Sapporo Snow Festival 2009

[güttsfükk]

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The Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり Sapporo Yuki-matsuri ) is a famous festival held annually in Sapporo, Japan over seven days in February. Currently, Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome are the main sites of the festival. In 2009, it will be held from February 5 to February 11.


The festival is one of Japan's largest most distinctive winter events. In 2007 (58th Festival), about two million people visited Sapporo to see the hundreds of snow statues and ice sculptures at the Odori Park and Susukino sites, in central Sapporo, and at the Satoland site. The festival is thought to be an opportunity for promoting international relations. International Snow Sculpture Contest has been held at the Odori Park site since 1974, and 14 teams from various regions of the world participated in 2008.

The subject of the statues varies and often features an event, famous building or person from the previous year. For example, in 2004, there were statues of Hideki Matsui, the famous baseball player who plays for the New York Yankees. A number of stages made out of snow are also constructed and some events including musical performances are held. At the Satoland site, visitors can enjoy long snow and ice slides as well as a huge maze made of snow. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of regional foods from all over Hokkaidō at the Odori Park and Satoland sites, such as fresh seafood, potatoes and corn, and fresh dairy products.

Every year the number of statues displayed is around 400 in total. In 2007, there were 307 statues created in the Odori Park site, 32 in the Satoland site and 100 in the Susukino site. The best place to view the creations is from the TV Tower at the Odori Park site.Most of the statues are illuminated in the evening. The Sapporo Snow Festival Museum is located in the Hitsujigaoka observation hill in Toyohira-ku, and displays historical materials and media of the festival.

akodate Magistrate’s Office



Kunnikuman



Namdaemun



Namdaemun under Construction



Olympic gold medalist swimmer Kōsuke Kitajima



Kitajima under construction



Hamamatsu Castle



Sento-kun & Manto-kun



25 Years In Japan



Japan Self-Defense Force soldiers cleaning mouse heads



Stitch



Tsuyo Ink



Snow Zoo



Alien Baltan



Pekkle

[Ugly]

jeez they really go all out huh

[güttsfükk]

Originally Posted by Ugly

jeez they really go all out huh

And that's only a fraction of the statues, just think that they build about 300-400 statues every year, it's insane

the idea of snow mazes sounds cool too

[Kehko]

aw man, pic 10 looks just like these disney popsicles i'd get when i was a kid. i swear they tasted better than any other popsicle out there!

[Psychonautical]

This happens on a smaller scale here in Canada, especially in Quebec. I believe there is a festival and they build a giant snow igloo as well, along with huge slides and ice sculptures.

[güttsfükk]

i cant imagine going down an ice slide being that much fun

[Psychonautical]

Originally Posted by guttsfukk

i cant imagine going down an ice slide being that much fun

It's a blast, it's more hard packed snow. Like sledding down a hill in the winter.

[güttsfükk]

i was having pictures in my head of people sliding down ice and getting their skin stuck to it and ripping and such

[Psychonautical]

Originally Posted by guttsfukk

i was having pictures in my head of people sliding down ice and getting their skin stuck to it and ripping and such

Contrary to popular belief, we do wear clothes in Canada :p

And I believe they offer mats if you don't want to get snow down your pants.