 Most viewed - Sapporo Snow Festival 2010 第61回さっぽろ雪まつり |
Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, Hokkaido is held for about a week in early Feb. These are photos of the 61st Sapporo Snow Festival held during Feb. 5-11, 2010. The main festival site is at Odori Park anchored on the east end by Sapporo TV Tower. 395 viewsI started exploring this site from here.
|
|
With a very impressive carving of animals, this was clearly the crowd favorite. "Zoo of the Northland" features endangered animals at the 61st Sapporo Snow Festival.278 views
|
|
An impressive snow sculpture of Michael Jackson drew crowds.274 views
|
|
Michael Jackson snow sculpture at the 2010 Sapporo Snow Festival. Coiled wiring is used for the hair dangling below his hat.272 views
|
|
Entrance to the dome. 268 views
|
|
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. This block is officially called the Mainichi Shimbun Ice Square262 views
|
|
259 views
|
|
Snow leopard, very impressive.253 views
|
|
Inside Sapporo Community Dome, nicknamed Tsu-dome.253 views
|
|
Chibi Maruko-chan snow sculpture.252 views
|
|
The Iolani Palace ice sculpture was especially beautiful at night, lit up with colorful lights. It was built by over 250 members of the Japan Ice Sculpture Association, most of whom were chefs working at Sapporo hotels.249 views
|
|
A cutie poses with a fake salmon in front of the Northland sculpture.190 views
|
|
Beautiful at night as well. The snow festival sculptures are lit up until 10 pm nightly during the festival. It's too cold to keep standing to watch something for more than 20 min. It's best to keep moving.167 views
|
|
Another ice slide.166 views
|
|
Kraithong by Thailand164 views
|
|
Honu snow statue by Hawaii162 views
|
|
Snow raft rides for 300 yen.160 views
|
|
They had a Yamaha keyboard player providing music coordinated with the colorful lighting. ２丁目 ウィンタースポーツ王国・北海道155 views
|
|
Kraithong by Thailand showing an alligator killer.152 views
|
|
Okadama Airport is right next door.152 views
|
|
152 views
|
|
In 4-chome was the first giant snow sculpture called "Zoo of the Northland" in STV/Yomiuri Square.150 views
|
|
Female snowboard jumper 149 views
|
|
Entertainment held here included a talent contest for young wannabe idols.149 views
|
|
Dresdner Frauenkirche means "Church of Our Lady."149 views
|
|
The main sculpture in 2-chome. "Winter Sports Kingdom Hokkaido!"148 views
|
|
Hatsune Miku148 views
|
|
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.147 views
|
|
Honu "flying" turtles by the Hawaii team.147 views
|
|
Steller's sea eagle オオワシ146 views
|
|
Mickey and Minnie lit up at night.146 views
|
|
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!145 views
|
|
Stage event 145 views
|
|
Michael Jackson snow sculpture 145 views
|
|
6-chome also had the festival site's largest food court called, "Hokkaido Winter Food Park." There was also a large TV monitor showing how the snow sculptures were designed and constructed.145 views
|
|
Doraemon snow sculpture/statue145 views
|
|
Homer Simpson snow sculpture/statue145 views
|
|
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.143 views
|
|
|
142 views
|
|
Penguins141 views
|
|
"Zoo of the Northland" sculpture lit up at night. 140 views
|
|
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters pro baseball team is based in Sapporo. This sculpture depicts their victory parade.140 views
|
|
Moomin snow sculpture/statue140 views
|
|
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.139 views
|
|
Bear and cubs139 views
|
|
139 views
|
|
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.139 views
|
|
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.139 views
|
|
Unicorn for 2nd place.139 views
|
|
Gorilla138 views
|
|
137 views
|
|
Dream of Hanbat by Korea.137 views
|
|
My YouTube video of the Sapporo Snow Matsuri in 2010.137 views
|
|
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.136 views
|
|
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.135 views
|
|
Mickey and Minnie Mouse135 views
|
|
Mini train was popular. Notice the long line in the background.135 views
|
|
Freyderyk Chopin by Poland135 views
|
|
134 views
|
|
134 views
|
|
Dragon ice sculpture wins a 1st place award.134 views
|
|
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.133 views
|
|
Illumination tunnel133 views
|
|
Snow leopard at night.132 views
