 Most viewed - HOKKAIDO 北海道 |
JR Date-Mombetsu Station on the Muroran Line. Date's main train station. 伊達紋別駅120 views
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New Chitose Airport, another welcome sign as we head for the baggage claim area.120 views
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The train to Lake Toya is also decorated with G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign.120 views
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Most of the rooms open to the public are on the 2nd floor.120 views
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Otaru Post Office120 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.120 views
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Destroying Iolani Palace made of snow.120 views
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Pterodactyl wings120 views
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Shaping the pterodactyl120 views
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This is a lion dog at a shrine in Fukuoka.120 views
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Back of the snowboard jump hill.120 views
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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.120 views
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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.120 views
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Snow sculpture by Singapore120 views
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The skating rink next to the foot of the TV Tower had a Christmas tree with heart-shaped lighting not noticeable from the ground.120 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119 views
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Cherry blossoms and Toyako Onsen in the distance.119 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.119 views
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Power generation machinery119 views
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Cherry trees almost in full bloom.119 views
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Carp, they must love this clean lake.119 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.119 views
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The waste oil is fed to the conversion plant.119 views
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The biodiesel fuel goes into this barrel.119 views
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The plant's control panel.119 views
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By early May, police already started to invade the Lake Toya area.119 views
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Second floor corridor.119 views
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Inside the former office of the Governor. There's a large conference table and the walls are decorated with portraits of past Hokkaido governors.119 views
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A stately room. The governor's desk is in the right corner.119 views
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They are building the new underground passage right above the Namboku subway line which runs under Ekimae-dori.119 views
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Construction machinery on Sapporo Ekimae-dori.119 views
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Wind chimes along a canal.119 views
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Shop selling konbu or seaweed. The ceiling is covered with konbu.119 views
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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?119 views
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Head of T-Rex119 views
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Also ski jumpers. 3丁目 スノーボードジャンプ台119 views
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Booth for Poland.119 views
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Smoking was prohibited while walking at the festival site, so these smoking stations were provided.119 views
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A food court faced the Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.119 views
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Korea's sculpture was the sexiest of all.119 views
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Booth for signing a petition to return the Northern Territories (Habomai, Etorofu, Shikotan islands) off Hokkaido, held by Russia.119 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on entrance of Toya Mizunoeki.118 views
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Silo Lookout Point in western Lake Toya is not on the lakeside road. It is on a highway running almost parallel to the lakeside road. Not really accessible by bicycle.118 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.118 views
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Typical abode of early Hokkaido settlers who first came to this area in 1879.118 views
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It was pretty sunny, but I still used flash for this shot.118 views
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Sculpture: Scene of a Portrait, by 湯川 隆「肖像のある風景」118 views
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Personal computers for public use inside Toya Mizunoeki in northern Lake Toya. Notice the G8 Summit flags.118 views
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Going to the 2nd floor.118 views
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Petition for the return of the Northern Territories. As of late April 2008, over 80.3 million people signed the petition.118 views
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Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill's lookout deck.118 views
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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118 views
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John Lennon118 views
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People taking advantage of the picture-taking service in front of the Northland animals.118 views
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Smaller snow sculptures made by companies and organizations also dot the festival site.118 views
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Food stall staff shouted to attract customers' attention.118 views
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About Dresdner Frauenkirche in English.118 views
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Smaller snow sculptures dot 9-chome.118 views
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Sento-kun, official mascot for Nara's 1200th anniversary. Not a good likeness, but acceptable.118 views
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Playing with grandpa.118 views
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About the Hawaii team's snow statue.118 views
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Grandmother's doll cabinet by Sweden118 views
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Ichiro snow sculpture/statue118 views
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The Sususkino festival site features ice sculptures along the main road called Ekimae-dori which originates from Sapporo Station.118 views
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Toya Shonen Shizen no Ie (Toya Nature House for Youth) is a lodging and seminar facility. 道立洞爺少年自然の家117 views
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How the lake was formed.117 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117 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.117 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.117 views
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Sculpture: Scene of a Portrait, by 湯川 隆「肖像のある風景」117 views
