua as his residence. It had electricity installed, which was rare at the time.115 views
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115 views
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Odori Park from the TV Tower. On the left and right sides, you can see the huge crowd of people blackening the pathways. You can see the Iolani Palace sculpture.115 views
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These blocks of ice lighted in red have carved reliefs of various winter sports. I was in Sapporo for three days and visited the festival sites every day, during the day and evening.115 views
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115 views
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Display of Uemura Aiko's ski wear and skis used in previous seasons. Uemura is a freestyle mogul skier who is competing in the Vancouver Winter Olympics.115 views
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Dream of Hanbat by Korea.115 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown at Toyako Visitors Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa.114 views
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Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: Spring Winds Blowing, by 熊谷紀子「春～風走る」114 views
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The plant's control panel.114 views
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This box of cookies show all the G8 Summit leaders bathing in a hot spring and scrubbing each other's backs. They also say, "Ii yu!" (great hot spring) which is pronounced "EU" as a pun.114 views
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The Sapporo Clock Tower is an Important Cultural Property.114 views
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114 views
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View of Odori Park from Sapporo TV Tower.114 views
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Former Hyakujusan Bank, Otaru Branch, now a large glassware shop. 旧百十三銀行小樽支店114 views
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114 views
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Inside Kitaichi114 views
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This snow sculpture of Iolani Palace was larger and more detailed than the ice sculpture of the palace built in Feb. 2010.114 views
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Putting on the finishing touches on the sculpture.114 views
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T-rex twins.114 views
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At a few of the big sculptures, they offered to take a picture of you in front of the sculpture with your camera. At the same time, they offered to sell you a picture they took with their camera.114 views
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Moomin snow sculpture/statue114 views
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Vinyl house113 views
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The Matsuhashi family later moved away from Toya village and entrusted the statue to a local temple.113 views
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113 views
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The Toyako Visitor Center also has the Volcano Science Museum (admission 600 yen). A room (seen on left) simulating the 1977 Mt. Usu eruption with a video and vibrating sound is a must-see.113 views
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Kitanoumi's kesho mawashi set (ceremonial apron) on display.113 views
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Natural history exhibit113 views
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Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: All-Day Autumn, by 秋山知子「秋～終日」113 views
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113 views
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The waste oil is fed to the conversion plant.113 views
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Most of the building materials, stones and wood, were procured from Hokkaido. The building is flanked by yaezakura cherry trees which bloom in early May.113 views
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On the right is the entrance to the former Governor's office113 views
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Views from Sapporo TV Tower, looking toward Sapporo Station (JR Tower on the right).113 views
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As the days pass, their progress becomes ever apparent as the building becomes more and more familiar.113 views
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Toya Mizunoeki, a local shopping place and rest house in northern Lake Toya. A good place to rest, eat, and inquire at the tourist info counter. とうや水の駅112 views
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How Lake Toya was formed.112 views
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Power generation machinery112 views
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Sobetsu Park gives great views of Lake Toya and the Nakajima islands.112 views
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Cherry blossoms at the top of Sobetsu Park.112 views
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The biodiesel fuel goes into this barrel.112 views
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The Windsor Hotel, G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit venue is on a hill overlooking the lake. Below is a lake cruise boat.112 views
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112 views
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Shop selling konbu or seaweed. The ceiling is covered with konbu.112 views
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Rear view. HVB should round up the Hawaii folks living in Japan to help them promote Hawaii. Especially now, with the Internet, blogging, and word-of-mouth being so important for PR. But us guys in Japan haven't heard one peep from HVB.112 views
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They take off the mold's wood paneling and start carving the huge block of snow. Scaffolding on all sides, almost like constructing a real building.112 views
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The USA team sculpted the American Circus.112 views
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Penguins112 views
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"Zoo of the Northland" sculpture lit up at night. 112 views
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Unicorn for 2nd place.112 views
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Sculpture: Dreamy Lake View, by Masafumi Maita 眞板 雅文「湖景夢想」111 views
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Sculpture: Alveolus, by Goro Kakei 掛井 五郎「胞」111 views
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Cherry blossoms and Toyako Onsen in the distance.111 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on the edge of Toyako Onsen hot spring.111 views
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Tournament champion portrait. Kitanoumi retired in Jan. 1985 and started his own Kitanoumi Stable. In 2002, he became chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. We missed Kitanoumi, but another great Yokozuna from Hokkaido, Chiyonofuji, filled the void.111 views
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Little island in the lake. Name unknown.111 views
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JR Date-Mombetsu Station on the Muroran Line. Date's main train station. 伊達紋別駅111 views
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G8 Summit countdown sign111 views
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Adjacent pond and cherry blossoms111 views
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Rear of the triple-arch staircase.111 views
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Cannon balls111 views
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Karafuto/Sakhalin Resource Library111 views
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Poster for the return of the Northern Territories. Her braided hair resembles the northern islands.111 views
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Building near Odori Park welcoming the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit.111 views
