 Last additions - Sapporo 札幌市 |
They install wooden beams serving to reinforce the snow structures.Feb 13, 2010
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Destroying Iolani Palace made of snow.Feb 13, 2010
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Now see how another giant snow sculpture is built. It's the same process. A giant box is filled with snow.Feb 13, 2010
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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.Feb 13, 2010
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Iolani Palace in snow, lit up at nightFeb 13, 2010
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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.Feb 13, 2010
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The statue of King Kamehameha did not come out that well, but I was happy to see it nonetheless. He was the king who unified Hawaii while the different islands were still ruled by different chiefs. Feb 13, 2010
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The Iolani Palace was built in Feb. 1982 to commemorate direct flights between Sapporo and Honolulu (since discontinued).Feb 13, 2010
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Iolani Palace stage event. This photo was published in a book called "The Companies We Keep 2," published in Hawaii by Bob Sigall in Jan. 2008.This photo was also featured on Hawaii's TV talk show "Nighttime with Andy Bumatai." See the segment at YouTube here.Feb 13, 2010
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Done and almost like the real thing. The Iolani Palace is in Honolulu, Hawaii, originally built by King David Kalakaua in the 19th century when Hawaii was still an independent kingdom. It is now a major tourist attraction.This photo was published in a book called "The Companies We Keep 2," published in Hawaii by Bob Sigall in Jan. 2008. The book is a compilation of various tidbits and trivia about Hawaii (my home state).
This photo was also featured on Hawaii's TV talk show "Nighttime with Andy Bumatai." See the segment at YouTube here.Feb 13, 2010
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As the days pass, their progress becomes ever apparent as the building becomes more and more familiar.Feb 13, 2010
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They even included a now statue of King Kamehameha, the king who unified the Hawaiian islands. Iolani Palace actually does not have a statue of King Kamehameha. But there is a statue of him across the street from the actual palace.Feb 13, 2010
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A drawing of Iolani Palace helps the carvers to carve the sculpture accurately.Feb 13, 2010
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The facade is shaped...Feb 13, 2010
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You can't be afraid of heights while working on these giant sculptures.Feb 13, 2010
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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.Feb 13, 2010
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Japan's Self-Defense ForcesFeb 13, 2010
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They continue filling the giant box with snow. They are making Iolani Palace out of snow.Feb 13, 2010
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Filling up the mold...Feb 13, 2010
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The local Self-Defense Forces build the giant snow sculptures. Power shovel piles up the snow inside a rectangular mold or box made of wood.Feb 13, 2010
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Seeing these naked guys dancing on ice in front of Iolani Palace made my day. It was my festival climax before I had to leave to catch my 8:50 pm flight back to Tokyo.Feb 13, 2010
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Now some photos of the 1982 Sapporo Snow Festival. This was when they built Iolani Palace out of snow (not ice). These are army trucks hauling in snow to the Odori Park site in early Jan.Feb 13, 2010
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Very lively group.Feb 13, 2010
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They kept jumping up.Feb 13, 2010
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This yosakoi soran group was from Hokkaido University.Feb 13, 2010
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Notice how the colored lighting varied between dark orange and white lighting.Feb 13, 2010
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On the final night of the snow festival, they had yosakoi soran groups perform. They turned out to be the entertainment climax in front of Iolani Palace.Feb 13, 2010
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All they had to do is wear something Hawaiian and it would've been perfect. But of course, nobody thought of that.Feb 13, 2010
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Even though I was seeing all this entertainment totally unrelated to Hawaii, I have to say that the icy Iolani Palace made a great backdrop for these performers.Feb 13, 2010
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Sure it's cold to perform here. But look at these girls in shorts. They weren't shivering. This is another local wannabe Hokkaido girl group called "Cream."Feb 13, 2010
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And no one performed hula or anything Hawaiian in front of this Iolani Palace ice sculpture. It was sad and a wasted opportunity. They dance the hula everywhere in Japan except in front of an Iolani Palace sculpture?? Does that make sense to you?Feb 13, 2010
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As I was watching all this entertainment, how I wished there would be hula dancers too. Iolani Palace, being the home of King David Kalakaua who promoted hula in Hawaii, is a symbol of the hula movement. Feb 13, 2010
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Para-para dancerFeb 13, 2010