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Toyako Enchi Park, a lakeside picnic area.117 views
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Inside New Chitose Airport at the check-in terminal, more G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome signs.117 views
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Welcome sign in front of JR Toya Station, the closest train station to Lake Toya.117 views
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On the shore of Lake Toya is binoculars through which you can see the Summit venue, the Windsor Hotel.117 views
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Staircase and G8 Summit sign117 views
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From Alberta, Canada117 views
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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??117 views
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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.117 views
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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. 117 views
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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."117 views
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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.117 views
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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.117 views
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Japan's Self-Defense Forces117 views
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Hello baby!117 views
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Baekje was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. 8丁目 韓国・百済117 views
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Scale model of Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.117 views
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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117 views
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Ice slide at 10-chome called "Familyland."117 views
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Here and there were souvenir stalls for official merchandise of the snow festival. 117 views
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Eastern Skunk Cabbage snow sculpture/statue 座禅草117 views
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Salmon117 views
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Inside Toya Mizunoeki, they sell local produce, tourist souvenirs, etc.116 views
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Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: Spring Winds Blowing, by 熊谷紀子「春～風走る」116 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown at Toyako Visitors Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa.116 views
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Toyako Visitors Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa.116 views
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The road has temporary panels.116 views
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View from Akaiwa of Cape Takashima. Todo Rock island on the left.116 views
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Inside former Hyakujusan Bank, Otaru Branch116 views
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In the late afternoon, they start to light up the sculptures. 116 views
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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.116 views
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A drawing of Iolani Palace helps the carvers to carve the sculpture accurately.116 views
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Shaping up very well.116 views
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Each giant snow sculpture becomes a pile of snowy rubble.116 views
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Hong Kong snow sculpture.116 views
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Back of the "Zoo of the Northland" sculpture.116 views
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Tora-san in an ecological car. (Tora means tiger, and 2010 is the Year of the Tiger.)116 views
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Side view of Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.116 views
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The Chibi Maruko-chan snow sculpture marked the 20th anniversary of the cartoon's TV broadcast.116 views
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Smiling Great Buddha by People's Republic of China.116 views
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Round Dance for Peace by Russia (Novosibirsk, Sapporo's sister city)116 views
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Ghost Warrior Zhong Kui by Hong Kong.116 views
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Odori Park at night during the Sapporo Snow Festival in Feb. 2010.116 views
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Many of the ice sculptures are also advertisements.116 views
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Gundam116 views
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Upon the wishes of the local people, they built the Ukimido pagoda in 1937 and put the Shotoku Taishi statue on the altar inside. They also started the annual Shotoku Taishi Festival every July.115 views
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Scale model of a sumo drum tower115 views
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Carp fish115 views
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Sculpture: 峯田敏郎「記念撮影五月のかたち」115 views
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Finally, cherry blossoms near the lake water...115 views
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Eastern Lake Toya, with pretty lake colors.115 views
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Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: To the Shore in Summer, by 神田比呂子「夏～渚へ」115 views
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Flowers on the ground.115 views
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Official logo of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit on the Toyako Culture Center.115 views
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Poster for the return of the Northern Territories115 views
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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.115 views
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Old fire hydrant115 views
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Rear view of the Iolani Palace ice sculpture. Scaffolding propped up colored lights.115 views
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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?115 views
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Para-para dancer115 views
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Icy foundation for the ice sculpture.115 views
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Back of Dresdner Frauenkirche.115 views
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About the Baekje Royal Palace in English.115 views
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Rear view of Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.115 views
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Night view of Baekje Royal Palace snow sculpture.115 views
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The Gift, by the Netherlands.115 views
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More international snow statues.115 views
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Ghost Warrior Zhong Kui by Hong Kong was very impressive.115 views
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11-chome also had a cross country ski track where you could try out ski walking for free.115 views