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111 views
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Sapporo TV Tower anchors the east end of Odori Park.111 views
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111 views
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Today, Iolani Palace is a major tourist attraction. Guided tours allow you to see the rooms inside, including the throne room and the small bedroom where Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaii's last monarch, was held prisoner by Westerners who overthrew her. 111 views
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111 views
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They install wooden beams serving to reinforce the snow structures.111 views
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They haul numerous blocks of ice.111 views
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Bear and cubs111 views
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Gorilla111 views
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At 5-chome was "Place Where Dreams Come True" featuring sculpture of Mickey and Minnie Mouse and Cinderella's Castle. Disney is popular in Japan.111 views
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The second site of the Sapporo Snow Festival is here in Susukino, a short walk from Odori Park. Susukino is a well-known nighttime entertainment area.111 views
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Toyako Visitor Center and Volcano Science Museum (smaller building on left). 洞爺湖ビジターセンター110 views
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Referee costumes in the showcase.110 views
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Local wildlife exhibit, including the Ezo deer.110 views
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Rocky shore110 views
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Eastern Lake Toya, with Mt. Usu in the distance.110 views
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Wind chimes along a canal.110 views
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They turned out to be very lively. When you're dressed this lightly, it's best to move a lot to keep warm in freezing temperatures.110 views
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The day after the snow festival ends, all the sculptures are promptly destroyed for safety reasons. With sadness, I watched it being destroyed. You can see the reinforcing wooden beams inside.110 views
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Mini train was popular. Notice the long line in the background.110 views
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Little Kitanoumi. He was born in May 1953 in Sobetsu-cho town which includes the eastern shore of Lake Toya (Toyako). At age 13, he moved to Tokyo and entered the Mihogaseki Stable.109 views
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And some of his trophies. Besides the Emperor's Cup (not displayed), the tournament champion receives numerous trophies and awards from various organizations and countries.109 views
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It was pretty sunny, but I still used flash for this shot.109 views
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Sculpture: Ripple Dance, by 関 正司「漣舞・リップル・ダンス」109 views
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New Chitose Airport, another welcome sign as we head for the baggage claim area.109 views
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The construction of the tower and installation of the clock was completed in 1881. The clock was made by Howard Clock Co. of Boston, MA. It is still in the Clock Tower, sounding its original chime.109 views
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The Clock Tower was used as a drill hall and ceremony hall. After the college moved, the building was used by local citizens for cultural purposes such as a library and lecture hall.109 views
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Records of songs which mention the Clock Tower.109 views
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Construction wall for the upcoming Nissei Bdlg.109 views
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Snow Festival poster109 views
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Otaru Post Office109 views
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Konbu shop109 views
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Filling up the mold...109 views
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Filling the mold for a tall neck of a dinosaur.109 views
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Ice sculpture of a church in Helsinki, Finland109 views
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A Shinto shrine made of ice.109 views
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I think this was the lion dog at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Fukuoka.109 views
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In the next block at 3-chome was the Snowboard Jump hill standing 24 meters high and 65 meters long. They held snowboard jump tournaments during the snow festival. Free to watch.109 views
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6-chome had this medium-size snow sculpture called Seitokai no Ichizon. 生徒会の一存109 views
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Illumination tunnel109 views
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Dragon ice sculpture wins a 1st place award.109 views
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Photos of other tournament champions. Six official 15-day sumo tournaments are held every year in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.108 views
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Toyako Enchi Park, a lakeside picnic area.108 views
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Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: Spring Winds Blowing, by 熊谷紀子「春～風走る」108 views
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Inside New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza, more G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome signs.108 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign at Usuzan Ropeway terminal.108 views
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The exhibits explain about the history of Hokkaido's early settlement and development.108 views
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Sapporo TV Tower lookout deck.108 views
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2 million people visit the Sapporo Snow Festival, many from China and Korea. Many of them would love to be in warm Hawaii.108 views
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Look how beautiful this Iolani Palace ice sculpture is. I was red-faced not only from the cold, but also that no one from Hawaii did anything here.108 views
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108 views
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108 views
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It was not the first time Iolani Palace was built at the Sapporo Snow Festival. In Feb. 1982, it was built of snow as one of the largest sculptures.108 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on entrance of Toya Mizunoeki.107 views
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107 views
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Typical abode of early Hokkaido settlers who first came to this area in 1879.107 views
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Cherry trees almost in full bloom.107 views
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Carp, they must love this clean lake.107 views
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Love this transparent water. Makes you feel like canoeing or kayaking to the Nakajima islands.107 views
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Nice cycling path goes quite far.107 views
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When I went in early May, it was a little too soon for the plum blossoms which were just beginning to bloom.107 views
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