|
|
A flag-raising game held in front of the ice sculpture. 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.132 views
|
|
|
Hanoman Duta by Indonesia132 views
|
|
The Susukino ice sculptures compete for 1st and 2nd place awards.132 views
|
|
6-chome had this medium-size snow sculpture called Seitokai no Ichizon. 生徒会の一存131 views
|
|
Hatsune Miku was much photographed. 初音ミク131 views
|
|
Taniwha by New Zealand131 views
|
|
About the "Zoo of the Northland" in English.130 views
|
|
Facing Mickey and Minnie Mouse was this PR booth by a soft drink maker. Inside was a display of Uemura Aiko's ski wear and skis.130 views
|
|
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.130 views
|
|
Here and there at the Odori Park site, freebies were give away. This line was for miso paste.130 views
|
|
Back to the other end of Odori Park is the TV Tower.130 views
|
|
My YouTube video of Iolani Palace at the Sapporo Snow Matsuri in 2010.130 views
|
|
Back of the snowboard jump hill.129 views
|
|
German Square's main snow sculpture was this Dresdner Frauenkirche, a Lutheran Church in Dresden, Germany. フラウエン教会129 views
|
|
Night view of Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.129 views
|
|
10丁目 ちびまる子ちゃん129 views
|
|
Also ski jumpers. 3丁目 スノーボードジャンプ台128 views
|
|
Medium-size snow sculpture of Germany's Wartburg Castle. ヴァルトブルク城128 views
|
|
International food stalls128 views
|
|
The skating rink next to the foot of the TV Tower had a Christmas tree with heart-shaped lighting not noticeable from the ground.128 views
|
|
Also in 5-chome was the snow festival's largest ice sculpture: Iolani Palace, Hawaii's most famous building and built in 1882 by King David Kalakaua as the royal residence.127 views
|
|
127 views
|
|
Ichiro snow sculpture/statue127 views
|
|
About Dresdner Frauenkirche in English.126 views
|
|
Dirt sprinked on the snowy and icy paths gives your shoes better grip. It is very easy to slip and fall while walking on Sapporo's icy roads and sidewalks.126 views
|
|
Snow sculpture by Singapore126 views
|
|
Smiling Great Buddha by People's Republic of China.126 views
|
|
Korea's sculpture was the sexiest of all.126 views
|
|
126 views
|
|
Booth for signing a petition to return the Northern Territories (Habomai, Etorofu, Shikotan islands) off Hokkaido, held by Russia.126 views
|
|
Booth for Poland.125 views
|
|
Smoking was prohibited while walking at the festival site, so these smoking stations were provided.125 views
|
|
Smaller snow sculptures made by companies and organizations also dot the festival site.125 views
|
|
Food stall staff shouted to attract customers' attention.125 views
|
|
Smaller snow sculptures dot 9-chome.125 views
|
|
A food court faced the Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.125 views
|
|
Sento-kun, official mascot for Nara's 1200th anniversary. Not a good likeness, but acceptable.125 views
|
|
Playing with grandpa.125 views
|
|
Ghost Warrior Zhong Kui by Hong Kong was very impressive.125 views
|
|
Here and there were souvenir stalls for official merchandise of the snow festival. 125 views
|
|
125 views
|
|
Salmon125 views
|
|
Gundam125 views
|
|
People taking advantage of the picture-taking service in front of the Northland animals.124 views
|
|
Back of the "Zoo of the Northland" sculpture.124 views
|
|
Tora-san in an ecological car. (Tora means tiger, and 2010 is the Year of the Tiger.)124 views
|
|
124 views
|
|
Side view of Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.124 views
|
|
Scale model of Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.124 views
|
|
Night view of Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.124 views
|
|
The Gift, by the Netherlands.124 views
|
|
About the Hawaii team's snow statue.124 views
|
|
Grandmother's doll cabinet by Sweden124 views
|
|
Round Dance for Peace by Russia (Novosibirsk, Sapporo's sister city)124 views
|
|
Eastern Skunk Cabbage snow sculpture/statue 座禅草124 views
|
|
The Sususkino festival site features ice sculptures along the main road called Ekimae-dori which originates from Sapporo Station.124 views
|
|
Many of the ice sculptures are also advertisements.124 views
|
|
123 views
|
|
Back of Dresdner Frauenkirche.123 views
|
|
Baekje was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. 8丁目 韓国・百済123 views
|
|
In 9-chome was this medium-size snow sculpture of Hokkaido University's Agricultural Dept. 9丁目 北海道大学農学部棟123 views
