JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Started in 1950, the Sapporo Snow Festival is Japan's grandest and most famous winter festival. I finally saw it again, the 61st Sapporo Snow Festival held during Feb. 5-11, 2010. Being from Hawaii, I was compelled to see it this year because one of the sculptures was Hawaii's Iolani Palace made of ice. Other giant sculptures included buildings in Germany and Korea.

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Hawaii's most famous building, the Iolani Palace, was built out of ice at the 2010 Sapporo Snow Festival. It was the second time for the palace to be featured at the snow festival. The first time was at the 1982 Sapporo Snow Festival. I saw it both times, and it was awesome both times. Also see my YouTube video here.

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The city's most famous and popular park. A real nice oasis in the city, especially during the warmer months with water fountains, flowers, green grass, and sunshine. Also the site of the annual Sapporo Snow Festival. See how it looks in spring. Includes views from the Sapporo TV Tower.

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Symbol of Sapporo, the Clock Tower was built in 1878 as part of the Sapporo Agricultural College established largely by three Americans from Massachusetts: Dr. Willian S. Clark, William Wheeler, and David P. Penhallow. The clock in the tower is the original, installed in 1881. Its chime sounds the same as over a century ago. Near Odori Park.

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Built in 1888, the former Hokkaido Government Office Building is one of Hokkaido's most famous buildings. With its red brick walls, it stands out among Sapporo's more modern buildings. Several of its rooms are open to the public mainly as a museum. An Important Cultural Property. Near Sapporo Station and Ekimae-dori. Free admission.

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Nicknamed "Satsu-eki," Sapporo Station came of age in 2003 with a new mega station building boasting a built-in department store, the JR Tower with fine views from the lookout deck, shops and restaurants, and a spacious tourist info office. It is Hokkaido's busiest and grandest train station which is more like shopping complex rather than a train station.

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Ekimae-dori is the main drag from Sapporo Station heading south toward Odori Park, Susukino, and Nakajima Park. Shops, department stores, offices, shopping arcades, and night life abound along this stimulating strip.

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A tourist attraction in a Sapporo suburb, famous for the statue of Dr. William Clark saying "Boys, Be Ambitious." The place also has the Sapporo Snow Festival Museum. Accessible by bus from Fukuzumi Station (Toho subway line).

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