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More snow sculptures in Odori Park.115 views
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Brandenburg Gate in ice. The ice sculptures in Susukino are lit up until midnight.115 views
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Another 1st place winner115 views
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Around 1912, a Buddhist priest traveling north reached Toya village and rested at the Matsuhashi home. He gave a statue of Prince Shotoku Taishi to the family and said that they and the village shall prosper by taking care of it.114 views
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The Ukimido houses a small statue of Prince Shotoku Taishi. Inside, it still looks quite new.114 views
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This is the main room of the Kitanoumi Memorial Hall. It includes half of a sumo ring (dohyo) with a mannequin.114 views
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Sculpture: Posing for a Photo in May, by 峯田敏郎「記念撮影五月のかたち」114 views
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Plum trees closer to the sun were blooming earlier.114 views
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At the top of the park's hill is a lookout deck. However, you can also walk on the slope and see the plum blossoms up close.114 views
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New Chitose Airport, another welcome sign as we head for the baggage claim area.114 views
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Inside New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza, G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown.114 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on window of Toya Mizunoeki in northern Lake Toya.114 views
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From Massachusetts, USA. The famous Dr. William Clark was from this US state.114 views
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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.114 views
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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 1882.114 views
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Former Motosaburo Kaneko Store, built in 1887. 旧金子元三郎商店114 views
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Morning Market. Photo by Hokkaido Tourist Organization.114 views
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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).114 views
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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.114 viewsおい、ハワイ州観光局はまったくいないぞ。
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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??114 views
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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.114 views
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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.114 views
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Brontosaurus114 views
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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. 2010.114 views
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Entering 7-chome which was the HBC (Hokkaido Broadcasting Co.) German Square. 7丁目 HBCドイツ広場114 views
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Ultraman by Navy Misawa in Aomori.114 views
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Too tall to be Chibi Maruko-chan.114 views
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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. 114 views
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Sauna, Sisu, and Sibelius by Finland.114 views
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Bowl of Life by USA (Portland, Oregon, Sapporo's sister city).114 views
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Another tiger114 views
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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.114 views
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Crabs and fish frozen in this ice sculpture.114 views
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This is the real Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is next to Hawai'i's State Capitol in downtown Honolulu's King Street.114 views
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Nakajima islands as seen from northern Lake Toya.113 views
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The sculpture on the right: Wave Play, by Kyuzaemon Orihara 折原 久左ェ門「波遊」113 views
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Behind Ukimido pagoda, Lake Toya113 views
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Birds around Toyako113 views
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Lakefront promenade on the west end of Toyako Onsen Spa.113 views
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The other half of the building is the Sobetsu History Museum. This panel shows how Lake Toya was formed.113 views
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Artifacts of early Hokkaido settlers.113 views
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Passed by two small Shinto shrines...113 views
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Picture-taking point113 views
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View of Mt. Usu and Showa-Shinzan (left) from Sobetsu Park.113 views
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Color charts are used to assess the water quality. This is for phosphoric acid.113 views
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Snow in the refrigerated warehouse. In winter, they use a snow plow/blower to shoot the snow into the room. The temperature is adjusted by ceiling fans and the wall shutters which can open or close.113 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome banner at a gas station in northern Lake Toya.113 views
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Red bricks113 views
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The Iolani Palace ice sculpture had a slim profile. This is a side view.113 views
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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.113 views
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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.113 views
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The Sapporo Snow Festival also features at least one giant ice sculpture. The foundation is made of ice.113 views
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Wolves113 views
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Candle lights113 views
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Sign for 7-chome.113 views
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The last block in Odori Park was 12-chome featuring numerous small snow statues made by city citizens.113 views
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Okinawa's shiisa113 views
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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.113 views
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T-rex113 views
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A path of stones lead to the Ukimido.112 views
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View from the Ukimido's tiny balcony.112 views
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Sacred offerings buried in the dohyo before each tournament.112 views
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Windsor Hotel in the distance.112 views
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Cherry blossoms and the Nakajima islands.112 views
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