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A trio of girls perform the para-para dance.Feb 13, 2010
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Another boy group called B-Luck.Feb 13, 2010
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Other entertainment included amateur rock bands.Feb 13, 2010
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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.Feb 13, 2010
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ハワイPRの絶好のチャンスを完全に無視、逃がす。２百万人の来場者へのPRがパー。HPにもまったく掲載なし。Feb 13, 2010
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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.Feb 13, 2010
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No Hawaii events/entertainment in front of the Iolani Palace ice sculpture at the 2010 Sapporo Snow Festival. Hula is so popular in Japan, and no one danced hula in front of Iolani Palace in Sapporo??Feb 13, 2010
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Get in touch with people from Hawaii living in Sapporo/Hokkaido. They would volunteer to pass out Hawaii brochures or maybe even perform hula on the icy stage.Feb 13, 2010
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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.Feb 13, 2010
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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.Feb 13, 2010
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I just CANNOT BELIEVE that HVB's English and Japanese Web sites neva even mention the Iolani Palace at this year's Sapporo Snow Festival.Feb 13, 2010
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It was very impressive and made my trip to Sapporo worthwhile. The lingering question remained: Where was the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau??? Why weren't they here passing out Hawaii PR brochures?Feb 13, 2010
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In the late afternoon, they start to light up the sculptures. Feb 13, 2010
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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.Feb 13, 2010
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The color lighting scheme also varies slightly. The sculpture is basically backlit with green lights in the middle and orange lights on the sides. At the same time, blue lights shine on the front of the sculpture.Feb 13, 2010
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Girls in Hokkaido look healthy, thanks to Hokkaido's clean environment, wide-open spaces, and good food.Feb 13, 2010
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北海道美人Feb 13, 2010
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They should be cheerleaders.Feb 13, 2010
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I could only wonder if these girls knew the significance of the sculpture they were performing in front of.Feb 13, 2010
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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.Feb 13, 2010
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This is a local Hokkaido group dressed as school girls calling themselves Moegi-iro Jogakuin. もえぎ色女学院Feb 13, 2010
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Now for some entertainment in front of the Iolani Palace ice sculpture as the crowd waits.Feb 13, 2010
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Unfortunately, there was no sign in English explaining the Iolani Palace ice sculpture. I looked at this list of supporters and sponsors and found no one from Hawaii listed.おい、ハワイ州観光局はまったくいないぞ。Feb 13, 2010
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Like the other big sculptures, various free entertainment was held on a stage in front of the Iolani Palace sculpture. This was the entertainment schedule. I was very disappointed to find nothing Hawaiian.Feb 13, 2010
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Rear view of the Iolani Palace ice sculpture. Scaffolding propped up colored lights.Feb 13, 2010
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The Iolani Palace ice sculpture had a slim profile. This is a side view.Feb 13, 2010
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Facing the Iolani Palace sculpture were food stalls such as this German almond food stall. I couldn't comprehend why there weren't any Hawaii-related stalls instead. How about selling macadamia nuts or having a Hawaii Visitors Bureau booth??Feb 13, 2010
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The ice sculpture was built by over 250 members of the Japan Ice Sculpture Association. Most of the 250 were from the Sapporo chapter working as chefs at Sapporo area hotels. In Japan, ice sculptures are often featured at high-priced buffets, etc.Feb 13, 2010
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This was not the first time Iolani Palace was at the Sapporo Snow Festival. It was also featured in Feb. 1982 when it was made of snow (photos below).Feb 13, 2010
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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. Feb 13, 2010
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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.Feb 13, 2010
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It took about 2 weeks to build Iolani Palace out of ice. They started building it on Jan. 15, 2010. The sculpture was planned by Mainichi Shimbun Newspapers.Feb 13, 2010
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The Iolani Palace ice sculpture is 16 meters wide and 8 meters high. It was built with 700 large blocks of ice weighing 135 kg (298 lb.) each. Feb 13, 2010
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The 61st Sapporo Snow Festival was held during Feb. 5-11, 2010 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Among the giant snow sculptures was Hawaii's Iolani Palace made of ice. It was the reason why I decided to see this festival again.Feb 13, 2010
