 Most viewed - HOKKAIDO 北海道 |
G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit sign inside the former Hokkaido Government Building.135 views
|
|
Glassware makers135 views
|
|
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.135 views
|
|
135 views
|
|
135 views
|
|
Ukimido as seen from Benten island134 views
|
|
On the shore of Lake Toya is binoculars through which you can see the Summit venue, the Windsor Hotel.134 views
|
|
Sculpture: At the Lake, by Akihiko Kurokawa. Perhaps the most humorous sculpture.134 views
|
|
Kitanoumi souvenirs for sale.134 views
|
|
G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown at the former Hokkaido Government Building.134 views
|
|
Landing on New Chitose Airport's runway 19L from a northerly approach.134 views
|
|
Rainy night for take-off.134 views
|
|
Inside the Sapporo Clock Tower. The first floor has various display panels and exhibits.134 views
|
|
134 views
|
|
The flower beds are maintained by nearby companies.134 views
|
|
Views from Sapporo TV Tower134 views
|
|
Inside the Otaru Unga Terminal, formerly Mitsubishi Bank's Otaru Branch. This area is known as the "Wall Street of the North" due to the many banks and finance-related companies that were here.134 views
|
|
Inside Taisho Glass Shop 大正硝子館134 views
|
|
Sakai-machi-dori134 views
|
|
Putting on the finishing touches on the sculpture.134 views
|
|
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. 134 views
|
|
Penguins134 views
|
|
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters pro baseball team is based in Sapporo. This sculpture depicts their victory parade.134 views
|
|
Moomin snow sculpture/statue134 views
|
|
Ferry from Rishiri to Wakkanai. Souya Maru No. 5 第五宗谷丸134 views
|
|
133 views
|
|
Cherry blossoms133 views
|
|
Sculpture: 秋山沙走武「薫風」133 views
|
|
You can see the road (and youth hostel) where you turn right to reach Showa-Shinzan.133 views
|
|
The hiking trail goes along the rim of Ginnuma Crater. Most people don't go that far. 銀沼大火口133 views
|
|
New Chitose Airport, another Welcome sign as we head for the baggage claim area.133 views
|
|
Panel showing foreign instructors who taught at Sapporo Agricultural College.133 views
|
|
On the right is the entrance to the former Governor's office133 views
|
|
The former Temiya Line, Hokkaido's first rail line linking Otaru and Sapporo. It was discontinued in 1985.133 views
|
|
133 views
|
|
The Iolani Palace was built in Feb. 1982 to commemorate direct flights between Sapporo and Honolulu (since discontinued).133 views
|
|
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.133 views
|
|
133 views
|
|
View from the No. 2 Nishiyama Crater Lookout deck. On the right is the crater of the initial eruption occurring in March 2000.132 views
|
|
Another crater which is dry.132 views
|
|
On this side of the lake, the waters are quite still.132 views
|
|
Sculpture: Traveling Person, by Yoshiro Mineta 峯田 義郎「旅ひとり」132 views
|
|
Nakajima islands, Lake Toya132 views
|
|
Cherry blossoms and plum tress. They bloom almost at the same time in Hokkaido.132 views
|
|
132 views
|
|
In winter, the water fountains are fenced off.132 views
|
|
JR Otaru Station132 views
|
|
They should be cheerleaders.132 views
|
|
As the days pass, their progress becomes ever apparent as the building becomes more and more familiar.132 views
|
|
This snow sculpture of Iolani Palace was larger and more detailed than the ice sculpture of the palace built in Feb. 2010.132 views
|
|
132 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.132 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.132 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.132 views
|
|
"Zoo of the Northland" sculpture lit up at night. 132 views
|
|
131 views
|
|
Showa-Shinzan is on the left, with Mt. Usu at center.131 views
|
|
Nakajima islands as seen from Toyako Onsen.131 views
|
|
131 views
|
|
Sculpture in Toyako Enchi Park: Ripple Dance, by 関 正司「漣舞・リップル・ダンス」131 views
|
|
Arrival at the New Chitose Airport terminal.131 views
|
|
The roof has chimney-like ventilation outlets.131 views
|
|
Portraits of past Hokkaido governors. The bottom row are the most recent governors.131 views
|
|
131 views
|
|
Marchen Intersection メルヘン交差点131 views
|
|
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.131 views
|
|
They haul numerous blocks of ice.131 views
|
|
Bear and cubs131 views
|
|
131 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.131 views
|
|
Unicorn for 2nd place.131 views
|
|
My YouTube video of the Sapporo Snow Matsuri in 2010.131 views
|
|
Transparent water130 views
|
|
Leaving Oshima.130 views
|
|
130 views
|
|
Toyako Visitor Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa with G8 Summit welcome sign.130 views
|
|
Actual-size ringside seats are also on display.130 views
|
|
It looks kind of strange without his two attendants, the sword bearer and dew sweeper...130 views
|
|
The road is too steep to ride a bicycle, but short enough to walk it. You will be sweating though.130 views
|
|
The Sapporo Clock Tower is an Important Cultural Property.130 views
|
|
