Sapporo Snow Festival
Usually held for two weeks, beginning in the second
week of February *, the Sapporo Snow & Ice
Festival is one of the worlds largest and attracts more than two million
visitors to the Hokkaido region. The Snow & Ice Festival covers three
main areas; Sapporo’ s Oodori
Park,
the Satoland Site (previously the grounds of the Self-Defense Force base
in Makomanai) and the main street of Sapporo’s
entertainment area called Susukino.
In Oodori and at the Satoland Site,
hundreds of snow sculptures ranging in size from about one meter and
weighing a few kilograms to sculptures several stories high and weighing
hundreds of tons are constructed. Susukino is the heart of the ice festival
with more than one hundred sparkling and amazingly detailed ice
sculptures on display. You can even enjoy a cold beer inside of a small
bar made entirely from blocks of ice.
The Snow & Ice Festival was started by a group of high school
students who built a mere six sculptures in Oodori in 1950. However,
year after year more and more sculptures wanted to participate and in
1955 the Self-defense Force took part in the festival and produced the
first massive snow sculpture for which the festival is now famous.
The festival also now attracts international teams from 15 different
countries competing to produce the most beautiful sculpture of the event.
Held throughout the festival are various events * ranging
from orchestral performances and plays to candle and lighting events
and also to skiing and sports events. 
Due to the popularity of the festival hotels and accommodation facilities
can become completely booked out and it is highly recommend that you
plan your trip well in advance of the festival.
To check for the most up to date schedules, times and dates for the
event please check the official Sapporo
Snow & Ice Festival ( http://www.snowfes.com/english/index.html )
web site.
* Please note that all events, times and dates
are subject to change depending on prevailing conditions.
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