Sapporo Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri)
February 5-11 (or February 6-12 if February 11 falls on a Saturday or Sunday)
An exuberant celebration of snow and ice held since 1950 in Sapporo, the capital city of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. In 1974, the first international Snow Statue Contest was held. The week's activities feature a colorful parade and competitive events in winter sports. What particularly draws more than two million tourists, though, is the display of colossal ice sculptures along the main street and snow statues in Odori Park.
Because of the shortage of snow in the festival area, thousands of tons of snow are trucked in from the suburbs. The sculptures are spectacular—intricately carved and often several stories high. About three weeks before the festival the work begins: a wooden frame is built and packed with snow; after the snow has hardened the frame is removed and the carving begins. A different theme is chosen each year for the sculptures.
February 5-11 (or February 6-12 if February 11 falls on a Saturday or Sunday)
An exuberant celebration of snow and ice held since 1950 in Sapporo, the capital city of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. In 1974, the first international Snow Statue Contest was held. The week's activities feature a colorful parade and competitive events in winter sports. What particularly draws more than two million tourists, though, is the display of colossal ice sculptures along the main street and snow statues in Odori Park.
Because of the shortage of snow in the festival area, thousands of tons of snow are trucked in from the suburbs. The sculptures are spectacular—intricately carved and often several stories high. About three weeks before the festival the work begins: a wooden frame is built and packed with snow; after the snow has hardened the frame is removed and the carving begins. A different theme is chosen each year for the sculptures.
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