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Iolani Palace, a giant ice sculpture at the 61st Sapporo Snow Festival during Feb. 5-11, 2010. During the day, it has a translucent, blue look. It is the festival's largest ice sculpture. This block is officially called the Mainichi Shimbun Ice SquareFeb 13, 2010
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Yodobashi Camera store on west side of Sapporo Station.May 21, 2008
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Toilet with a view in JR TowerMay 21, 2008
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Yodobashi, Hokkaido's largest camera and electronics store.May 21, 2008
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On the west side is Kinokuniya Bookstore.May 21, 2008
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View from JR Tower looking south toward Odori Park. Sapporo TV Tower on the left.May 21, 2008
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Urinal with a view in JR TowerMay 21, 2008
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View from JR Tower looking south toward Odori Park.May 21, 2008
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View of Sapporo Station's west side from JR Tower. See the roof of Daimaru Dept. Store.May 21, 2008
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View from JR Tower looking east.May 21, 2008
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View of Sapporo Station's west side from JR Tower.May 21, 2008
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View of Sapporo Station's north side from JR Tower.May 21, 2008
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Elevated train tracks on west side.May 21, 2008
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View from JR Tower toward Hokkaido University.May 21, 2008
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Above the train platforms is this roof and parking lot.May 21, 2008
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View of Sapporo Station's north side from JR Tower. Admission to JR Tower lookout deck on the 38th floor is 700 yen.May 21, 2008
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View from JR Tower looking east.May 21, 2008
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View of Sapporo Station's west side from JR Tower.May 21, 2008
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Tourist information office inside Sapporo Station. Very spacious with numerous racks or tourist pamphlets.May 21, 2008
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Waiting area in Sapporo Station.May 21, 2008
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JR Tower lookout deck (temboshitsu) called JR Tower Observatory T38. JRタワー展望室May 21, 2008
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View from Sapporo Station's North ExitMay 21, 2008
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Sapporo Station's North Entrance has a sculpture and water fountain.May 21, 2008
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View of Sapporo Station's south side from JR Tower.May 21, 2008
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View of Sapporo Station's north side from JR Tower.May 21, 2008
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Bus stops on the north side of Sapporo Station.May 21, 2008
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Sapporo Station train platform. The platform looks dark (black) since entire station is covered. The ceiling is black. The roof is also a parking lot.May 21, 2008
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Train platform in Sapporo Station. Well protected from snow.May 21, 2008
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Sapporo Station Kita-guchi or North Exit.May 21, 2008
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See the same sculpture in front of the old Sapporo Station, which really was a train station with almost none of the shops and restaurants found in the new station building.May 21, 2008
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Inside Sapporo Station buildingMay 21, 2008
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Daimaru Dept. Store on the west side. Notice the entrance sign celebrating the 5th anniversary of the new train station.May 21, 2008
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May 21, 2008
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Sapporo Station front and center on the south side.May 21, 2008
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Sapporo Station, North Exit.May 21, 2008
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Sapporo Station's North Entrance has a sculpture and water fountain.May 21, 2008
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Sapporo Station is nicknamed "Satsu-eki."May 21, 2008
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Also on the south side of Sapporo Station is this countdown display for the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit to be held in early July 2008.May 21, 2008
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One of the entrances to Sapporo Station on the south side.May 21, 2008
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The new JR Sapporo Station is definitely the city's most noticeable change in recent years. It is a huge complex, a far cry from the old train station.May 21, 2008
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JR TowerMay 21, 2008
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Sculpture in front of Sapporo Station, south exit.May 21, 2008
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This symbolic sculpture has been retained from the old Sapporo Station.May 21, 2008
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May 21, 2008
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This is Minami-guchi or the South Exit. On the far right is the JR Tower.May 21, 2008
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Odori Park was originally a space to prevent the spread of fire.May 21, 2008
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View of Odori Park from Sapporo TV Tower.May 21, 2008