Former Hokkaido Government Office Building and yaezakura cherry blossoms, Sapporo130 views
|
|
Sapporo taxis always leave their door open while waiting for a fare. They probably do this only during the warmer months.130 views
|
|
130 views
|
|
View from Sapporo TV Tower.130 views
|
|
T-rex twins.130 views
|
|
The USA team sculpted the American Circus.130 views
|
|
130 views
|
|
Gorilla130 views
|
|
Dream of Hanbat by Korea.130 views
|
|
Sculpture: by Keiko Amamiya, 雨宮 敬子「洞照」129 views
|
|
The sumo ring is not made of real dirt.129 views
|
|
Aqua-blue water was almost like a tropical ocean...129 views
|
|
Alpine flowers129 views
|
|
Ze plane...129 views
|
|
Poster for the return of the Northern Territories. Her braided hair resembles the northern islands.129 views
|
|
129 views
|
|
Views from Sapporo TV Tower, looking toward Sapporo Station (JR Tower on the right).129 views
|
|
Filling the mold for a tall neck of a dinosaur.129 views
|
|
Mickey and Minnie Mouse129 views
|
|
Freyderyk Chopin by Poland129 views
|
|
128 views
|
|
Well-placed sculpture at Ukimido: Dream Toya, by Mitsuaki Sora, 空 充秋「夢洞爺」128 views
|
|
The Usuzan Ropeway terminal has gift shops selling a variety of G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise. T-shirts, bags, candy, etc.128 views
|
|
G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit potato confection.128 views
|
|
G8 Summit countdown sign128 views
|
|
128 views
|
|
Another glassware shop.128 views
|
|
Plaque of Gastown Vancouver, Canada128 views
|
|
128 views
|
|
A Shinto shrine made of ice.128 views
|
|
Mini train was popular. Notice the long line in the background.128 views
|
|
Swan boat and a real swan.127 views
|
|
Sculpture: 秋山沙走武「薫風」127 views
|
|
Ticket office inside JR Toya Station with G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit flags.127 views
|
|
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.127 views
|
|
Karafuto/Sakhalin Resource Library127 views
|
|
127 views
|
|
Odori Station127 views
|
|
Former Takasaburo Natori Store, now the Taisho Glass Shop. 旧名取高三郎商店、大正硝子館127 views
|
|
Former Dai-Hyakujusan National bank, Otaru Branch, now a gift shop. 旧第百十三国立銀行小樽支店127 views
|
|
127 views
|
|
127 views
|
|
Dragon ice sculpture wins a 1st place award.127 views
|
|
126 views
|
|
|
|
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126 views
|
|
View of Showa-Shinzan and ropeway terminal.126 views
|
|
Glycerine is removed from the waste oil.126 views
|
|
Toyako Onsen Spa tourist information office with a G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign.126 views
|
|
The Windsor Hotel, G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit venue is on a hill overlooking the lake. Below is a lake cruise boat.126 views
|
|
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.126 views
|
|
The exhibits explain about the history of Hokkaido's early settlement and development.126 views
|
|
Adjacent pond and cherry blossoms126 views
|
|
Wedding chapel. Not for tourists, but you can take the elevator to the top floor for fine views of the surrounding area.126 views
|
|
Sign promoting the shinkansen to be built to Hokkaido.126 views
|
|
Former Hyakujusan Bank, Otaru Branch, now a large glassware shop. 旧百十三銀行小樽支店126 views
|
|
Inside Kitaichi126 views
|
|
Former Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Otaru Branch. It's on the fringe of central Otaru. Admission 300 yen.126 views
|
|
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. 126 views
|
|
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.126 views
|
|
126 views
|
|
Ice sculpture of a church in Helsinki, Finland126 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.126 views
|
|
Snow leopard at night.126 views
|
|
126 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.126 views
|
|
126 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.126 views
|
|
Vinyl house125 views
|
|
Close-up of Nishiyama's first crater formed during the March 2000 eruption.125 views
|
|
125 views
|
|
Lakefront promenade125 views
|
|
Swan boats again.125 views
|
|
Toyako Visitor Center125 views
|
|
Entrance to Toyako Visitor Center (free admission, but admission charged for the Volcano Science Museum).125 views
|
|
Above is an actual tournament champion giant portrait which once hung in the Kokugikan.125 views
|
|
The water is very transparent.125 views
|
|
Sobetsu Park gives great views of Lake Toya and the Nakajima islands.125 views
|
|
Inside New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza, more G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome signs.125 views
|
|
Rear of the triple-arch staircase.125 views
|
|
Cannon balls125 views
|
|
Sapporo TV Tower anchors the east end of Odori Park.125 views
|
|
125 views
|
|
Kitaichi 北一125 views
|
|
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.125 views
|
|
125 views
|
|
They install wooden beams serving to reinforce the snow structures.125 views
|
|
|
6-chome had this medium-size snow sculpture called Seitokai no Ichizon. 生徒会の一存125 views
|
|
Hatsune Miku was much photographed. 初音ミク125 views
|
|
The Matsuhashi family later moved away from Toya village and entrusted the statue to a local temple.124 views