|
|
Ice slide at 10-chome called "Familyland."123 views
|
|
The Chibi Maruko-chan snow sculpture marked the 20th anniversary of the cartoon's TV broadcast.123 views
|
|
More international snow statues.123 views
|
|
123 views
|
|
Odori Park at night during the Sapporo Snow Festival in Feb. 2010.123 views
|
|
Another 1st place winner123 views
|
|
Entering 7-chome which was the HBC (Hokkaido Broadcasting Co.) German Square. 7丁目 HBCドイツ広場122 views
|
|
Rear view of Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.122 views
|
|
Ultraman by Navy Misawa in Aomori.122 views
|
|
Sauna, Sisu, and Sibelius by Finland.122 views
|
|
Ghost Warrior Zhong Kui by Hong Kong.122 views
|
|
More snow sculptures in Odori Park.122 views
|
|
Brandenburg Gate in ice. The ice sculptures in Susukino are lit up until midnight.122 views
|
|
Sign for 7-chome.121 views
|
|
About the Baekje Royal Palace in English.121 views
|
|
Too tall to be Chibi Maruko-chan.121 views
|
|
This booth gave away hot matcha green tea.121 views
|
|
At 11-chome, the International Square featured small snow sculptures made by international teams. As listed on this sign, fourteen national teams participated in 2010. 121 views
|
|
Bowl of Life by USA (Portland, Oregon, Sapporo's sister city).121 views
|
|
11-chome also had a cross country ski track where you could try out ski walking for free.121 views
|
|
Okinawa's shiisa121 views
|
|
Another tiger121 views
|
|
T-rex121 views
|
|
Wolves120 views
|
|
120 views
|
|
Candle lights120 views
|
|
120 views
|
|
Next at 8-chome was the Baekje Royal Palace of Korea. The sculpture is 25 meters wide and 18 meters high. Apparently it was built on the occasion of the Great Baekje World Festival to be held during Sept.-Oct. 2010.120 views
|
|
Ice slides for kids.120 views
|
|
The last block in Odori Park was 12-chome featuring numerous small snow statues made by city citizens.120 views
|
|
120 views
|
|
It was worth the wait. The night views of the snow festival was very nice. This is Odori Park at night during the Sapporo Snow Festival.120 views
|
|
Crabs and fish frozen in this ice sculpture.120 views
|
|
Another definition of "frozen fish."120 views
|
|
This is the real Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is next to Hawai'i's State Capitol in downtown Honolulu's King Street.120 views
|
|
Night view of Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.119 views
|
|
Chibi Maruko-chan classmates119 views
|
|
Skating rink at the foot of the Sapporo TV Tower. I decided to go up the tower to photograph the night views of the Odori Park festival site. It took about 30 min. to get on the elevator to the lookout deck. 700 yen admission.119 views
|
|
119 views
|
|
Dresdner Frauenkirche snow sculpture lit up at night.118 views
|
|
TV event in front of Dresdner Frauenkirche.118 views
|
|
118 views
|
|
Strange English on sign. 118 views
|
|
118 views
|
|
Buddha snow sculpture/statue118 views
|
|
Hideki Matsui in Godzilla's mouth.118 views
|
|
In the foreground is the snowboard jump hill. At the top is the Northland animal sculpture.118 views
|
|
118 views
|
|
Map of Tsu-dome snow festival site.118 views
|
|
Crossing the road to 6-chome. 6丁目117 views
|
|
117 views
|
|
On-chan117 views
|
|
Castle in Noda, Chiba.117 views
|
|
Mother helping son to study.117 views
|
|
The last giant snow sculpture at Odori Park was at 10-chome. It was the famous Chibi Maruko-chan.117 views
|
|
Chibi Maruko-chan at night.117 views
|
|
When you see this building, it means you are at the end of Odori Park and snow festival site. This is the Sapporo Municipal Museum.117 views
|
|
116 views
|
|
Eagle catching fish116 views
|
|
116 views
|
|
115 views
|
|
115 views
|
|
Shuttle bus from Sakaemachi Station to Tsu-dome.115 views
|
|
Chibi Maruko-chan114 views
|
|
114 views
|
|
113 views
|
|
113 views
|
|
113 views
|
|
Pulsating heart. The snow festival is held near Valentine's Day.113 views
|
|
113 views
|
|
Rear of Chibi Maruko-chan snow statue.112 views
|
|
111 views
|
|
Long life and happiness110 views
|
|
110 views
|
|
Ice slides at Tsu-dome110 views
|
|
Frozen fish109 views
|
|
Hina matsuri dolls109 views
|
|
This is Sakaemachi subway station, the closet station to the third snow festival site at Tsu-dome (Sapporo Community Dome).109 views
|
|
Tsu-dome snow festival site.104 views
|
|
|
|
|
|