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Foot of Sapporo TV Tower. An elevator takes you up to the top lookout deck.May 21, 2008
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View from Sapporo TV Tower.May 21, 2008
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Views from Sapporo TV TowerMay 21, 2008
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The Sapporo TV Tower was built in 1957. The mid-level deck has gift shops.May 21, 2008
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View of Odori Park from Sapporo TV Tower.May 21, 2008
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Views from Sapporo TV Tower, looking toward Sapporo Station (JR Tower on the right).May 21, 2008
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In winter, the water fountains are fenced off.May 21, 2008
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Sapporo TV Tower anchors the east end of Odori Park.May 21, 2008
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Sapporo TV Tower lookout deck.May 21, 2008
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Horse carriage ride for touristsMay 21, 2008
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Water fountain and Sapporo TV TowerMay 21, 2008
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The flower beds are maintained by nearby companies.May 21, 2008
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Odori Park's most photographed sculpture shows three ballerinas near a water fountain. Sapporo, HokkaidoMay 21, 2008
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Stretching for about 1.5 km east to west in central Sapporo, Odori Koen or Park is the city's oasis in the urban jungle. This is the heart of the park.May 21, 2008
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Numerous flower beds in the park.May 21, 2008
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Wedding chapel. Not for tourists, but you can take the elevator to the top floor for fine views of the surrounding area.May 21, 2008
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On the left is the Rest House with a restaurant (built in 1985), and on the right is the Austrian Pavilion moved here in 1972 after the Sapporo Winter Olympics. It houses gift shops.May 21, 2008
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Passage at Fukuzumi Station, near Sapporo DomeMay 21, 2008
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G8 Summit sticker in busMay 21, 2008
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Sapporo Snow Festival postcardsMay 21, 2008
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Inside sheep houseMay 21, 2008
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London St. Paul's Cathedral, UK (1998)May 21, 2008
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Mon-chi-chi with a melon cap.May 21, 2008
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Snow Festival bookMay 21, 2008
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Girl and Sheep sculpture at Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill, Sapporo, HokkaidoMay 21, 2008
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Sapporo Snow Festival pinsMay 21, 2008
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Sapporo Snow Festival memorabalia.May 21, 2008
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Schloss Linderhof castle, Germany (1995)May 21, 2008
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Sheep houseMay 21, 2008
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Concert Gebouw, Holland (2000)May 21, 2008
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Left is the capitol building in Norway (2005), and on the right is Flinders Street Station in Australia (2006).May 21, 2008
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More scale models in this room.May 21, 2008
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Tools used to carve the snow sculptures.May 21, 2008
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Munich National Museum, Germany (1997)May 21, 2008
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Sculpture of Commodore Perry's visit to Japan (2003).May 21, 2008
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Scale model of the Iolani Palace made of wood, painted white. Built for the 33rd Sapporo Snow Festival in 1982. The palace is in Honolulu, Hawaii, built by King David Kalakaua in 1882.May 21, 2008
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Salzburg Cathedral, Austria (1996)May 21, 2008
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Palace in Thailand (2007)May 21, 2008
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Horyuji temple, NaraMay 21, 2008
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Panel for the 33rd Sapporo Snow Festival in 1982 which featured Iolani Palace of Honolulu, Hawaii.May 21, 2008
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Scale model of Hawaii's Iolani Palace made of wood, painted white. Built for the 33rd Sapporo Snow Festival in 1982.May 21, 2008
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The Sapporo Snow Festival Museum has display panels of all the past Sapporo Snow Festivals, dating from 1950.May 21, 2008
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Top view of Iolani Palace scale model.May 21, 2008
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Yujiro Song Monument for a Sapporo song called, "Koi no Machi Sapporo" (恋の町札幌) sung by Ishihara Yujiro whose bust is on the right. Built in 1991.May 21, 2008
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The museum also has rooms showing scale models of the giant snow sculptures built in the past. These scale models were made when the respective snow sculpture was being designed.May 21, 2008
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Clark Chapel on the left, and on the right is the Sapporo Snow Festival Museum which opened in 2001. It used to be a wedding chapel. さっぽろ雪まつり資料館May 21, 2008
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Sapporo Dome can be seen on the right. It is near Fukuzumi Station.May 21, 2008
