| In the most northern part of Japan is an island called | | | | watch the creations come to life. |
| Hokkaido, which holds the Sapporo Snow Festival | | | | The Makomanai Military Base was one of three main |
| each February. Despite the frigid cold temperatures, | | | | sites for this festival up until 2005. The biggest |
| over 2 million people visit the Hokkaido capital to | | | | sculptures were initially created on the base. |
| watch the snow come alive every year. | | | | However, due to Japan's role in a number of |
| This very white glistening fairyland becomes a city of | | | | worldwide operations, including Iraq, it was decided to |
| sculptures that only dreams are made of every year | | | | reduce the military role to that of security only. |
| through the first week of February. Odori Park | | | | In1972, during the Winter Olympic Games, there was |
| becomes filled with 400 displays of magnificent talent; | | | | a small ice carving competition in Suskino. The snow |
| anything from 50 foot dinosaurs, dragons, ice | | | | festival gained so much worldwide attention and |
| maidens, and more. Even Sponge Bob made an | | | | advertising revenue, that the International Snow |
| appearance in 2008. The work and precision put into | | | | Statue Competition came about two years later. |
| these ice sculptures is truly astounding. | | | | If you have the opportunity to visit the Sapporo |
| The snow festival descended from a group of | | | | Snow Festival in Japan, take it! Their community not |
| students from the Sapporo High School, who in 1950 | | | | only takes pride in their sculptures but assisting the |
| got together and built six snow statues in Odori Park. | | | | tourists as well - an interpreter can always be found. |
| Everyone who visited enjoyed it so much that | | | | Their renowned respect for the handicapped is |
| Japan's tactical teams from Makomanai military base | | | | astounding; so don't let anything stop you from |
| decided to use the sculpturing festival as a training | | | | attending the festival. |
| exercise. Five years later the full festival at Odori | | | | This is an extremely popular event, so if you want to |
| Park was born. The Sapporo Snow Festival has not | | | | watch this festival come to life, be sure and make |
| changed much over the last half century, and it | | | | your hotel reservations at least half a year in |
| continues to draw millions of people every year to | | | | advance. |