|
|
Swan boats. You can pedal pretty far out in these things, but not to the Nakajima islands.124 views
|
|
G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown at Toyako Visitors Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa.124 views
|
|
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124 views
|
|
Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: Spring Winds Blowing, by 熊谷紀子「春～風走る」124 views
|
|
124 views
|
|
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.124 views
|
|
Building near Odori Park welcoming the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit.124 views
|
|
Snow Festival poster124 views
|
|
View of Odori Park from Sapporo TV Tower.124 views
|
|
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.124 views
|
|
2 million people visit the Sapporo Snow Festival, many from China and Korea. Many of them would love to be in warm Hawaii.124 views
|
|
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.124 views
|
|
The facade is shaped...124 views
|
|
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.124 views
|
|
I think this was the lion dog at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Fukuoka.124 views
|
|
Taniwha by New Zealand124 views
|
|
The Susukino ice sculptures compete for 1st and 2nd place awards.124 views
|
|
Sculpture: I was…I will, by Masaru Bando 坂東 優「I was（過去）…I will（未来）」123 views
|
|
Cherry blossoms and sculpture123 views
|
|
Sculpture: 中井延也「シグナル」123 views
|
|
Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: All-Day Autumn, by 秋山知子「秋～終日」123 views
|
|
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.123 views
|
|
123 views
|
|
123 views
|
|
Through a chemical process, the waste oil is converted to biodiesel fuel.123 views
|
|
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. 123 views
|
|
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.123 views
|
|
123 views
|
|
123 views
|
|
About the "Zoo of the Northland" in English.123 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.123 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.123 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.123 views
|
|
Here and there at the Odori Park site, freebies were give away. This line was for miso paste.123 views
|
|
Back to the other end of Odori Park is the TV Tower.123 views
|
|
Illumination tunnel123 views
|
|
Sculpture: Alveolus, by Goro Kakei 掛井 五郎「胞」122 views
|
|
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.122 views
|
|
How Lake Toya was formed.122 views
|
|
Kitanoumi's kesho mawashi set (ceremonial apron) on display.122 views
|
|
Natural history exhibit122 views
|
|
Local wildlife exhibit, including the Ezo deer.122 views
|
|
Rocky shore122 views
|
|
Little island in the lake. Name unknown.122 views
|
|
G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign at Usuzan Ropeway terminal.122 views
|
|
Records of songs which mention the Clock Tower.122 views
|
|
122 views
|
|
Hokkaido History Gallery includes wildlife exhibit.122 views
|
|
Construction wall for the upcoming Nissei Bdlg.122 views
|
|
Sapporo TV Tower lookout deck.122 views
|
|
Konbu shop122 views
|
|
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.122 views
|
|
Filling up the mold...122 views
|
|
Guess what this part will be.122 views
|
|
Building an ice sculpture.122 views
|
|
The large citizens' area feature smaller snow sculptures created by city citizens. Snow blocks are provided.122 views
|
|
German Square's main snow sculpture was this Dresdner Frauenkirche, a Lutheran Church in Dresden, Germany. フラウエン教会122 views
|
|
10丁目 ちびまる子ちゃん122 views
|
|
Hanoman Duta by Indonesia122 views
|
|
Sculpture: Dreamy Lake View, by Masafumi Maita 眞板 雅文「湖景夢想」121 views
|
|
121 views
|
|
G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on the edge of Toyako Onsen hot spring.121 views
|
|
Referee costumes in the showcase.121 views
|
|
Eastern Lake Toya, with Mt. Usu in the distance.121 views
|
|
Cherry blossoms at the top of Sobetsu Park.121 views
|
|
One girl takes notes as the others give her their test results.121 views
|
|
Inside New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza, G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown.121 views
|
|
Another room on the 2nd floor shows Hokkaido's international relations with sister states in Alberta, Canada; Massachusetts, USA; and Heilongjiang, China.121 views
|
|
Governor's desk in the governor's former office.121 views
|
|
121 views
|
|
121 views
|
|
Pterodactyl wings121 views
|
|
Even the veins look realistic. Pterodactyl made of snow.121 views
|
|
121 views
|
|
Medium-size snow sculpture of Germany's Wartburg Castle. ヴァルトブルク城121 views
|
|
Night view of Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.121 views
|
|
International food stalls121 views
|
|
My YouTube video of Iolani Palace at the Sapporo Snow Matsuri in 2010.121 views
|
|
120 views
|
|
Love this transparent water. Makes you feel like canoeing or kayaking to the Nakajima islands.120 views
|
|
Nice cycling path goes quite far.120 views
|
|
| 1864 files on 8 page(s) |
 |
3 | |
|
|
|