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Snow Festival posterMay 21, 2008
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The low hill overlooks Sapporo from the southeast.May 21, 2008
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The monument has handprints and autographs of the players.May 21, 2008
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Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill's lookout deck.May 21, 2008
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"Boys, Be Ambitious" This famous statue of Dr. William Clark was built in 1976 to mark Dr. Clark's 100th anniversary of his coming to Hokkaido, the 100th anniversary of Hokkaido University's founding, and the USA bicentennial.May 21, 2008
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Handprint and autograph of Tsuyoshi Shinjo who was the team's most famous player.May 21, 2008
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Clark Bon Voyage Bell クラーク旅立ちの鐘May 21, 2008
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Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters baseball team monument marking the team's founding. Built in 2004. 北海道日本ハムファイターズ誕生記念碑May 21, 2008
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Another prop for photos. "I love Sapporo!"May 21, 2008
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Hitsujigaoka means Sheep Hill, and it actually has sheep.May 21, 2008
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While there, you will likely hear this bell being rung constantly. The place is managed by the Sapporo Tourist Association.May 21, 2008
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Dr. William S. Clark (1826-1886) was a professor from Massachusetts. The statue was made by a Japanese sculpturer and sponsored by the Sapporo Tourist Association. Hokkaido University has a bust of Dr. Clark which is also popular among tourists.May 21, 2008
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Approaching Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill. The place is open every day from 8:30 am to 6 pm or 7 pm during spring and summer. Slightly shorter hours during winter (Oct.-April).May 21, 2008
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Clark came to Hokkaido for 8 months during 1876 to 1877 as a founding vice president of Sapporo Agricultural College (now Hokkaido University). When he departed, he supposedly said, "Boys, be ambitious!" to the students seeing him off.May 21, 2008
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The place has a large parking lot and restaurant, shops, and wedding chapels. A little tourist village has formed over the years since the Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill opened in 1959.May 21, 2008
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Most postcards of Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill show only this famous statue. So I had no idea that there was also a little tourist village.May 21, 2008
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An endless line of people taking pictures and posing in front of the statue.May 21, 2008
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Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill is accessible by a 10-min. bus ride from Fukuzumi Station (Toho subway line). See the famous statue of William Clark on the fringe beyond the parking lot.May 21, 2008
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Ticket gate and entrance to Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill (Hitsujigaoka Tembodai). 500 yen admission is charged so someone from the ticket office boarded our bus to collect admission fees.May 21, 2008
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Susukino Station signMay 21, 2008
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Susukino Station subway trainMay 21, 2008
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Susukino Station platformMay 21, 2008
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Ramen menuMay 21, 2008
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Susukino StationMay 21, 2008
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Neon signs of Susukino, SapporoMay 21, 2008
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Ramen at Ramen Yokocho in SapporoMay 21, 2008
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Robinson's dept. store at Susukino's main intersection. This used to be York Matsuzakaya.May 21, 2008
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SusukinoMay 21, 2008
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Tanuki-koji shopping arcadeMay 21, 2008
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Neon lights of SusukinoMay 21, 2008
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ParcoMay 21, 2008
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Tanuki-koji shopping arcadeMay 21, 2008
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Aurora TownMay 21, 2008
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Neon lights of Susukino, at the main intersection.May 21, 2008
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Entrance to Aurora Town, an underground passage and shopping arcade between Odori Station and the Sapporo TV Tower.May 21, 2008
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Odori StationMay 21, 2008
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Pole TownMay 21, 2008
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Mitsukoshi Dept. StoreMay 21, 2008
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The road has temporary panels.May 21, 2008
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Odori StationMay 21, 2008
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Inside a subway train (Toho Line).May 21, 2008
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Entrance to Pole Town, an underground passage and shopping arcade between Odori Station and Susukino.May 21, 2008
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